《My Superstar Wife Is So Popular》


 Chapter 1: Picked Up a Mess

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Picked Up a MessFate created by the heavens, and you are my destiny.


    ¡ª¡ª


    "Wen Qiao! How dare you make trouble at the engagement party between me and my little uncle? Can the Fu family afford to lose face like this? If you don''t care about your life, don''t drag me into this!"


    "I, Qi Ming, would rather die than touch a hair on your head!"


    A male voice, full of anger yet somewhat weak, rang in her ears; Wen Qiao felt darkness before her eyes, her mind went blank, and she experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath.


    The severe pain from her neck made her strike the man''s neck with a chop of her hand, and with a quick push of both hands, she pushed the man who was about to press down on her to the floor.


    A dull thud of a heavy object falling to the ground was heard in the quiet room.


    "What the heck, I never force men when I seduce them!"


    Wen Qiao, holding her neck and gasping for air, took a while for the suffocating feeling to disappear.


    After calming down, she realized she was in a completely unfamiliar environment.


    What the hell is this?


    Where''s her champagne?


    Where''s her handsome man?


    Wen Qiao looked around the room she was in, with three question marks over her head; she found no clues. Her eyes returned to the man lying in front of her, kicked him lightly with her foot, turned him over to face her.


    The man''s hair was dyed black and blue, wearing a black hoodie with two metal chains around his neck, dark green cargo pants, dressed in a hip-hop trendy style.


    His appearance was pretty handsome, but not her taste.


    Staring at the man for a moment, Wen Qiao recalled the words the man had just spoken ¡ª something about the Fu family, something about Qi Ming, and something about an engagement party...


    She knew it sounded familiar; were these not the names of the male protagonist and secondary character from the book "I Got the Movie Emperor After Transmigrating" that she read last night to pass the time when she was bored?


    An unlikely idea slowly emerged in Wen Qiao''s mind...


    Had she transmigrated into the book?


    Wen Qiao felt a surge of joy, but her smile froze almost immediately.


    Listening to what Qi Ming had just said, if she remembered correctly, she was currently heading down a disastrous path¡ª


    The original body tried to force Qi Ming into marriage by ruining her engagement party with the secondary male character Fu Jinghen.


    Looking at the man lying unconscious on the floor with a flushed face, Wen Qiao''s temples throbbed wildly.


    Others transmigrated either into gorgeous female protagonists who killed all in their path or into big shots with built-in golden fingers, but her luck had her turn into cannon fodder, and she now faced this huge mess.


    Wen Qiao carefully recalled the original narrative of this sequence in the book.


    Before long, the room door was unlocked with a key, followed by a group of people rushing in; her and Qi Ming''s "affair" were exposed, causing a major stir online, and she suffered greatly for putting such a large green hat on Fu Jinghen.


    If she opened the door now, the affair between her and Qi Ming would only be exposed even sooner.


    Wen Qiao walked to the window to check; the room was facing a garden filled with cherry blossom trees, providing excellent cover. The floor wasn''t too high from the ground, only about two stories, which was trivial for her.


    Wen Qiao found a pair of scissors in the room, tore the bedsheets into strips, tied them into a rope, fastened one end to the headboard of the bed, and was about to climb out the window when she turned around and saw the man lying on the floor. Wen Qiao paused, pulled back the leg that was already hanging outside the window, returned to the room, walked into the bathroom, filled the bathtub with cold water, and then dumped Qi Ming into it.


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 Chapter 2: Isn鈥檛 this too exquisite?

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Isn''t this too exquisite?"Drugging you wasn''t my original intention, and this is all the help I can offer. Let''s not meet in the world again!"


    After saying that, Wen Qiao quickly ran back to the window, tied up the cumbersome hem of her dress around her waist, and started to climb down with brisk movements.


    Once on the ground, Wen Qiao was at a loss.


    She had never been to the Fu Family''s estate before and had no recollection of it.


    After walking around the garden, Wen Qiao finally found a door behind the glasshouse.


    Such a massive estate, yet so few doors.


    Wealthy people really know how to play.


    Wen Qiao muttered to herself as she searched for a place to change her clothes within the vast estate.


    Her dress had gotten slightly damaged while climbing down, and with the marks Qi Ming had left on her neck, it was decidedly unsuitable to attend the upcoming engagement party wearing this strapless gown.


    A door was ajar ahead, and Wen Qiao guessed there might be someone inside whom she could ask about a changing room. She adjusted her hair to cover her neck, ready to knock on the door, but accidentally stepped on the hem of her dress. She slipped and tumbled inside, with one of her high heels flying off in the process.


    "Ow!"


    Wen Qiao felt as if half her soul had been knocked out of her by the fall.


    Wincing, she pushed herself up off the floor, and the first thing she saw was eight neatly arranged abdominal muscles.


    Wen Qiao instinctively swallowed, suddenly feeling as if her back wasn''t that sore anymore.


    Looking up, she saw a handsome face that could turn the world upside down.


    The man''s features were refined and otherworldly, as if carved by divine craftsmanship, with unfathomable eyes shimmering with confusion, as if he hadn''t expected her to appear so abruptly. A hint of surprise flashed through his eyes, his lips tightly sealed. From Wen Qiao''s angle, she could see his distinct jawline.


    No matter how you looked at it, it was a masterpiece of Nuwa''s showing off.


    Seriously! So! Handsome!


    If only she could ignore the fact that he was holding the high heel she''d flung away, the scene would have been even more pleasing to the eye.


    But no matter, these small imperfections couldn''t detract from the overall effect. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...."


    It was just that the situation was a bit awkward. Wen Qiao was about to say something to break the ice when a frantic male voice came from the doorway.


    "President Fu! There''s been a huge problem, Miss Wen has knocked out Young Master Qi Ming and lured him to the second-floor guest room, you''re about to be cuckolded... Eh, Miss Wen? Why are you here?"


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    President Fu?


    Fu Jinghen?


    Damn fine job.


    Not only had she made a fool of herself in front of her newfound fianc¨¦ by falling flat, but before she could pick herself up, a bespectacled man had ratted her out.


    With a stiff turn of her neck, Wen Qiao looked towards the man at the doorway wearing rimless glasses, puffing and panting, leaning on the frame as if he had run over.


    She put on a very friendly smile: "Where else should I be? In the second-floor guest room?"


    "No, that''s not..."


    Before the bespectacled man could explain, Wen Qiao raised her hand to cut him off. Not expecting the two men in the room to help her up, she pressed her palm to the floor and stood up on her own, reaching out a hand to Fu Jinghen: "President Fu, sorry for the inconvenience, could you please return my high heel to me?"


    With a "slap", Fu Jinghen let go of the high heel in his hand, and afterwards, he even pulled out a tissue to wipe his hands, as if he had touched something dirty.


    The disgust was palpable.

 Chapter 3: The Original Character is the Villainess

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3: The Original Character is the Villainess"....."


    Damn it!


    If it weren''t for the fact that she was under someone else''s roof and had to bow her head, she really wanted to poke a few holes in his face with her ten-centimeter high heels.


    What a foul temper!


    "Thank you." Wen Qiao forced a smile, used her foot to hook her high heels back to her and put them on, then looked at the man with glasses and asked, "Excuse me, where can I change clothes?"


    The man with glasses said, "Out the door and to the left, the third room is prepared as your changing room."


    Wen Qiao nodded, turned around to leave, and just as she was about to exit the room, she stopped again, "President Fu, your nephew is currently lying in the bathtub of the guest room on the second floor, you might want to have someone fetch him."


    Since she had already been ratted out, Wen Qiao "kindly" added that last bit.


    It was unclear whether it was intentional or accidental, but as Wen Qiao turned around, her hair brushed across Fu Jinghen''s face, smearing it.


    Fu Jinghen: "..." S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man with glasses watched his boss''s darkening expression with trepidation, hurriedly closed the door after Wen Qiao left, and said, "President Fu, about young master Qi Ming...."


    Fu Jinghen took out a white shirt from the closet and put it on. As he fastened the buttons, he asked, "How is he?"


    "Uh...." The man with glasses hesitated for a moment, unsure how to start. "When the servant opened the door, only young master Qi Ming was in the room, lying in a bathtub full of cold water, and the bed sheets in the guest room had been cut into strips...."


    When he first saw the scene in the guest room, he was startled; anyone who didn''t know better would think they had entered a Syrian battlefield. The room was a mess, with a bed sheet hanging out of the window, dancing in the wind.


    Fu Jinghen paused with his buttoning as he remembered the marks he had seen on Wen Qiao''s neck, his eyes unreadable.


    He was now somewhat at a loss about what Wen Qiao was thinking.


    "Get him out and call a doctor to check on him."


    How stupid to be drugged in his own house; with that kind of mind, how did he ever survive in the chaotic entertainment industry?


    Fu Jinghen couldn''t help but worry about his nephew''s safety.


    -


    Wen Qiao followed the directions given by the man with glasses and found the room. After entering, she closed the door behind her and let out a deep breath of relief.


    It was really killing her; she had just arrived and already encountered the big boss from the book and had her original character''s actions publicly exposed.


    Others transmigrated to punish the scum, but she, on the other hand, transmigrated only to send herself to ruin.


    She remembered clearly, she was driving along the seaside highway with a young man she had just picked up. As they turned, a headlight from an oncoming vehicle swept over, blurring her vision temporarily. Instinctively, she raised her hand to shield her eyes, the wheel slipped, and with a "duang," her car''s front collided with a tree trunk beside the road. The airbag deployed, hitting her hard enough to leave her short of breath, and then... there was Qi Ming, seething with anger, choking her by the neck.


    In fact, regarding the transmigration, Wen Qiao was quite pleased; it was a kind of adventure, and among many romance novels, she had a particular affection for transmigration stories. The plots of weak or notorious women being replaced and fighting back fascinatingly thrilled her.


    However, she didn''t quite like this particular book, "I Got the Movie Emperor After Transmigrating."


    It was the typical prince falls for Cinderella story; the male lead in the book was named Qi Ming and the female lead was Wen Shu, a beautiful and talented couple.


    But in romance novels, there are always a few despicable villainesses causing trouble, driving the plot forward, and thereby closing the distance between the male and female leads.


    And Wen Qiao''s original character was exactly such a troublemaking villainess.

 Chapter 4: She Calls the Shots

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4: She Calls the ShotsThe original setting of the novel is about transmigration into a book, wherein the original female lead, Wen Qiao, who is her original self, developed feelings for the male lead, Qi Ming, when he showed her kindness during a vulnerable moment. Sadly, it was a case of unrequited love, as Qi Ming never really took a proper look at her.


    As the male lead, it was only natural that his presence was accompanied by a bevy of beauties, showcasing his status as the protagonist, and Wen Shu was one of them.


    Wen Shu, originally one of the female rivals in the book who tenaciously pursued the male lead, later rose to the top and became the main female character.


    She had a car accident on her way home one day and then her chip was replaced by someone, resulting in a complete change in her temperament. She no longer cared about the male lead and was solely focused on her career. During this time, she incidentally saved Fu Jinghen, the secondary male character.


    After her transformation, Wen Shu not only gained Qi Ming''s favor but also earned Fu Jinghen''s respect.


    Because of an existing matrimonial agreement between the Wen and Fu families, Wen Qiao could only marry Fu Jinghen. However, her heart belonged to Qi Ming, so she drugged the male lead during her engagement party, trying to create a fait accompli. When the affair was exposed, it was even uploaded online by journalists.


    Harboring resentment, she blamed everything on Wen Shu. She began to take revenge on Wen Shu, causing her to miscarry, sowing discord between the two and falsely accusing Wen Shu of all charges after a manslaughter incident. However, lacking intelligence and the protective aura of the main character, her fate was sealed.


    Fu Jinghen, Qi Ming''s little uncle, was a much-cherished late-born child to Mr. Fu. The entire family doted on him, especially his sister, who was twenty years his senior and cherished him like the apple of her eye. Even after her marriage and having children, she didn''t neglect her brother Fu Jinghen, often keeping him close, which is why Qi Ming grew very fond of this little uncle who was only six years older than him.


    An old antique from an unknown dynasty, Fu Jinghen thought that he ought to repay the life-saving debt by offering himself in marriage after Wen Shu saved him from a car accident. He couldn''t help but pay attention to her every move. Eventually, genuinely attracted by her demeanor, he learned that she was the woman his nephew liked. For the sake of the family, he married Wen Qiao, giving way to Qi Ming and Wen Shu, and kept his love for Wen Shu buried deep in his heart.


    Although he despised Wen Qiao''s actions, he never made life difficult for her and even gave her the respect she deserved. His attitude was only a bit cold, but Wen Qiao dug her own grave.


    Otherwise, she could have lived a life of mutual respect with Fu Jinghen.


    The author wrote the story exceptionally well, but when she read the book, it didn''t thrill her; instead, she was so angry at her original self that she nearly passed out.


    As someone who prided herself on staying untainted in a world full of temptations, Wen Qiao detested those who were driven to the brink for the sake of love. She understood her original self''s affection for Qi Ming due to the kindness shown in times of trial but that didn''t justify attempting murder when love was unreciprocated.


    To abandon a life of lavish ease and deliberately entangle herself with the male lead, even to the point of bloodying her own hands¡ªwasn''t that insane?


    She was, after all, an exemplary socialist student!


    Most importantly, this hapless female lead who gained nothing from her schemes shared her name!


    Wen Qiao often wished she could pull the original female lead out of the book and beat her senseless every time she saw her stirring up trouble under the same name.


    Well, now there was no need for a beating, for she had become the original female lead of the book, and it was now up to her how the original female lead''s life would unfold.


    Sorting out her thoughts and stabilizing her mood, Wen Qiao straightened up and thought about finding some clothes to change into.


    Regardless of what the future held, the pressing matter was to continue with the engagement banquet. Otherwise, she would have no home to return to. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 5: Part-time Joking

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Part-time JokingIn the original story, Wen Qiao was not favored in the Wen Family; her only use was for a business marriage, and if she couldn''t get engaged to Fu Jinghen, her life back at the Wen Family wouldn''t be any better.


    Thinking about the mess described in the original story about the Wen Family, Wen Qiao felt it was better to stay by Fu Jinghen''s side, where at least she only needed to deal with one person.


    Moreover, her original identity was in the entertainment industry, and although her reputation wasn''t stellar, staying by Fu Jinghen, a walking gold mine, might just help her rise again.


    In the room, there was a huge floor-to-ceiling mirror; Wen Qiao stood in front of it, scrutinizing her current appearance.


    Her eyes were peach-shaped, with edges that hooked upward, and her thin red lips shimmered enticingly. Her skin was so delicate it seemed like a peeled egg, and a white long-sleeved gown wrapped her from head to toe tightly.


    Even so, the excellent figure hidden underneath was not hard to discern.


    The appearance of her original body was a perfect match with Wen Qiao''s own.


    Unlike the typical pale and slender beauty that most female celebrities in the entertainment pursued, Wen Qiao had a bold and mature beauty that was striking, the kind that once seen, would be etched into one''s memory.


    It seemed that the original author was really particular about looks, giving even a minor character such a beautiful face.


    Yet, Wen Qiao didn''t appreciate the original''s aesthetic. Sporting such a fairy-like face yet adopting the style of a respectable housewife seemed somewhat mismatched.


    Decisively, Wen Qiao stripped off her clothes and chose a fiery red cheongsam according to her own taste. The cheongsam reached her knees, and its slit design elongated her legs while the high collar cleverly hid the hickeys on her neck.


    She styled her hair into a bun with hairpins, complementing the cheongsam and exuding a vintage Hong Kong vibe.


    The mirror showed a transformation from an elegant and pure white lotus to a dazzlingly beautiful rose.


    Finally satisfied, Wen Qiao nodded her head and then let out an exclamation¡ª


    "Damn, this cute little booty."


    Opening the door to leave, Fu Jinghen and his bespectacled assistant just happened to arrive at her room''s doorway. Seeing Wen Qiao in her new outfit, the bespectacled man whispered to Fu Jinghen, "Wow, President Fu, Miss Wen looks quite pretty."


    Fu Jinghen gave him a cold glance and then turned to Wen Qiao, his brows slightly furrowed, "You''re wearing such a bright color; are you going to a state banquet?"


    Wen Qiao burst out laughing, "Is there a better day to wear something bright than on an engagement day, or should I wear black as if I''m going to a funeral?"


    After saying that, Wen Qiao realized she had just unleashed her toxic tongue. Having just snapped at Heaven''s Chosen Son, would he be furious with embarrassment?


    To be safe, Wen Qiao decided to make a quick exit. She was about to leave when Fu Jinghen suddenly coughed lightly, "Wait...."


    Wen Qiao paused mid-step. Was he calling her? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Turning around in confusion, she saw Fu Jinghen slightly bending his arm.


    Understanding, she walked back and slipped her arm through his, her lips curling slightly, "President Fu, are you satisfied with my smile?"


    Everybody can play this game, can''t they?


    Fu Jinghen glanced at her, "Besides juggling, do you also freelance in making people laugh?"


    "...."


    Got it.


    She had almost slapped a huge scandal on him not too long ago and had just snapped at him; him being cold now was to be expected.


    Wen Qiao''s smile grew even brighter as she extended her other hand in front of him.


    Fu Jinghen, puzzled, asked, "What are you doing?"


    "Collecting payment. Or did you forget what you just said, President Fu?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the delicate palm in front of him, "We''ll settle the bill after the engagement party ends."

 Chapter 6: Show of Force

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Show of ForceWen Qiao understood his words; he wanted her to cooperate smoothly with the upcoming engagement banquet and not cause any more trouble.


    The engagement banquet didn''t have many invitees, apart from the Wen and Fu families, just a few families having close cooperative relationships with the Fu Family.


    Although Wen Qiao had no prior experience with engagement banquets, she had mixed in high society circles before and was quite adept at handling such occasions.


    While this event was ostensibly an engagement banquet, it was actually just a gathering for prominent families to foster closer relationships.


    Wen Qiao, arm in arm with Fu Jinghen, wore a sweet smile on her face and showed great hospitality to all the arriving guests.


    Together, they looked like a perfect match.


    The crowd was somewhat dumbfounded by the sight.


    Rumors had been circulating that the union between the Wen and Fu families was a powerhouse alliance. However, it was said that the Wen''s daughter did not fancy the Fu''s son and was wholeheartedly thrown into the arms of Young Master Qi Ming from the Qi Family. She had followed him into the entertainment industry and had been frequently stirring up scandals with him, seemingly only satisfied when tied to Qi Ming.


    But now, it seemed the rumors were mistaken.


    The young couple appeared to be very much in love.


    After finally having settled all the guests, Wen Qiao caught a moment to breathe. She rubbed her somewhat stiff cheeks, unable to help complaining, "Damn it, my face is about to freeze from all the smiling."


    Fu Jinghen looked down at her as she slightly lowered her head, her long eyelashes casting shadows below her eyes, her lips pouting in dissatisfaction, looking charmingly naive.


    Suddenly, Wen Qiao looked up and caught Fu Jinghen''s withdrawing gaze, a bit puzzled, "Why are you looking at me?"


    Caught in the act, Fu Jinghen didn''t show any embarrassment, merely stating lightly, "Should I pay a fee?"


    Wen Qiao, "Considering today is our big day, I''ll give you a..."


    "Brother Jinghen."


    Before she could finish her sentence with "99% discount," a gentle female voice suddenly interrupted Wen Qiao.


    "I''m sorry for being late."


    Wen Qiao looked up to see the newcomer. The woman was dressed in a nude-colored long dress with matching high heels, her hair tied in a low ponytail hanging at her back, wearing minimal jewelry yet exuding an intellectual beauty.


    Seeing her, Wen Qiao''s mind automatically flooded with information about her.


    Jiang Wei, a fellow artist from Huasong, a double best actress winner, also well-born, cunning to no end, unlike the other women revolving around the male lead Qi Ming who favored Jinghen.


    Upon learning about her original self''s engagement to Fu Jinghen, she began to approach her with ill intentions, bribing her close friends. The drugging incident involving Qi Ming at today''s banquet was also masterminded by Jiang Wei. Later, she deceitfully introduced an assistant to her, simultaneously informing and brainwashing her original self.


    One could say her original self met a tragic end, with Jiang Wei being at least half responsible, the other half being her own doing.


    Wen Qiao didn''t understand how a person could be driven to their demise over a man.


    Feeling Wen Qiao''s scrutinizing gaze, Jiang Wei looked at her with composure, "I''m really sorry, Qiaoqiao. There was a bit of traffic, and I arrived a bit late."


    Wen Qiao smiled nonchalantly, "No worries."


    It wouldn''t matter if you hadn''t come at all.


    Jiang Wei handed over a bag she was carrying to Fu Jinghen, "Brother Jinghen, this is the engagement gift I picked out for you. It''s from the brand you often buy, but I wasn''t sure what sister-in-law likes, so I didn''t get hers. I''ll definitely make it up later."


    Well now,


    Right off the bat, trying to show her dominance by flaunting how well she knew Fu Jinghen?


    Unfortunately for her, Wen Qiao couldn''t care less, "Don''t wait for later, now''s fine. Just cash it."


    "Ah?"


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 Chapter 7: Quick-witted and Articulate

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Quick-witted and ArticulateJiang Wei seemed not to have expected Wen Qiao to say that, startled for a moment, "Qiaoqiao really knows how to joke."


    Wen Qiao, however, was dead serious, "I''m not joking, do you prefer cash, WeChat, or Alipay? Writing a check is fine too."


    "....."


    Just as Jiang Wei took it seriously and pulled out her phone, Wen Qiao waved her hand again, "Never mind, I was just teasing you."


    Feeling played, Jiang Wei was stifled with annoyance but still forced a smile onto her face, "Qiaoqiao really knows how to make people happy."


    Wen Qiao fiddled with a strand of hair beside her cheek, saying disinterestedly, "I have a dog at home that I usually tease, seeing you just gave me a knee-jerk reaction, sorry about that."


    How could Jiang Wei not hear the insinuation in her words, her face turning slightly pale with anger, she helplessly looked towards Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen, who had been silent all this while, finally spoke, "You go ahead inside."


    After Jiang Wei left, Fu Jinghen turned to look at the little woman beside him, smiling happily, "You don''t like Jiang Wei?"


    It was phrased like a question, but he spoke in a declarative tone.


    "Yeah." Wen Qiao inexplicably looked at him, "You''re so positive about it, why even ask, saliva doesn''t cost money, so you just waste it as you wish."


    "Sharp-tongued."


    "Thanks for the compliment."


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    He was mocking her, couldn''t she hear it?


    Wen Qiao glanced at the bag in Fu Jinghen''s hand, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind, "President Fu, how about we make a bet?"


    "What?"


    Before Wen Qiao could answer, Feng Li ran out from the front hall, "President Fu, sir, madam, the banquet is about to begin, please go inside."


    Wen Qiao nodded, "Let''s talk later tonight."


    -


    After the engagement ceremony ended, and all the guests had dispersed, Wen Qiao turned around and saw a flamboyantly dressed woman standing behind her; startled, she took a big step back, staring at Hua Huadie, "Who are you?"


    Hua Huadie thought she was joking and didn''t think too much of it, pulling her back and handing her a bag, "Don''t say Sister Yao doesn''t care about you, this is the engagement gift I prepared for you. Today is your first day of engagement to President Fu, strike while the iron is hot and secure him, and while you''re at it, drop a hint about the leading lady role in ''Red Makeup.''"


    Having said this, Wen Qiao sorted through her mind and recalled information about this person before her.


    Jiang Yao, Wen Qiao''s agent, a couple of years older than her original self, had a decent relationship with her original form, and didn''t leave her even when the Wen Family fell on hard times. However, as her original self''s path became more and more skewed, their relationship eventually broke down.


    She was outstanding at her job and really nice to her original self, always treating her like a little sister.


    After Jiang Yao said this, she hurriedly left, as if she was a thief in a rush.


    Once Jiang Yao had gone, Wen Qiao opened the bag for a quick look and then immediately closed it.


    She figured out why Jiang Yao had run off so quickly.


    She was afraid of being beaten to death by her!


    However, she couldn''t shake the feeling that something was slightly off. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    -


    Listening to the sound of running water from the bathroom, Wen Qiao lay back on the sofa, pondering how to approach Fu Jinghen about ''Red Makeup.''


    ''Red Makeup'' was a big historical IP drama to be released in the second half of the year by Huasong Film and Television under the FS Group, adapted from a novel of the same name, telling the story of Princess Ronghuan of Jing Country falling in love with her guard, overcoming all objections to marry him, only to discover on her wedding day that the guard who had been by her side for years was the enemy country''s Crown Prince, leading to the downfall of her nation by bringing the wolf into the fold.

 Chapter 8: Humble, Paranoid, and Abnormal

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Humble, Paranoid, and Abnormal"Red Makeup" had many fans of its original novel, and unlike those novels that set the heroine as a soft girl, "Red Makeup" crafted a heroine who was both beautiful and enchanting, a famous beauty that moved the world.


    As soon as the news of the novel''s adaptation into a film and television series broke out, there was never a lull in discussions about it online. The fans of the novel were most worried about casting, as due to public aesthetics and receptivity, most female stars in the entertainment industry followed the pure and innocent beauty route, and few embodied the bewitching persona that turned heads.


    As such, the choice of the lead heroine became a major concern for the fans. Some even analyzed the appearance of various female celebrities in the industry to compare them with the novel''s heroine.


    After much discussion, fans believed that only Jiang Wei''s appearance was somewhat suitable for playing the lead role in "Red Makeup."


    Wen Qiao was new to the scene and did not want to make enemies, but Jiang Wei, even if Wen Qiao did not provoke her, would not let her off easily. So, with that in mind, she might as well tackle it head-on.


    Moreover, she believed that she was more suitable for the leading role in "Red Makeup" than Jiang Wei. An unparalleled beauty like the role seemed to be a better fit for her looks. Jiang Wei should probably go play the role of an educated youth sent to the countryside instead.


    Some netizens also recommended Wen Qiao for the role, but this suggestion was quickly snubbed by others.


    "Wen Qiao? Forget it. ''Red Makeup'' is a major IP adaptation. With her acting skills, what can she play? Staring blankly?"


    "If Wen Qiao plays Princess Rong Huan, I think it would be more appropriate to describe her as a nation-destroying seductress."


    "To be fair, putting aside everything else, based solely on Wen Qiao''s appearance, it really fits the description of a beauty that moves the world, as said in the book."


    "What I''m really curious about is, doesn''t the entertainment industry care about character at all? It seems like anyone can make a place for themselves."


    "Is Wen Qiao even an actress? Isn''t her profession being a stalker fan?"


    "If Wen Qiao plays Princess Rong Huan, I''ll definitely not watch it!"


    "Me neither!"


    "Same here, +1"


    "... ..."


    Watching a full screen of comments protesting against her playing the lead role in "Red Makeup," Wen Qiao just let out a deep sigh.


    This wasn''t the netizens'' fault, who made her original self so shamelessly clingy to Qi Ming, stalking and using tracking devices, even taking advantage of her position to sneak into Qi Ming''s hotel room where he was staying for a session, stubbornly insisting in an indistinguishable manner from a stalker fan.


    Her love was humble, obsessive, and deranged.


    Qi Ming started his career as a child actor, capturing a host of "mom fans" with his cute and adorable looks. As he grew older, his features matured, he embarked on the path of an idol, set the stage ablaze, and attracted a host of female fans.


    Her original self had recklessly thrown herself at him, which was nothing short of asking to be cursed.


    However, regarding the netizens'' comments about her poor acting, Wen Qiao couldn''t agree. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Though the author had portrayed her original self as a pure vase with nothing but her beauty, incapable of acting and yet still trying to wedge her way into the entertainment industry, here she was.


    She was a distinguished student from the drama academy, admitted through a special recruitment program, and was a couple of years younger than her peers. Her family did not want her to enter the entertainment circle so early, so she also pursued a master''s in directing. Before coming here, she had just completed an outstanding film assignment set by her instructor.


    When Wen Qiao first arrived, she had already cleaned up a mess for her original self, and she didn''t mind doing it once more, especially since she would have to live in this body from now on.


    So for the role of Lian Zhi in "Red Makeup," aside from wanting to turn her current situation around, she also wanted to test out the results of her education.


    The sound of water from the bathroom stopped, and Fu Jinghen, toweling his hair, walked out to see Wen Qiao sitting on the sofa, and he visibly paused.


    Wen Qiao also glanced back at him, but her gaze was rather sultry in comparison.

 Chapter 9: Claim as One鈥檚 Own or Hand Over

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Claim as One''s Own or Hand OverThe man was bare-chested, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, forming an inverted triangle physique. Water droplets from the tips of his hair fell, gliding over the Adonis belt to the edge of his pants...


    Tsk, tsk, tsk, this really is a top-grade image of a handsome man fresh out of the bath.


    The thought that this stunningly beautiful man was her fianc¨¦ made Wen Qiao feel a bit elated.


    In fact, she had quite liked Fu Jinghen while reading the book. After all, the male lead was the heroine''s; the second male lead belonged to everyone. And Fu Jinghen, not to mention his wealth and handsomeness, was deeply in love with the female lead, regretless of his feelings. In order not to make the leads feel guilty, he always buried his feelings deep in his heart, which made Wen Qiao''s heart ache while reading.


    Since she was here already, why not...


    Play matchmaker? Bring Fu Jinghen and Wen Shu together?


    After all, the couples she was into were always the unconventional types.


    Or say...


    Hook him in and make him her own man?


    If so, that would mean her transmigration had not been in vain.


    Anyway, she had never dealt with mature men before; her previous boyfriends or ambiguous love interests were all about her age, and she had managed them with ease.


    But someone like Fu Jinghen...


    She was truly encountering this type for the first time.


    Just as Wen Qiao was torn between handing Fu Jinghen over or claiming him for herself, a deep male voice rang out.


    "What are you looking at?" sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao, quick with her mouth, responded: "Looking at your abs."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen walked over to the wardrobe, took out a pajama top, and silently put it on, shielding his alluring physique from Wen Qiao''s lustful gaze.


    As the enticing flesh was concealed, Wen Qiao licked her lips in dissatisfaction and suddenly asked, "Wen Shu saved your life, and you thought about offering yourself to her. If I saved your life, would you do the same for me?"


    Fu Jinghen turned around abruptly, his eyes narrowing, scrutinizing her: "What nonsense are you talking about."


    "Alright, then let''s assume I was talking nonsense." Wen Qiao didn''t dwell on it, changing the subject: "President Fu, let''s discuss something."


    She jumped topics too quickly, and Fu Jinghen looked at her warily, his lips pressed tightly, clearly not interested in engaging with her.


    Wen Qiao didn''t mind and just calmly met Fu Jinghen''s gaze.


    The woman''s eyes were clear and direct, as if she could see right through all the thoughts in the depths of his heart.


    After a long while, Fu Jinghen finally continued the conversation: "What is it?"


    Wen Qiao had planned to beat around the bush a little, but then thought it better to be straightforward, which was more her style, "I heard that the auditions for ''Red Makeup'' start tomorrow?"


    In fact, with Wen Qiao''s current status, she was not qualified to play the lead in ''Red Makeup''. However, she thought, since it was a comeback, why not find a conspicuous entry point? And with such an influential figure like him at her side, it would be foolish not to take advantage.


    After hearing Wen Qiao''s comment, Fu Jinghen understood her intention: "''Red Makeup'' is Huasong''s most important project for the second half of the year, and we can''t afford any recklessness."


    The implication being, I can''t possibly arrange for you to play the female lead.


    "It''s precisely because it''s important that I want to fight for it. Moreover, isn''t it more reassuring to have it in the hands of someone close to you?"


    With that, Wen Qiao even threw him a seductive wink.


    Fu Jinghen remained unmoved by her wink, even starting to question her: "Can you act?"


    Fu Jinghen had never paid much attention to Wen Qiao''s affairs, only knowing that she was also in the entertainment industry, nothing more.


    Wen Qiao let out a light laugh and rolled her eyes: "President Fu, have you ever heard the phrase ''still waters run deep''?"


    Looking down on who?


    "Don''t tell me you think, just because you know a little something, that you can make any demand of me?"

 Chapter 10: Afraid of Really Falling for Me?

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10: Afraid of Really Falling for Me?Fu Jinghen settled onto the sofa opposite her, crossing his legs in a casual pose, and offered a rare kind-hearted reminder, "I''ve never been one to be threatened."


    Wen Qiao had already figured that Fu Jinghen wouldn''t readily help her, but even for such a trivial matter, he had to be so wishy-washy about it; it showed just how much he detested the original Wen Qiao.


    "Let''s make a bet, President Fu."


    Fu Jinghen, recalling the earlier topic that had been interrupted, lifted his hand to signal her to continue.


    Wen Qiao, propping her chin in her hands, looked at him with a smile, "President Fu, have you never been in a relationship before?"


    "....."


    Wen Qiao''s words were tinged with teasing. Initially, she had thought Fu Jinghen would be embarrassed and annoyed, but instead, he leaned back with ease into the sofa, "What does that have to do with making a bet?"


    "It''s related. We''ll bet on whether or not you can fall for me," Wen Qiao raised three fingers, "Three months'' time. If you develop feelings for me, it would be icing on the cake for our relationship. If not, we can dissolve the engagement and go our separate ways. If you need it, I can even help you chase after Wen Shu."


    Hearing this, Fu Jinghen''s brows curled playfully, "Why do you think I would accept your bet? Miss Wen, don''t forget what you did to Ah Ming at my house this afternoon."


    "Setting a trap for Qi Ming was Wen Qiao''s doing in the afternoon; making a bet with you is Wen Qiao''s doing in the evening. The two cannot be confused," Wen Qiao said without a hint of embarrassment, tilting her head and spreading her hands. Then, she suddenly leaned in close to Fu Jinghen, placing her hands on either side of the couch where he sat, looking down at him with an inviting gaze, "Or are you perhaps afraid that you''ll actually fall for me and don''t dare to take the bet?"


    Fu Jinghen slowly lifted his gaze to the young woman above him. Despite being in a passive position, there wasn''t a trace of embarrassment about him.


    Getting a closer look, Wen Qiao realized that Fu Jinghen''s eyes seemed even more attractive¡ªlong and slightly double-lidded, with the corners tilting upward, full of charm and stillness.


    It was easy to get lost in them.


    Their breaths intertwined as they looked at each other for a while until Fu Jinghen suddenly raised his hand. Just as Wen Qiao thought he was going to push her off him, there was a sudden tightness around her neck, and her previously open collar was swiftly secured.


    "..." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Truly a Liu Xiahui, able to remain unmoved.


    The moment that thought settled, Fu Jinghen sat up straighter, closing the distance between them even further. His gaze drifted down, appraisingly direct, finally resting on Wen Qiao''s rosy lips.


    The man''s gaze was too unabashedly intense; as his eyes lowered, the teardrop mole beneath his eye was extraordinarily captivating. Wen Qiao''s heart, originally calm, suddenly skipped a beat.


    The suppressed aura around her rose sharply.


    Interesting. When she had read the book, she thought Fu Jinghen was a stuffy old man. Now, it seemed, there was a discrepancy.


    Fu Jinghen''s hand pinched her chin, his thumb casually pressing on the corner of her mouth before he looked back into her eyes, "Provocation doesn''t work on me."


    Wen Qiao instinctively asked, "Then what does work on you?"


    Fu Jinghen didn''t answer her question. Instead, he asked, "Why?"


    It took Wen Qiao a second or two to realize what he was asking, "Because I want you to provide resources and support for me."


    She said it nonchalantly, as plainly as remarking on fine weather, brazen even when begging.


    "That will depend on Miss Wen''s abilities."


    It took a moment for Wen Qiao to realize he had agreed to the bet.


    The man carried a subtle woody fragrance that was faint yet domineeringly enveloped Wen Qiao within it. Suddenly feeling a sense of danger, she nonchalantly widened the distance between them, sitting back in her original spot as Fu Jinghen''s hand that had grasped her collar casually let go.

 Chapter 11: Isn鈥檛 the Underground Affair Even More Thrilling?

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Isn''t the Underground Affair Even More Thrilling?"Red Makeup?"


    "No way," Fu Jinghen flatly refused, but perhaps feeling his rejection was too abrupt, he added, "Choose another project."


    "No way," Wen Qiao also flatly refused, making it clear she wouldn''t budge.


    "You seem very optimistic about this drama," Fu Jinghen''s arm rested on the armrest of the sofa, his fingers long and eerily pale as he tapped absentmindedly. "Why this drama in particular?"


    Because I, your mother, am viewing this from a godlike perspective, holding the script and knowing the fate of you losers and the direction of the plot like the back of my hand. I know this drama''s going to be a massive hit. I want to shoot straight to the top, okay? Stop beating around the bush, so much nonsense!


    Wen Qiao dared only grumble these thoughts privately. Being in a position where she needed a favor, she could only speak politely, "President Fu also mentioned that this drama is Huasong''s top priority for the second half of the year, its value goes without saying. Why should I settle for less and ignore such appetizing meat only to gnaw on bones?"


    Wen Qiao made no attempt to conceal her ambition and purpose, which unexpectedly made Fu Jinghen pause. "And what if you fail?"


    "I won''t," Wen Qiao said decisively, exuding confidence as if it were branded onto her face.


    Fu Jinghen looked meaningfully at the woman kneeling opposite him, "You seem different from the rumors out there."


    Wen Qiao smiled harmlessly, "President Fu, one should never learn about another person through gossip, you know that, don''t you?"


    A flicker of admiration crossed Fu Jinghen''s eyes; his little fianc¨¦e was quite different from what he had imagined.


    Although he didn''t understand why Wen Qiao, who was clearly harboring ulterior motives towards Qi Ming, drastically changed her attitude in the span of an afternoon, she had certainly piqued his interest. If she wanted to play, then he was willing to join her.


    He was curious to see what kind of game Wen Qiao was playing. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for her claim that she would help him pursue Wen Shu...


    Fu Jinghen found the idea absurd. Did he really need a little girl''s help to win a woman?


    "Alright, I agree."


    Wen Qiao''s smile became significantly more earnest, "Thank you, President Fu."


    "That thing you just said..."


    Fu Jinghen didn''t finish, and Wen Qiao instantly understood he meant what she had just said about Wen Shu. "What did I just say? I didn''t say anything, and I don''t know anything."


    After a moment, she suddenly remembered something and quickly added, "President Fu, during the duration of our bet, I hope that our relationship remains undisclosed."


    It was true that she initiated the bet with Fu Jinghen, but that didn''t mean she was responsible for any feelings he might develop later on. Until she had decided whether she wanted to keep Fu Jinghen in her pocket, she had to tread carefully. If the engagement was called off later, any scandal could affect her chances for a "second spring."


    Fu Jinghen somewhat misunderstood her request, "Isn''t the title of Mrs. Fu more useful?"


    "Isn''t a covert romance more thrilling?"


    Fu Jinghen didn''t expect that response and after a brief pause, he nodded in agreement. A rare flicker of interest emerged within him, and he pulled out a card and set it on the little coffee table in front of Wen Qiao, "In that case, I also hope Miss Wen tries not to bother Ah Ming anymore. Just stick to your role."


    "You can count on it. I''d have to be insane to bother him," Wen Qiao agreed very swiftly, unapologetically pocketing the supplementary card. With an opportunity like this before her, who would go after that trash Qi Ming? Only her silly former self would have fancied someone like him.

 Chapter 12: What the hell kind of breed is this dog of a man?

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12: What the hell kind of breed is this dog of a man?But sticking to her role...


    That depended on Fu Jinghen''s charm, since she wasn''t usually one to play by the rules.


    Fu Jinghen had no idea what was on her mind, and, seeing her agree, he nodded his head in satisfaction. Just as he was about to get up from the sofa, Wen Qiao pressed down on his knee, blocking his way.


    Catching a glimpse of her hand with cherry-colored nails resting on his knee, Fu Jinghen sat back down, "Something else?"


    Then, he saw Wen Qiao pull out two pieces of paper from somewhere and hand them to him, "Sign here, President Fu. Since it''s a bet, let''s make it official. I''m afraid you''ll deny it when you''re head over heels in love with me."


    The content on the paper wasn''t much, all handwritten in graceful script, which didn''t quite match Wen Qiao''s appearance. Her name was already signed at the bottom, all that was missing was Fu Jinghen''s.


    It was clear this had been prepared in advance.


    Fu Jinghen scoffed, "Is narcissism a core course at your university?"


    Wen Qiao shook her head sincerely, "Not at all."


    Flirting with men was her required course.


    But Wen Qiao dared not say that out loud.


    Fu Jinghen took the two papers, signed his name on them, and handed them back to Wen Qiao.


    After taking them back, Wen Qiao pulled one out, kissed beside her name, and then stuffed it to Fu Jinghen, "Including a beauty''s kiss, no thanks needed."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the lipstick mark, his tone suddenly shifting, "Jiaoyun has developed a new lip mask that hasn''t been officially promoted yet. I''ll have someone send you a jar tomorrow."


    Wen Qiao was momentarily dumbfounded by the sudden offer, but then put on an embarrassed face to refuse, "President Fu has already given me the lead female role in ''Red Makeup,'' which made me so happy. How could I take up another endorsement?"


    Saying this, Wen Qiao actually blushed a bit as she tucked her hair behind her ear.


    "Don''t overthink it," Fu Jinghen''s eyes landed on her lips, his tone indifferent, "I just noticed your lips are quite cracked."


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    What kind of jerk is this?


    It seemed Fu Jinghen finally got to witness Wen Qiao being taken down a peg after flaunting herself all night, which inexplicably cheered him up as he finally stood and walked towards the bed.


    Just as he lifted the covers, he saw Wen Qiao holding clothes, stomping her way towards the bathroom.


    Moreover, the piece of clothing she held was his shirt!


    He caught Wen Qiao''s wrist, "What are you doing?"


    "Taking a bath. What else could I be doing?" Wen Qiao thought Fu Jinghen was nervous, and with a battle-hardened demeanor, she patted his shoulder reassuringly, "Don''t be nervous. I never force anyone, and I''m tired today, not in the mood for anything else. I''m going to bed right after my bath."


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    He had nothing to be nervous about.


    "This is my bedroom," he reminded her.


    Wen Qiao nodded, "I know, but you haven''t prepared a guest room for me, so I''ll just have to make do and sleep in your bedroom tonight. I''ll leave tomorrow when my room is ready."


    With that, Wen Qiao freed her hand from Fu Jinghen''s grip and hummed a tune as she walked to the bathroom.


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    She''s sleeping in his bedroom and she thinks she''s the one being inconvenienced?


    Such a vindictive woman.


    -


    The next morning Wen Qiao was woken up by her phone ringing, which also cleared her grogginess. Struggling, she reached from under the covers to grab her phone and answered groggily, "Hello."


    Jiang Yao''s excited voice came from the other end of the phone, "Qiaoqiao, President Fu is really proactive! This morning, the official Weibo of ''Red Makeup'' announced the lead actors, and you are the female protagonist." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 13: Are You Sure You鈥檙e Not Praising Her?

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13: Are You Sure You''re Not Praising Her?Wen Qiao was still a bit sleepy, "Is that so."


    "But, everyone online is spreading rumors about you having a sugar daddy. You know, with your current status snagging the Female Lead for ''Red Makeup'' does look a bit unseemly, and it''s my fault I didn''t make it clear yesterday. You should''ve just asked President Fu to arrange a screen test for you, after all, I do believe in your acting skills."


    "You worry about whether it looks bad or not, if you''re fed, that''s enough. Why ignore a shortcut and waste time taking the long road? That''s not stupidity, what is it? Don''t worry about it, has the crew said when filming starts?"


    Jiang Yao was successfully distracted, "We start shooting in a week, but you have to take a set of makeup photos today. I''ll come over to pick you up later."


    Only a week left, huh...


    I need to strike while the iron''s hot and make my presence felt to Fu Jinghen. It was already decided to only have three months, and once filming starts, I''ll have to stay on set every day; there''ll be no time for flirting with him.


    "Okay, I got it."


    Jiang Yao was still somewhat concerned, "You better stay off the internet recently, to avoid getting upset."


    Wen Qiao was indifferent, "Don''t worry, I know my limits."


    "Oh, right, bring me some clothes when you come.


    After hanging up the phone, Wen Qiao was fully awake. She opened Weibo and, sure enough, saw ''Red Makeup'' and her name trending.


    ''Red Makeup'', being a drama with the Female Lead at its core, had always meant the selection of the Female Lead was under intense scrutiny. The sudden official announcement this morning naturally sparked a wave of discussion.


    "Wen Qiao? Really, Wen Qiao? She''s suitable?"


    "Come on, which secretary can check how many people Wen Qiao has slept with to get the role of Princess Rong Huan?"


    "She must''ve slept with the whole crew, right?"


    "Have the director and scriptwriter gone mad? Actually choosing Wen Qiao to play the proud and unyielding Princess Rong Huan???"


    "Wen Qiao is just a vase that relies on her face and figure to get by. What else does she have? The threshold for the entertainment industry is really low, any kind of person can get in, completely disregarding talent and character."


    "...."


    The comments online were unbearable, but Wen Qiao didn''t care, let them curse however they wanted, her role as the Female Lead was a done deal anyway. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As for that comment about her getting by on her face and figure...


    Wasn''t that a compliment?


    Wen Qiao rolled her eyes, tidied up her hair, turned on the camera, and took a photo of her unadorned face. She then flipped through the photo album, the original owner didn''t seem to like taking selfies, there were hardly any of her own pictures, but there was a pile of Qi Ming''s.


    Wen Qiao shook her head and deleted Qi Ming''s photos cleanly, then got out of bed and walked to the wardrobe in her dressing room, starting to pose in front of the floor mirror.


    "What a waste of natural resources, not to show off such a good figure..."


    Wen Qiao muttered to herself while striking poses in front of the mirror.


    What Fu Jinghen saw when he walked in was Wen Qiao with one hand behind her head and one hand on her hip, her butt twisted to the side as if about to fly off.


    Wen Qiao saw the reflection of someone extra in the mirror and smiled, "Good morning, President Fu."


    Fu Jinghen leaned against the doorframe, arms folded, leisurely watching the woman before him, "Trying to seduce me first thing in the morning?"


    "Did you major in narcissism in college or something?" Wen Qiao shook her phone, "I''m taking pictures, but if you want to think that, it''s not impossible either."


    Fu Jinghen ignored her latter words, walked into the dressing room, and began to change clothes in front of the wardrobe.

 Chapter 14: Looks Very Fertile

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Looks Very Fertile"Do you need me to step out for a bit?"


    Wen Qiao asked with her mouth, but her body was honestly not moving an inch.


    Fu Jinghen replied indifferently, "If I say I do, will you leave?"


    Wen Qiao grinned, "No."


    She eyed the man''s fine physique in front of her, raised her phone, and snapped away ferociously. Fu Jinghen, hearing the sound, turned his head to glance.


    Wen Qiao, seeing the man behind the camera turn around, laid it on thick, "President Fu''s physique and face are simply one of a kind, a proud work of Nuwa herself. To become your fianc¨¦e truly is the luckiest karma I''ve earned from my past life."


    Given Fu Jinghen''s status, it wasn''t rare for women to fawn over him with effusive praise, but Wen Qiao''s flattery was so ingeniously fake that it was a first for him.


    He eyed Wen Qiao, who was wearing his shirt, and returned the compliment half-heartedly, "You''re not bad either; you look quite fertile."


    However, Wen Qiao seemed to miss the insincerity in his voice, her smile blooming like a flower, "Thank you."


    In her heart, though, she was already clenching her fists.


    Damn it. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    How did my curvaceous figure end up being likened by him to a sow with a high yield?


    Why didn''t the original novel mention that Fu Jinghen also came with a biting wit?!


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    He realized that his little fianc¨¦e always seemed to interpret others'' sarcastic insults as compliments.


    "I''ve already cleared it with the director, the role of Lian Zhi is yours. I hope you''re not all talk."


    "I may put on airs, but I never boast."


    Wen Qiao found the two pictures she had just taken, posted them straight to social media without any edits, and captioned¡ª


    "About some online comments calling me a vase, I need to clarify¡ªit''s not a rumor. After all, a vase also needs to have curves and be as beautiful as a flower. What do you think?"


    Due to this morning''s release of the official cast announcement from "Red Makeup," Wen Qiao gained a bit of attention, increasing her follower count by just that little bit, finally breaking through the two million threshold. Her post quickly attracted attention.


    "Holy cow? Is Wen Qiao''s figure really that good?"


    "No, no, no, I can''t handle such stimulation early in the morning. Get me my tissues; I need to block the gushing nosebleed!"


    "Even vases have such high standards now?"


    "..."


    Wen Qiao didn''t much care for what the comments said; she pitied the original owner as she looked at those pathetic digits, understanding that out of those two million followers, one and a half million were zombie followers bought with money.


    Life is tough, sighed the beauty.


    Fu Jinghen, while putting on his shirt and casting a casual glance, saw Wen Qiao cradling her phone, a slight frown on her face, making him curious, "Did your phone kick the bucket?"


    His sudden comment caught Wen Qiao off guard; she blinked, and a question mark appeared on her face.


    "Otherwise, why are you staring at your phone with such a somber expression?"


    "...."


    Wen Qiao suddenly realized something. The content depicted in books was truly very limited. After experiencing it personally, she found that Fu Jinghen wasn''t just equipped with a sharp tongue; he might have grown up in the Arctic, otherwise, how could he also crack such cold jokes.


    Wen Qiao chuckled dryly, "The air conditioning in the room is pretty strong, so President Fu, there''s no need to keep exuding your humorous charm."


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    He should never have asked that extra question!


    Talk about unappreciated kindness!


    He took out a tie and began to knot it in front of the mirror, but just as he hung the tie around his neck, a pair of small hands climbed up.


    A voice of dissatisfaction chirped in his ear, "Hey, hey, hey, how can you let President Fu tie his tie himself? What am I, your fianc¨¦e, just for decoration?"


    With someone to serve him, Fu Jinghen was happy to relax, his hands hanging by his sides, letting Wen Qiao fiddle as she pleased.

 Chapter 15: You鈥檙e Quite Soft Too

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15: You''re Quite Soft TooNot long after, Wen Qiao proudly tied a perfect Windsor knot.


    Wen Qiao wore a look of someone seeking praise, "How is it?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced downward, "Not bad."


    As soon as he spoke, a distinctly feminine fragrance wafted toward him.


    Wen Qiao tiptoed, her arms encircling the man''s neck, and she leaned over his shoulder to adjust his shirt collar.


    Her soft hair occasionally brushed against Fu Jinghen''s chin, sending a ticklish sensation through his brain, making his brows twitch.


    "Done."


    Perhaps she had been on her toes for too long, for Wen Qiao faltered slightly, stumbling and tumbling into Fu Jinghen''s embrace.


    Fu Jinghen instinctively raised his hands to encircle her waist, holding her soft and fragrant body close.


    But only for a second, Wen Qiao pulled away from his embrace, "I''m sorry, President Fu, I just lost my balance."


    It was hard to say whether it was intentional, but as she stepped back, Wen Qiao''s lips grazed Fu Jinghen''s chin.


    While her mouth uttered apologies, her face blatantly spelled out "I did it on purpose."


    Fu Jinghen knew all too well the little tricks women played. If Wen Qiao pretended to be innocent, he would find her just like any other woman, but the cunning glint in her eyes made her seem like a mischievous little girl, somehow keeping him from becoming annoyed.


    But thinking of her age, barely twenty, a whole six years younger than himself, wasn''t she just a little girl?


    Wen Qiao, figuring that Fu Jinghen wouldn''t do anything about it, bounced around especially cheerfully, fetching a suit from the wardrobe and dressing Fu Jinghen, tidying him up before leaning in closer. Her voice lowered, almost whispering.


    "President Fu, you smell so nice."


    Nice?


    Comparatively, Fu Jinghen thought she smelled even nicer.


    However...


    Fu Jinghen glanced at Wen Qiao, whose face carried a teasing expression.


    He slightly raised an eyebrow. Was she treating him like some respectable family man?


    All of a sudden, Fu Jinghen wanted to deflate her cockiness, giving her a meaningful look.


    "Thank you, you are quite soft too."


    After saying so, Fu Jinghen brushed past her shoulder and left the wardrobe.


    "?"


    Soft?


    Where''s the soft?


    Recalling the gaze Fu Jinghen had left on her just before he walked away, Wen Qiao looked down.


    !


    Damn!


    Old pervert!


    When Jiang Yao arrived, Wen Qiao was leisurely enjoying her breakfast.


    She handed over a paper bag, "Don''t you have your clothes in here?"


    After finishing the last sip of milk, Wen Qiao licked her lips, "Yeah, but I don''t like them anymore."


    The moment yesterday''s engagement party ended, the Wen Family packed up her luggage and sent it over, clamoring for her and Fu Jinghen to foster some affection. Wen Qiao was crystal clear about their true intentions though.


    Fostering affection was just a minor part; more so, it was about extracting more benefits for themselves.


    The greed was disgusting to witness!


    Concerning those clothes, Wen Qiao did not like a single piece. Whether white or black, they were plain and dull, looking almost like mourning clothes to the uninformed. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Perhaps due to family background, the original Wen Qiao was far more mature than her peers, somewhat self-deprecating and timid, which was evident from the way she dressed.


    If she were Qi Ming, no, if she were a man, she wouldn''t have liked her original self either.


    Too lifeless, no vitality.


    Not at all like a blossoming young woman in her early twenties.


    The clothes Jiang Yao brought for Wen Qiao were a pair of floor-length trousers and a bubble-sleeve chiffon blouse, her hair tied up in a high ponytail that swung as she walked.

 Chapter 16: I Perform Art but Don鈥檛 Sell My Body

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16: I Perform Art but Don''t Sell My BodySince Wen Qiao was about to have her final makeup photos taken, she didn''t wear any makeup, and her bare-faced appearance made her seem somewhat docile.


    Jiang Yao was taken aback, her eyes lighting up, "Not bad, not bad at all. As the saying goes, ''You are influenced by the company you keep.'' After spending just one night with President Fu, your taste has undergone a qualitative leap."


    Wen Qiao, "Can you not make it sound so lewd?"


    "They''re consenting adults and engaged to be married, how is it lewd?" Jiang Yao blustered with righteous indignation, and then, lowering her voice, she leaned in closer, "How did last night go?"


    Wen Qiao felt a headache coming on just thinking about the paper bag Jiang Yao gave her yesterday.


    What disgusting stuff was in there!


    She couldn''t bear to look!


    Jiang Yao''s taste really couldn''t be praised.


    And besides, that kind of thing was only interesting if both parties were into it; otherwise, what''s the difference from a physical transaction?


    She might have bedded many men, but she did so with principles, thank you very much.


    "I sell my art, not my body!"


    "As my agent, you should be guiding me onto the righteous path, encouraging me to succeed through my own efforts, but instead, you''re telling me to seduce someone! That''s just outrageous!"


    "Aren''t female stars most concerned about their purity and reputation? If this were ancient times, inciting me like this, you''d be drowned in a pig cage!"


    Jiang Yao, "?"


    No, wait a minute, I just asked one question, and you''re firing at me like a machine gun; what''s all this about?


    If she hadn''t seen how persistently Wen Qiao clung to Qi Ming before, she might have been intimidated by Wen Qiao''s righteous appearance. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you still remember..."


    Jiang Yao was about to bring up the incident from the engagement party the day before, where Wen Qiao drugged Qi Ming, but she stopped mid-sentence.


    She knew that Wen Qiao was very resistant to getting engaged to Fu Jinghen, but now that the deal was sealed, even if she still had feelings for Qi Ming, she had to suppress them.


    If she brought up Qi Ming now, she would really be asking for trouble.


    Wen Qiao didn''t understand why she suddenly stopped, "Remember what?"


    "Nothing," Jiang Yao shook her head. "Sit tight, let''s go."


    Wen Qiao did not understand her sudden reticence. She gave Jiang Yao a suspicious glance, but seeing Jiang Yao looking straight ahead without any intention to explain, she didn''t ask any further.


    They managed to avoid the morning rush hour and hit a streak of green lights; Jiang Yao barely touched the brake pedal, and they quickly arrived at the entrance of Huasong Film and Television.


    The sun shone brightly, making for a rare fine weather day.


    After parking the car, Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao walked side by side into the building.


    The elevator happened to be on the ground floor, and the two stepped in, selected their floor, and just as the elevator doors were about to close, a voice from outside suddenly called, "Wait."


    Wen Qiao reached out to hold the door, and it reopened slowly, revealing three people who were already standing at the elevator entrance.


    Wen Qiao felt another headache coming on.


    Enemies really do meet on a narrow path.


    She wanted to pretend she didn''t know them, but Qi Ming, who stood opposite, suddenly scowled when he saw her and said, "This is unlucky."


    Wen Qiao couldn''t help but roll her eyes, "Then wait for the next one."


    As she moved to close the elevator doors, Qi Ming, not pleased, barged in, followed by a moment of hesitation between his agent and assistant who, after exchanging glances, also stepped in.


    The elevator was spacious, so even with Qi Ming''s party of three, it didn''t feel crowded.


    Wen Qiao felt she had nothing to say to someone who had nearly choked her to death, and quite rightly assumed that Qi Ming had nothing to talk about with someone who had drugged him with the intention to "cook raw rice into cooked rice". They just happened to be taking the same elevator, and if they acted like they didn''t know each other, reaching their respective floors peacefully was all that mattered.


    But it seemed that Qi Ming''s thought processes weren''t quite the same as a normal person''s.

 Chapter 17: Pretend to Retreat to Capture and Humiliate Oneself

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Pretend to Retreat to Capture and Humiliate OneselfWhen the elevator ascended to the second floor, Wen Qiao was looking down at her nails while he suddenly spoke up. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Out of consideration for your engagement with my little uncle, I let you off the hook for yesterday''s incident and didn''t mention it to my Little Uncle, but I hope from now on you''ll behave yourself and be strict with yourself. I''ve already told you more than once that I don''t like you, and I already have someone else I like. You should know who that is, right? You should have some dignity and not badger me anymore. If you do anything like following me or sneaking into my room again, don''t blame me for not recognizing you."


    After Qi Ming finished speaking, an eerie silence suddenly fell over the elevator. The other three people, already practically invisible, now wished they could vanish on the spot.


    It took Wen Qiao a moment to realize he was speaking to her.


    Where was this wave of delusion coming from?


    Does this kid have a screw loose? His little uncle sees and hears everything. If he didn''t know about the ruckus on his turf yesterday, then maybe he shouldn''t be the president of FS Corporation after all.


    It looks like this fool thinks nobody else knows.


    Qi Ming waited a while and seeing that he didn''t get a response, his gaze fell on the woman reflected in the elevator doors, who was currently frowning at him.


    He naturally interpreted Wen Qiao''s expression as "on the verge of tears," and his face began to show impatience. "Even if you cry your eyes out, I wouldn''t like you."


    Hearing this, Wen Qiao was at a loss for words, like she was constipated. She held back but couldn''t help responding, "Get it clear, I was the first one in this elevator. You came after, and it was your choice not to go on with the next one."


    "So what?" Qi Ming, capitalizing on his height advantage, looked down at her, "Is this your new tactic? Playing hard to get?"


    "You don''t think I''m here because I''m stalking you, do you?"


    Qi Ming''s face couldn''t have screamed "obviously" louder. "What else?"


    I''m going to laugh myself to death!


    Even if I were playing hard to get, I wouldn''t waste it on you!


    Wen Qiao clenched her fists, barely managing to restrain her urge to slap him awake, "Just a friendly tip from your future Little Aunt, you need some self-awareness. It''s fine to be narcissistic, but only handsome people can pull it off without annoying anyone. With someone like you, do you know what it''s called?"


    Qi Ming, momentarily taken aback by the term "Little Aunt" coming from Wen Qiao''s mouth, unconsciously asked, "What''s it called?"


    "Bringing disgrace upon oneself."


    With a "ding", the elevator reached Wen Qiao''s floor. She pointed a finger and pushed past Qi Ming, who was blocking the doorway, and walked off without looking back.


    Her high ponytail swayed with every step she took.


    Seeing this, Jiang Yao immediately followed her, strutting triumphantly.


    It wasn''t until the elevator doors closed again that Qi Ming slowly came back to his senses, incredulously asking his manager and assistant, "Did she just say I brought disgrace upon myself?"


    "This must be her new tactic, warming up to me at all times and now suddenly giving me the cold shoulder, making me uncomfortable so that I''ll fall for her. Romance novels aren''t even written like that anymore!"


    Manager Zhang Chi quietly interjected, "Ah Ming, you might really be misunderstanding her this time."


    "Misunderstanding?" Qi Ming laughed as if he''d heard the world''s biggest joke, "Misunderstanding what? Misunderstanding that she''s stalking me? If she wasn''t stalking me, why would she be here, saying that I brought disgrace upon myself except to save her own face?"

 Chapter 18: Grapevine

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18: GrapevineZhang Chi seemed unable to bear to reveal the truth, looking at him with pity in his eyes, "The lead actress for ''Red Makeup'' has been confirmed to be Wen Qiao, she came over today to take her costume fitting photos."


    The entertainment circle really is a small world, with only so many resources around. Even though there isn''t much competition between male and female entertainers, you never know when they might collaborate, so news tends to be shared among the agents. What''s more, the production team of ''Red Makeup'' official announced Wen Qiao as Rong Huan this morning. Probably only Qi Ming, who rolled out of bed just an hour ago, would be unaware of this news.


    "Her? The lead in ''Red Makeup''? Are you kidding?"


    Zhang Chi: "No mistake, according to rumors, it was President Fu who personally arranged it."


    Qi Ming asked, "Rumors? How reliable?"


    Zhang Chi glanced at him again, the pity in his eyes deepened, and mercilessly dealt the killing blow, "The source is your little uncle''s personal assistant, Feng Li."


    "...."


    In an instant, Qi Ming muted his mic.


    -


    Since she was there for the costume fitting photo shoot, Wen Qiao didn''t bother much with her appearance, simply tying up her hair without any makeup, and arrived in casual clothes. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The photo shoot was scheduled for ten in the morning, and Wen Qiao had woken up early, so she arrived at Huasong before nine o''clock. She thought she had arrived early enough, but to her surprise, someone was there even earlier than her.


    The door was ajar, and muffled voices could be heard from inside.


    Wen Qiao had no interest in eavesdropping and headed straight for the makeup room without stopping. Yet, just as she took a step forward, she heard her own name.


    "Has Director Zhang lost his mind, casting Wen Qiao as Rong Huan? Is he planning to ruin his own reputation?"


    "..."


    "Did she hook up with some sugar daddy or something?"


    "...."


    "Is that sugar daddy out of his mind? He must know that Sister Wei is Huasong''s artist and President Fu''s person, yet he dares to snatch the lead role for Wen Qiao? Is he asking for death?"


    "..."


    "It drives me crazy. You playing the lead was a done deal, but then Wen Qiao came along and inserted her foot in the door. Is something stolen that delicious?"


    Wen Qiao stood outside the door, listening to the person inside venting their indignation, speechless.


    Do they not know that walls have ears?


    After a second, she took out her phone and searched through it but couldn''t find Fu Jinghen''s contact details, making her even more speechless.


    Damn it!


    They had slept in the same bed, yet she didn''t even have his contact information!


    "Alright, Qianqian, keep it down," Li Qing noticed Jiang Wei''s complexion was off, glanced at the assistant Qianqian, signaling her to stop talking, moved behind Jiang Wei, and placed her hand on her shoulder, "Don''t take it too hard. I''ve read the script, and the second female lead, Tong Jia, is also a good role and suits you better. Even though the role doesn''t have many scenes, a good performance will make it shine."


    They had flown to the neighboring city for a schedule right after attending the engagement party yesterday. Just before boarding the plane today, they saw the official Weibo of ''Red Makeup'' announcing the main cast, and Jiang Wei was arranged to play the second female lead. To be notified this way at the last minute, you''d have to be a saint not to be angry.


    To be honest, Jiang Wei wasn''t exactly suitable for the role of Rong Huan. She is considered a rare beauty in the entertainment industry, but compared to the Rong Huan described in the book, she fell short. Rong Huan''s beauty was described as devastatingly stunning, while Jiang Wei was more of a quietly elegant type of pretty.


    Although she had more life experience than Wen Qiao, portraying Rong Huan convincingly would be no easy task.

 Chapter 19: Another Thing

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Another ThingLi Qing didn''t really hope for Jiang Wei to play the role, if she couldn''t successfully shape the character, "Red Makeup" had a massive fanbase of the original work, when the time came, Jiang Wei would definitely be berated mercilessly.


    The role of Rong Huan was hardest to perform due to her transformation from naive and cheerful to disillusioned and cold-hearted, feeling guilty towards her relatives on one hand, while struggling desperately with her love on the other.


    If the early stage isn''t well acted, by the time the plot climaxes, and the protagonist realizes the person she has loved for so many years is her arch-nemesis, it would be easy for people to criticize her as love-brained and naive.


    This conflicted greatly with Jiang Wei''s public persona, so Li Qing didn''t want to take the risk.


    Princess Xuanjia, the second female lead, was someone who was betrothed to Huo Cheng as the Crown Princess Consort from early on, capable in strategy and talented, although she would turn slightly villainous out of unrequited love in the later stage, it was still quite a highlight.


    Unlike the controversy surrounding the female lead.


    Jiang Wei forced a smile, "I''m fine, Sister Qing, you don''t need to worry."


    Not landing the lead role in "Red Makeup" and not feeling disappointed would be a lie, but right now, she cared more about something else.


    People in the circle knew that "Red Makeup" was Huasong''s most important drama in the second half of the year, from the director to the post-production team, all were big names in the industry, and it was absolutely not permissible to have any mistakes; moreover, Director Zhang Jiage was known for his integrity. There had been rumors that a producer wanted to push someone in through the back door, but once Director Zhang found out, he threatened to strike if anyone dared to use their position to sneak someone in.


    Since then, up until the official announcement of the main cast this morning, not a soul dared to push someone in.


    Yet, before the official announcement today, the role of Rong Huan hadn''t been settled, but everyone thought it would most likely be Jiang Wei who would play it, then the sudden announcement came that Wen Qiao would take the role. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To say it wasn''t shocking would be a lie.


    Not to mention Wen Qiao''s clout, just the numerous jokes she made by persistently bothering Qi Ming were enough to ruin her public favor.


    Even if it wasn''t Jiang Wei, it shouldn''t have been Wen Qiao.


    This was like using a major production as a plaything for Wen Qiao.


    And the only person who could ignore Director Zhang''s words and sneak someone in was Fu Jinghen.


    But how could this be?


    Her family and the Fu Family had business dealings, so she knew more than others.


    The Qi Family was quite traditional, and didn''t agree with Qi Ming entering the entertainment industry, but due to his pestering, it was Fu Jinghen who proposed that he join their family company, to both satisfy his wish and keep an eye on him, but his identity wasn''t made public, which was the only compromise Qi Ming agreed to. The outside world still thought Huasong foresaw Qi Ming''s value and thus strongly supported him.


    Wen Qiao, however, made a move on him, drugging Qi Ming at her and Fu Jinghen''s engagement banquet.


    Just who was Fu Jinghen, a figure at the very top of the pyramid, his pride and dignity were not something to be trampled by others at will.


    His fiancee gave him such a big green hat, and with the other party being his own nephew, not only Fu Jinghen, but any ordinary man wouldn''t be able to bear it.


    She had thought it wouldn''t be long before she heard the news of the Fu and Wen families calling off their engagement, but before that news could arrive, it was Wen Qiao getting the role of Rong Huan that came first.


    Although it felt unbelievable, besides Fu Jinghen, it seemed there was no one else who could push someone in.


    While she was pondering, she heard voices from outside the door.


    "Wen Qiao, why did you come so early?"


    Jiang Wei was startled and exchanged a glance with Li Qing, whose expression wasn''t too pleasant either.


    She wondered if Wen Qiao had heard.


    Li Qing glanced at Qianqian and scolded in a low voice, "How many times have I told you not to talk nonsense outside, you never listen!"

 Chapter 20: Stolen Goods Are the Sweetest

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Stolen Goods Are the SweetestQianqian knew she had done something wrong and hung her head in silence.


    Jiang Wei took a deep breath and straightened her clothes. As she turned around, she saw a sliver of the room door ajar, paused, and then pulled it open to step out.


    The assistant director was startled to see Jiang Wei: "Jiang Wei, how come you arrived so early too?"


    "Last night, I rushed to a notice out of town," Jiang Wei politely replied, "and after getting off the plane this morning, thinking about the promotional photo shoot, I headed straight here." She looked at Wen Qiao, "I didn''t expect Wen Qiao to be so early either. How long have you been here?"


    Wen Qiao knew what Jiang Wei wanted to ask and glanced at her lightly, saying nonchalantly, "Not too long."


    Wen Qiao''s ambiguous answer made Jiang Wei''s heart even more flustered.


    But asking any more would only raise suspicion.


    Makeup and dressing always take the longest for actresses, and thinking about finishing early to wrap up for the day, and seeing the makeup artist had arrived, the assistant director called for Wen Qiao and Jiang Wei to get their makeup done first.


    "Our male lead, Huo Cheng, is still on his way here. You two go ahead and start shooting."


    "Wen Qiao, you see, it''s like this. Since it was only decided today that you''d play the female lead, we didn''t prepare a separate makeup room for you, so please bear with it and use the large makeup room up front with everyone else."


    "It''s okay, I''m not inconvenienced." Wen Qiao was tilting her head and fidgeting with her nails, thinking about getting a manicure after finishing up.


    She didn''t really care about having a separate makeup room, but thinking back to what she had just overheard, she pulled her leg back in and raised her chin, "Isn''t there a separate makeup room here? I''ll just use that one."


    As soon as she spoke, everyone present fell silent for a few seconds.


    Qianqian snapped out of it and angrily said, "Why should you? That makeup room was specifically prepared by the company for Sister Wei. Why should we give it to you?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It was specially prepared, huh." Wen Qiao seemed contemplative. Qianqian thought by saying so she would back off, but to her surprise, the next second, she heard her say, "Then I definitely need to use this makeup room."


    "You..."


    Wen Qiao cut Qianqian off with a slight smile curling at her lips, "After all, the things you fight for always taste sweeter."


    Qianqian''s face turned pale, and her retort was stifled back in her throat.


    Wen Qiao scoffed inwardly, What a sly little person, only daring to speak ill of others behind their backs!


    When Director Zhang received President Fu''s call, the assistant director was right beside him. Director Zhang could afford to throw tantrums and not show up, but he couldn''t dare such a thing, especially with Wen Qiao, the parachutist, requiring special attention.


    But until today, there were rumors inside the company about the close relationship between Jiang Wei and President Fu¡ªan old flame and a new lover¡ªit was somewhat difficult to choose.


    The assistant director waffled for a few seconds, unable to come to a decision, when he heard Jiang Wei say, "Then let Wen Qiao have my makeup room. I''ll go to the main makeup room. It''s been a long time since I''ve experienced the feeling of squeezing in with other actors anyway. Let''s say I''m reliving my youth for the day."


    "How nice."


    Wen Qiao suddenly interjected with a feeling of appreciation.


    Jiang Wei: "?"


    "It''s nothing, just an exclamation," Wen Qiao played with the tail of her ponytail with her fingers, winding the soft strands around and around, a picture of girlish charm, "I envy Sister Jiang Wei. After so many years in the industry, you have both the seniority and experience. Looking back, you have so many memories. Unlike me, I''ve just started."


    Upon hearing this, the smile on Jiang Wei''s face strained to stay.


    She was discovered by a talent scout in her second year of high school, and now nearly a decade since her debut, naturally, her experience and seniority were something most people could not compare with.

 Chapter 21: With Fu Jinghen as the Big Backer

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21: With Fu Jinghen as the Big BackerWhen Wen Qiao made this statement, her tones carried the respect of a younger generation towards an elder, but in Jiang Wei''s ears, it wasn''t quite the same.


    The entertainment industry changes so fast, and female artists, in particular, are loath to look old. Age is a big taboo, and the older you get, the narrower the roles become. Not like Wen Qiao, who''s barely past twenty, fresh like a blank paper, anything splashed onto her would appear colorful.


    The assistant director, being a man, naturally didn''t understand the intricate feminine subtleties and took Wen Qiao''s respect for Jiang Wei at face value, heaving a sigh of relief.


    Otherwise, if a new lover and an ex started to quarrel, he really wouldn''t know whom to support. Now things looked good.


    The two of them got along quite harmoniously.


    "Then, wait here for a moment, I''ll call the makeup artist right now."


    After closing the door, Jiang Yao couldn''t contain herself and broke into wild laughter. "Did you see her? After you spoke that line, her face froze as if she''d had too much botox."


    Wen Qiao looked at Jiang Yao, who was laughing like a fool, somewhat speechlessly.


    She really had a low threshold for humor.


    "Alright, stop laughing. Be careful with your words, don''t just say anything."


    Jiang Yao also recalled what Qianqian had said when they had arrived, and feeling a bit annoyed, she hit her own head; she indeed got too carried away. Suddenly, she changed the topic, "But did you take the wrong medicine today?"


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    If you start off by directly asking whether I took the wrong medicine, I would start to wonder if it''s you who didn''t take your medicine.


    Jiang Yao, realizing how abrupt her comment sounded, scratched her head and explained, "You never used to care about these things before. When people spoke about you, you just bore it quietly. Every time, it made me so angry, wondering why I had such a cowardly friend."


    Cowardly?


    That word wasn''t even in Wen Qiao''s dictionary.


    Wen Qiao raised her eyebrows slightly, "Maybe... it''s because I now have Fu Jinghen as a strong support?"


    Jiang Yao, aside from being professional at work, was quite carefree otherwise. She thought Wen Qiao''s explanation made sense. She knew the hard times Wen Qiao had endured in the Wen Family. Now that she was engaged to Fu Jinghen and one step away from entering the Fu Family and becoming Mrs. Fu, her life was naturally incomparable to before.


    Thinking this, Jiang Yao''s gaze towards Wen Qiao suddenly became a bit relieved, making Wen Qiao feel a bit uneasy.


    "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    Jiang Yao stepped forward, gripping Wen Qiao''s hands like an old mother, and said earnestly, "Listen to your sister''s advice. Now that you''re engaged to President Fu, live a good life with him. He''s rich and handsome; I''ll rest easier knowing you''re with him."


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    What''s with this sudden act of entrusting on one''s deathbed?


    But seeing Jiang Yao''s serious expression, if Wen Qiao told her there was still a chance she might kick Fu Jinghen to the curb, she felt Jiang Yao would "never rest in peace."


    To put Jiang Yao at ease, Wen Qiao agreed very crisply, "Got it." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, acting outwardly pious while being contrary in secret was what she was best at.


    -


    "Red Makeup" is a drama led by a strong female protagonist, with Wen Qiao as the lead. Naturally, she was the focus of the crew. With both the makeup artist and stylist on deck, they rotated 360 degrees around Wen Qiao, handling her like a puppet doll¡ªclosing her eyes when told, bowing her head when asked, extremely cooperative.


    Just when the two stylists were about to spin around Wen Qiao like a top, they finally finished.

 Chapter 22: After all, He鈥檚 the One President Fu Favored

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22: After all, He''s the One President Fu FavoredJiang Yao timely handed over two cups of milk tea, "Thank you, teachers, for doing Qiaoqiao''s makeup and styling, it''s been hard work."


    The two teachers took the milk teas, "You''re welcome, it''s what we should do."


    These two makeup artists and stylists were more than a decade older than Wen Qiao and had long passed the age of idolizing stars. Being half entrenched in the entertainment circle, they were skeptical about the rumors online. After spending just a short time with her, they felt all the gossip was false.


    Before coming, the assistant director had specifically instructed them that Wen Qiao was a big deal, to give in when possible, and to avoid conflict. They thought Wen Qiao might be a difficult person, but as it turned out, this young lady was as quiet as a painting.


    People really should form their own opinions after spending time with someone.


    While the three were chatting, Wen Qiao lifted the curtain and stepped out.


    The hem of the bright red, wide-sleeved fairy dress danced mid-air with Wen Qiao''s steps, the gold embroidery resembling sprites encircling her, a small V-neck design revealing a segment of her delicate, fair collarbone. The graceful swan-like neckline extended smoothly, and the step shaking on her head tinkled musically as she moved.


    She truly seemed like someone who had stepped out of a painting.


    It was just that, as soon as Wen Qiao began to speak, the illusion was somewhat shattered, "How is it?" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao involuntarily slurped her saliva and nodded emphatically, giving her a thumbs up, "Absolutely stunning."


    Both teachers also lavished praise, sincerely so, not merely flattery, she truly was very beautiful.


    Hearing them speak this way, Wen Qiao felt reassured. After all, it was her first time taking a character shot, and no matter how professional she was, there was still some nervousness.


    Wen Qiao''s beauty was universally acknowledged, but seeing her after the styling, people couldn''t help but feel amazed.


    Although it was just a character shot, the photo alone could demonstrate the actor''s fit with the role.


    Wen Qiao hadn''t finished reading "Red Makeup," but from yesterday until the styling was completed, she had gotten through most of it and pondered over Rong Huan''s fate and character multiple times. Facing the camera, she felt somewhat grounded.


    The screenwriter of "Red Makeup" was the original author of the novel, who''d been involved from the casting process. The delay in deciding the female lead was because, up till now, none of the actresses who auditioned had quite captured the right feel. Seeing Wen Qiao, it seemed as if Rong Huan''s character was tailor-made for her.


    Not too much, nor too little¡ªjust perfect.


    "This morning when I saw the official announcement on Weibo, I was shocked. How could Director Zhang let Wen Qiao play Rong Huan? This is a work I carefully crafted over years, I couldn''t let anyone ruin it. On my way here, I was thinking if I wasn''t satisfied with the character shot, even if it cost me, I''d take back the rights."


    Screenwriter Bai Mo looked at "Rong Huan" on the display, her enchanting upturned eyes revealing a subtle defiance and integrity¡ªa woman who, unable to choose her birthright yet unabashed in her love, possessed an indomitable soul and steely pride even though her heart was riddled with wounds.


    The assistant director naturally welcomed such an outcome, "Exactly, exactly, seeing is believing."


    After all, she was someone President Fu had taken a liking to, she couldn''t be that bad.

 Chapter 23: The Boss Lady is so beautiful!

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23: The Boss Lady is so beautiful!The assistant director looked at the photographer directing Wen Qiao on how to pose and pulled out his phone to send three exclamation marks to the director''s WeChat.


    [Qingfeng Xu Lai: Director Zhang, you have to come back quickly! Our crew has really struck gold this time!]


    Feng Li, who just happened to come over to fetch a document, heard that "Red Makeup" was shooting costume photos on the third floor today. With curiosity towards the boss''s wife, after Feng Li got the document, he deliberately took a detour to sneak up to the third floor and peeked through the door frame.


    Not in any rush, he might as well satisfy his curiosity.


    He had no idea until he looked, and once he did, it was overwhelming.


    After rubbing his eyes to make sure the woman inside, dressed in magnificent robes and a silk skirt, beauty enough to overthrow cities and nations, was indeed his boss''s wife, he hurriedly pulled out his phone to send a video to Fu Jinghen on WeChat.


    [Warm-hearted Little Assistant: Boss, the Boss Lady looks so beautiful!]


    Qi Ming was at Huasong Media to record a song today. His album lacked one song, and he''d been stuck for several days. With the album release date fast approaching, the arrangement teacher somehow scavenged a love song for him. Although it lacked uniqueness, it was harmless enough to fill the quota.


    Love songs were not difficult, so Qi Ming finished recording in a short while.


    Zhang Chi was muttering about his schedule for the next few days.


    "There''s a commercial performance tomorrow, at Jingcui Mall, and the day after tomorrow, you start recording the variety show ''Country Life'', and that''s pretty much it."


    "Your focus this year is on your solo concert at the end of the year, so you''ll be busy. That''s why I didn''t schedule too much other work for you. If you feel idle, you can think about some endorsement deals when the time comes."


    Zhang Chi swiped on his tablet, saw there was nothing else to remind him of, and looked up to ask, "Where are you heading after this, back to your apartment or the old house?"


    Qi Ming was about to answer when he overheard two people walking by, muttering under their breath.


    "My god, setting everything else aside, Wen Qiao in that princess outfit is absolutely stunning."


    "I''ve read the original work, and just from the makeup photos, I think Wen Qiao really fits the character of Rong Huan."


    "....."


    Two girls animatedly discussed the scene they had just witnessed, so engrossed they didn''t notice Qi Ming, a prominent figure, as they chattered and passed by just a step away.


    The ignored Qi Ming frowned and said, "Nowhere."


    Zhang Chi: "?"


    Qi Ming: "I''m going to have a look."


    He wanted to see for himself how this woman, who had drugged him yesterday and cursed him in the elevator, stood out so remarkably.


    Zhang Chi, left in the dust by his striding figure: "??"


    Is this kid still half asleep?


    -


    Wen Qiao is a classic case of three-minute enthusiasm combined with hedonism.


    She is an expert in pleasure, usually whimsical and offbeat, but when it comes to things she truly loves, she gives her full diligence and effort.


    If it were anything else, her being settled for five minutes would be excellent. Now, for her beloved entertainment industry, she wouldn''t complain about being tired; instead, she grew more and more excited.


    After shooting hundreds of photos continuously, if it weren''t for the assistant director staying lucid, pulling away the photographer and the screenwriter, who nearly crowded in on Wen Qiao''s face, the rest probably wouldn''t have needed any makeup shots, and could''ve just watched the actual show. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao watched her come down and handed her a glass of water, looking at her with an expression of my little girl has finally grown up and mumbling, "So good, so good."

 Chapter 24: Overthinking is a Disease, It Needs Treatment

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Overthinking is a Disease, It Needs TreatmentWen Qiao was terrified that she would blurt out something like, "Seeing you''re doing so well, XXX''s spirit in heaven can rest in peace."


    "Sister Yao, you''re only two years older than me, right?"


    "Yeah." Jiang Yao nodded, not understanding why she suddenly asked this.


    "Then could you please not look at me with a motherly gaze? You''re in your twenties, a bachelorette¡ªcan''t you be a little more youthful?"


    "...." Jiang Yao poked her forehead, "You ungrateful little thing."


    Wen Qiao pouted and continued drinking her water.


    The assistant director came over, "Later, we still have to take a photo of you with the male lead, and then a group photo to wrap it up. Right now, it''s the second female lead Xuan Jia''s makeup test shoot; it will take a bit more time. You guys don''t have to wait here."


    The air conditioning in the room was somewhat faulty; it was still unbearably hot despite being on the lowest setting. Wen Qiao didn''t want to stay there any longer, and upon hearing the assistant director''s suggestion, she quickly agreed and eagerly grabbed Jiang Yao to go back and enjoy the air-conditioning.


    Just as they turned the corner and saw Qi Ming, Wen Qiao almost instinctively wanted to turn back.


    But then she thought: she hadn''t done anything guilty, so why should she hide?


    With this in mind, Wen Qiao straightened her back and walked forward as if she didn''t see Qi Ming at all, without even a sidelong glance.


    She had thought Qi Ming felt the same; they had just run into each other and could pretend not to know each other.


    However, when Qi Ming grabbed her wrist and started leading her toward an empty room, the only thought in her mind was¡ªthis guy really thinks differently from normal people.


    Left behind, Jiang Yao and Zhang Chi looked at each other for a moment, unsure of what had just happened; then, Zhang Chi was the first to respond, "What is your artist trying to do to my artist?"


    Jiang Yao replied, "If you''re not blind, you should have seen that it was your artist who made the first move on mine."


    The two exchanged looks again, and at this moment, the previously invisible assistant, Zheng Ce, spoke up, "Shouldn''t we go and check on them?"


    Jiang Yao and Zhang Chi snapped out of it and quickly followed.


    -


    "If you have something to say, just say it. Don''t pull me around in public like this."


    After being dragged by Qi Ming for a while, Wen Qiao grew impatient and shook her hand to free herself, but couldn''t.


    Qi Ming snorted coldly, "Stop playing little tricks; I''m telling you, playing hard to get won''t work on me."


    Wen Qiao said, "Honey, I suggest you go to the hospital for a full brain scan ASAP." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What?"


    "Overthinking is a sickness; it needs to be cured."


    No sooner had Wen Qiao finished speaking than she was flung by Qi Ming into an empty room. Due to inertia, she spun around slightly before steadying herself.


    Her skirt, because of her movement, drew a circle in mid-air and lightly brushed against Qi Ming''s leg.


    Wen Qiao, annoyed, said, "If you have something to say, then say it. If you have to fart, just fart."


    "Did you coerce my little uncle?" Qi Ming really was not polite at all.


    Wen Qiao looked at him disbelievingly, her face screaming, "You must be out of your mind; why else would you ask such a stupid question? How could anyone threaten my little uncle, he''s so capable?"


    "Are you sick?"


    Qi Ming didn''t understand, "Then why else would he cast you as the lead in ''Red Makeup''? Unless he''s sick."


    Wen Qiao spread her hands, "It''s not impossible."


    Qi Ming gazed at her intensely, as if trying to find through her face any evidence that she coerced his uncle.


    "....." Wen Qiao felt she was unjustly wronged, but she also thought that if she told him about the deal she made with Fu Jinghen, he would strangle her. After all, she was supposed to help his little uncle steal his woman; no man could tolerate that.

 Chapter 25: Mary Sue Returns to the World

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Mary Sue Returns to the World"You came to see me just to ask this?"


    Qi Ming nodded, "What else?"


    His implication was clear: what else did you think I was here for, woman? Don''t delude yourself, wake up.


    "I''ve finished asking, so you can let me go now," Wen Qiao said, unfazed by his unpleasant tone. She tried to walk around him to open the door and leave, but as her hand touched the door handle, she suddenly had an idea. Turning to look at him, she asked, "For the sake of me being your future little aunt, could you give me your little uncle''s WeChat?"


    Qi Ming suddenly let out a derisive laugh, "I knew you weren''t over me yet, pretending to want my little uncle''s WeChat when you''re actually after mine. Don''t think I can''t see through your schemes."


    I scheme your grandpa''s schemes!


    If there were a time machine, Wen Qiao really wished she could return to a minute earlier; that way, she certainly wouldn''t have asked Qi Ming for Fu Jinghen''s WeChat.


    Why did she even bother?


    She and Fu Jinghen were living under the same roof. Wouldn''t it be better to just ask him for it when she got home that night?


    But no, she had to rush things and ask Qi Ming, the master of wild conjecture.


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a moment, then sincerely suggested, "You know, you don''t have to stick to being a singer."


    Qi Ming was caught off guard by her abrupt change of topic and didn''t understand what she meant.


    Wen Qiao continued, "You should consider becoming a screenwriter. With your imaginative mind, you could definitely make a Mary Sue comeback in the world."


    After saying that, she pulled open the door and walked out. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As soon as she opened the door, she saw Jiang Yao, Zhang Chi, and Zheng Ce rushing towards her.


    "I''m totally winded. I haven''t run like this since high school," Jiang Yao gasped after reaching Wen Qiao and leaned against the doorframe: "So how was it, did Qi Ming do anything to you?"


    "He wouldn''t dare," Wen Qiao patted her back to help her catch her breath, then turned to Zhang Chi with a sincere suggestion: "You''re Qi Ming''s agent, right? I think Qi Ming needs to get his head checked at the hospital, before it gets any worse."


    Qi Ming, who had just come out, heard Wen Qiao''s words. His already dark face turned even darker.


    With a cold snort, he brushed against Wen Qiao''s shoulder and left without looking back.


    Zhang Chi and Zheng Ce, seeing this, didn''t have time to say more and immediately followed him.


    After catching her breath, Jiang Yao stood straight and asked, "Why did he suddenly go crazy?"


    Wen Qiao didn''t want to elaborate: "Let''s talk later."


    She helped Jiang Yao, who was almost crippled from running, towards her own makeup room. Neither of them noticed a half-visible cell phone that quietly retracted back into the corner.


    ---


    FS Group''s headquarters are located in the financial center of Jiang City, with two connected towers soaring into the clouds. Looking up from below, one felt a sense of oppression washing over them.


    Every Monday was the senior meeting at FS Group. The meeting lasted more than an hour. When Fu Jinghen left the meeting room, his phone vibrated in his hand. He picked it up to see a message from Feng Li.


    When he saw the words "Boss Lady," Fu Jinghen''s gaze faltered for a moment, then he opened the message as he walked toward his office.


    The first thing on display was a video, short in length, around five seconds.


    It seemed to have been recorded surreptitiously, as the camera was a bit shaky, but that didn''t stop him from making out the person in the video.


    The red gauze dress made her skin look even whiter, her waist-length hair draped smoothly down her back, a round fan in her hand, her fiery red lips not vulgar but rather exuding a cool aloofness.


    Seeing the video, Fu Jinghen somewhat believed Wen Qiao''s morning assertion "I never brag."


    It really did seem quite fitting.

 Chapter 26: Of course, it鈥檚 my dear fianc茅.

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Of course, it''s my dear fianc¨¦.Fu Jinghen scrolled down to read other messages, but when he got to the last one, his gaze paused.


    Feng Li: Boss, trouble! Mr. Qi just popped up out of nowhere, grabbed the Boss Lady''s wrist, and whisked her away with great urgency!


    Perhaps because Fu Jinghen hadn''t replied to him after waiting for so long, Feng Li couldn''t contain himself and dialed Fu Jinghen directly. As soon as the call connected, he couldn''t wait to spill the beans, "Boss! This is serious, the Boss Lady''s been taken by Mr. Qi! Judging by his expression, it''s pretty severe. Could it be he''s enraged by yesterday''s incident and wants to take revenge? Boss, you need to come save her!"


    "...."


    It was dead silent on the other end of the phone, and Feng Li pulled the phone away from his ear.


    Yes, the call was still ongoing.


    "Boss? Boss? Boss, are you listening?"


    "Hmm."


    Knowing that he was listening was a relief to Feng Li, but then he immediately said, "So, Boss, you..."


    Before he could finish saying "come quickly," Fu Jinghen interrupted him, "I asked you to fetch some documents and you''re doing paparazzi work now? What''s the matter? The salary the company pays you not enough, and you''re moonlighting? If you don''t come back within ten minutes, go to HR for your final paycheck. And by the way, she isn''t your Boss Lady yet."


    With that, he hung up the phone.


    As Feng Li listened to the dial tone, he was a bit dumbstruck.


    Boss is fierce.


    After signing his name on the last page of the document, Fu Jinghen suddenly picked up his phone, found Wen Qiao''s mobile number, and tapped out a message for a while, then put it down again.


    -


    Just as Wen Qiao returned to the makeup room, her phone chimed.


    She picked it up and saw a text message, with no name attached.


    187********: Miss Wen, I hope you will keep the promise we agreed upon, and stop provoking Ah Ming; otherwise, what I can give, I can also take back.


    After reading the message, Wen Qiao immediately knew who it was from, and was not at all deterred by the aloofness in his words. Instead, she excitedly started replying to the text message. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    186********: Wow, President Fu, you have my number! Let''s add each other on WeChat, texting costs money¡ªyou know, we could chat on WeChat!


    After sending the text, Wen Qiao switched to WeChat, pasted the mobile number she had just copied into the add friends field, and blinked expectantly while waiting for the search result.


    But...


    She found nothing.


    "Maybe he set it so you can''t add him by phone number..." Wen Qiao muttered in frustration and sent another message.


    Please don''t trouble yourself, President Fu, how about you honorably add me instead?


    This time, the reply came back quite swiftly.


    Not troublesome.


    Upon seeing these three words, Wen Qiao had already begun planning what her first message would be after they added each other on WeChat, thinking it wouldn''t even count as a regrettable memory when looking back in the future.


    Yet, she waited until everyone else had finished taking their promo shots, and the staff had come over to call her for a group photo, without seeing a red notification appear on her WeChat contacts list.


    Wen Qiao realized what the phrase "not troublesome" meant.


    It meant he had no intention of adding her at all.


    She tossed her phone to Jiang Yao with a huff.


    "Damn men, so damned reserved. If he doesn''t add me now, he''ll have to do it when I get home tonight anyway. He can''t stay reserved for long."


    Jiang Yao asked curiously, "Who are you texting, you look so wickedly amused."


    "Who else could it be, but my dear fianc¨¦, of course."

 Chapter 27: How Many Years in Prison for Beating Someone into Muteness?

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27: How Many Years in Prison for Beating Someone into Muteness?Jiang Yao shuddered at the goosebumps on her skin, full of disgust, "Don''t tell me you''ve been possessed by something filthy, how have you become so utterly revolting."


    Wen Qiao sighed and looked at Jiang Yao with pity, "Ah, I forgot, you''re still a single dog without a boyfriend. How would you understand the feelings of someone who''s practically married."


    Jiang Yao: "...."


    Right now, she only wanted to ask one question.


    How many years would you get for beating someone into a mute?


    -


    "The two teachers, please get a bit closer, hands together¡ªyeah, just like that, hold it right there."


    Wen Qiao felt that being a celebrity was not easy at all. For the sake of resources and interests, one could not just fall out with people they didn''t like; celebrities have a capacity for tolerance that ordinary people cannot compare with.


    Just like right now, she could feel Jiang Wei''s disgust for her nearly peaking, yet she still had to maintain a calm demeanor to collaborate with her.


    Truly a ninja.


    "Wen Qiao, don''t look straight ahead. You should be looking down at Jiang Wei, while Jiang Wei should look straight ahead."


    "Good, very good."


    "Hey hey hey, Jiang Wei, your expression is a bit stiff. You''re supposed to be the second female lead in love with the male lead¡ªyour gaze needs to be firmer."


    "That''s firm, not just staring blankly."


    "Hey! The camera is here, where are you looking?"


    With Director Zhang absent, the job of supervision naturally fell on the screenwriter and the assistant director.


    The screenwriter Bai Mo stood behind the photographer directing the two women. Seeing Jiang Wei, who had just been performing quite well, suddenly encounter a problem, he furrowed his brow, "What''s the matter with Jiang Wei? Why isn''t she in the right state?"


    Jiang Wei quickly apologized, "I''m sorry, Mr. Bai. I''ll adjust myself."


    Seeing this, Bai Mo didn''t have anything more to say and waved his hand, "Let''s take a five-minute break."


    As soon as Bai Mo''s voice fell, Wen Qiao removed the hand that was on Jiang Wei''s shoulder. To be honest, she also did not enjoy working with Jiang Wei in the slightest, let alone getting physical.


    Jiang Yao whispered, "What''s up with Jiang Wei? Why is she acting like she''s become a completely different person?"


    "How would I know?" Wen Qiao pondered for a while and then said, "Maybe it''s because my aura is too strong, I accidentally suppressed her."


    Jiang Yao: "Narcissism is a disease; go get treated."


    -


    Li Qing looked around, closed the door, and turned to Jiang Wei, "What''s wrong with you? Your performance was pretty good just now, wasn''t it?"


    Jiang Wei shook her head and didn''t speak.


    Seeing this, Li Qing didn''t press further, "You adjust yourself properly, I''ll go order some afternoon tea."


    The door opened and closed, leaving Jiang Wei alone sitting in front of the mirror.


    All she could think about was the conversation she''d overheard between Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao outside the makeup room.


    When did Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen become so close?


    Although she felt it was unlikely, the thought of the smile that was brimming on Wen Qiao''s face when she spoke made her feel irritated.


    A "snap" of glass breaking echoed. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Wei was startled, and upon closer inspection, she saw that she had accidentally knocked over a cup on the table, and her clothes were drenched.


    She clicked her tongue in irritation and stood up to go to the restroom around the corner.


    "Hey, did you see it just now? Wen Qiao is really pretty, huh? Suddenly I feel like Jiang Wei is a bit plain next to her."


    "Yeah, I''ve always thought she was very pretty, but as for the rest, let''s not talk about it."


    "That''s true, but I think her temperament is really quite similar to Lian Zhi."


    "Let me tell you, reliable sources have it that the role of Rong Huan was originally meant for Jiang Wei, but then Wen Qiao came out of nowhere and it was given to her."

 Chapter 28: Very Clingy

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28: Very Clingy"Ah? Isn''t it said that Jiang Wei belongs to President Fu? Who is so bold to oppose him?"


    "What are you talking about, that''s all rumors, Jiang Wei is not President Fu''s person at all, it''s just that the Jiang Family has a collaboration with FS, they just know each other, and maybe Jiang Wei herself started the rumor."


    "How do you know?"


    "My senior told me, she works in the president''s office, don''t tell anyone else, okay?"


    "I know, I know..."


    After the voices outside disappeared, Jiang Wei finally pushed the door of the compartment open and came out.


    -


    Jiang Wei managed to pull herself together quite successfully, and the subsequent shooting went rather smoothly, but it still fell a bit short of Bai Mo''s expectations.


    Anyway, the problem didn''t lie with Wen Qiao, she didn''t have any worries.


    "Everyone has worked hard, Weiwei has ordered afternoon tea for everyone, come and have some rest." Li Qing and Qianqian came in carrying four bags.


    After putting down the bags, Li Qing personally delivered three cups of coffee to Bai Mo, the assistant director, and the cinematographer. "Thanks for your hard work, please take care of her."


    The assistant director and the cinematographer, both men, were fine, but Bai Mo, being both the screenwriter and the original author, naturally had high standards.


    "Weiwei wasn''t feeling well today; we are all women here, Mr. Bai, you can understand a bit, right?" Li Qing pulled Bai Mo aside, apologizing with a smile.


    With that explanation, Bai Mo understood and looked much better than before. After all, the shooting was completed, and although it wasn''t perfect, in Bai Mo''s mind, Jiang Wei''s performance was still acceptable, it just seemed a bit forced compared to Wen Qiao. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Bai Mo took the coffee, took a sip, "Let it pass this time, but don''t let this happen during shooting."


    Li Qing reassured repeatedly, "Definitely, Weiwei is recognized as professional and serious in the industry, she won''t let us down."


    Hearing Li Qing say this, Bai Mo was somewhat relieved.


    "Have a cup of coffee, it was my bad mood earlier, I dragged you down."


    Jiang Wei walked over to Wen Qiao and handed her the coffee.


    Jiang Yao instinctively wanted to stop her, but Wen Qiao blocked her.


    "No, no, Jiang Wei is a senior, saying she dragged me down really flatters me."


    She took the coffee and drank a sip, she wasn''t afraid that Jiang Wei would tamper with the coffee or anything, knowing that everyone in the crew knew it was bought by her, and even if she didn''t like her, she wouldn''t dare to commit such an act against the wind.


    "The coffee tastes good, thank you, Sister Jiang Wei."


    Wen Qiao called her ''sister'' very sweetly, so sweetly that Jiang Wei''s smile almost faltered, as if she feared others wouldn''t know she was older.


    You can''t hit a smiling face, Jiang Wei really was helpless against her.


    Jiang Wei tentatively asked, "How about we go for a meal after we finish here?"


    "For a meal?"


    Wen Qiao bit her straw, blinking at her.


    Jiang Wei''s smile clearly stiffened for a moment, it was as if, for an instant, Wen Qiao saw through her real intentions.


    "Yeah, my treat, we will be spending a lot of time together in the coming months, the more familiar we are with each other, the smoother the filming will be."


    "Can''t do it today, sorry." Wen Qiao shook her head, "I have plans tonight."


    "With Brother Jinghen?"


    "Yeah."


    As soon as Fu Jinghen was mentioned, Wen Qiao immediately smiled brightly, "Brother Jinghen just messaged me to meet him after we finish here, can''t help it, just got engaged and he''s very clingy."

 Chapter 29: Aren鈥檛 People Allowed to Feel Shy?

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Aren¡¯t People Allowed to Feel Shy?After speaking, she even sighed, her helpless yet sweet demeanor nearly driving Jiang Wei mad.


    Wen Qiao noticed Jiang Wei¡¯s lips twitching noticeably twice, but they still remained in a lifted smile, and the little devil inside Wen Qiao immediately started jumping around.


    She just loved that look on Jiang Wei¡ªthat look of not being able to stand her yet unable to do anything about it.


    Jiang Wei, not giving up, continued, "Then let me take you there, I happen to be heading that way for an errand."


    Jiang Wei really wouldn¡¯t cry until she saw her own coffin, and Wen Qiao didn¡¯t stop her, nodding in agreement, "Then I¡¯ll trouble Sister Jiang Wei."


    "No trouble."


    "I really came at the right time, just in time for afternoon tea."


    A crisp voice rang out, and Wen Qiao instinctively looked up.


    The man was dressed in simple white clothing with black pants, no extra accessories, tall and straight in stature, with a somewhat ruggedly handsome face, exuding integrity. Wen Qiao, looking at him, automatically pictured him in a military uniform, which must have been very handsome.


    This must be Ye Shengnan, the actor playing Huo Cheng, the male lead of "Red Makeup."


    Ye Shengnan debuted at the age of ten, growing up in front of the audience and affectionately dubbed "national son"; he was always active in film and television. At 23, his first appearance on the big screen won him a Best Actor award and from then on, the "national son" successfully transformed into the "national husband."


    "Red Makeup" was a female-centric drama, and having a film emperor like Ye Shengnan to support the female lead, especially with Wen Qiao, a newcomer smeared by scandals right from the start, really felt like a misplacement of his talents.


    But this also showed how much Huasong cared about this drama.


    "Film Emperor Ye is here."


    "The assistant director won¡¯t let me live it down; I really couldn¡¯t push off the appointment this morning. As compensation, I¡¯ll treat everyone to dinner later."


    Only then did the assistant director smile, patting Ye Shengnan on the shoulder, "At least you¡¯re sensible, but let¡¯s skip dinner for now, as it¡¯s uncertain how long we¡¯ll be busy today. Let¡¯s just owe it for now."


    "Alright."


    The assistant director urged, "Go change and get your makeup done; your female lead has been waiting for you for a while."


    Following the direction the director pointed, Ye Shengnan saw two slender figures standing in a corner.


    Jiang Wei had worked with Ye Shengnan on a previous production, but at that time she was the second female lead, and didn¡¯t have much interaction with Ye Shengnan, the lead male. Seeing him arrive, she approached and said in a familiar tone, "Brother Ye."


    Ye Shengnan nodded in acknowledgment.


    Jiang Wei was about to say something more when she saw Ye Shengnan walking towards Wen Qiao.


    Just as her enthusiasm reignited, a glint of gloominess flashed through Jiang Wei¡¯s eyes.


    Wen Qiao, apparently not expecting Ye Shengnan to come over, paused briefly before greeting him cordially, "Hello, Senior Ye."


    "Hmm." Ye Shengnan extended his hand, "Pleasure to work with you."


    Wen Qiao shook his hand, "Please guide me a lot, Senior Ye."


    After a brief handshake, they let go.


    "I¡¯ll go get ready."


    "Okay."


    Ye Shengnan gave her another look before turning to head towards the makeup room.


    Once Ye Shengnan¡¯s figure had disappeared from the shooting location, Wen Qiao immediately turned and flicked Jiang Yao¡¯s hand off her waist, pulling Jiang Yao out from behind her, "Look at you, zero self-respect! Why didn¡¯t you just hide away? You were so excited when you saw Ye Shengnan, and when he came over, you acted like a scared quail."


    Rubbing her reddened hand, Jiang Yao pouted, "Why, can¡¯t I be shy?"


    "Ugh." Wen Qiao finally realized how affected and nauseating her earlier behavior of messaging Fu Jinghen had been, "Don¡¯t be so girly; it doesn¡¯t fit your tough girl persona at all."


    S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 30: Stop Coquettish

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Stop CoquettishJiang Yao and Wen Qiao became friends partly because their personalities complemented each other. Wen Qiao¡¯s original self was honest and meek, only burying grievances in her heart, and her pent-up negative emotions eventually darkened.


    Jiang Yao, on the other hand, was fiery-tempered, preferring to do things herself rather than rely on others. If someone upset her, she would definitely pay them back double, straightforward and open-hearted.


    That was also why her original self and she finally went their separate ways.


    "Shut up, will you? If you don¡¯t speak for a minute, no one will think you¡¯re mute."


    Jiang Yao quickly covered Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth to stop her from speaking recklessly and looked around warily. Seeing no sign of Ye Shengnan, she breathed a sigh of relief and whispered a warning into Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, "Don¡¯t call me by that nickname again! Or else, watch out, I might hit you!"


    Wen Qiao immediately looked aggrieved upon hearing this and blinked at Jiang Yao, "Would you really?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s appearance actually suited a cool and aloof style, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t act soft.


    Jiang Yao shuddered under her gaze and hurriedly stepped back, somewhat incoherent, "Okay, okay, talk nicely, no acting cute."


    Hearing this, Wen Qiao became even more energetic and grabbed Jiang Yao¡¯s arm, leaning toward her, "Sister Yao, why are you treating me like this?"


    Jiang Yao: "... Are you hexed?"


    How had this girl become so petulant after getting engaged?


    Wen Qiao released Jiang Yao¡¯s arm and stood up straight, looking down at Jiang Yao with a noble and cool glance, "You¡¯re the one who¡¯s hexed."


    Jiang Yao: "...."


    Alright.


    Now she¡¯s turned into a drama queen.


    -


    Wen Qiao¡¯s guess was spot on; after Ye Shengnan changed into his costume, his righteousness became even more awe-inspiring, commanding immediate respect.


    Following the screenwriter¡¯s instructions, they posed for the photo shoot.


    Wen Qiao admired Ye Shengnan¡¯s eyes silently, internally praising, ¡¯Emperor Ye truly lives up to his name. This instant immersion into character is really worth learning!¡¯ S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Lian Zhi and Huo Cheng should get a bit closer. Hey, Huo Cheng, you¡¯re supposed to be holding Rong Huan¡¯s waist. Ye Shengnan, what are you doing? Are you trying to smooth Wen Qiao¡¯s back?"


    The assistant director, thinking Ye Shengnan hadn¡¯t noticed this, walked forward and placed his hand on Wen Qiao¡¯s waist.


    Ye Shengnan stiffened for a moment and instinctively glanced behind the cameraman.


    Being so close to him, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t miss his action and followed his gaze, thoughtful.


    Since Wen Qiao¡¯s original character had exited the original story in the latter part and, agitated to death, Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t finished the book or the side stories, she didn¡¯t know whether the author had arranged a love interest for Ye Shengnan, a supporting character with few appearances.


    The original story was incredibly Mary Sue. Every male character seemed to adore the female lead. If Ye Shengnan didn¡¯t like the female lead, pairing him with Jiang Yao wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea.


    However, if Ye Shengnan liked the female lead, there was no worry, she could still play wingman.


    After all, Wen Shu already had Qi Ming. Standing there with so many potential options wasn¡¯t helpful; it might as well benefit someone else.


    But why...


    Why was Jiang Wei also standing there!


    And so close to Jiang Yao!


    Who exactly was Emperor Ye looking at just now!


    Jiang Yao was being foolish too!


    Why stand next to her nemesis!


    Wen Qiao sighed in frustration, really wanting to kick the eye-sore Jiang Wei aside.


    Ye Shengnan, thinking she was bothered by this, pursed his lips and said, "If it bothers you, I can talk to the assistant director and change the pose."

 Chapter 31: You鈥檙e very clingy to her

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31: You¡¯re very clingy to her"Ah?" Wen Qiao¡¯s attention was somewhat scattered, and she didn¡¯t immediately catch what Ye Shengnan was saying.


    "Just..."


    Ye Shengnan didn¡¯t know quite how to express herself, and she moved her hand slightly as a reminder.


    Wen Qiao then understood, "I don¡¯t mind at all, don¡¯t get me wrong, Senior Ye, I¡¯m all for sacrificing for art, I understand."


    It didn¡¯t matter who he was looking at anymore. If it was Jiang Wei, recalling how she had earlier acted overly familiar with Ye Shengnan, it would be good to aggravate her a bit. If it was Jiang Yao, then Wen Qiao had to be even more professional - she couldn¡¯t let Jiang Yao lose face! S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao composed herself and quickly got into character.


    Jiang Wei watched the two huddled together and sneered internally.


    This Wen Qiao really had some nerve; she had just gotten engaged to Fu Jinghen, and here she was, laughing and talking with another man.


    She took out her mobile phone, and with a glance, she stealthily stepped aside, pretending to play with her phone. She took a video of Wen Qiao and Ye Shengnan and sent it to Fu Jinghen.


    [Weiwei, not Weiwei: Qiaoqiao was just complaining to me, saying Brother Jinghen you¡¯re too clingy, she gets anxious the moment she can¡¯t see you. So, I made a special video to ease your pining heart.]


    Jiang Wei¡¯s message to Fu Jinghen carried a probing intent. The two had not known each other before, and barely a day had passed since their engagement, not to mention Wen Qiao had been entangled with Qi Ming.


    She didn¡¯t believe that Fu Jinghen would be as Wen Qiao described him.


    -


    "President Fu, the E brand will be entering Jingcui Mall next week. They hope to select a domestic female star to endorse their new season¡¯s products. Here is the list of eligible female artists under Huasong we¡¯ve compiled, which of them do you think would be a good choice for the endorsement?"


    The marketing manager handed over the well-arranged list and personnel information.


    Fu Jinghen took it and had just opened the first page when the screen of the phone next to him lit up.


    He glanced down, planning to ignore the message from Jiang Wei. But upon seeing the word "Qiaoqiao", he inexplicably put down the document and picked up his phone.


    Feng Li standing nearby widened his eyes. Oh my gosh, who on earth sent the Boss a message?


    It¡¯s known that President Fu would never check messages during work hours.


    Yet now he had actually picked up his phone and seemed poised to reply!


    Feng Li looked up to see the marketing manager with his mouth agape, equally shocked, and suddenly felt better.


    He wasn¡¯t the only one surprised.


    Fu Jinghen raised an eyebrow when he read the phrase "you¡¯re so clingy".


    What nonsense had this girl and Jiang Wei made up?


    He opened the video sent by Jiang Wei.


    The two people in the clip were in a suggestive pose, with Ye Shengnan¡¯s hand resting on Wen Qiao¡¯s waist. Wen Qiao looked up at Ye Shengnan, who, in turn, was looking down at her. Their lips moved as if in conversation, and whether it was the video quality¡¯s fault, it seemed there was a lingering, sorrowful air about them.


    A small snort of derision rose within him. Yesterday, she was arguing and betting with him, and not even a day later, she had thrown herself into another man¡¯s arms.


    Although he didn¡¯t know what nonsense Wen Qiao and Jiang Wei had concocted for Jiang Wei to send such a message, the memory of Wen Qiao¡¯s forthright confession that she did not like Jiang Wei came back to him.


    And even though there was no affection between him and Wen Qiao, she was, after all, his fianc¨¦e, and he did not want others to make a spectacle of their relationship.


    With these thoughts in mind, Fu Jinghen moved his fingers and sent back a two-word response.

 Chapter 32: Lush and Green

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Lush and GreenJiang Wei looked at the "Thank You" message sent by Fu Jinghen, her face somewhat gloomy.


    Thank what?


    She gave him a video of Wen Qiao?


    "It¡¯s Weiwei, not Micro-Micro: I just heard that Brother Jinghen you and Qiaoqiao are getting engaged, and I was worried for a while because Qiaoqiao¡¯s reputation isn¡¯t very good. There are rumors online that Qiaoqiao entered the entertainment industry without a proper job, just revolving around men, which is simply nonsense."


    "It¡¯s Weiwei, not Micro-Micro: Don¡¯t look at Qiaoqiao¡¯s young age, but she is especially dedicated. She¡¯s also very likable; Emperor Ye, who is never warm to anyone, actually took the initiative to greet Qiaoqiao after he arrived. It seems that the rumors online are really not credible."


    "It¡¯s Weiwei, not Micro-Micro: But, after all, Qiaoqiao is still young and can be easily dazzled by the falseness of the entertainment industry."


    "It¡¯s Weiwei, not Micro-Micro: But you can rest assured, Brother Jinghen, I will help you look after Qiaoqiao."


    After sending the message, a long time passed without a reply from Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen looked at the screen full of green chat bubbles, suddenly feeling the ¡¯eye protective¡¯ color had become somewhat piercing.


    He turned off the dim screen, placed the phone aside, and picked up a document to continue reading.


    What a coincidence.


    The first page of the personnel list was Wen Qiao.


    In the top right corner, there was a one-inch photo of Wen Qiao without a hat.


    Her hair was spilt into two strands, softly draping over her shoulders, with light makeup, and her mouth curved slightly upwards at the corners, her peach-like eyes staring straight at the camera.


    Holding a proper appearance, she seemed a bit more like a well-behaved housewife than when she was flirting with him.


    Thinking back to the video content Jiang Wei just sent, Fu Jinghen let out a light snort. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He flipped past Wen Qiao¡¯s page of information.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s infatuation with Qi Ming was no secret, and their corporate executives also knew Qi Ming¡¯s identity, but they did not know about Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen¡¯s engagement.


    Seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s attitude now, the marketing department manager quietly broke out in a sweat.


    Who had been so blind as to include Wen Qiao¡¯s information as well, wasn¡¯t this just asking for trouble?


    "President Fu, the information was organized by an intern who has just been made permanent. They only selected age-appropriate female artists and might have forgotten to scrutinize carefully. Don¡¯t worry, I will immediately reorganize a copy and remove Wen Qiao."


    Fu Jinghen looked up, "Why remove her?"


    This question caught the marketing department manager off guard. How was he supposed to answer?


    To say, "This person is pestering your nephew, and I think you definitely dislike her?"


    But saying so would likely get him silenced, wouldn¡¯t it?


    After all, families like this don¡¯t like outsiders knowing their embarrassing matters.


    Fu Jinghen flipped through a few more pages and then closed the document.


    The soft "snap" sound made the marketing department manager¡¯s heart tremble along.


    He had worked at FS for many years and hadn¡¯t really seen Fu Jinghen lose his temper, but he knew that didn¡¯t mean Fu Jinghen was without temperament. Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t manage such a large company as FS so well and continue to thrive.


    Such a person, once angered, would truly be terrifying.


    The marketing department manager involuntarily closed his eyes, preparing to face the wrath of the boss, but just as he shut his eyes, he heard Fu Jinghen say, "No rush."


    The marketing department manager was baffled for a moment.


    What did no rush mean?


    He looked towards Feng Li, who stood behind President Fu, with a pleading look in his eyes for help.


    Feng Li, having followed Fu Jinghen for many years, could somewhat guess his thoughts, and with a nod of his chin toward the door, he signaled the marketing department manager to step out first.

 Chapter 33: The Boss鈥檚 Thoughts Are So Hard to Guess

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Boss¡¯s Thoughts Are So Hard to GuessAfter the marketing manager left, Feng Li tentatively asked, "President Fu, about the endorsement for the G brand, have you decided on Boss Lady... Miss Wen?"


    Fu Jinghen turned his head to glance at him, a tinge of coldness in his gaze.


    Feng Li immediately shut his mouth.


    Had he spoken out of turn again?


    He had been scolded over the phone by President Fu earlier, and upon returning to the company, he had been summoned to the office to stand as punishment. High-level company executives coming in and out of President Fu¡¯s office all afternoon almost began to treat him like a mascot.


    Now that he had misspoken again, he wouldn¡¯t have to stand all night as punishment, would he?


    As Feng Li¡¯s thoughts were jumbled, Fu Jinghen suddenly asked, "Is Ye Shengnan set as the male lead for ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯?"


    "Yes." Feng Li opened his mouth again, "After all, it was you, President Fu, who personally made the choice. Don¡¯t you remember?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, Fu Jinghen shot him another killing look.


    Feng Li: "....."


    Whimpering internally, Feng Li found it so difficult to guess the boss¡¯s thoughts.


    He suddenly wanted to go back to living off his parents.


    After Ye Shengnan arrived, the filming progressed exceptionally smoothly; what was planned to take all night wrapped up by four o¡¯clock. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Qiaoqiao, I¡¯ll take you there in a bit."


    Jiang Wei, as if worried that Wen Qiao would run off first, immediately came over to remind her as soon as the shooting ended.


    "My memory isn¡¯t that bad, Jiang Wei sister. I remember."


    Jiang Wei gave her a deep look, smiling, "I¡¯m just worried you might forget, so come find me after you¡¯ve packed up."


    Wen Qiao nodded obediently: "Okay."


    Jiang Yao, who was listening at the side, was completely confused. Once Jiang Wei had left, she asked, "Where is Jiang Wei taking you? To the Western Heaven?"


    "To your head¡¯s Western Heaven, can¡¯t you wish me a bit of good luck?" Wen Qiao rolled her eyes and whispered a few words into her ear.


    "Ah?" Jiang Yao was somewhat surprised: "Your relationship with President Fu progressed this much overnight?"


    "Not at all."


    "??" Jiang Yao was anxious: "Then why are you having her take you? If President Fu ignores you, it¡¯s going to hurt your pride a lot."


    While speaking, Jiang Yao even patted Wen Qiao¡¯s cheek.


    Wen Qiao slapped away Jiang Yao¡¯s salty hand: "I¡¯ll just play it by ear. I just don¡¯t like her always testing my relationship with Fu Jinghen."


    Jiang Yao was still a little worried: "But you..."


    "Ah, relax will ya, I¡¯m clever enough to handle this."


    Jiang Yao didn¡¯t see where this confidence came from, "I never noticed how clever you were when you were getting pushed around before."


    "Times have changed." Wen Qiao patted Jiang Yao¡¯s shoulder reassuringly, "Standing before you now is the Manchu Qiaoqiao."


    Jiang Yao fell silent at her full of determination.


    She wondered whether she should remind her that before becoming Manchu Qiaoqiao, Zhen Huan had been banished to Lingyun Peak for several years.


    After Wen Qiao had packed up her things, preparing to go give Jiang Wei a piece of her mind and get her to give up on hope, she pushed open the door of the makeup room and happened to see Ye Shengnan passing by.


    "Where are you two going? Do you need a ride?"


    Jiang Yao was about to speak, "No...."


    "We need one!" Wen Qiao immediately raised her hand to tug at Jiang Yao¡¯s hair, "Senior Ye, our car was sent for maintenance, and I have things to take care of later, so I can¡¯t accompany her. Could you please give my manager a lift?"


    As she said this, Wen Qiao also nudged Jiang Yao and then remembered something, adding, "Oh right, my manager is very timid and afraid of the dark, so would you mind dropping her off right at her doorstep before leaving?"

 Chapter 34: Replaced the Rooster, Crowing on Schedule

    Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Replaced the Rooster, Crowing on ScheduleAfter saying that, Wen Qiao dashed off like a wisp of smoke.


    Jiang Yao looked at the still-bright sky outside the window and fell silent.


    The sun had just set, and it was still hours till dark. Her house wasn¡¯t on the other side of the Earth, and even if she rode a bicycle, she¡¯d make it home before dark!


    Ye Shengnan looked at Jiang Yao, who had an expression that was a mix of awkwardness and despair, and smiled with a curved lip, "Being her manager must be quite troublesome, huh?"


    Jiang Yao was still lost in thoughts of flipping Wen Qiao over and beating her up until she kneeled and called her ¡¯dad¡¯. Without thinking, she blurted out, "No, I¡¯m not her manager, I¡¯m her dad!"


    She bit off the last two words and only realized what she had said after a second or two. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She stuttered in explanation, "No no no, I didn¡¯t mean that, it really is quite troublesome."


    Ye Shengnan looked at her blushing cheeks, his smile growing wider, very considerately changing the subject, "Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you home."


    "Th-thanks," stammered Jiang Yao, her steps unsteady as she followed him, mesmerized by the smile at the corner of his mouth.


    "It¡¯s no trouble at all."


    Jiang Yao felt even more flustered.


    Wuwuwu, Emperor Ye looks so good when he smiles!


    -


    The black nanny van traveled down the asphalt road, the greenery on either side retreating swiftly.


    Wen Qiao and Jiang Wei sat in the second row, a narrow aisle between them.


    Jiang Wei shifted her gaze from the window to Wen Qiao. "Qiaoqiao, everyone thought you fancied Qi Ming. How come you ended up agreeing to get engaged to Brother Jinghen?"


    Wen Qiao was looking down at her text conversation with Fu Jinghen. An hour ago, she had messaged Fu Jinghen that she would come to him after finishing, asking for his cooperation in something, but like a stone sinking into the ocean, there had been no reply.


    Caught off guard by Jiang Wei¡¯s question, she didn¡¯t quite catch on, "Huh?"


    "Don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m just curious," Jiang Wei hurriedly explained innocently. "If it¡¯s inconvenient for you to say, that¡¯s okay too."


    "It¡¯s nothing inconvenient," Wen Qiao looked at Jiang Wei with a beaming smile, wondering what sort of flavor this green tea would brew, "Because Fu Jinghen treats me well, loves me to death and back. Don¡¯t let his high and mighty act fool you. He¡¯s actually been secretly in love with me for a very long time but was too shy to say it."


    Although Jiang Wei knew Wen Qiao might be lying, a wave of anger still surged in her heart. She clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into her palms, the pain helping to calm her a bit.


    "I remember before getting engaged, you didn¡¯t seem to know Brother Jinghen well, nor his likes and dislikes, right?"


    "Indeed, I don¡¯t know them."


    "Then let me tell you some of what I know, in case you accidentally tread on his landmines later." Jiang Wei¡¯s expression turned somewhat smug as she started to list Fu Jinghen¡¯s preferences, counting on her fingers, "Brother Jinghen has a habit of morning runs. He gets up at six in the morning, jogs around the Fu Mansion for an hour. If it¡¯s raining, he changes to the gym, and by eight he¡¯s at FS."


    As Wen Qiao listened, she tapped away at her conversation box with Fu Jinghen.


    [Oh my, you even run in the morning. Getting up at six? Are you even human? Anyone who didn¡¯t know better would think you¡¯ve replaced the rooster on its perch, needed to crow on time.]

 Chapter 35: You Hit the Wrong Person

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35: You Hit the Wrong Person"He doesn¡¯t like to be disturbed while working, his phone is often on silent mode, so it¡¯s best not to call him if he¡¯s in the office."


    Wen Qiao sent another message to Fu Jinghen right after hearing that.


    [Your phone is always on silent? What if I miss you and call or message you, and you can¡¯t hear it? Might as well switch back to a pager, that habit needs to change.]


    "After he arrives at the office, he starts with a cup of coffee, Americano with no sugar and no milk. Oh, and he doesn¡¯t like cilantro, prefers more bland tastes."


    Wen Qiao continued.


    [You actually don¡¯t like cilantro? It¡¯s so delicious; why don¡¯t you like it? Studies have shown that people who dislike cilantro have a certain disease, I¡¯ll look it up on Baidu and tell you later.]


    "..."


    Seeing Wen Qiao constantly typing something on her phone, Jiang Wei asked, "What are you doing?"


    Wen Qiao thought the best thing her former self had done was to apply an anti-spy screen protector on her phone so she could text Fu Jinghen without Jiang Wei peeking, "I¡¯m making notes of Fu Jinghen¡¯s preferences and habits to live better with him forever."


    Jiang Wei intended to imply that she was a disqualified fiancee, not even knowing her own husband-to-be¡¯s preferences, hoping to provoke her, make her give up, but her plan backfired, leaving her infuriated.


    With the eager demeanor of a diligent student, Wen Qiao said, "Keep telling me, Sister Jiang Wei, I will definitely take it to heart."


    Jiang Wei gave an awkward smile, "That¡¯s pretty much all I know."


    With that, she turned her gaze back to the window, unwilling to continue.


    Seeing her reaction, Wen Qiao almost couldn¡¯t keep her smirk from growing.


    Naive.


    Still playing these old tricks in this day and age.


    She adjusted her newly braided hair and continued to harass Fu Jinghen. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Don¡¯t ask me how I know so much about you, ask is, Jiang Wei told me voluntarily¡ªshe was showing off! She¡¯s taking me to you right now, and as my fianc¨¦, you definitely won¡¯t let me down, right?]


    Still no response.


    Wen Qiao persisted.


    [We just signed an agreement yesterday! We¡¯re in this together now. If you mess up, Jiang Wei will step all over me, and it¡¯s as good as her stepping on you, the mighty FS leader. How can a man let a woman walk over him? Impossible! So, when I message you later, you better come pick me up!]


    Again, no one replied.


    Wen Qiao was getting agitated.


    Even if it¡¯s on silent, wouldn¡¯t the screen light up at some point?


    Was Fu Jinghen blind?


    After another ten minutes, Jiang Wei suddenly turned to her and asked, "We¡¯re almost there; where is Brother Jinghen waiting for you?"


    Wen Qiao, cool as a cucumber, replied, "Let me ask him."


    She dialed the number directly, praying in her heart he would pick up.


    After about five or six rings, having cursed Fu Jinghen in her mind throughout, the phone was finally answered.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s deep voice came through: "What¡¯s up?"


    What¡¯s up?


    Hadn¡¯t he seen her messages?


    No matter.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s voice was excessively sweet, "Brother Jing, I¡¯m almost at your office building; can you come down to the parking lot to pick me up? Sister Jiang Wei would be worried otherwise."


    "..."


    A moment of silence on the other end, then, "You¡¯ve got the wrong person."

 Chapter 36: Daddy Fu!

    Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Daddy Fu!"You¡¯re already there? Have you been waiting for me for a long time? You¡¯re so eager to see me, huh? Oh, how embarrassing for me. I¡¯ll be there soon, just wait a little bit for me, muah."


    After the call ended, Jiang Wei¡¯s face couldn¡¯t even be described as black as the bottom of a pot¡ªit was as black as coal.


    Wen Qiao actually felt unsure too because she didn¡¯t know if Fu Jinghen would cooperate with her.


    She had planned to coordinate with Jiang Yao, and if Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t shown up in FS¡¯s parking lot, she would have made up an excuse about an urgent notice and then escaped.


    But now, she had pushed Jiang Yao towards Ye Shengnan, leaving her to fight alone.


    Wen Qiao sighed silently in her heart.


    Oh Yao, your dear Qiao has sacrificed so much for you, you must strive hard.


    -


    Fu Jinghen listened to the "beep beep" sound through the handset, and for a rare moment, he was a bit dazed.


    What trick was this girl playing again?


    After thinking for two seconds, Fu Jinghen decided to check it out himself.


    Feng Li, who was still being punished and standing aside, quickly followed and said, "President Fu, there¡¯s another meeting in ten minutes. Where are you going now?"


    "Push it back by half an hour."


    Standing in the elevator, Fu Jinghen noticed a little red dot indicating an unread message, which turned out to be over a dozen messages.


    Somehow, he felt certain they were from Wen Qiao even before he opened them.


    Rightly so, as he read through them. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The latest one had been sent right after the call ended.


    [I can already see FS¡¯s building, I estimate it will take five more minutes to reach the battlefield. Please come down and help me out, I¡¯m begging you. Saving one life is better than building a seven-storied pagoda. You¡¯re like my reborn parents!]


    After reading the messages, Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t find any adjectives to describe his current mood.


    Perhaps it was Wen Qiao¡¯s text message¡¯s vivid imagery, Fu Jinghen almost pictured a bustling figure right before his eyes.


    A piece of land purchased recently became wasteland due to policy issues, so today¡¯s senior management meeting was notably lengthy. The narrow-minded, self-interested shareholders babbled on, causing a headache.


    However, his light annoyance seemed to fade slowly after seeing these messages.


    With the sound of a "ding," the elevator reached the basement floor.


    Fu Jinghen sent her a message back.


    [I¡¯m waiting at the elevator door.]


    After sending it, he switched to WeChat, entered the section to add new friends, and typed Wen Qiao¡¯s mobile number in. Her profile popped up before he could proceed further when he heard a crisp female voice, "Fu Jinghen!"


    The next second, he saw a Hua Huadie launching herself at him, and he was tightly enveloped in a hug.


    Feng Li, who had followed after settling the matters, opened his mouth in surprise. Where did this big moth come from?


    Hua Huadie lifted her head from Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace and praised, "You are so dependable, President Fu! I knew you wouldn¡¯t leave this grasshopper to drown alone on a ship."


    Fu Jinghen looked down at her, darkened the phone screen, and pocketed it. "Didn¡¯t you say I was your reborn parents?"


    Wen Qiao got the hint and obediently corrected, "Daddy Fu!"


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    The tapping sound of high heels echoed in the empty parking lot as Fu Jinghen looked up at Jiang Wei approaching them, he asked, "What trick are you playing now?"


    "It¡¯s unfair, I wasn¡¯t the one who provoked first!" Wen Qiao lowered her voice, "I¡¯ll explain everything when we get home. Help me out till the end, just play along with me a bit."

 Chapter 37: I鈥檒l Cook for You

    Chapter 37: Chapter 37: I¡¯ll Cook for YouWen Qiao finished speaking just as Jiang Wei approached them.


    "Brother Jinghen."


    Fu Jinghen, with one hand around Wen Qiao¡¯s waist, nodded towards Jiang Wei, "Thanks for bringing Qiaoqiao over."


    Hearing Fu Jinghen call Wen Qiao by such an endearing name, Jiang Wei¡¯s complexion turned slightly pale, but she maintained a proper smile, "It¡¯s no trouble at all, I quite like Qiaoqiao too."


    Wen Qiao was almost sick to her stomach inwardly, clearly despising her so much she could flay and bone Jiang Wei, and yet Jiang Wei pretended to like her. Wen Qiao felt that Jiang Wei deserved an Oscar for this performance and was indignant on her behalf for not taking one home.


    Fu Jinghen looked down at the Hua Huadie in his arms and patted her head, "Say thank you."


    Wen Qiao thanked her graciously, "Thank you, Sister Jiang Wei, for bringing me safely to Fu Jinghen¡¯s side."


    As Jiang Wei watched the two¡¯s public display of affection, she felt a tightness in her chest. If she didn¡¯t leave this place soon, she worried she might suffocate.


    "You¡¯re welcome, I¡¯ll be going then."


    Wen Qiao waved goodbye, "See you, Sister Jiang Wei."


    Once Jiang Wei¡¯s nanny van left the parking lot, Wen Qiao unhesitatingly left Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace, turned around to face him, and bowed deeply, "Thanks to Daddy Fu for playing along! I shall never forget this great kindness!"


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen withdrew his arm hanging in mid-air and looked down at Wen Qiao in front of him.


    A bubble-sleeve floral chiffon blouse paired with jeans, her hair tied into two braids, each end adorned with little butterfly-shaped hair clips. She could be mistaken for a high school student.


    "Hmm."


    Was I just being courteous, or did you really think of yourself as an emperor with that condescending tone?


    Wen Qiao sneered inwardly and straightened up.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the two little butterfly clips hanging in front of her, "What was with the show of defiance?"


    "You don¡¯t know anything, do you?"


    "?"


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t understand the look on Wen Qiao¡¯s face, as though she were looking at an idiot, "What should I know?" Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..." After a second of brainstorming, Wen Qiao decided not to reveal Jiang Wei¡¯s ulterior motives towards Fu Jinghen. It was probably a good thing that he wasn¡¯t aware¡ªbetter to avoid giving Jiang Wei more attention.


    "It¡¯s nothing." Wen Qiao brushed it off with an excuse, "Because everyone was saying the role of Rong Huan was tailor-made for Jiang Wei, and now I, the newcomer, have snatched it away. Of course, she doesn¡¯t take kindly to me and did it to spite me."


    The young girl crossed her arms in front of her, holding a white little purse, idly drawing circles on the ground with her toes, looking down. From Fu Jinghen¡¯s angle, he could see her long, curled eyelashes and slightly pouted lips.


    "Ah, to endure so much at such a young age, and my fianc¨¦ doesn¡¯t even help me, I¡¯m really too pitiful."


    A light and airy tone mixed with a hint of petulant complaining.


    Unfortunately, Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t taken in by her act, "I didn¡¯t help you? So was the role of Rong Huan given to a dog?"


    Wen Qiao glared at him sharply.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s voice remained calm as he explained, "Even without you, the role of Rong Huan wouldn¡¯t have gone to Jiang Wei."


    "Eh?" Wen Qiao inquired with interest, "Then who would it have been?"


    Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t keen on elaborating and checked his watch, "I have to do something later, and you...."


    Wen Qiao cut in, "Go ahead with your business, I¡¯m going home."


    Fu Jinghen nodded, "Have Feng Li take you back."


    As he was about to turn away, his wrist was suddenly gripped.


    He turned back.


    "Will you come home early? I¡¯ll cook for you?"

 Chapter 38: A Glimpse of Astonishment

    Chapter 38: Chapter 38: A Glimpse of AstonishmentThe little girl tilted her head, batting her eyelashes as she looked at herself, her bright eyes sparkling with light.


    Fu Jinghen felt a twitch in his brow from her gaze, somewhat hastily turning his head to glance at Feng Li standing at the elevator entrance, "Take her home."


    Feng Li was still shocked by how Miss Wen and President Fu had become so intimately close overnight, stuttering, "Ah, okay, okay."


    A second before the elevator doors closed, Wen Qiao¡¯s coy voice rang out from the parking lot, "I¡¯ll be waiting obediently at home for you to return, President Fu."


    Having said that, she even blew him a kiss.


    Feng Li was once again dumbfounded. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why did the Boss Lady act so coquettishly?


    Feng Li shivered, forcefully pulling his wandering thoughts back, took out his car keys, and pressed them. A car not far away, unassuming in color but with a price tag that was anything but modest, flashed its lights twice.


    "Let¡¯s go, Miss Wen."


    Taking a lesson from what had just happened, Feng Li refrained from calling her Boss Lady.


    Wen Qiao stared at the car for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "Is this the only car Fu Jinghen has here?"


    "No, not at all," Feng Li didn¡¯t understand why she was asking but still pointed out, "There¡¯s also that one next to it."


    Parked beside it was a Lamborghini Aventador.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up instantly at the sight of this car. "I want to drive this one!"


    "Ah?"


    Was the Boss Lady really this wild?


    Ten minutes later, the car zoomed out of the parking lot and sped along the expansive road. Sitting in the passenger seat, Feng Li couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva, gripping the handle tightly, his back pressed against the seat, his hair a messy flurry in the wind.


    He was now absolutely certain of the answer to his own question.


    Yes, the Boss Lady was indeed wild.


    After Wen Qiao said she wanted to drive this car, before he could even process what was happening, he saw her hop into the driver¡¯s seat in a flash. Promptly following suit, Feng Li got into the car, and then Wen Qiao inquired if there was another road, less crowded with traffic, that could take them home, not minding if it was a bit out of the way.


    A new asphalt road had just been finished a couple of days ago in Houhu. The young master of the Qin Family, Qin Xiang, thought the location was quite good and delayed the opening to invite a few friends for some street racing. He even called Fu Jing to come and have a look.


    But if time could be reversed, he would never tell Wen Qiao about that road.


    Feng Li glanced at the dashboard, where the needle was still edging closer to the right side, his heart almost jumping to his throat.


    "Miss Wen, there are a million roads out there, but safety comes first."


    As the car flew forward at high speed, the wind shattered Feng Li¡¯s words.


    At another entrance, Qin Xiang and Cheng Jue had just descended from the car when they saw a bright yellow shadow zip by in front of them.


    With a beautiful drift, the car then disappeared around the bend.


    Cheng Jue had gotten out just a few seconds before Qin Xiang. Seeing that the driver was a woman from a quick glance, saying it was a fleeting glimpse wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration. He whistled, "Impressive driving skills!"


    "Damn it!" Qin Xiang couldn¡¯t help but curse.


    Fu Jing was street racing without calling him?


    The car was a gift from Qin Xiang for Fu¡¯s engagement, a token of congratulations for having one foot in the grave, with the design and color chosen according to his taste, loudly flashy, which then received Fu Jinghen¡¯s undisguised scorn.


    Yet, despite saying he despised it, Fu Jing went street racing behind everyone¡¯s back?


    Cheng Jue asked, "Have there been women here before?"


    "No way," Qin Xiang replied, knowing too well that he never brought women when racing because of the hassle.


    Cheng Jue pointed toward the spot where the car had vanished, "Then how did that woman know about this place?"

 Chapter 39: Can It Be Managed?

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Can It Be Managed?Qin Xiang was dumbfounded, "You¡¯re saying the one driving fiercely just now was a woman?"


    "If I¡¯m not blind."


    Cheng Jue didn¡¯t understand why he reacted so strongly, but seeing his extremely shocked expression, he didn¡¯t ask any more questions.


    However, a sense of curiosity rose in his heart.


    After a heart-stopping experience, the car finally came to a steady stop in front of the villa.


    With a "clack," the person in the driver¡¯s seat hopped out with ease, while he shakily opened the door and climbed down from the passenger side.


    Wen Qiao looked at Feng Li, whose face had turned white, and clicked her tongue, "Assistant Feng, you¡¯re really not cut out for this."


    How could a man be told he¡¯s not up to par? Especially by a woman?


    Feng Li immediately straightened up, attempting to prove himself, but his stomach churned, and he rushed to the trash bin by the entrance of the villa in just a few steps.


    Alright, he admitted he was not up to it.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hands caressed the car back and forth, her fondness for it was self-evident. Once Feng Li had finished vomiting, she said, "Assistant Feng, I guess you have a shadow over this car now. How about you take a taxi back? Leave the car behind?"


    Indeed, Feng Li dared not get in the car again for a short while, naturally having no objections. He nodded hastily.


    Wen Qiao let out a giggle, happily skipping and humming a tune as she entered the house with light footsteps.


    Feng Li watched Wen Qiao¡¯s bouncing figure and couldn¡¯t help but feel the contrast was too great.


    Such a delicate woman drove even fiercer than him.


    He wondered whether President Fu, at his age, could handle such an energetic young wife.


    Regardless of her academic pursuits, Wen Qiao could be described as a typical rich second generation, adept in all sorts of play and leisure. Her life motto was "Only handsome guys and good food shall not be disappointed," so she was not only good at eating but also at cooking. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon entering the villa, she changed into a loose house dress and then made her way to the kitchen.


    Nanny Zhang had just placed the newly purchased vegetables in the fridge and took out her phone to video call her little grandson. As soon as the call connected and her grandson had just said, "Grandma," he saw Wen Qiao enter, giving Nanny Zhang such a start that she hastily covered the phone, "Miss Wen, are you hungry? What would you like to eat? I¡¯ll make it right away."


    Since Fu Jinghen¡¯s return home was unpredictable, Nanny Zhang didn¡¯t prepare dinner in advance, hoping to sneak in a lazy moment, but she was caught red-handed.


    "No need, no need, I¡¯ll cook dinner today." Wen Qiao took down an apron hanging on the wall, tied it around her waist, and began rummaging for ingredients in the refrigerator.


    Nanny Zhang immediately became anxious and followed her, "Let me do it, Miss Wen. You go rest outside, I¡¯ll cook whatever you want."


    "Ah, no need. I said I would cook; don¡¯t fuss over it." Wen Qiao smiled as she pushed away Nanny Zhang¡¯s hand.


    She had also heard the milky little boy¡¯s voice when she came in and asked, "Is that your grandson?"


    Nanny Zhang was a bit slow on the uptake and nodded her head, "Ah, yes."


    The video call was still ongoing, with the little boy¡¯s voice continuing, "Grandma, why did it go dark over there?"


    Just listening to his voice, Wen Qiao was already charmed. She wiped her hands clean and picked up the phone, which was upside down on the marble table, and handed it to Nanny Zhang, "Go ahead with your video call; the little cutie is getting anxious."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s face momentarily flashed in front of the camera, and the little boy on the other side of the phone saw her. When he saw Nanny Zhang¡¯s face appear on screen, he curiously asked, "Grandma, who was that sister just now?"


    "Keke, you shouldn¡¯t call her sister, you should call her aunt....."

 Chapter 40: I Really Like Him Already

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40: I Really Like Him AlreadyNanny Zhang hadn¡¯t finished correcting her when Wen Qiao cut in, "Call me ¡¯sister,¡¯ call me ¡¯sister!¡¯"


    When Wen Qiao heard the little sweetheart calling for her, she whooshed in front of the camera, and after seeing the pink, dumpling-like little boy, she liked him so much, "Little cutie, are you looking for me?"


    Now that Keke had a clear view of Wen Qiao¡¯s face, he let out a small gasp, "Sister, you¡¯re so pretty."


    "You¡¯re very cute too." Wen Qiao smiled, her eyes crinkling into slits.


    All kids are such smooth talkers, then look at Fu Jinghen, that jerk, it¡¯s a wonder he doesn¡¯t drive people crazy.


    Seeing how much Wen Qiao adored children, Nanny Zhang chuckled and said, "Miss Wen likes children so much, why not have one with the young master? You¡¯ll surely be a good mother."


    Wen Qiao was stunned for a moment and then shook her head fiercely, "No, no, no, I have no plans to have children in my life."


    Having children is such a hassle.


    Not to mention the nine months of pregnancy, having your belly stretched out so much, and not being able to wear pretty clothes. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And forget about the headache of childbirth, not to mention a possible C-section scar.


    No way, she didn¡¯t want that.


    Just thinking about it gave her a shiver, and even looking at "little cutie" wasn¡¯t as cute anymore; she turned around and went to wash and chop vegetables honestly.


    Nanny Zhang, realizing she had said the wrong thing, remembered that Miss Wen didn¡¯t have feelings for Mr. Fu, but since the two of them were engaged, marriage seemed inevitable. They couldn¡¯t go on like this forever. After some thought, Nanny Zhang hung up the video call, stood next to Wen Qiao, and while helping her wash the vegetables, she tried to persuade, "Miss Wen, maybe you haven¡¯t spent much time with the young master, but after being together for a while, you¡¯ll definitely like him. The young master is very accomplished; he went abroad for his studies after middle school and took over the company after graduating from university. Even though I don¡¯t understand all that, I know the company has been doing even better since the young master took over. Plus, he doesn¡¯t have any bad habits and has never been in a relationship..."


    As Nanny Zhang listed all of Fu Jinghen¡¯s good qualities, Wen Qiao found it somewhat amusing yet also heartwarming. She chopped the pineapple, a slight smile hanging on her lips, "No need to get to know him further, I already like him very much."


    "Ah?" Nanny Zhang was baffled.


    Wen Qiao glanced at her and took the bell pepper from her hand, "You¡¯ve said so many good things about Fu Jinghen, what reason would I have not to like him?"


    "You like the young master? But aren¡¯t you..." Nanny Zhang stopped mid-sentence, but Wen Qiao knew what she was going to say and shrugged, explaining, "That was just youthful ignorance, that¡¯s all. Look, I¡¯m cooking for him today just to coax him. Nanny Zhang, please tell me what Fu Jinghen likes to eat, so I don¡¯t beat around the bush."


    "Ah, alright, alright."


    Nanny Zhang hadn¡¯t expected her to be cooking for Fu Jinghen, and though she didn¡¯t know how Miss Wen had changed her mind, the outcome pleased her. She grew more enthusiastic, assisting at Wen Qiao¡¯s side while continuing to chatter about Fu Jinghen.


    Nanny Zhang had thought Wen Qiao was a high-maintenance lady, her claim to cook was probably just talk, and Nanny Zhang was prepared to intervene at any moment. However, to her surprise, Wen Qiao was skilled throughout the process, turning out dishes vibrant in color, perfectly seasoned.


    The two served the meal on the table, and Wen Qiao glanced at the time, guessing that Fu Jinghen should be back soon.


    Just then, a Weibo notification suddenly popped up on her phone. After a brief look, Wen Qiao froze.

 Chapter 41: Postponed Due to Car Accident

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Postponed Due to Car Accident"The airport road experienced a series of car accidents, and the popular celebrity Wen Shu remains unconscious."


    Seeing this familiar headline, Wen Qiao felt a shock at the bottom of her heart.


    She clicked on the push notification, and Weibo opened, displaying the article about the car accident.


    "Due to an excessive number of fans picking up passengers, the road was severely congested, making it difficult for vehicles to move, causing a series of rear-end collisions. It is reported that Wen Shu¡¯s nanny van was the most seriously damaged. The editor here reminds everyone to rationally chase stars without causing trouble for others, and also hopes that celebrities can take this issue seriously and set a positive example."


    The Weibo post was from an entertainment influencer with a million followers, who usually posted updates from various fan-filmed celebrity sightings, making him popular among star chasers. However, due to that last remark, he had upset Wen Shu¡¯s fans.


    "Our Wen Wen has had an accident, and you¡¯re not even concerned, just criticizing."


    "Who do you think you are, pointing fingers at our Wen Wen?"


    "Celebrity? Who are you implying? Since you¡¯ve already mentioned it, why not dare to say the name? Afraid of being scolded?"


    "Aren¡¯t Wen Shu¡¯s fans a bit young? What he said is not wrong, yet they¡¯re attacking immediately."


    "......"


    Wen Qiao hurriedly glanced through and then exited out, heading to Wen Shu¡¯s Weibo page to check her recent updates which were all promotions for her new drama, "Ju Lian."


    She then scrolled through the Weibo posts from before joining the "Ju Lian" cast, which were entirely normal.


    Moreover, there was no online news about her having an accident before joining the "Ju Lian" series.


    "Ju Lian," produced by Huasong, was not as highly anticipated as "Red Makeup," but it was still considered a quality production.


    In the original book, Wen Shu had turned her fortune around because of "Ju Lian," which had changed the majority¡¯s opinion of her; subsequently, by auditioning for "Red Makeup," she completely shook off her previous public persona, rising as the new goddess of period drama.


    At that thought, she finally remembered what had previously felt off.


    In the original text, "Red Makeup" started production after the premiere of Wen Shu¡¯s "Ju Lian," but now, "Red Makeup" had nearly begun shooting immediately after "Ju Lian" wrapped up, completely mismatching the timeline.


    Although she hadn¡¯t read the book thoroughly, she remembered some crucial plot points. She recalled that Wen Shu was supposed to have had an accident a few months before shooting "Ju Lian," on her way to the airport, which then led to the author¡¯s planned transmigration scene.


    Following the car accident, Wen Shu underwent a drastic change in personality, stopped obsessing over Qi Ming, focused on her career, and even ended up saving Fu Jinghen, a major figure. To repay her, Fu Jinghen offered her the leading role in "Ju Lian."


    Now, with the car accident delayed and "Red Makeup" shooting ahead of schedule, the timeline was a complete mess.


    And it was not just a little messy!


    Furthermore, since the car accident was postponed, how had Fu Jinghen and Wen Shu met?


    When she arrived, she had carefully reviewed the timeline, only to find it was useless.


    Was it because her arrival had altered the timeline and storyline?


    But her entry should have changed the timeline and storyline after the car accident!


    How were these lines wrong even before her arrival?


    Was her influence too great?


    Or...


    Could it be that she read a pirated book?


    Damn!


    She no longer believed those free novel reading apps! From now on, she would support the official release!


    Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 42: Take it one step at a time

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Take it one step at a timeHowever, when she thought about it carefully, it seemed quite normal. She could enter this book; why not modify the timeline?


    If everything else remained the same, but only she changed, wouldn¡¯t that be more abnormal?


    Moreover, since she couldn¡¯t return to her own world, she would take it one step at a time. This feeling of knowing nothing about the future was quite thrilling.


    No sooner had this thought settled than her phone began to vibrate, a graceful piano melody ringing out. Wen Qiao glanced down, seeing that the ID read "Caregiver."


    Who was this person?


    Wen Qiao answered the call, but before she could speak, the person on the other end anxiously said, "Miss Wen, come quickly! Your stepmother is causing trouble again!"


    Although Wen Qiao felt no emotional attachment to Mrs. Wen, given her assumed identity, she always had to check on such matters, otherwise her cover would be blown.


    To speak frankly, the life script the author had set up for her original self was as melodramatic as it could be.


    Her parents had a business marriage, but Wen Feng fell in love with Jiang Lai at first sight and readily agreed to the marriage. He treated Jiang Lai very well; the story could be considered perfect up to this point.


    But it seemed the author wasn¡¯t satisfied with the lack of drama and created a complication.


    Jiang Lai was a modest and gentle woman from a respected family, reserved in contrast to the passionate Wen Feng. Not being a faithful man by nature, Wen Feng¡¯s passion for Jiang Lai gradually faded. So, not long after Jiang Lai became pregnant, Wen Feng started cheating.


    When the original person was ten years old, the other woman barged into her home with her daughter. To make matters worse, the girl was just a year younger than Wen Qiao, which sent the already frail Mrs. Wen straight to the hospital. Mrs. Wen, being a determined woman, promptly decided to divorce after regaining consciousness.


    Mrs. Wen wanted to take Wen Qiao with her, but Wen Feng refused to let go. The custody battle lasted a year, and ultimately, the court, citing Mrs. Wen¡¯s ill health, awarded custody to Wen Feng.


    The end of a relationship certainly isn¡¯t the fault of just one party. Jiang Lai wasn¡¯t entirely in the right, but clearly, Wen Feng¡¯s actions were more contemptible.


    Unable to restrain himself, irresponsible with his emotions, and failing in his duties as a father, he fought for custody to avoid the stigma of abandoning his wife and daughter. However, once he won, he neglected Wen Qiao entirely.


    It could be said that her intensely dark and paranoid character was heavily influenced by her dysfunctional family background.


    But, notably, since the Jiang and Wen families were equally powerful, their alliance was truly a union of equals, not a situation where one side needed to save the other. Thus, Wen Feng and Jiang Lai¡¯s divorce did not heavily impact either family.


    Since Wen Qiao was only a side character, the original book only briefly mentioned her family background, a detail that greatly annoyed her when she was reading.


    Her own background was excellent; her parents had died in a car accident when she was very young, and she was doted on by all four grandparents, growing up like a star held aloft by the moon. She loved to have fun and had many boyfriends during school, yet every relationship began cleanly and ended the same way.


    She truly despised people like Wen Feng, who acted on lust, discarded girlfriends impulsively, and created nothing but chaos and turmoil.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t know which hospital her character¡¯s mother was in, but as soon as she got into the car, her body seemed to have a consciousness of its own, driving the car away. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 43: Did He Peel Off the City Wall鈥檚 Skin and Stick It to His Own Face?

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Did He Peel Off the City Wall¡¯s Skin and Stick It to His Own Face? Wen Feng and Jiang Lai had been leading separate lives since their divorce, adhering to the principle of "you don¡¯t start trouble, we¡¯ll both be well." But there are always those who are restless.


    As the elevator numbers climbed steadily higher, Wen Qiao stepped into the top floor¡¯s VIP ward. Just as she approached the room, without even opening the door, she heard a woman¡¯s arrogant voice from inside.


    "You probably don¡¯t know yet, do you? Your daughter drugged Fu Jinghen¡¯s nephew at the Fu engagement party, nearly putting a big green hat on Fu Jinghen. How did someone as modest as you give birth to such an indiscreet daughter?"


    A surge of anger rose from the bottom of Wen Qiao¡¯s heart, and she pushed the door open.


    "You¡¯re someone who climbed over others as a third party, and you have the nerve to talk about others being indiscrete? Do you even know how to spell the words?"  Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Lai, red-faced from Tang Ru¡¯s stinging words, was about to call security to throw her out when she saw Wen Qiao enter. Though her expression hardly improved, she did not show it due to the presence of an outsider.


    After Wen Qiao entered, she first glanced at the hospital bed and then froze on the spot.


    The woman lying on the bed had a haggard appearance from the ravages of time and illness, but her originally beautiful features were still discernible. She must have been a great beauty in her youth.


    Looking into eyes identical to hers, for a moment, Wen Qiao felt the urge to cry.


    This was just too much of a coincidence.


    Not only did her original self resemble her, but even her original mom looked so much like her mom.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s parents died in a car accident when she graduated from junior high. She avoided revisiting painful memories and didn¡¯t look at her parents¡¯ photos. Over the years, the image of her parents had grown blurry. Now, seeing Jiang Lai brought her mother¡¯s voice and smile vividly back to her mind.


    Perhaps this was fate.


    She had traveled into this book and could continue the connection with her mother.


    Tang Ru was taken aback by Wen Qiao¡¯s blunt and merciless retort, her face turning awkward as she exclaimed, "No matter what you say, I am now the mistress of the Wen Family. By law, you should call me ¡¯mom.¡¯"


    "Did your family not have money to send you to school when you were little, so you didn¡¯t get an education? Even if you didn¡¯t go through nine years of compulsory education, you should know that since ancient times, mistresses have been despised like rats in the street, shamed by everyone. You take pride in it instead of shame, are you sticking the city walls¡¯ peeling paint on your face? If I call you ¡¯mom,¡¯ aren¡¯t you afraid it will shorten your life?"


    In arguments, Wen Qiao had never lost.


    Perhaps because of the disgusting way she married Wen Feng, Tang Ru had always been excluded from the circle of high-society ladies. Not only did she not keep a low profile, but she also sought a presence in front of Jiang Lai now and then.


    Meeting Wen Qiao was her bad luck.


    Tang Ru didn¡¯t expect Wen Qiao to fire back with one sentence after another like a machine gun, leaving her speechless and rooted to the spot until she finally found her voice: "Times have changed, and you speak so fiercely now. Don¡¯t get too carried away; the Fu Family will soon send you back for all the good deeds you¡¯ve done. Drugging someone? You¡¯re no better than me."


    Wen Qiao had never seen such a shameless person, nor had she seen a third party so bold. She really was learning something new, "Even you know about that incident, do you think Fu Jinghen doesn¡¯t? He hasn¡¯t said a word, so why are you worried? Even if the Fu Family sends me back, do you think your daughter could marry into their family? You might be better off going home, wash up, and have a nice dream."


    Tang Ru¡¯s face changed at the words. That¡¯s right, if even she had heard about it, how could Fu Jinghen not know? But two days had passed, and nothing had happened, which meant Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t care about the incident, or he knew but was unwilling to cancel the engagement.


    But why would that be?

 Chapter 44: The Fox Borrows the Tiger鈥檚 Ferocity

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44: The Fox Borrows the Tiger¡¯s FerocityWen Qiao saw Tang Ru close her mouth, set down the hat and mask she was holding on the bedside table, and pulled up a chair to sit beside the hospital bed, looking at her coldly, "My mom needs to rest quietly; are you leaving on your own or should I have someone escort you out?"


    "Is that how you speak to your elders?"


    "Elders? If there are no mirrors in your house, can¡¯t you at least take a look at yourself in a puddle? Get some self-awareness." Wen Qiao snorted disdainfully, "If you insist on considering yourself my elder, that¡¯s fine. Go ask Fu Jinghen if he wants a mistress as a mother-in-law. If he doesn¡¯t mind, neither do I."


    Tang Ru abruptly stood up from her chair, pointing at her, "You..."


    Seeing her hands trembling with anger, Wen Qiao looked away, took Jiang Lai¡¯s hand, and said calmly, "Aren¡¯t you leaving? Don¡¯t wait for me to call someone; it would be embarrassing. You said it yourself, my status is different now. I¡¯d kindly advise you not to clash with me."


    "Besides, I remember Wen Feng distinctly told you not to bother my mom. If you¡¯ve forgotten, I don¡¯t mind reminding you." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Tang Ru, also caring about her face and adding that Wen Feng did indeed warn her not to go looking for Jiang Lai, came many times because Jiang Lai, too proud to explain the situation to Wen Feng, didn¡¯t let him know.


    Seeing she couldn¡¯t get anything out of Wen Qiao, Tang Ru angrily dropped her hand, picked up her purse, and stomped out in her high heels, making a thunderous noise as she left.


    It seemed that borrowing the tiger¡¯s fierceness was pretty effective.


    The hospital room returned to silence. Just as Wen Qiao was about to say something, she felt her hand empty. She looked down to find Jiang Lai had withdrawn her hand and was looking at her with a level gaze, "Is everything Tang Ru said true?"


    That look, that tone, was just like when her mother scolded her for misbehaving as a child.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s lips quivered and, with a burst, her tears immediately began to flow.


    Jiang Lai was startled by her sudden crying, got up halfway from the bed, and frantically started to wipe her tears, "I haven¡¯t even had the chance to scold you and you¡¯re already crying."


    Wen Qiao suddenly threw herself into Jiang Lai¡¯s arms, sobbing breathlessly, "Mom, I¡¯ve missed you so much."


    Those words were utterly sincere.


    Wen Qiao had a tendency to avoid things, deliberately not seeing or listening so she could pretend nothing had happened. But at that moment, seeing Jiang Lai, the long-suppressed longing in her heart burst forth like a flood.


    The warmth from her embrace and the wetness on her shoulders momentarily stunned Jiang Lai.


    Perhaps because of her strained relationship with Wen Feng, after their divorce, Wen Qiao became silent and withdrawn, no longer the lively and lovely girl she used to be.


    Though Wen Qiao occasionally visited her, Jiang Lai always felt it was more perfunctory than genuine.


    Jiang Lai felt sad but also knew that Wen Qiao had become this way partly because of her and Wen Feng.


    Now being held like this, listening to her cooing about missing her, Jiang Lai felt more bewildered than overjoyed.


    Wen Qiao, feeling Jiang Lai¡¯s stiffness, began crying even harder, "Mom, don¡¯t you miss me? Why don¡¯t you hug me?"


    Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai immediately raised her hand to pat her back, and what was initially a scolding turned into gentle comfort, "How could I not? I miss you every day."


    Her warm palm continuously patted Wen Qiao¡¯s back, soothing her emotions.


    After a long while, she finally calmed down, lifted her head from Jiang Lai¡¯s embrace, and wiped her tears, looking utterly wronged.


    Jiang Lai couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry at the same time, "Just now you were so imposing, how did you turn into a crybaby so quickly?"


    "I just missed you," Wen Qiao said, a bit embarrassed, squirming a little.

 Chapter 45: A Heavenly Immortal?

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45: A Heavenly Immortal?Seeing her daughter revert to the lively and adorable girl she was before, Jiang Lai was pleased but knew she still had to ask the question she¡¯d been holding back. She waited for Wen Qiao to wipe away her tears before bringing it up again, "Did you really do something so absurd at the engagement party?"


    "No, I would never be so thoughtless."


    Her denial rang with truth; indeed, she wouldn¡¯t do something so foolish¡ªit had been the original Wen Qiao, not her.


    "Tang Ru is just trying to deceive you with her lies. If you believe her, you¡¯ll fall right into her trap."


    Jiang Lai felt relieved hearing her say this, "I don¡¯t believe her, I believe my daughter."


    She looked at Wen Qiao with affection and stroked her hair, "Your mother couldn¡¯t attend your engagement dinner, don¡¯t hold it against me."


    Wen Qiao shook her head, "Why would I?"


    "Jinghen is a good boy. Knowing you¡¯re with him, I can rest easy."


    The marriage between Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao was arranged long ago. Mrs. Fu had limited physical endurance due to having a child later in life and passed away a year after he was born. Mr. Fu, grieving his wife¡¯s death, aged significantly and had little energy to look after Fu Jinghen, so Fu Qiang practically raised him single-handedly.


    Fu Qiang and Jiang Lai were close friends, almost like sisters, and the engagement was settled shortly after Jiang Lai¡¯s pregnancy was confirmed to be a girl.


    "He¡¯s a few years older than you and more mature in his actions. Don¡¯t take advantage of his kindness."


    Wen Qiao stuck out her tongue playfully; she did indeed enjoy testing the limits of Fu Jinghen¡¯s patience.


    "Mom, does Tang Ru come to bother you often?"


    "Don¡¯t worry about her," said Jiang Lai, not even bothering to give her the time of day. Their statuses were not the same, there was nothing to discuss. If it hadn¡¯t been about the matter concerning Wen Qiao, Jiang Lai wouldn¡¯t have reacted so strongly.


    Seeing Jiang Lai didn¡¯t wish to speak further of Tang Ru, Wen Qiao changed the subject, thinking to herself that she must stop by the director¡¯s office later to make a comment.


    A high-end sanatorium like this should not let just anyone in.


    They shouldn¡¯t take the money and not do the work.


    -


    When Qin Xiang burst into the office, Fu Jinghen was just about to leave for home. Seeing him come in, Fu Jinghen asked with some confusion, "What brings you here?"


    Qin Xiang looked at him as if he¡¯d seen a ghost, "Damn, are you human or a ghost?"


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen was too lazy to answer such a mundane question.


    Realizing the stupidity of his question, Qin Xiang swallowed and rephrased, "I mean, you¡¯re back so soon? I just saw you racing cars on the outskirts. How did you get to the office so fast?"


    "Racing?"


    "Yeah."


    As Qin Xiang spoke, he walked over to Fu Jinghen, pulled out his phone, and showed him the video he¡¯d copied from the surveillance, "You said you don¡¯t race anymore, did you lie to me?"


    Fu Jinghen looked at the speeding car in the video and responded calmly, "That¡¯s not me." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Not you?" Qin Xiang was shocked, "Then who?"


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t want to answer that question. Pushing past him, he said, "I¡¯m going home. Do as you please."


    "You¡¯re heading home this early? President Fu, your nightlife is so dull." Qin Xiang¡¯s attention shifted easily, "What¡¯s at home that¡¯s so appealing, a Heavenly Immortal?"


    Fu Jinghen replied succinctly, "Dinner."


    "Since when did you become so fixated on food? You can eat dinner made by Nanny Zhang any time. What¡¯s missing one meal? I¡¯ll take you to enjoy something much tastier."

 Chapter 46: She is a Good Girl

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46: She is a Good GirlSaying this, Qin Xiang clapped a hand on Fu Jinghen¡¯s shoulder.


    "It¡¯s not Nanny Zhang."


    "What do you mean it¡¯s not Nanny Zhang?" Qin Xiang grew impatient, "I mean, can¡¯t you just speak plainly?"


    Fu Jinghen removed Qin Xiang¡¯s arm and gave him a glance, his face screaming "I can¡¯t be bothered to argue with you," and he muttered a single word, "Dumb."


    Then, he picked up his suit jacket and walked out of the office.


    Qin Xiang stomped his feet in frustration.


    "What kind of indifferent fool is this! If I keep getting the cold shoulder, I swear I won¡¯t be a Qin!"


    Five minutes later, a Rolls Royce with a low-key color but flashy model drove under the night sky.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at Qin Xiang sitting beside him, "Get off at the next junction."


    "I won¡¯t!" Qin Xiang stared intensely at Fu Jinghen, "I want to go to your house and taste how good the food is there that makes you so eager to return."


    Fu Jinghen, struck by that word, paused for a moment and closed his eyes to feign sleep, "Suit yourself."


    Suddenly, the image of "Hua Huadie" flashed before his eyes.


    Fu Jinghen furrowed his brows.


    He was hardly eager.


    He just wanted to see what kind of drama that "Hua Huadie" was going to stir up.


    -


    "The young master is back."


    As the villa door opened, Nanny Zhang greeted them, "Mr. Qin is also here."


    "Hello, Nanny Zhang," Qin Xiang greeted politely, then rushed into the house eagerly, "Nanny Zhang, what delicious food have you prepared?"


    "Today¡¯s meal wasn¡¯t made by me," Nanny Zhang explained with a smile, "Miss Wen made it."


    "Miss Wen?" It took a moment for Qin Xiang to react, then his voice rose sharply, "Wen Qiao?"


    Fu Jinghen frowned, "What are you yelling about?"


    "Holy shit, big brother," Qin Xiang clung to Fu Jinghen¡¯s sleeve, lowering his voice, "The meal you hurried back for was made by Wen Qiao? Is she sick or are you?"


    "I think you¡¯re the one who¡¯s sick," Fu Jinghen pushed away Qin Xiang, who was clinging to him, "If you¡¯re not eating, then leave."


    With that said, it was now impossible for Qin Xiang to leave, considering everyone knew Wen Qiao liked Qi Ming. And after being forced to engage with Fu Jinghen, she was still cooking for him?


    Surely it was poisoned.


    In case Fu Jinghen was poisoned and no one cared, Qin Xiang took it upon himself to sit at the dining table. Then, shamelessly swallowing his saliva, he looked at the dishes on the table¡ªpineapple-sweet-and-sour pork and mouth-watering chicken¡ªhis hand twitching towards the chopsticks, "All this was made by Wen Qiao?"


    "Yes, all these were made by Miss Wen. I just helped a bit."


    Not just Qin Xiang, even Fu Jinghen was a bit surprised. He genuinely hadn¡¯t expected Wen Qiao could cook, and the food actually looked quite appetizing.


    After a bustling evening, Wen Qiao had successfully captivated Nanny Zhang¡¯s heart. Now, Nanny Zhang couldn¡¯t stop praising her, "Young master, Miss Wen is really good. Now, which young lady from a prominent family would cook? At one point, a water pipe broke, and I was about to call a repairman, but she fixed it in no time. She thought the cooking fumes were too much and even shooed me out. She¡¯s such a considerate girl." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Even though they were all like family and Qi Ming was not so bad either, Nanny Zhang had a special soft spot for Fu Jinghen. Initially, she thought it odd that Wen Qiao put aside such an outstanding person like Fu Jinghen and instead liked Young Master Qi, questionable taste indeed.


    But now, Nanny Zhang felt it wasn¡¯t Fu Jinghen¡¯s skills that failed to make Wen Qiao like him.


    She had watched Fu Jinghen grow up and knew his personality well¡ªan indifferent person who wouldn¡¯t say sweet nothings to charm a girl, not as lively as Young Master Qi. It was normal for Wen Qiao not to like him.

 Chapter 47: The pace of progress is so fast it鈥檚 about to give birth

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47: The pace of progress is so fast it¡¯s about to give birthBut such a good girl, if Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t hold onto her, Nanny Zhang would be absolutely frantic.


    She remembered how fond Wen Qiao had been of her little grandson that afternoon, so she started her persuasion from that point, "Young Master, Miss Wen is a good girl. Although she made some silly mistakes before, hasn¡¯t she realized her faults now? Let¡¯s not hang onto the past mistakes. Throwing a bit of a tantrum is fine, but don¡¯t wait until it¡¯s too late to regret it."


    What Wen Qiao had said that afternoon about cajoling Fu Jinghen was just an offhand remark, but Nanny Zhang thought it meant Fu Jinghen was throwing a tantrum at Wen Qiao over the incident at the engagement party, so she couldn¡¯t help but offer advice.


    Unable to resist starting to eat, Qin Xiang, with his cheeks puffed out, looked up at Fu Jinghen across from him and then at Nanny Zhang, "What tantrum?"


    "Miss Wen told me that she cooked today especially to cheer you up, Young Master. See, isn¡¯t that a tantrum? Mr. Qin, please help persuade him, Miss Wen truly is a gem of a girl."


    Nanny Zhang sighed and then remembered how Wen Qiao had appeared while video chatting with her grandson that afternoon. She switched her angle of persuasion, "This afternoon, when I was video chatting with my little grandson, I saw that Miss Wen really likes children. You two are engaged now, so it¡¯s not too early to think about this matter. After having a child, your relationship will surely grow stronger." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Pfft."


    Qin Xiang, who was choking a bit and was drinking water to suppress it, immediately spat out his water when he heard this. Fortunately, he remembered to turn his head before doing so; otherwise, he would have sprayed Fu Jinghen, and that would definitely have gotten him thrown out.


    He coughed and asked, "Didn¡¯t you just get engaged yesterday? How come you¡¯re already moving at such a lightning pace that you¡¯re considering having kids?"


    Fu Jinghen was also a bit bewildered. What nonsense had that girl spouted again to give Nanny Zhang such a misunderstanding?


    But catching sight of Qin Xiang¡¯s eyes twinkling with gossip, Fu Jinghen felt that now was not a good time to talk about this. He changed the subject, "Where is she?"


    Qin Xiang mercilessly pointed out, "Brother Han, could your change of subject be any more forced?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced at him, said nothing, but Qin Xiang read a "Keep eating or out you go if you don¡¯t shut that mouth of yours" message in his silence. He immediately shut up and dove back into his food.


    Seriously, even if Wen Qiao poisoned the food, he would accept it.


    Nanny Zhang then remembered what important thing she¡¯d forgotten, her expression becoming somewhat anxious, "After finishing the cooking, Miss Wen received a phone call and rushed out in a hurry. I didn¡¯t even have a chance to ask."


    "Mhm, I understand," Fu Jinghen nodded, "You should sit down and have some food too."


    Fu Jinghen respected Nanny Zhang, who had watched him grow up, and besides, he and Qin Xiang couldn¡¯t finish all the dishes by themselves.


    "No, I¡¯ve eaten already. You go ahead."


    Every dish Wen Qiao made, she would offer some to her to taste, and she was already full.


    After Nanny Zhang left, Fu Jinghen moved his chopsticks, picking up a piece of chicken that tasted as good as it looked.


    He glanced at Qin Xiang, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, and urged, "Hurry up and eat, then scram."


    "Why? Can¡¯t I even eat a meal in peace?"


    No sooner had the words left his mouth than he saw Fu Jinghen stand up from his chair. Instinctively, he dodged backward, "Don¡¯t hit the face!"


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen picked up his suit jacket from the back of the chair and said as he walked out, "Remember to clean up the dishes after eating."


    "Okay," Qin Xiang responded, but it wasn¡¯t until then that he realized something, and he called out, "You haven¡¯t even eaten yet, where are you going?"

 Chapter 48: Turbulence

    Chapter 48: Chapter 48: TurbulenceAs expected, Qin Xiang didn¡¯t get any response.


    He didn¡¯t mind, it was better if there was one less person competing for food.


    Fu Jinghen opened the car door and sat inside, dialing Feng Li¡¯s number.


    "Check where Wen Qiao is now."


    "Got it."


    No sooner had he hung up, the phone rang again, it was Qi Ming calling.


    Fu Jinghen answered, and Qi Ming¡¯s slightly anxious voice came through the receiver, "Little uncle, Wen Shu has been injured in a car accident."


    Compared to Qi Ming¡¯s panicked anxiety, Fu Jinghen¡¯s tone was much calmer and steadier, "Which hospital?"


    "Jiangcheng First Hospital."


    The black car surged out like a phantom.


    Night had fallen, and the traffic on the streets had lessened, making the drive relatively smooth.


    The hospital entrance was crowded with reporters who had rushed over, and security was busy maintaining order. Fu Jinghen took a detour to the back of the hospital, parked the car, and then rushed directly to the fourth-floor operating room.


    "Surgery in Progress" flashed with a glaring red light in the quiet corridor.


    Qi Ming was frantically pacing outside the surgery room. The sound of calm footsteps approaching made him feel relieved, as if he had found his anchor, "Little uncle!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "How long has it been?"


    Qi Ming relayed the doctor¡¯s diagnostic results to Fu Jinghen, "About an hour, I think. The accident wasn¡¯t too severe, no life-threatening injuries, just a moderate concussion and a minor fracture in her left arm. Her assistant has been with her, and her injuries are more serious."


    Fu Jinghen asked, "What happened?"


    "When Xiao Shu was leaving the airport, she was followed by the paparazzi. She tried to shake them off, but they chased too closely. There was a lot of traffic on the overpass, and that¡¯s when the accident happened." Qi Ming frustratedly ruffled his hair, "Those paparazzi, they have no professional ethics, relentlessly targeting someone."


    He patted Qi Ming on the shoulder reassuringly, "Alright, calm down. You stay here at the hospital, I¡¯ll handle the rest."


    Whether it was because Wen Shu was the person Qi Ming liked, or because she had once saved his life, Fu Jinghen would do his best to help.


    Hospitals deal with patients under various circumstances every day, and they bear a great responsibility during surgeries. Given that Wen Shu was a popular celebrity, any mishap during the rescue would certainly provoke an uprising from her fans, especially now with Fu Jinghen, a highly influential person, present at the scene. The hospital was even more careful not to neglect.


    Soon, they had contacted another hospital that had Type B blood in storage and urgently requested it to be sent over.


    Qi Ming watched as the nurse carried the blood packs in, and only then did his continuously anxious heart finally settle.


    Fu Jinghen also relaxed a bit as a message from Feng Li came in.


    [Feng Li: President Fu, according to the investigation, Miss Wen is currently visiting her mother in VIP ward 506 at Jiangcheng First Hospital. This evening, Ms. Tang, Miss Wen¡¯s stepmother, made a scene there and seemed to have been scolded and sent away by Miss Wen, leaving in disgrace.]


    Fu Jinghen remembered the Fu family talking about Wen Family¡¯s issues, but he hadn¡¯t paid much attention at the time. Now, seeing the message from Feng Li, a ripple crossed his heart.


    He stood up, said to Qi Ming, "I have to go, things outside are sorted, and the online issues are being handled."


    Qi Ming, knowing his little uncle was incredibly busy, found it hard enough that he had made time to come here. With Wen Shu¡¯s situation now handled, it wouldn¡¯t be right to detain Fu Jinghen any further.


    "Thank you, little uncle. Take care driving, little uncle, goodbye."


    "Mm."

 Chapter 49: It seems I was overthinking my own importance.

    Chapter 49: Chapter 49: It seems I was overthinking my own importance.The VIP ward floor was unusually quiet. Fu Jinghen stood at the door, his hand just touching the doorknob when he heard laughter coming from inside. He looked up, slowly releasing his grasp.


    Inside the ward, Wen Qiao was wearing a pink tracksuit, still sporting her signature pigtails, waving her arms as she shared some amusing stories with Jiang Lai. She even stood up from her chair when she got to the exciting parts, keeping Jiang Lai¡¯s smile ever-present.


    Fu Jinghen just stood there quietly, watching the warm scene of mother and daughter interacting, his body and mind unconsciously relaxing.


    After who knows how long, Jiang Lai began to feel tired and closed her eyes to sleep. Wen Qiao tucked her in, adjusted the air conditioning temperature, and then tiptoed out.


    She turned around and was startled to see Fu Jinghen standing at the door, "Fuck, what are you doing here?"


    Fu Jinghen, slightly displeased by those words, furrowed his brow but didn¡¯t say anything, merely asking, "Did I scare you?"


    "Isn¡¯t that obvious?" Wen Qiao patted her chest and glared at him with a complaining look, then repeated, "What are you doing here?"


    "...."


    For a moment Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t sure how to respond, but after a pause he still chose the truth, "Wen Shu had a car accident. I came to help."


    "Oh," Wen Qiao nodded, it made sense why she saw so many reporters at the hospital entrance when she arrived; Wen Shu was also in this hospital, "How is she doing now?"


    While reading the book, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t feel extremely fond of Wen Shu, nor did she dislike her. Now that she was a character in the story, she naturally wanted to know the protagonist¡¯s situation.


    "She¡¯s alright now."


    "So..." Wen Qiao drew out the word, batting her big eyes at Fu Jinghen, "You just stopped by to check on my mom along the way?"


    "...."


    "Fine." Wen Qiao hung her head, her tone sinking with it, "I thought you came here especially for me. Now it seems I was just flattering myself."


    "..."


    The young girl¡¯s words couldn¡¯t hide her disappointment, as if "I¡¯m so aggrieved" was written in big letters on her round head. She didn¡¯t make a scene, but every word seemed to indict him.


    The performance was thick on the girl before him, and it seemed she hadn¡¯t planned to hide it at all.


    Fu Jinghen looked down at her, "Go on."


    "..."


    Go on?


    Go on with what?


    Keep performing for you? S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    I should charge for this, you know.


    "It¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t mind. I know you liked Wen Shu first, and were forced to get engaged to me. It¡¯s only right that you went to sort things out when she was in trouble."


    "..."


    "It really is okay. I just feel a bit pitiful. I slaved over cooking a meal, even scalded my hand, and then my husband runs off to fuss over another woman. I don¡¯t feel slighted at all."


    "After all, you liked her first. I¡¯m just an interloper, with no right to compete for anything. Yet, deep down, I still hope you might share a little of the attention you give other women with me. Let that bring a bit of warmth to my lonely, cold heart."


    The more Wen Qiao spoke, the lower her head drooped, until at the end she seemed to want to curl up into a ball.


    Fu Jinghen saw her performance getting more exaggerated and felt that if he didn¡¯t speak up to stop her, she might never stop.


    "That¡¯s enough."


    Wen Qiao raised her head, grinding her teeth, "Fu Jinghen!"


    Fu Jinghen, running out of patience yet accommodating her for once, asked, "So what do you want to do?"


    "Hug me."

 Chapter 50: I Act Coquettishly Towards You, But You Undermine Me

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50: I Act Coquettishly Towards You, But You Undermine MeWen Qiao seemed to be waiting just for that sentence. Upon hearing it, she immediately lifted her head, spread her arms, and looked at him with a pitiful expression.


    "...."


    Seeing that Jinghen didn¡¯t make a move for quite a while and growing impatient, Wen Qiao took a step forward and threw herself into his embrace, her arms tightly wound around his waist. After a moment, she felt dissatisfied and tugged one of his hands to the back of her head and placed his other hand on her waist, arranging his posture for him. Only then did she contentedly bury her face in his chest.


    Muttering under her breath, "Fu Jinghen you¡¯re so dumb, don¡¯t you even know how to hug? I have to teach you. It seems like you¡¯ve never been in a relationship before."


    Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t used to such intimate contact with others, his body somewhat stiff. Looking down at the head buried in his embrace, he said, "Then let go."


    "I won¡¯t."


    Having finally got the chance to hug him, Wen Qiao was not about to let go easily.


    Her hands began to rove sneakily over Fu Jinghen¡¯s quiet back, then climbed up to his shoulders as she silently marveled to herself.


    Wow, broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he looked great yesterday, but I didn¡¯t expect him to feel so secure to embrace.


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen felt that if he didn¡¯t say something, this girl might just take advantage of him completely. He patted Wen Qiao on the back of her head, asking, "Where did you burn yourself?"


    Wen Qiao lifted her head and held up her left hand for Fu Jinghen to see, "Right here, it hurts so much."


    Fu Jinghen looked at the faint red mark on the back of her left hand and grunted, "Do you need to see a doctor? It¡¯ll probably disappear if we wait any longer."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao got somewhat agitated, bumping her head forward and knocking against Fu Jinghen¡¯s chin, "Why are you so unromantic? I¡¯m being coquettish with you, and you¡¯re just ruining the mood."


    A hint of amusement spread in the depths of Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes, "Isn¡¯t this me showing concern for you?"


    "Concern for me? All you¡¯re doing is making me feel uncomfortable!"


    Just as Fu Jinghen was about to say something, he saw from the corner of his eye two nurses walking toward them, eyeing the two of them while muttering something under their breath.


    "Oh my god, that man is so handsome."


    "As handsome as he is, he¡¯s not yours. Didn¡¯t you see how sweet he is with his girlfriend?"


    "Alas, good-looking guys are always taken by someone else, I can only envy from afar."


    "Hey, doesn¡¯t that woman look a bit familiar?"


    "Now that you mention it, she does seem a bit familiar...."


    Their voices suddenly quieted down, and the two nurses eyed Wen Qiao with curiosity.


    Fu Jinghen raised his arm to shield the half of Wen Qiao¡¯s face that was exposed, then turned to look at the two nurses.


    The smile in his eyes was gone; accustomed to high positions, Fu Jinghen could command authority with a single distant glance.


    Meeting Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes, the nurses immediately fell silent and hurriedly went to do their rounds.


    Even from a distance, Fu Jinghen could still catch some of their conversation.


    "Damn, that handsome guy has such an intimidating gaze."


    "It¡¯s so hypocritical, all tender and soft when he looks at his girlfriend, but as if he wants to freeze us solid when he looks at us."


    "Stop talking, everyone on this floor is either rich or noble, watch your mouth."


    "..."


    After they left, Fu Jinghen looked down and met Wen Qiao¡¯s sparkling eyes once again. His eyebrows twitched, and he found it somewhat difficult to meet her gaze directly, "What are you looking at?"


    "I¡¯m checking to see if you¡¯re as they said, whether your eyes are all tender and soft when you look at me." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "......"


    Fu Jinghen felt helpless. It seemed like Wen Qiao always focused on things differently from others. They had nearly been found out just now; he was busy trying to cover for her, but the person in question didn¡¯t seem to care at all about the incident.

 Chapter 51: Because, You Like It

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Because, You Like It"Almost got recognized, aren¡¯t you worried at all?"


    Without a second thought, Wen Qiao blurted out, "Isn¡¯t it because I have you?"


    Fu Jinghen was taken aback, not expecting her to trust him so much, but the feeling was strangely pleasant.


    He took the hat from Wen Qiao¡¯s hand, placed it on her head to cover those bright eyes, and put the mask on her, "Let¡¯s go."


    Yet Wen Qiao didn¡¯t move, standing still.


    Fu Jinghen took a step and noticed she hadn¡¯t moved. Puzzled, he looked at her, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "You haven¡¯t taken my hand."


    There was that familiar hint of grievance in her voice.


    "If you don¡¯t walk, I¡¯ll go by myself."


    Wen Qiao remained still, stubbornly holding up her hand.


    Fu Jinghen sighed and reached out, taking her little hand into his, "Wen Qiao, why do you always act so spoiled."


    "Because..."


    "You like it, huh."


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao hooked her little finger, scratching Fu Jinghen¡¯s palm.


    A tickling sensation went from his palm to his brain, and Fu Jinghen subconsciously tightened his grip on Wen Qiao¡¯s teasing finger, his voice suddenly turning cold, "You¡¯re overthinking it."


    Though his tone was harsh, Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t intimidated at all; instead, she continued to playfully push his boundaries, "Really? Are you just pretending not to like it because you¡¯re embarrassed to admit it after being caught, playing tough?"


    "..."


    "Ei, Fu Jinghen, your ears are red."


    She guessed wildly, and upon seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s honest reaction, she was sure of it.


    Fu Jinghen walked ahead with Wen Qiao¡¯s cheerful laughter behind him; he grew slightly annoyed, stopped, turned to look at her, "If you don¡¯t shut up, Red Makeup¡¯s female lead will be replaced."


    "Holy shit, Fu Jinghen, how childish can you get!" Wen Qiao jumped with fury, "You¡¯re twenty-seven! Still threatening me like a child!"


    Fu Jinghen narrowed his eyes.


    Wen Qiao instantly deflated, "Okay, fine, I¡¯ll shut up."


    After all, in this world, she was alone, with no power or influence, depending on him.


    Seeing the girl who had just been dancing crazily on the edge of his patience finally quiet down, Fu Jinghen¡¯s mood suddenly lightened.


    Childish or not...


    If it works, it works.


    -


    With one week until joining the set, Wen Qiao had planned out the next few days and dragged Jiang Yao straight to the mall the next day. They bought a bunch of skincare products, makeup, and clothes.


    Jiang Yao was somewhat shocked by her extravagant way of paying, tugged at her sleeve, and said softly, "Take it easy, can you even use so many things? Don¡¯t let President Fu think you¡¯re a spendthrift." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I won¡¯t be able to use it all." Wen Qiao pulled out the card Fu Jinghen gave her, signed swiftly, and paid, "But I still need to buy. He gave me his card; not using it would be a waste of his kindness. Besides, if I don¡¯t spend Fu Jinghen¡¯s money, should I save it for someone else?"


    "Besides, I never said I wasn¡¯t a spendthrift."


    Jiang Yao was suddenly convinced by Wen Qiao¡¯s righteous argument.


    "I think you make sense."


    -


    The towering FS Building in the financial center soared into the clouds, majestic, its dark glass windows shimmering under the sun, too dazzling to look at directly.


    The man sitting in the center of the top-floor conference room was just like the building, standing out among the masses.


    Fu Jinghen was seriously listening to a subordinate¡¯s report while his phone by the table occasionally lit up, inexplicably distracting him.


    Regathering his thoughts and listening to the end of the subordinate¡¯s report, Fu Jinghen said, "Take a five-minute break."

 Chapter 52: I Won鈥檛 Be Able to Live On

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52: I Won¡¯t Be Able to Live OnHe glanced at his phone and within an hour, he had received twelve text messages, each one detailing a transaction from the supplementary card associated with Fu Jinghen.


    His heart was somewhat surprised, not because of the money, but because of Wen Qiao¡¯s purchasing power.


    Jingcui Mall, as the largest shopping mall in Jiang City with an especially high number of luxury stores, was designed by Fu Jinghen himself, and he naturally remembered the location of each store.


    The distances between the stores where Wen Qiao had shopped were not short, some of them even on different floors, yet she managed to visit twelve stores within an hour, which was indeed impressive to Fu Jinghen.


    Was this what they called a woman¡¯s purchasing power?


    Then the third day came, and Jiang Yao called her out of her warm bed, mentioning that due to scheduling issues, the director had suddenly informed her to join the crew ahead of time.


    The disrupted plans made Wen Qiao extremely reluctant.


    She had just started to cultivate a relationship with Fu Jinghen for a day and now had to part with him; the thought of leaving such an extremely handsome man at home made Wen Qiao sigh heavily.


    They had agreed that once the guest room was cleaned up, Wen Qiao would move out of the master bedroom, but no more than two minutes after she walked out of the master bedroom with a pillow in her arms, Nanny Zhang happened to see her and immediately kicked her back in.


    To encourage the two of them to bond and quickly have a child, Nanny Zhang had locked up all the doors to the guest rooms and even hid the keys.


    Despite having been in a few relationships, which were nothing more than child¡¯s play, Wen Qiao was still somewhat embarrassed to truly share a bed with a man.


    The first night, because she had just transmigrated and had gone through a series of events, she was not in good spirits and had provoked Fu Jinghen, so of course, she couldn¡¯t show any weakness.


    Later, she felt that distance made the heart grow fonder, and living separately would whet Fu Jinghen¡¯s appetite.


    Another important reason was that she was afraid she wouldn¡¯t be able to control herself.


    After all, who could remain pure-hearted and desireless with such a handsome man lying beside them?


    Anyway, she was an ordinary person; she couldn¡¯t do it.


    However, it seemed that Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t interested in such a greenhorn like her, for they had slept peacefully next to each other for two nights, maintaining a clear Chu River Han Boundary. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After Fu Jinghen finished his grooming, he saw Wen Qiao sitting on the bed with a blanket around her, looking utterly despondent. Upon seeing him, she let out a long, weighted sigh.


    Fu Jinghen found it a bit amusing and asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Wen Qiao pouted, "I have to join the crew."


    Fu Jinghen, "Did it get moved up?"


    "Yeah," Wen Qiao rolled in the bed with her blanket, "I don¡¯t want to go."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t say anything, for he had a hunch that Wen Qiao still had more to say and all he needed to do was to quietly wait.


    Sure enough, the next second he heard Wen Qiao drawl playfully, "I can¡¯t bear to leave you."


    Saying so, she heaved a long sigh, "Leaving such a handsome man at home, what if someone snatches him away?"


    "...."


    "What if when I¡¯m off shooting, I wake up one day to headlines about a nighttime rendezvous involving ¡¯FS President Fu¡¯ with a beauty? I¡¯d be devastated."


    "...."


    "And what if, upon my return, you don¡¯t want me anymore? Alone and desolate, I wouldn¡¯t be able to go on living."


    "..."


    Compared to the crying and overwhelming reluctance of Wen Qiao, Fu Jinghen¡¯s inner thoughts were somewhat of a buzzkill.


    Before the engagement, she was deeply infatuated and passionately in love with Qi Ming, so how come in less than a week¡¯s time, she reached the point where she couldn¡¯t live without him?


    Was it the greatness of his charm? Or was it her affections that faded too quickly?

 Chapter 53: Whoever Wants Love, Take It

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Whoever Wants Love, Take ItHe quietly watched Wen Qiao¡¯s overacted performance, with her increasingly shrill crying ringing in his ears, when he suddenly felt a bit of a headache.


    He raised his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, "No."


    Actually, Wen Qiao was just saying it casually, but now that she had received a promise from Fu Jinghen, she was quite pleased. She was about to compliment Fu Jinghen on his insight, but before she could speak, she heard Fu Jinghen say again, "With your acting skills, go perform under the overpass, and by the end of the night, you¡¯ll definitely be able to afford a meal."


    "....."


    "Thanks, President Fu, for thinking so highly of me!" She slapped Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand away, glared at him, and stormed out of the bed energetically, "There¡¯s definitely more than one crew in the movie city. There are tons of handsome guys in the entertainment industry. When the time comes, I¡¯ll be having the time of my life. Do you think I¡¯ll even remember who you are? No!"


    Having said that, she walked into the bathroom without looking back, her posture vigorous and valiant.


    Mumbling under her breath, "Damn man! Clueless! My romantic luck is blooming! You¡¯ll regret it when I¡¯m surrounded by admirers!"


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t lower her voice, obviously wanting Fu Jinghen to hear.


    Fu Jinghen paused in his steps, somewhat amused.


    She really has the mind of a child. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    -


    Wen Qiao thought she was about to leave, hoping that out of humanitarian consideration, Fu Jinghen might at least see her off. Yet, after she finished washing up and came out, Fu Jinghen had already vanished from the room.


    Well done indeed!


    She declared, Fu Jinghen is truly the only jerk in the whole world!


    Fine if he¡¯s unromantic, but he doesn¡¯t even have the decency to cherish the fairer sex. Whoever wants this jerk can have him, she was done!


    This thought lingered until Jiang Yao came to pick her up. She plopped down in the car, causing even the car frame to shake slightly.


    Jiang Yao looked at her puzzled, "Did you eat fireworks?"


    "Yes!" Wen Qiao crossed her arms and glared, "So don¡¯t talk to me! I might explode on you."


    Jiang Yao: "..."


    Her phone in her bag suddenly vibrated. Wen Qiao took it out -- it was a promotional message from a WeChat official account.


    Who wants to receive these junk messages?!


    Wen Qiao decisively unfollowed the account.


    Then she saw a new notification in the ¡¯New Friends¡¯ section. She poked the screen forcefully, and upon seeing the familiar avatar, it seemed like her anger dissipated a bit.


    It was Boss Fu, who had ignored her friend request yesterday.


    How the tables have turned, now it was his turn to add her.


    She moved her fingers, and with much pride, typed "Reject" in the verification message.


    Wen Qiao calculated mentally, she would accept Fu Jinghen on his third attempt to add her, just to let him know, she had her pride.


    However, Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t play by the book. All the way till Wen Qiao reached the airport, boarded the plane, and was en route to the film city, she didn¡¯t receive any friend requests or even a single message from Fu Jinghen.


    Truly! Awesome! Indeed!


    Forget the three-month deadline; she really didn¡¯t want this man anymore!


    Love whomever wants him!


    -


    Putting aside Fu Jinghen, the disruptive man, everything else went rather smoothly. After deboarding the plane and collecting her luggage, she found the crew member sent to pick her up.


    The person who came to fetch her was a young man around Wen Qiao¡¯s age, with gray hair, some tufts dyed blue, sporting an earring on his left ear, and looking particularly rebellious.

 Chapter 54: Another Rival in Love Appears

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Another Rival in Love Appears"Wen Qiao, hello, my name is Song Qian, I¡¯m Deputy Director Song¡¯s nephew, specially here to pick you up."


    Wen Qiao nodded slightly, "Hello."


    Taking advantage of the man loading the luggage into the trunk, Wen Qiao tilted her head toward Jiang Yao, "Deputy Director Song¡¯s nephew?"


    "Not sure," Jiang Yao didn¡¯t quite understand the situation either, and replied in a lowered voice, "Maybe some relative who¡¯s here to learn."


    After all, Director Zhang Jiage¡¯s reputation was well-established, his every move was exquisite, and it wouldn¡¯t be odd for someone to come and learn from him.


    Song Qian was very talkative, endlessly chatting the entire way in a way that was appropriately engaging, and he managed to never make anyone feel uncomfortable.


    Hang City boasts the largest film and television base in the country, with buildings all styled after ancient architecture. Along the way, you could also see many people dressed in Hanfu.


    The houses built of blue bricks and tiles were neatly arranged in an attractive disorder, and if you listened closely, you could hear the crisp sound of streams flowing beneath the bridges.


    Wen Qiao was at the playful age, and seeing such a scene thrilled her. She tugged on Jiang Yao¡¯s sleeve excitedly, "Shall we go out to take pictures after we drop our luggage at the hotel?"


    Jiang Yao looked at her disdainfully, pulled her sleeve out of Wen Qiao¡¯s grasp and silently moved away. Although she didn¡¯t speak, her whole person exuded a vibe of "Why are you acting like a bumpkin who has never seen the world, stay away from me, I don¡¯t want to catch your backwoods air."


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    The driving Song Qian up front heard and said with a smile, "The night scene here is even nicer. In a little while, it¡¯ll be Chinese Valentine¡¯s Day, and the film city will hold a Qixi Festival. It will be very lively then. If you have time, you should take a look."


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t know which word had touched her nerve, but she arched her eyebrows slightly and remained silent.


    -


    The car stopped at the hotel entrance prepared by the crew. As Wen Qiao opened the door to get out, a car suddenly shot out from behind, frightening Wen Qiao to swiftly retract back inside, sitting in a panicked state at the back of the car.


    If she had been any slower, she thought, looking down at her right foot,


    That foot probably would have been separated from her body by now.


    Jiang Yao was equally scared by what had just happened and grabbed Wen Qiao nervously, "Are you okay? Did it hit you?"


    "No...."


    Wen Qiao took a breath, her brows furrowed, and looked over from the back seat at the car in front.


    The driver¡¯s door opened, and the first thing to come into view was a pair of red pointed high heels. Then a delicate foot stretched out of the car and stepped into the shoes.


    The woman had short hair that barely reached her chin; a bunch of tassel earrings dangled down. She glanced over at Wen Qiao after getting out of her car, provocatively lifted her chin at her, then put on sunglasses and walked into the hotel on her high heels. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "?"


    "Who is that woman?"


    Wen Qiao had never seen anyone more arrogant than herself, and this was the first.


    "That was just Lin Ruochun," Song Qian had witnessed everything and was very displeased with Lin Ruochun¡¯s behavior but felt helpless to say anything about it.


    Wen Qiao raised her eyebrows. Great, another love rival appeared.


    -


    Lin Ruochun was the Lin Family¡¯s only daughter, around her own age. She had entered the entertainment circle because she loved acting, and her skills were quite on point, having won a Best Supporting Actress award.


    In "Red Makeup," she played the third female lead, Princess Qinglian, Prince Xian¡¯s beloved jewel, and the close confidante of her portrayal of Princess Rong Huan.


    She really just liked acting, never cared about the order of billing when picking scripts. As long as she liked it, she would take the role; if not, even if it was the lead role, she wouldn¡¯t even glance at it.


    With her family background, there was no one in the circle who dared to give her trouble.

 Chapter 55: Those who come first arrive later

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Those who come first arrive laterThe Lin Family and the Fu Family had been friends for generations, and Lin Chunruo was practically childhood sweethearts with Fu Jinghen. Ever since her predecessor got engaged to Fu Jinghen, she had taken an immediate dislike to this girl, though she wasn¡¯t inherently bad. Apart from throwing a few sarcastic remarks to satisfy her urge, she never actually did anything to harm the predecessor.


    She had taken her costume fitting photos the day after Wen Qiao did, so today was their first meeting.


    Perhaps because of their similar personalities, when Wen Qiao read books, besides loving this deeply affectionate second male lead, Fu Jinghen, she also liked this ill-tempered minor character who seemed to despise both heaven and earth.


    But considering what she had just done, Wen Qiao decided that starting now, she didn¡¯t like her anymore.


    -


    If fate with someone began, there really was no stopping it.


    After Song Qian had checked them both into the hotel, the three of them took the elevator upstairs together.


    Just as she was about to use her room card to open the door, the door to the neighboring room suddenly flung open, revealing Lin Ruochun¡¯s oval face to everyone.


    Their floor housed the entire crew of "Red Makeup," a considerable number, yet just their luck to be neighbors.


    Such a fateful calamity.


    Song Qian instinctively stepped forward upon seeing Lin Ruochun and stood between the two, blocking their line of sight. Just as he was about to ask Wen Qiao if she wanted to switch rooms, Lin Ruochun spoke first, "Why are you the one living next to me?"


    There was no beating around the bush, very straightforward.


    Who did she expect it to be, Fu Jinghen? She might as well dream on.


    Na?ve.


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t even bother to respond to such an unproductive question.


    Princess Lin grew discontented upon receiving no response; she stepped forward next to Song Qian and asked again, "Why are you the one living next to me? I¡¯m talking to you, didn¡¯t you hear?"


    What a joke, she thinks I have to answer just because she asked me a question?


    I charge for solving doubts and providing answers, mind you.


    Remembering how she nearly disfigured herself just moments ago, Wen Qiao realized she couldn¡¯t treat her like an ordinary person anymore; she had to engage somewhat.


    She glanced sideways at Jiang Yao, her face perplexed, "Jiang Yao, did you hear that? What¡¯s that annoying noise, it¡¯s giving me a headache."


    Caught off guard, Jiang Yao was bewildered, but after catching on, she nodded in agreement, "I heard it, it¡¯s indeed a bit noisy."


    Then, with a suggestive glance at the glaring Lin Ruochun, she added, "It¡¯s a rather well-dressed nuisance of a dog."


    Even though Lin Ruochun came from a prominent family, her client had entered combat mode, and as a top-notch agent in China, of course, she had to align with her.


    Moreover, her client¡¯s husband¡¯s family background was even more impressive.


    With this thought, Jiang Yao stood even taller.


    Wen Qiao almost couldn¡¯t help but laugh at how Jiang Yao described it.


    Her agent was genuinely kind-hearted; she still managed to compliment Lin Ruochun from an objective standpoint at such a moment.


    She then looked thoughtfully at Song Qian, "Isn¡¯t the security at this hotel a bit lax? How was this hotel chosen in the first place? ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ is such a vital drama and can¡¯t afford any mishaps. What if this ¡¯mad dog¡¯ goes crazy one day and bites someone? A bite might be a minor issue, but any delay to our filming schedule would be disastrous. If President Fu finds fault with us later, we certainly won¡¯t get off lightly." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing Wen Qiao escalate the issue to such a serious level, Song Qian immediately shook his head like a bobblehead, "No, no worries, the security at this hotel is excellent, top-notch."

 Chapter 56: Rivals Meet with Envy

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56: Rivals Meet with EnvyFearing Wen Qiao wouldn¡¯t believe him, Song Qian even cooperated by giving a thumbs-up in front of his chest.


    Wen Qiao felt that at this time, he should be wearing a red scarf and a dab of blush on his cheeks to look like a perfect example of a socialist youth.


    "You!"


    Lin Ruochun naturally heard Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao implying something about her, but she wasn¡¯t very good at verbal sparring. Her eyes widened, she took a step forward, and lunged straight at Wen Qiao.


    Wen Qiao quickly stepped back, causing Lin Ruochun to miss her grab.


    Seeing this, Song Qian immediately spread his arms in front of Lin Ruochun, trying to reason with her in a good tone, "Don¡¯t get excited, don¡¯t get excited. If you don¡¯t want to be next to Wen Qiao, you can switch rooms."


    Lin Ruochun glared at him, "Why should I switch? I was here first. If anyone should switch, it should be her."


    Song Qian turned his head for a glance at Wen Qiao, "You see...."


    If Lin Ruochun hadn¡¯t started the provocation, Wen Qiao would indeed have considered switching rooms, following the principle of avoiding unnecessary trouble. But as soon as Lin Ruochun suggested that she should switch rooms, she instantly no longer wanted to switch.


    She just loved to annoy those who couldn¡¯t stand her.


    "Why should I switch?" she mimicked Lin Ruochun¡¯s tone and then slowly said, "So what if you were here first? Haven¡¯t you heard? First come, first served goes to those who arrive later."


    Wen Qiao crossed her arms and leaned against the wall at an angle, provocatively hooking her fingers and making a teasing "tsk tsk" sound.


    The hotel air conditioning was on, and the cool wall was especially comfortable to lean against, which soothed Wen Qiao¡¯s somewhat restless mood from the journey. In contrast, Lin Ruochun across from her seemed like she was about to explode with anger.


    "Ah ah ah ah!" The exasperated Lin Ruochun¡¯s face turned red. However, not being good at verbal fights, she made a clawing gesture and tried to lunge again, attempting to resolve the issue with physical force as she cursed, "Wen Qiao! You have no shame!"


    Wen Qiao made a ghost face at her, "Hey, that¡¯s right, I have no shame. What are you going to do about it?"


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s emotions were even more intensified. She paced back and forth, trying to catch Wen Qiao, and Song Qian followed her movements, starting to roam in circles along the hotel corridor.


    Caught between the two women, Song Qian felt like he was at his wit¡¯s end. To tell the truth, up to this point, he didn¡¯t even know how the two women had started fighting.


    But due to his job, he couldn¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.


    Seeing that Lin Ruochun¡¯s long fingernails were about to touch him, Wen Qiao, pulling Jiang Yao along, dodged aside, swiftly used her room key, opened the door, and rushed in, leaving the emotionally charged Lin Ruochun and the exhausted Song Qian outside.


    As she closed the door, Wen Qiao still mockingly put her hands together, giving a slight bow toward the door, "Song Qian, don¡¯t blame me for leaving you behind. Even married couples fly separately when disaster strikes. To thank you for picking us up, if you unfortunately fall, I¡¯ll remember to burn incense for you next Qingming Festival."


    With a soft "snap," Wen Qiao was hit on the back of her head. Holding her head in dissatisfaction, she turned around to face Jiang Yao, "Why did you hit me?"


    "Explain to me, what kind of beef do you have with Lin Ruochun, how did it start, where did it happen, how long has it been, the specific events that took place ¡ª report everything to me."


    "?"


    What¡¯s with this tone as if a wife is interrogating a cheating husband? S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao rubbed the back of her head, pondered for a while, and then gave Jiang Yao a rough explanation, "Maybe it¡¯s like seeing a rival and feeling extra jealous?"

 Chapter 57: Who Still Remembers You, This Tender Young Grass

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Who Still Remembers You, This Tender Young Grass"?"


    Jiang Yao¡¯s somewhat relaxed posture immediately straightened upon hearing this, and she looked at Wen Qiao with a stern expression, "You mean, she likes President Fu?"


    Wen Qiao hesitated before nodding, "It could probably possibly maybe be, if I¡¯m not guessing wrong, yes."


    It really wasn¡¯t her fault for not being sure, since she lost the desire to continue reading the book after her cannon fodder original character logged off.


    But judging by Lin Ruochun¡¯s various actions, she should be fond of Fu Jinghen, otherwise why would she always be looking for trouble with her?


    It¡¯s not like because her original character was cannon fodder that just anybody in the book could stand on the moral high ground and despise her, before taking the opportunity to trample on her, right?


    The author might as well just go ahead and write the Great Compassion Mantra.


    To harbor the world in one¡¯s heart, to save all beings.


    Jiang Yao as if facing a formidable enemy, "Fuck fuck fuck, Wen Qiao, you¡¯re in danger."


    Wen Qiao was clueless, "?"


    "The Lin Family and the Fu Family have always had business cooperations, and their relationship is no less significant than that between your mother and President Fu¡¯s sister; moreover, Lin Ruochun and Fu Jinghen are childhood sweethearts, even though there¡¯s an age difference of three, four, five, six years. But since President Fu can fancy someone like you, it¡¯s not impossible that he¡¯ll fancy Lin Ruochun in the future¡ªafter all, men all like younger fresher ¡¯grass.¡¯"


    Jiang Yao rattled off a bunch of words, successfully tying Wen Qiao¡¯s brain in knots, but she still grasped the key point in Jiang Yao¡¯s words, "What do you mean he can fancy someone like me? What am I like? Does he fancy me grudgingly? Am I, someone unique above and beneath the heavens, not a match for him, Fu Jinghen, an old man?"


    Jiang Yao, "Are you misunderstanding something about yourself? Someone like President Fu is a rare and unique species under the heavens, but someone like you¡ªFu can find a bunch of people like you around him."


    "?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao sincerely asked, "Sister Yao, do you know what I want to do right now?"


    Jiang Yao, flipping through her backpack, replied perfunctorily, "Not interested."


    Wen Qiao continued on her own, "I want to fire you."


    "I found it." Jiang Yao pulled out her phone, unlocked it pointing at Wen Qiao¡¯s face, and then opened the contacts list, "Do what you want, but before you fire me, do me a favor."


    Wen Qiao was somewhat baffled by her smooth sequence of actions, only to see Jiang Yao tap the screen a couple of times, then handed the phone to her.


    "Call President Fu to check in, make your presence felt; from now on, you need to send him messages to greet him every morning, afternoon, and evening. You¡¯ll be stuck here on the set for months and can¡¯t leave¡ªdon¡¯t wait until you¡¯re back for President Fu to already be on the vast pastureland, where he won¡¯t even remember you, the small tender ¡¯grass¡¯."


    Remembering Fu Jinghen¡¯s behavior from the morning, Wen Qiao instinctively refused, "Is he some national leader? Do I need to greet him three times a day? I¡¯m afraid I might wear out his life."


    No sooner had she spoken than a deep magnetic male voice came from the phone held in her palm, "Who¡¯s life are you wearing out?"


    !!!


    Wen Qiao stared at Jiang Yao with wide eyes.


    When did this call get made!?


    Jiang Yao! I¡¯m going to kill you!


    Then Jiang Yao completely ignored her angry glare, turned her head, started packing up their luggage, not heeding anything outside the window, and only focused on being a virtuous person.


    The call had already been made; it would seem too guilty if she hung up now.


    She brought the phone to her ear, her tone fierce, "Who told you to call me?"

 Chapter 58: Able to Spend Money

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Able to Spend Money"If I remember correctly, you were the one who called me."


    Wen Qiao let out an "oh" and her ire took another step up, "Just because I call you, you pick up? Then if another woman calls you, would you pick up too? Fu Jinghen, you shouldn¡¯t be so casual."


    Jiang Yao, who was packing her luggage, almost threw Wen Qiao¡¯s expensive makeup out, then she twisted her head back and rolled her eyes at Wen Qiao.


    I meant for you to act coquettishly towards President Fu to make your presence felt, not to irrationally get jealous and blame him. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao also mimicked Jiang Yao¡¯s earlier expression and simply ignored her.


    As time had progressed and technology and economy had improved, the film studio city was no longer as informal as it had been in the early years. Hang City, being a national 5A-level tourist attraction, had first-class boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts after renovation.


    Huasong Media, a subsidiary of FS, boasted financial resources far beyond ordinary media and entertainment companies. "Red Makeup" was a major project for Huasong Media, and they made sure everything from clothing to food to accommodation for the actors was of the highest quality to ensure they were well-fed and well-rested to perform optimally for filming.


    Wen Qiao felt that, given how well Huasong took care of everyone, if they couldn¡¯t deliver satisfactory results, they shouldn¡¯t even think about continuing in the entertainment industry.


    Shameless.


    The hotel room had a small balcony. Wen Qiao pushed the door open to step out, surprised to find that the balcony offered a view of the film studio city, just a hundred meters away.


    The person on the other end of the phone paused, seemingly chuckling lightly, "You¡¯ve arrived at the hotel?"


    Wen Qiao replied irritably, "It¡¯s not like I¡¯m filming on Mars. It¡¯s been a whole day, how could I not have reached the hotel?"


    "Still angry?"


    Equally infuriating as a cold, straight man who¡¯s oblivious to romance was the person who, knowing full well you were angry, remained nonchalantly ignorant.


    She took a deep breath, her tone dry, "No, I know President Fu is very busy managing myriad affairs, surely he can¡¯t spare the time to see me off. I¡¯m not angry, just a bit disappointed, especially since it¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve seen my dear fianc¨¦, I wonder if he misses me."


    Fu Jinghen picked up on the slight petulance in her voice and accommodatingly said, "Next time."


    Roar.


    Another "next time."


    Once this filming is over and that three-month period is up, I¡¯m going to break off our engagement. We¡¯ll go our separate ways, and who will even remember who you are?


    Do you really think I need you to send me off next time?


    Wen Qiao rolled her eyes and continued dryly, "No need, how could I bother President Fu over such a trivial matter? It¡¯s just me coming to the set to film. I¡¯m an adult; I can handle it myself."


    Just then, she heard a somewhat vague male voice over the phone.


    "President Fu, if you cannot finish in time, should we postpone the meeting?"


    A string of wind chimes hung from the balcony window, tinkling crisply and pleasantly in the breeze.


    Wen Qiao was stunned for a moment. Was Fu Jinghen in a meeting and had stepped out to take her call?


    It seemed he was quite considerate after all.


    Realizing this, Wen Qiao¡¯s petulance dissipated a bit, knowingly asking, "Are you busy?"


    Fu Jinghen recalled the recent expenditure notification and hummed, "Busy earning money."


    The somewhat cool tone of the man passed through the phone, dispelling her dissatisfaction.


    "After all, my fianc¨¦e is quite the spender; I¡¯m worried it might not be enough for her."

 Chapter 59: Don鈥檛 Act Coy

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Don¡¯t Act Coy Fu Jinghen¡¯s last comment really smoothed Wen Qiao¡¯s ruffled feathers. After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yao, who had finished packing, saw her bouncily entering and guessed the conversation went well, so she casually asked, "What were you guys talking about? You seem thrilled."


    Wen Qiao, always eager to share with others, held her phone and giggled, "Fu Jinghen said he¡¯s busy making money to support me."


    I was just asking casually, and you really don¡¯t spare any effort in shoving a mouthful of "dog food" in my face?


    Jiang Yao shook off the goosebumps, expressionless, "Your fianc¨¦ isn¡¯t here, don¡¯t act coy with me, or I might beat you."


    Wen Qiao pouted, "Sis is so fierce, how can you find a boyfriend like that?"


    Unbelievable.


    Not only did she act coy, but she started to play the innocent too.


    Jiang Yao held it in, but ultimately couldn¡¯t resist. She grabbed a throw pillow from the couch and threw it at Wen Qiao, hitting the mark.


    Amidst Wen Qiao¡¯s cries, she clapped her hands.


    "I told you, keep acting and I¡¯ll hit you."


    -


    The next morning, with the rising sun and morning dew, the "Red Makeup" production team held its official inaugural ceremony.


    Looking around, from directors and producers to extras and prop teams, everyone¡¯s faces were filled either with smiles of excitement or frowns of worry.


    And Wen Qiao, with two huge dark circles under her eyes, stood listlessly among the crowd.


    Song Qian came over brimming with enthusiasm to greet her, "Did you sleep well last night?"


    Wen Qiao abruptly lifted her drooping head, giving him a look of despair, "Do I look like I slept well?"


    Song Qian was first drawn to a clump of hair sticking up on her head, then his gaze moved to her face, and she startled him, "How did you end up looking like a national treasure?"


    Wen Qiao waved her hand, "It¡¯s a long story."


    Perhaps because she was in a new place, Wen Qiao was picky about beds. She had a groggy sleep all night, and then there was Lin Ruochun next door, causing who knows what commotion. Periodically, a loud "bang" came from above her head. At first, Wen Qiao thought there was an earthquake, and woke up abruptly to scramble downstairs with Jiang Yao.


    But Jiang Yao cursed at her, calling her crazy, then rolled over and went back to sleep, leaving Wen Qiao alone, standing and pondering.


    The noises next door continued until two in the morning. After only four hours of sleep, she came to attend the start-up ceremony. If she didn¡¯t look like a panda, who would?


    She asked again, "Is the hotel we¡¯re staying at really the best in the whole film city as they say?"


    Song Qian nodded affirmatively, "Yes, it¡¯s top-notch."


    Wen Qiao sighed heavily and quietly muttered, "Then why is the soundproofing so bad?"


    "What?" Song Qian didn¡¯t quite catch what she said.


    Wen Qiao shook her head, "It¡¯s nothing."


    Remembering how Wen Qiao and Lin Chun looked like they were at daggers drawn yesterday, and seeing her current state, Song Qian started to guess and felt a bit worried, "Why don¡¯t you switch rooms with me?"  S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It would be bad if this affected the filming schedule.


    "No need."


    Wen Qiao declined Song Qian¡¯s kind offer. She had already refused to switch rooms yesterday, and doing it today would seem too troublesome. Besides, to not seek revenge was simply not Wen Qiao¡¯s style.

 Chapter 60: Good Friends Who Love Each Other

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Good Friends Who Love Each OtherLin Ruochun didn¡¯t let her get a good night¡¯s sleep last night, so she¡¯s going to make sure Lin Ruochun won¡¯t get a good night¡¯s sleep tonight.


    Who¡¯s afraid of who!


    With that thought, Wen Qiao clenched her little fists at her side, determined to give Lin Chun a piece of her mind tonight!


    As she was thinking this, she saw Lin Ruochun, adorned in a delicate makeup, walking towards her. Wen Qiao stared at her face, somewhat curious. This girl had been up until two in the morning just like herself, getting only four hours of sleep, so how could she still manage to apply such exquisite makeup?


    In comparison, there she was, with a bare face, her hair tied up into a round bun, wearing a pink T-shirt and denim shorts, and a pair of white sneakers with SpongeBob shoelace buckles¡ªsimple and unadorned, not at all looking like someone about to play the leading lady in a big-budget period drama.


    As Lin Ruochun passed by her, she looked Wen Qiao up and down and scoffed lightly, "Pretending to be young."


    Wen Qiao remembered the few descriptions of Lin Ruochun in the original book and turned around with a smile retorting, "And what right does someone who likes Pat Star have to say that to me?"


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s delicate face cracked for a moment, about to ask how she knew, but then realized that acknowledging this would be akin to admitting the fact. Her agent had said her image was that of a cool fairy, she couldn¡¯t blow her cover.


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense."


    Wen Qiao shrugged, "Okay then, let¡¯s say I¡¯m talking nonsense."


    Throw a punch into cotton, Lin Ruochun grew even more furious. Feeling the tension, Song Qian stepped forward to stand between the two, raising both hands to block their gazes from meeting each other and said evenly, "Ladies, one of you likes SpongeBob, and the other likes Pat Star, you two should be kindred spirits and become best friends."


    Lin Ruochun roared, "Who wants to be friends with her!"


    Wen Qiao rolled her eyes, "Who wants to have any affection for her."


    The voices of both women rang out together and then both drilled into Song Qian¡¯s ears, especially the ear facing Lin Ruochun who had just shouted, making Song Qian feel like he was going deaf.


    "...."


    This is really hard for him.


    He has given far too much for this crew.


    -


    The opening ceremony was nothing more than a few routines, the lead actors and director taking turns to offer incense and pray to the gods, exchange a few pleasantries, followed by a group photo, and it was pretty much over.


    Director Zhang Jiage stood in the middle, with Wen Qiao and Ye Shengnan on either side of him, and Jiang Wei on the other side of Wen Qiao.


    She really found it strange, how could each and every one of them get up at six in the morning and still put on full makeup?


    Given that time, wouldn¡¯t it be better spent sleeping?


    Since they had joined the set early and some of the set construction was still wrapping up, after the opening ceremony, everyone got two hours to rest.


    Some planned to tour the scenic areas around the movie city together, while others, like Wen Qiao, chose to go back to their rooms to catch up on sleep.


    Yawning profusely, she leaned on Jiang Yao, letting her guide them forward.


    That¡¯s when Jiang Wei suddenly called out to them, "Qiaoqiao, a bunch of us are planning to look around nearby, want to join us?"


    "No, no, I¡¯m planning to go back to sleep." Right now, Wen Qiao felt there was nothing more important than sleeping.


    Jiang Wei didn¡¯t insist, nodding her head, "Alright then." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Watching Jiang Yao and Wen Qiao walk away from a distance, Ye Shengnan had a hint of dimness in his eyes, saying softly, "I have something to do in a bit, I¡¯ll be going first, have fun."


    With Emperor Ye not joining, of course, no one dared to complain, and they all waved goodbye as he left.


    Jiang Wei, on the other hand, watched Ye Shengnan¡¯s retreating figure thoughtfully.

 Chapter 61: Looks Are Justice

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Looks Are JusticeWen Qiao had paid close attention to Lin Ruochun¡¯s movements when she returned, and seeing that she hadn¡¯t returned to the hotel, she felt relieved.


    She needed to catch up on sleep to avoid being scolded for poor performance in the afternoon.


    The crew of "Red Makeup" released the costume photos of the actors, among which Wen Qiao¡¯s was quite special because her character undergoes a transformation mid-story, so her photo consisted of two "Rong Huans."


    One was the early-stage Rong Huan, naive and innocent, deeply loved and sheltered from worldly affairs, and the other was the later-stage Rong Huan who had experienced the ruin of her family and was scarred, with no attachment to the world.


    The two Rong Huans stared at each other as if they were from different lifetimes. Although both were dressed in red gowns, their moods and emotions were vastly different, creating a significant visual impact.


    Ye Shengnan, portraying Huo Cheng, wore armor with a cape fluttering behind him, sword in his left hand, embodying the calm and solemn image of the Crown Prince.


    Jiang Wei, portraying Xuan Jia, was dressed in a white robe, her face adorned with light, appropriate makeup, and beneath her gentle smile was a ruthless heart.


    Lin Ruochun, portraying Princess Qinglian, was dressed in a blue gown, her face beaming with happiness. Princess Qinglian could be said to be the only character in the play with a fulfilling ending, blessed with a harmonious marriage and a happy family.


    As soon as the photos were released, numerous netizens began vigorously typing their comments. While all three main actors looked great in their photos, Ye Shengnan¡¯s and Jiang Wei¡¯s didn¡¯t captivate the audience as much as Wen Qiao¡¯s.


    "Am I blind, or is Wen Qiao¡¯s outfit just perfect for Rong Huan in my mind?!! So many exclamation marks cannot express the excitement in my heart."


    "For a moment, I can¡¯t tell if Wen Qiao grew into the role of Rong Huan or if the author created Rong Huan based on Wen Qiao¡¯s looks. It fits the original too well!"


    "I instantly ¡¯get¡¯ Wen Qiao¡¯s beauty, I¡¯m a face-judger, aesthetics are justice, with that face, I can overlook the things she¡¯s done before."


    "Just went around Wen Qiao¡¯s Weibo, realized this sister only has about two million followers, instantly followed, I¡¯m now an old fan!"


    "Dude, me too!"


    "Me too +1"


    ".... "


    Although the scriptwriter Bai Mo held Wen Qiao in high regard, considering her previous public image, Jiang Yao had already prepared an army of paid commenters ready to control the narrative when "Red Makeup" posted on Weibo. Unexpectedly, those paid commenters had no opportunity to be of any use.


    It really proved that old saying.


    Beauty is justice.


    But the next second, Jiang Yao wanted to take that back.


    Jiang Yao glanced at Wen Qiao, who was sprawled in a starfish pose on the bed, catching up on sleep, her hair somewhat messy, her mouth slightly open, nearly drooling. She bore no resemblance to a female star, that carefree appearance starkly contrasting with the delicate "Rong Huan" in the costume photo.


    If she wasn¡¯t Wen Qiao¡¯s manager, she really wanted to capture this moment and post it on Weibo to show everyone what Wen Qiao was really like behind the scenes.


    Not sure what she was dreaming of, Wen Qiao smacked her lips a couple of times, giggled foolishly, and turned over to continue her heavy sleep. Jiang Yao, frustrated, pinched her cheek: "Wen Qiao, wake up, stop sleeping."


    Wen Qiao, groggy, opened her eyes and looked around confused: "Is it time?"


    "No."


    Wen Qiao got angry: "Then why did you wake me up?" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "If I didn¡¯t wake you, your drool could start washing clothes."


    "You¡¯re talking nonsense! I never drool in my sleep!" Wen Qiao yelled defensively but still felt a bit guilty as she touched the corner of her mouth.

 Chapter 62: Clearly Can Rely on Looks to Make a Living, Yet Insist on Talent

    Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Clearly Can Rely on Looks to Make a Living, Yet Insist on TalentMm.


    Clean and crisp, utterly refreshing.


    Jiang Yao burst into laughter. "If you know you don¡¯t drool, why bother wiping your face?"


    "You don¡¯t understand," Wen Qiao huffed, with an air of haughty pride, "This is called being meticulous."


    Jiang Yao felt Wen Qiao¡¯s skin was getting thicker by the day. She rolled her eyes and handed her the phone. "Take a look, netizens have a high regard for you. As long as you perform normally and don¡¯t stir up any trouble, the online comments about you will change after this drama airs."


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t take what Jiang Yao said to heart. She scrolled through the praising comments with a smile blossoming on her face. "Even though I get compliments often, being praised for my beauty still makes me happy every time."


    "Snap out of it, girl. You can¡¯t just survive on your looks."


    "Why can¡¯t I?" Wen Qiao asserted confidently, "Didn¡¯t you see how many fans flocked to me just because of my character poster? And here I am, capable of relying on my looks yet also on my talent. What about those with neither looks nor talent, or only one of them¡ªhow are they supposed to get by?"


    Jiang Yao fell silent for a moment, then reached out again to pinch Wen Qiao¡¯s cheek.


    Wen Qiao winced in pain and batted her hand away. "Why are you pinching me!"


    "I¡¯m checking if you¡¯ve pasted something on your face, it¡¯s so thick."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    She started to seriously suspect that Jiang Yao was an undercover hater planted by the enemy.


    In fact, scrolling further down, one could see that the comments section wasn¡¯t entirely a bed of roses.


    Jiang Wei had been in the industry for years and amassed a large fanbase. After seeing the character poster, they thought "Red Makeup" favored Wen Qiao too obviously and wouldn¡¯t stand for it. They took to their keyboards and fired away. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The drama crew is way too biased, aren¡¯t they? We know it¡¯s a female lead drama and Wen Qiao is the lead, but our Weiwei is lowering herself to play the second female lead to complement that dark horse, Wen Qiao. Is this how the crew treats her?"


    "Forget about the second lead, look at how perfunctory Ye Shengnan¡¯s male lead poster is. How much better can Weiwei¡¯s be? If Wen Qiao had a higher status than our Weiwei, that¡¯d be another story, but when Weiwei debuted, wasn¡¯t Wen Qiao still in her rebellious teenage years?"


    "We had already accepted that Weiwei was set to play the lead and then got replaced, but the crew can¡¯t treat people like this, can they?"


    "Nowadays, diligent actors can¡¯t compete with nobodies who have backers, it¡¯s so disheartening."


    "....."


    Jiang Wei nearly passed out from anger when she saw these comments.


    Were these people really her fans?


    What do they mean by saying she debuted when Wen Qiao was still going through a rebellious phase? Are they trying to emphasize that she¡¯s much older than Wen Qiao?


    And how dare they use the phrase ¡¯lowering her own value¡¯?


    To be part of Director Zhang Jiage¡¯s first TV drama was the dream of many, even playing a minor role was worth celebrating for a while. If Director Zhang saw these comments and misunderstood that she was unhappy with the crew¡¯s arrangements, stirring up the fans to make trouble, what would she do?


    If not for recognizing these netizen IDs, she would have believed these people were hired by the rivals to smear her.


    "Sister Qing, handle those comments on Weibo, will you? Don¡¯t let Director Zhang get wind of them. Then guide the fans a bit, no more stirring up trouble."


    "Understood." Li Qing nodded. "Don¡¯t worry about these things. You just focus on giving a good performance this afternoon. I heard ES is picking an ambassador for the Asian region, and their executive manager is an old acquaintance of Director Zhang. With his recommendation, landing that endorsement will be much easier for you."

 Chapter 63 - 61 Small Theater

    Chapter 63: 61 Small TheaterYe Shengnan was a very romantic person, and after Jiang Yao got together with him, she was pampered like a little child.


    On Children¡¯s Day, as soon as Jiang Yao woke up and walked out of her bedroom, she saw a pink dreamland. Extending from the bedroom door was a path paved with candies, and at the entrance of the living room was an arched gate made of pink and white balloons.


    Underneath the arch, there was a pink princess dress and a pair of crystal high heels, with a sticky note attached: "For the most beautiful princess."


    Jiang Yao smiled knowingly, picked up the dress, went back to her bedroom to change, and when she opened the door again, she saw a teddy bear, with light music playing in the living room at some point.


    The teddy bear lifted its chubby hand, gesturing for her to place her hand on top.


    Jiang Yao did as indicated, and was then pulled into the center of the living room.


    Her dress skirt drew a beautiful arc in mid-air, and after the dance ended, Jiang Yao pinched the teddy bear¡¯s chubby paw, "Take it off, aren¡¯t you hot?"


    Upon removing the headgear, Ye Shengnan¡¯s stunning face appeared before her, his hair somewhat messy, and his forehead covered in sweat beads.


    Jiang Yao felt distressed and carefully wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I¡¯m already so old, yet still making a fuss about Children¡¯s Day."


    But Ye Shengnan disagreed, "Even when you¡¯re eighty, you¡¯ll still be the little kid who can wear a princess dress in my eyes."


    Wen Qiao saw the pictures sent by Jiang Yao and was immensely envious, forwarding them to Fu Jinghen to complain.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Look how romantic Emperor Ye is, and then look at you, truly, no comparison, no harm.]


    [Fu Jinghen: Oh.]


    Oh?


    Wen Qiao¡¯s anger instantly flared up, and as her fingers swiftly moved across the screen, before even sending out another message, a bank card receipt notification popped up at the top of her screen.


    [Your account ending in 3086XXXXX has received an income of 61,000,000 yuan from Construction Bank on June 1, 20XX at 12:01.]


    Not long after, another message popped up in her conversation with Fu Jinghen.


    [Transfer 200,000 yuan.]


    Then suddenly, a mechanical female voice from her phone announced, "Alipay has received an exact amount of two hundred thousand yuan."


    Wen Qiao: ...


    [Fu Jinghen: Is that enough? If not, I can continue.]


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Maybe this was a straightforward man¡¯s idea of romance. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    PS: Originally, I wanted to include another couple, but considering that the other small couple has not been explicitly written about to maintain a sense of mystery, I am releasing just these two for now.


    You can also guess who the remaining secondary couple is, but I won¡¯t spoiler.

 Chapter 64 - 63: Using Backdoor Connections

    Chapter 64: Chapter 63: Using Backdoor ConnectionsJiang Wei was momentarily surprised. "ES?"


    ES is an Italian luxury brand that spans a wide range, including perfumes, cosmetics, and jewelry.


    The brand was established during World War II and, after enduring wars and financial crises, it lay dormant for a while. Five years later, it reemerged, evolving from focusing solely on perfumes to expanding into cosmetics and jewelry. Its makeup products are considered to be of the highest caliber in women¡¯s hearts.


    Due to the numerous challenges it faced, the ES brand always embraced the design philosophy of "growing through adversity." Its "striking yet unostentatious" color combinations ensured its products flew off the shelves upon release.


    Their selection criteria for brand ambassadors was extremely stringent, yet there was never a clear answer as to what specific qualifications were required. The chosen traits of past ES ambassadors varied significantly.


    Fashion and entertainment circles have always been inseparable. Jiang Wei had been in the industry for a few years and had starred as the female lead in several dramas. However, she had never been able to break into the circle of top-tier brands, primarily because she lacked a significant endorsement. If she could secure ES¡¯s endorsement in Asia, it would elevate her career and fashion resources to another level.


    Jiang Wei unconsciously clenched the phone in her hand tighter.


    The Asian endorsement for ES; she had to secure it.


    -


    The promotional photoshoot was complete, and all the makeup artist had to do was follow the designed looks for the actors.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s reputation in the industry wasn¡¯t good, and she hadn¡¯t had any notable works. When Director Zhang first heard that Fu Jinghen was giving the important role of Princess Rong Huan to someone less experienced than a newcomer, he was utterly devastated.


    This was his first TV drama after transitioning from big-screen films. He and the drama were mutually dependent. A failure would tarnish his reputation. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But with money reigning supreme, even a famous director like him had to bow down in front of absolute capital power. Although he was skeptical of Wen Qiao¡¯s abilities, he trusted Fu Jinghen¡¯s judgment in choosing people. If the drama failed, all the massive investment he had put in would have been for nothing.


    Still, to prevent Wen Qiao from acting like a diva, Director Zhang fired a veiled warning before the official shooting in the afternoon.


    "In my crew, I don¡¯t want to see any nepotism or bullying. If it happens even once, I won¡¯t be lenient. I don¡¯t care who backs you, just leave on your own. This is a set, not a courtyard drama scene; you just need to focus on acting properly."


    Jiang Wei smirked. It seemed Wen Qiao¡¯s first impression on Director Zhang was not good, and it was unlikely to improve. If anything went wrong, her departure was only a matter of time.


    Being fired from Director Zhang¡¯s set would ruin her reputation beyond salvage in the entertainment industry.


    Of course, Wen Qiao could tell that Director Zhang¡¯s words were directed at her. But she was not one to make things unpleasant for herself. Since he didn¡¯t name names, why should she pick up the scolding herself?


    But Lin Ruochun, as if unable to keep quiet for a second, elbowed Wen Qiao after Director Zhang finished his speech and said snidely, "Did you hear that? Director Zhang is talking about you, the one who got in through the back door."

 Chapter 65 - 64: Jealous That I Have a Husband and You Don鈥檛

    Chapter 65: Chapter 64: Jealous That I Have a Husband and You Don¡¯t"You didn¡¯t take shortcuts? If you¡¯re so cynical, why do you flaunt your family background so openly? We¡¯re cut from the same cloth, and I haven¡¯t said a word to you, so why are you blabbing at me?" Wen Qiao rolled her eyes at her, "Besides, it¡¯s none of your business if I take a shortcut through my own husband. Are you just jealous of me?"


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes widened, "Jealous of you? That¡¯s a laugh. What would I be jealous of?"


    "Jealous that I have a husband and you don¡¯t."


    "You¡¯re really shameless. You and Brother Jinghen aren¡¯t even married yet, and you¡¯re already calling him your husband."


    "Yep, I¡¯m shameless, and I¡¯m going to call him that."


    Saying so, Wen Qiao took out her phone, found Fu Jinghen¡¯s WeChat, pressed the voice message button, and with her eyes fixed on Lin Ruochun, sent a sweet "husband" out.


    In the end, she proudly held up her phone as if to say, "What are you going to do about it?"


    Lin Ruochun was noticeably more agitated, flung her arm, and stormed off in a huff.


    Wen Qiao snorted, "Little miss, try and compete with me, you should practice tongue twisters first."


    -


    As the old saying goes, to capture a man¡¯s heart, you need to capture his stomach first.


    But Wen Qiao¡¯s situation was a bit special; she couldn¡¯t possibly cook for Fu Jinghen every day. However, the internet era could make up for this deficiency.


    She might not be able to cook for him personally, but could she not find some delicious food and order it online for him?


    In matters of food, Wen Qiao had an above-average ability. She figured that someone like Fu Jinghen, who probably had lunches set by his secretary from high-end restaurants with rich dishes, might occasionally need to experience the life of common folk, right?


    So Wen Qiao found a five-star rated Korean fried chicken shop. Seeing the appetizing pictures of fried chicken, saliva unconsciously secreted in her mouth, and she immediately ordered a fried chicken combo filling in the address of Fu Jinghen¡¯s company.


    However, Wen Qiao overlooked one thing: the generation gap between her and Fu Jinghen.


    Once Fu Jinghen finished his meeting and returned to the office, he pushed open the door and was greeted by a not exceedingly rich aroma of fried food.


    He frowned and looked for the source of the problem.


    Feng Li¡¯s eyes were quick, and he spotted the takeout placed on his desk immediately. Along with the smell of fried chicken wafting in the air, Feng Li was stunned and looked at Fu Jinghen incredulously, "President Fu, when did you change your taste?"


    "Didn¡¯t you buy it?" Fu Jinghen asked him.


    "No!" Feng Li denied outright, "Even if I did buy it, I wouldn¡¯t possibly place it in your office."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at him, and the latter got the hint, "Alright, I¡¯ll go clarify that right away."


    The smell of fried food invaded his nostrils, and Fu Jinghen¡¯s frown deepened. He walked to the window, opened it, and let the fresh air in.


    Just as he approached his desk, Feng Li appeared before him, "President Fu, the secretary said the takeaway had your phone number on it, but since you were in a meeting and didn¡¯t answer, the reception called the president¡¯s office. Seeing the number was your private one, the secretary brought it up. However, the person ordering the takeaway was unknown."


    The phone by Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand suddenly lit up, and he glanced down to see a message from Wen Qiao.


    [ Wen Qiao: President Fu, remember to eat no matter how busy you are~ Love you, muah! ]


    This made it clear.


    Feng Li knew that Fu Jinghen hated these kinds of greasy snacks. He picked up the takeaway, intending to take it away, "President Fu, I¡¯ll take this fried chicken out for you, you..." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Leave it there," Fu Jinghen interrupted him.

 Chapter 66 - 65: Who Is Really Crazy?

    Chapter 66: Chapter 65: Who Is Really Crazy?"Ah?"


    "Didn¡¯t hear that clearly?"


    "No no no, I heard it clearly." Feng Li gave Fu Jinghen a look as if he had seen a ghost, then glanced at the fried chicken in his hand, his expression utterly confused.


    Was he the crazy one, or was his boss?


    -


    The shooting schedule couldn¡¯t possibly follow the exact order of the storyline. Today¡¯s scene marked the first turning point in the relationship between Princess Rong Huan and Huo Cheng. The Crown Prince of Li Country, standing in for King Li, attended a banquet in Jing Country. He also expressed his desire to marry the Princess of Jing Country to consolidate the alliance between the two nations. Prince Jing was still considering which princess to send over. The Crown Prince mentioned that he had already seen a portrait of Princess Rong Huan and had fallen in love at first sight, wishing to marry her.


    Princess Rong Huan, the favorite princess of Prince Jing, naturally required some time to think it over. However, the news quickly spread throughout the inner palace, and everyone was talking about Princess Rong Huan marrying into the neighboring country to become the Crown Princess Consort.


    At this time, Princess Rong Huan was still unclear about her feelings for Huo Cheng. She just felt displeased seeing his indifferent reaction upon hearing the news, which led her to throw a tantrum.


    Before experiencing the tragedy of her country¡¯s downfall, Princess Rong Huan was a carefree and cheerful young girl. Her makeup and attire were luxurious but not vulgar, every smile and frown displayed her pampered nature.


    At that moment, Wen Qiao was dressed in a red and white wide-sleeved fairy dress, one hand holding onto a tree trunk while the other stretched desperately forward. In front of that hand was a paper kite hanging from a branch.


    Just as she was about to touch the corner of the paper kite, a dull chime from the distant bell tower startled her, causing her to slip from the tree trunk. She fell from the tree.


    "Huo Cheng!"


    As soon as she cried out, she felt her body lighten as someone caught her in their arms. She opened her eyes to see Huo Cheng¡¯s stern, distinct features above her.


    Her arms wrapped around Huo Cheng¡¯s neck with practiced ease, her face lit up with a grin, unmarred by fear, "Huo Cheng, you¡¯re so quick to react."


    Huo Cheng steadied himself on the ground holding Princess Rong Huan before setting her down, his brows slightly furrowed, "Princess, how could you be so careless." sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s okay since you¡¯re here."


    "What if one day I¡¯m not?"


    "Where would you go?" asked Princess Rong Huan blankly, then shrugged nonchalantly, flicking her dress: "It¡¯s alright, just remember to take me with you."


    In her memory, she and Huo Cheng were always inseparable. They had never parted; wherever she was, he was there, and wherever he went, she followed.


    Huo Cheng was about to say something when he felt a tug at his sleeve. Princess Rong Huan had grabbed his clothes, gently shaking them left and right, "Huo Cheng, the kite is still hanging on the tree and hasn¡¯t been taken down yet."


    Huo Cheng gave her a helpless look, lightly tapped his toe on the ground, and leaped up effortlessly, grabbing the kite that Princess Rong Huan had struggled to reach.


    Princess Rong Huan looked up at him, hands folded across her chest as she clapped and cheered, "Huo Cheng is amazing!"


    As if immune to Princess Rong Huan¡¯s spontaneous praise, Huo Cheng¡¯s reaction remained cool, but upon closer look, a faint smile could be seen in his eyes. He handed the paper kite to Princess Rong Huan.


    She took it, about to release it into the air again, when she heard Huo Cheng¡¯s merciless interruption, "Princess, it¡¯s time to go back and study."

 Chapter 67 - 66: Does the Princess Want to Marry?

    Chapter 67: Chapter 66: Does the Princess Want to Marry?"Oh, all right."


    Rong Huan pouted slightly, somewhat displeased, but still followed the instructions.


    Huo Cheng trailed behind her, and as they stepped forward together, their elongated shadows cast by the sun intertwined on the ground, mysteriously harmonious.


    "It¡¯s terrible, it¡¯s terrible, something¡¯s wrong with the Princess!"


    The maid Xingguo rushed in from outside the hall, her face extremely panicked. After entering the hall and spotting Rong Huan, she ran over and knelt before her with a thump.


    Rong Huan put down her brush, poured a cup of water and pushed it toward her: "What has happened to make you so rushed?"


    Xingguo picked up the cup and gulped down the water, then coarsely wiped her mouth with her sleeve and spilled out what she had just heard: "The neighboring country wants to propose marriage to our Princess, and the Crown Prince of that country has seen your portrait and fallen in love at first sight, wanting to marry you as his Crown Princess Consort."


    "Ah?"


    Standing at the doorway, Huo Cheng straightened up a bit upon hearing this, and discreetly glanced at Rong Huan.


    Xingguo continued, "But, it is said that the Crown Prince is debauched and extremely lustful, currently having five or six concubines, and his eldest illegitimate son is already six years old. Moreover, there is fierce internal strife in their royal family. This marriage proposal, while seemingly aimed at reinforcing friendly relations between the two nations, is actually to solidify his own position as Crown Prince."


    Rong Huan¡¯s immediate reaction was to look towards Huo Cheng standing at the doorway. At that moment, as the sun set, Huo Cheng stood against the light at the door, the setting sun outlining his figure smoothly and clearly, yet Rong Huan could not discern his expression.


    She lowered her eyelids slightly, and said calmly, "I understand, you can go out now."


    Xingguo hesitated for a moment but looked at Rong Huan, who smiled faintly at her: "I¡¯m hungry, go to the kitchen and bring me something to eat."


    "Oh."


    Once Xingguo had left, Rong Huan called out, "Huo Cheng."


    "Mm."


    The same as any other day.


    Rong Huan beckoned, "Come here."


    Huo Cheng paused, then walked over.


    Rong Huan pointed to the seat opposite, "Sit."


    But Huo Cheng did not sit down, Rong Huan frowned, reached up, and pulled his wrist down, "I told you to sit, are you deaf?"


    Unable to resist her, Huo Cheng sat down opposite her.


    Tension filled the air around them, and it was Rong Huan who broke the silence first. Blinking at him, she asked bluntly, "Do you want me to marry the Crown Prince of Li Country?"


    Huo Cheng: "Do you want to marry, Princess?"


    Rong Huan, unsatisfied with Huo Cheng¡¯s response, retorted, "I¡¯m asking you if you want me to marry, why are you throwing the question back at me?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This concerns the relations between two countries; your servant shouldn¡¯t answer."


    Rong Huan nearly boiled over with frustration at Huo Cheng¡¯s intractability, a fire rising fiercely in her heart. She pointed to the door, "Get out."


    Huo Cheng lowered his eyelids slightly, bowed and rose from the cushion, and walked out.


    Seeing that he really didn¡¯t linger at all, Rong Huan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. She grabbed a teacup from beside her and hurled it at his back.


    The teacup struck Huo Cheng¡¯s back, stopping him in his tracks. He turned around, bewildered, looking at Rong Huan, who defiantly said, "What are you staring at? I was aiming at you."


    "Okay, cut."


    Director Zhang¡¯s voice carried through the megaphone across the entire set.


    Wen Qiao shook her slightly long sleeves, propped herself up from the cushion, not asking the director how her performance had been.

 Chapter 68 - 67: Add me on WeChat?

    Chapter 68: Chapter 67: Add me on WeChat?Because she felt that if her performance had been poor, Director Zhang would have scolded her already. But since he had called "Cut" just now, it meant that she wasn¡¯t doing too bad, and she didn¡¯t need to cozy up to him.


    Walking over to Jiang Yao, she snatched the small fan from her hand and began to blow it around her face in circles.


    This weather was truly going to roast her alive.


    The costume was also uncomfortable to wear, a bit scratchy.


    "Pretty good, huh Qiaoqiao, got it in one take?"


    Wen Qiao hummed, "That¡¯s nothing."


    This scene didn¡¯t really test an actor¡¯s skill; as long as one didn¡¯t have a wooden face, it was quite easy.


    If she couldn¡¯t even do well in a scene like this, how could she have had the face to ask Fu Jinghen for this role in the first place?


    "You¡¯re out of breath just from being called fat," Jiang Yao teased her and then, with a casual glance, noticed her chest area had turned red,


    "Oh my, Qiaoqiao, why is your chest so red?"


    Wen Qiao looked down and indeed, it was somewhat red.


    Jiang Yao became anxious, "Is it an allergy?"


    "It might be chafed."


    The costume wasn¡¯t made of pure cotton, and coupled with the hot weather and Wen Qiao¡¯s delicate skin, the back-and-forth rubbing probably scraped some skin off. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ll go buy some medicine for you; just wait here."


    Saying this, Jiang Yao was about to leave the little tent, but as she turned around, she almost bumped into Ye Shengnan, who had just arrived.


    Jiang Yao swiftly stepped back, tensing up, with a serious look on her face, her gaze fixed straight on a tree in front, she greeted him, "Hello, Emperor Ye."


    When Wen Qiao saw Jiang Yao acting so meekly, she rolled her eyes. Normally Jiang Yao would boss her around, but in front of the man she liked, she became completely subservient.


    She would have never guessed the girl had a dual persona.


    Ye Shengnan was holding two pieces of fruit, "I had my assistant buy some watermelon, I brought it for you guys."


    Jiang Yao reached out to take them, still staring at that tree, "Thank you, Emperor Ye."


    Wen Qiao also said thanks, "Thank you, Senior Ye."


    Ye Shengnan¡¯s gaze moved from Jiang Yao and settled on Wen Qiao, "What were you about to do just now?"


    "Oh, my costume was rubbing and itchy. Jiang Yao was going to get me some medication."


    The pharmacy was quite a distance from their filming location, and at this time it was at its hottest. The high sun was scorching the earth, making people feel uneasy.


    Ye Shengnan pursed his lips and said, "It happens that my assistant is also going to the pharmacy. Send him the name of the medicine and let him bring it back."


    Standing behind Ye Shengnan, his assistant, Xiao Cao, looked baffled, his gaze towards the back of Ye Shengnan¡¯s head questioning, when had he said that he was going to the pharmacy?


    Jiang Yao politely declined, "Wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble?"


    "It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s on the way, no trouble at all," Ye Shengnan took out his mobile phone, opened the WeChat QR code, "Add WeChat? Send me the name of the medication, and I¡¯ll pass it on to my assistant later."


    Wen Qiao, with a box of watermelon in her arms, nibbled on it as her big eyes darted between Jiang Yao and Ye Shengnan. She felt like she had stumbled upon some earth-shattering news.


    Was it really okay for Emperor Ye to so blatantly ask for her agent¡¯s WeChat?


    Tone it down a bit, hey!


    "I¡¯ll just add your assistant¡¯s WeChat then."


    Adding her idol on WeChat, Jiang Yao was overtaken with surprise and worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist bothering him.


    Hearing her direct and blunt response, almost choked Wen Qiao on her watermelon.


    Jiang Yao deserved to be single.


    Really.


    Ye Shengnan, with no change in expression, lied smoothly, "He didn¡¯t bring his phone."

 Chapter 69 - 68: Arranged Marriage

    Chapter 69: Chapter 68: Arranged MarriageAssistant Xiao Cao silently covered the pocket holding his cell phone.


    Okay, he didn¡¯t bring it.


    What Brother Ye said was final.


    Sitting under another canopy, Jiang Wei leisurely nibbled on a piece of watermelon and muttered unconsciously, "This Ye Shengnan is quite attentive to Wen Qiao."


    Qianqian didn¡¯t hear clearly, "Sister Wei, what did you say?"


    Jiang Wei shook her head, "Nothing."


    -


    On the first day of shooting, the process went rather smoothly, and after wrapping up in the evening, she lay bored in bed scrolling through her phone.


    "Red Makeup Starts Filming" had made it onto the hot search on Weibo, not ranking too high or too low, just enough to catch one¡¯s eye.


    Wen Qiao clicked on it and saw not only the official Red Makeup account¡¯s photo from the start of filming but also a blurry video of the opening ceremony posted by a Weibo celebrity blogger.


    In the video, she looked plain, and if not for her special standing position, anyone could mistake her for a crew member, whereas Jiang Wei and Lin Ruochun, the second and third female leads standing by her side, looked more striking than her.


    The accompanying text was also quite interesting, reading something like "Red Makeup crew starts filming, female lead Wen Qiao unknown and unremarkable, supporting actresses Jiang Wei and Lin Chun graceful and poised." It was just the beginning of filming, and someone couldn¡¯t wait to start a smear campaign against her.


    Although the official photos released online had garnered mainly positive comments for now, she still needed to show solid talent to completely change the public¡¯s perception of Wen Qiao.


    If she performed poorly, the netizens¡¯ bad reviews would only worsen.


    This drama was undoubtedly Wen Qiao¡¯s battle to turn the tide; she had to make it a spectacular one.


    Wen Qiao, however, never paid much mind to such trivial content; after all, the fact that she was the female lead was set in stone. As for these sponsored social media posts, they were no different from clowns.


    The comments were all the same: each fanbase took their own stars and hoped not to bring others down, looking forward to their own star¡¯s brilliant performance, and there were criticisms of Wen Qiao or speculations about why she and the director had no interaction, nothing noteworthy.


    However, a few netizens had rather unique points of interest.


    "Am I the only one who thinks Wen Qiao¡¯s bun is perfectly round? From afar, it really looks just like a meatball, no, like a four-happiness meatball."


    "Chunchun always likes to wear such exaggerated earrings wherever she goes. I must seriously appeal to the director to give Chunchun¡¯s character more exaggerated earrings, or I¡¯m afraid ordinary ones won¡¯t match her grand and opulent demeanor!"


    "Director Zhang looks unhappy and resigned, but why is Assistant Director Song next to him smiling like a blooming flower, this inexplicably brings to mind the phrase ¡¯forced marriage¡¯."


    "God damn forced marriage."


    "....."


    She dragged the video¡¯s progress bar to where the two directors were, took a screenshot, and cropped out that comment to send to Fu Jinghen.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Netizens¡¯ thought processes are really beyond ordinary people¡¯s comparison.] S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Their chat was still on the earlier incident of Lin Ruochun provoking her and her sending an audio message to Fu Jinghen calling him "hubby." Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t reply, and she didn¡¯t know if he had even listened.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Fu Jinghen replied to her WeChat message.


    [Fu Jinghen: ¡¯Normal¡¯ and ¡¯ordinary¡¯ mean the same thing, you could remove one.]


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t initially understand what he meant by these words, but after going over their conversation twice, she finally got it.

 Chapter 70 - 69: I Think You Miss Me

    Chapter 70: Chapter 69: I Think You Miss MeDamn!


    Fu Jinghen really doesn¡¯t understand romance.


    She came to share the daily news with him, not to receive a lecture on Chinese language from him!


    [Qiaoqiao hasn¡¯t eaten enough: "Drop dead.jpg."]


    The night was dim, and stars dotted the sky. At ten in the evening, the buildings in the CBD center of Jiang City were still brightly lit.


    When Fu Jinghen received the message from Wen Qiao just after he finished the last meeting of the day, he was sitting in his chair, resting with his eyes closed.


    He had not planned to check his phone upon hearing the notification sound, but for some reason, he felt it must be a message from Wen Qiao.


    Looking down, he was right.


    Originally, the WeChat profile picture she used was her own photo, but Wen Qiao later changed it to a cartoon character, Little Wanzi, with a large head filling the entire frame.


    Having been immersed in various meetings and a jumble of overlapping noises all day, Fu Jinghen suddenly found himself wanting to hear Wen Qiao¡¯s incessant chattering.


    Though it was annoying, Wen Qiao¡¯s annoyance somehow wasn¡¯t off-putting.


    He moved his fingers and typed a few characters to send back.


    Two seconds later, he received a video call request from her.


    Once connected, the entire screen was filled with Wen Qiao¡¯s face, just like her profile picture.


    "I think you¡¯re missing me, so I decided to call and relieve some of your longing," she said.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s crisp voice echoed in the empty, quiet conference room.


    Fu Jinghen looked at her, "What?"


    "You asked what I¡¯m doing, and the subtext is that you miss me, right?"


    Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t see the inevitable connection between the two, but he didn¡¯t argue. Noticing her slightly damp hair draped over her shoulders, he asked, "No filming tonight?"


    "Not tonight," water droplets trickled from her hair tips onto Wen Qiao¡¯s chest, making her shiver slightly before she haphazardly ran her fingers through her hair. "Every day¡¯s schedule is different. I might have night scenes in a couple of days."


    "Hmm," Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze still fixed on her hair, "go blow-dry your hair."


    "No," Wen Qiao refused outright, "air drying is the best protection for hair."


    Fu Jinghen seemed to understand something and said faintly, "You¡¯re just too lazy to blow-dry it, right?"


    The tone was definitely affirmative.


    Just moments ago, he was obsessively correcting her sentence order, and now he was blatantly exposing her without giving any face. Could he, Fu Jinghen, be so willful to her, Wen Qiao, just because he¡¯s handsome? S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The answer is, of course, yes.


    Seeing Wen Qiao pout on the screen, Fu Jinghen knew she was about to start.


    "Yeah, I¡¯m just too lazy to blow-dry it. But what can I do? My fianc¨¦ isn¡¯t here to dry it for me, so I have to let it air dry."


    Fu Jinghen replied helplessly, "Talk properly."


    "President Fu, you really don¡¯t understand romance, do you?" Wen Qiao complained dissatisfied.


    "Hmm."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    There was no more conversation to be had today.


    Seeing her choked up, Fu Jinghen suddenly felt amused to tease her, "Run out of things to say?"


    Challenging her to yell?


    "How could I?" Wen Qiao immediately switched to a cheerful expression, "How could I run out of things to discuss with President Fu? I always adhere to the principle that even if President Fu mistreats me a thousand times, I will still treat him as my first love."


    "Hmm, continue."


    Fu Jinghen seemed quite pleased.


    "Was the fried chicken at lunch tasty, President Fu?"


    Fu Jinghen thought about the fried chicken, which he had only taken one bite of before setting aside. Without batting an eyelid, he replied, "Average."

 Chapter 71 - 70: Have you seen many men?

    Chapter 71: Chapter 70: Have you seen many men?"How could it be just average! I was practically drooling just looking at the picture!" Wen Qiao got angry when her favorite food didn¡¯t receive the recognition it deserved. "You only gave it an average rating?"


    Fu Jinghen lifted his eyelids and glanced at her, seeing her sincere expression and realizing she was honestly just sharing her favorite food with him, not deliberately messing with him.


    "I don¡¯t like fried foods," he explained.


    "Oh, I see," Wen Qiao¡¯s anger was instantly soothed. "Then tell me what you do like to eat, and I¡¯ll order it for you tomorrow. From now on, as long as I¡¯m not by your side, I¡¯ll order takeout for you."


    "..."


    That wasn¡¯t necessary.


    He had someone deliver his meals three times a day.


    But...


    He glanced at the screen, seeing the eager look in Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes, swallowed his words, and pondered the question.


    What did he want to eat?


    Fu Jinghen thought the sweet and sour pork loin she made that night was pretty tasty.


    He said it unconsciously and Wen Qiao let out a small "Ah," as if she had discovered a new continent. "You like sweets? I rarely see guys who like sweet things."


    "What do you mean?" Fu Jinghen caught the key point in her words. "Have you met a lot of men?"


    Wen Qiao, provoked by his question, felt a thrill of excitement, ready to tease, "What, President Fu, are you jealous?"


    With a "ding," the video call ended.


    Fu Jinghen had shown Wen Qiao, with his actions, probably the consequences of her provocation.


    Persistence was Wen Qiao¡¯s middle name. Being hung up on didn¡¯t matter. Wouldn¡¯t she just call back?


    After a long "beep," the video was finally accepted and Fu Jinghen¡¯s face reappeared.


    "Anything else?"


    "Yes, yes! I haven¡¯t shared the latest gossip from the set with you." Wen Qiao smartly changed the topic. "President Fu, let me tell you, I think Emperor Ye seems to have a special something for Sister Yao."


    "Ye Shengnan?" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao nodded like a pecking chicken, "Yes, yes!"


    Fu Jinghen raised an eyebrow, signaling for her to continue.


    Wen Qiao understood, "During the poster shoot, I didn¡¯t even know her, and he still came over to greet me personally ¡ª someone with such high status, coming over to greet me."


    Wen Qiao repeated "personally" and emphasized it more each time.


    "Then, during a photo with him where we had to pose closely, he subconsciously looked towards where Jiang Yao was standing, but Jiang Wei was also next to her, so I wasn¡¯t sure."


    "And this afternoon, when my outfit was irritating my skin, she went to get me some ointment but was stopped by Emperor Ye. He said his assistant was going to the pharmacy anyway and could bring it over, and he even took the chance to add Sister Yao on WeChat."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth moved rapidly, her crisp voice ceaselessly emitted from the phone, reaching Fu Jinghen¡¯s ears.


    He wasn¡¯t really interested in the romantic developments between others, but listening to Wen Qiao passionately describing the situation between Ye Shengnan and Jiang Yao, he was somewhat intrigued.


    However, upon hearing Wen Qiao¡¯s words, he paused for a moment, covertly scanned Wen Qiao on the screen, but she had her face pressed so close to the camera that nothing else was visible.


    "An allergy?" he asked.


    "Wow." Wen Qiao exclaimed as if she¡¯d discovered something amazing. "President Fu, you¡¯re so attentive! You caught the key point in my words right away. I thought you had never been in a relationship before and wouldn¡¯t notice these little details."


    Fu Jinghen felt that Wen Qiao seemed especially fond of mentioning that he had never been in a relationship before.

 Chapter 72 - 71: Drink Plenty of Hot Water

    Chapter 72: Chapter 71: Drink Plenty of Hot WaterI originally thought it was nothing, but as she brought it up so many times, Fu Jinghen also began to feel it was somewhat strange.


    It¡¯s just, I inexplicably felt my dignity as a man was being challenged.


    His voice became a bit deeper, "Wen Qiao, enough is enough."


    "Are you angry with me?" Wen Qiao was startled for a moment, and then her entire face collapsed, "In such hot weather, I¡¯ve come all the way to the film city, toiling away at filming, and even my costume has scratched my skin raw. Even my agent knows to feel sorry for me, but my fianc¨¦ is so indifferent to me, how can I keep living like this?"


    Although they hadn¡¯t spent much time together, Fu Jinghen had already grown accustomed to Wen Qiao¡¯s acting.


    He commented lightly, "Well used idioms."


    Wen Qiao: "Wah," she cried even harder.


    Even knowing her tears were mostly an act, Fu Jinghen still found himself flustered by the increasing volume of her cries, "Where is it damaged?"


    Seeing that he finally showed concern for her, Wen Qiao timely stopped her crying, scrambled up from the bed, causing the camera to shake before focusing on the area in front of her chest.


    On the screen was a stretch of delicate whiteness, so pale it made Fu Jinghen¡¯s vision blur, and he heard Wen Qiao¡¯s delicate voice, "Here, look how red it is, if you look closer you can even see the blood vessels."


    Fu Jinghen narrowed his eyes, focusing harder, and indeed saw a large patch of redness on the tender skin.


    He hummed, "Drink more hot water."


    The next second, the screen went black, "Ding," the video call was hung up.


    Although he couldn¡¯t see her, Fu Jinghen could already picture Wen Qiao grinding her teeth in anger, and if he were by her side now, she probably would have pounced on him to bite him.


    Thinking of this, he suddenly felt cheerful and started smiling with the corners of his lips turned up.


    When Feng Li knocked and walked in, what he saw was his usually reserved boss with his head in his hand, smiling with a look of spring fever. He instinctively took a step back.


    What had gotten into his boss?


    Could the meetings have driven him crazy?


    Fu Jinghen heard the faint noise behind him, put away his smile, and looked back with an indifferent expression, "Didn¡¯t knock?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I did knock!" Feng Li immediately clarified, "You just didn¡¯t hear it."


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at him, stood up from the chair, and walked out of the conference room.


    Feng Li followed closely behind, and out of the blue, he heard his boss ask, "Give me Wen Qiao¡¯s room number."


    "Eh?" Feng Li was stunned for a moment, then quickly recovered and reported a string of numbers, "6607."


    As the two wove through the company corridors, the glass beside them reflected the screen of Fu Jinghen¡¯s mobile phone, and despite the blurriness, Feng Li recognized it as an e-commerce platform.


    Seeing Fu Jinghen buy ointment and some desserts, Feng Li clicked his tongue.


    It seemed that his boss really cared for the Boss Lady.


    Which meant he definitely had to suck up to the Boss Lady more in the future.


    -


    On the other hand, Wen Qiao angrily threw her phone onto the bed, which bounced twice due to the mattress and finally settled on the edge of the bed, precariously close to falling.


    She felt living alone for the rest of her life was a very fitting end for Fu Jinghen.


    Drink more hot water?


    She couldn¡¯t believe he had the gall to say those four words!


    Jiang Yao came out after a shower only to see Wen Qiao frowning, slumped on the bed as if someone owed her eight million, and she asked, "What are you going crazy about now?"

 Chapter 73 - 72: Bunnies are So Cute, How Could You Eat Bunnies?

    Chapter 73: Chapter 72: Bunnies are So Cute, How Could You Eat Bunnies?Wen Qiao gave her a look of deep-seated hatred, as if she had found a relative, and began to complain about Fu Jinghen¡¯s beastly behavior just moments ago.


    A minute later, Wen Qiao watched with an expressionless face as Jiang Yao, who was laughing uncontrollably and rolling around on the bed, had her delicate feet twitching about, contemplating which body part would hurt the most if kicked.


    "Ouch, I can¡¯t take it, President Fu, hahaha, drink more hot water, hahaha, hilarious."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s voice was cold, "Is it that funny?"


    "Yeah, hahaha."


    Just as Wen Qiao¡¯s feet were about to touch Jiang Yao¡¯s butt, the room¡¯s doorbell suddenly rang.


    Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao looked at each other, both of them saw confusion in the other¡¯s eyes.


    "Did you order takeout?"


    Wen Qiao: "No."


    How could she dare to? If she swelled up with water retention the next day, what would she do?


    "Then who¡¯s knocking on the door late at night?" Jiang Yao muttered.


    It was already eleven o¡¯clock at night, and it was a female actress¡¯s room that was being knocked on¡ªif this got captured by the paparazzi, it would certainly make things interesting.


    "Don¡¯t move, I¡¯ll go take a look."


    Jiang Yao walked to the door, peered out through the peephole, and saw a shimmering yellow. She breathed a sigh of relief when she recognized the logo on the clothes, then cracked the door and poked her head out. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Hello, your order has arrived."


    "Thank you."


    Jiang Yao took the items, seeing ointment in a transparent plastic bag and another cardboard box containing something unknown.


    As soon as she saw the tube of ointment, she realized who must have sent these items.


    Wen Qiao came out, "Who is it?"


    "Delivery."


    "What is it?"


    Jiang Yao handed the items over, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, this should be from your fianc¨¦ who told you to drink more hot water."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao retracted her hand and turned her head away proudly, "If it¡¯s from him, I don¡¯t want it."


    "You don¡¯t want it?" Jiang Yao looked at her, "Okay then, I¡¯ll just throw it away."


    "Hey!"


    Wen Qiao immediately turned her head back, and upon seeing the sly smile on Jiang Yao¡¯s face, realized she had been played. She humphed, took the items, and opened the cardboard box on the table.


    It looked like a cake box, and she was curious what sort of strange cake Fu Jinghen¡¯s taste might have picked out to annoy her.


    But this time Fu Jinghen¡¯s taste seemed quite on point.


    Upon opening the box, nestled inside was an adorable little cake in the shape of a snow-white bunny.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up immediately, letting out a "wow."


    Jiang Yao leaned against the table with her arms crossed, "Wouldn¡¯t have guessed, but your President Fu is quite good at making little girls happy."


    "What little girl." Wen Qiao corrected her, "It¡¯s about making me happy. Don¡¯t talk like President Fu has been through a hundred battles."


    Jiang Yao: "...You¡¯re a slave to your husband, aren¡¯t you?"


    "What¡¯s wrong with that?" Wen Qiao proudly lifted her chin, then picked up the cake box, cooing, "The bunny is so cute, how could anyone eat the bunny?"


    "...."


    "Don¡¯t eat it," Jiang Yao had yet to utter these words when she saw Wen Qiao open her mouth wide and, with a roar, gulp down half of the bunny¡¯s body.


    Jiang Yao: "...."


    She shouldn¡¯t have had any illusions about Wen Qiao.


    Really.


    -


    Wen Qiao was one to hold grudges, she had taken an afternoon nap and then video chatted with Fu Jinghen in the evening, feeling somewhat excited. She thought about how Lin Ruochun hadn¡¯t let her sleep well the night before, and decided she couldn¡¯t let Lin Ruochun sleep well tonight either.


    Not wanting to disturb Jiang Yao¡¯s sleep, Wen Qiao paid out of her own pocket to get her another room upstairs for the night, and then began her grand plan for revenge.

 Chapter 74 - 73: Just to Scare You

    Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Just to Scare YouSince they were neighbors, Wen Qiao¡¯s balcony was only a meter away from Lin Ruochun¡¯s. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sitting in the rocking chair on her balcony, Wen Qiao watched as Lin Ruochun turned off her lights and then reached into a plastic bag on the ground to hurl a bottle cap towards her balcony door.


    The slightly irritating noise disturbed Lin Ruochun greatly. She slid open her balcony door and stepped out, "Who is it, acting so shamelessly and disturbing people¡¯s sleep late at night?"


    "So you know it¡¯s shameless, looks like you¡¯re not stupid after all."


    Wen Qiao kept throwing bottle caps, one even hitting Lin Ruochun accurately on the forehead.


    Lin Ruochun was furious, "Wen Qiao! Are you sick?"


    "What went around comes around. You kept me up last night, so I¡¯m keeping you up tonight," Wen Qiao leisurely stood up from the rocking chair, walked to the edge of the balcony, and looked at her, "Now we¡¯re even. But if there¡¯s another time..."


    "What will happen then?"


    Lin Ruochun looked at her disdainfully; she wanted to see what Wen Qiao could really do to her.


    "I remember you¡¯re afraid of snakes, right?" Wen Qiao said as she opened her phone¡¯s gallery, clicked on a picture, and held it up to her, "I happen to have a pet snake, and I¡¯ve missed it during these days on set. Maybe I should bring it over? It could keep you company."


    Lin Ruochun looked at the picture of the thin snake coiled around Wen Qiao¡¯s arm and her eyes widened in fear; she stammered, "No, that won¡¯t be necessary."


    Seeing her threat had worked, Wen Qiao put away her phone, her tone becoming friendly, "Good girl, go back and sleep."


    Lin Ruochun nodded stiffly, turned around, and walked with rigid steps. When she came close to her glass door, she zipped inside swiftly.


    After shutting the glass door, Wen Qiao could still faintly hear Lin Ruochun¡¯s scream, "Mom, I want to go home!"


    Wen Qiao chuckled and prepared to head back to her room.


    Catching a glimpse of the photo on her phone, she also shivered slightly in response to the piercing, lifelike eyes in the image.


    It was indeed a bit spooky late at night.


    Luckily, she had Photoshopped the image during the day.


    -


    Wen Qiao¡¯s threat had worked incredibly well; for many following days, she slept until her alarm rang, and the neighbor caused no more trouble.


    Sometimes, she would see Lin Ruochun without makeup, dark circles almost reaching her mouth.


    Probably disturbed by the fright but constrained by the previous incident, Lin Ruochun did not dare change her room to avoid being labeled as troublesome.


    Perhaps unable to endure it any longer, before today¡¯s shooting, Lin Ruochun cautiously approached Wen Qiao when no one was around and asked, "Did you really get a snake?"


    Seeing her trembling, Wen Qiao did not have the heart to scare her any further¡ªshe could not afford the consequences if Lin Ruochun became mentally unstable someday.


    "Of course not, I was just scaring you."


    "!"


    Lin Ruochun suddenly relaxed, then tensed up again, "Then what about that photo?"


    Wen Qiao, in an excellent mood, replied, "Photoshopped."


    Taking advantage of the dim lighting that night, and knowing Lin Ruochun was already frightened, Wen Qiao had played her cards right.


    "Despicable!" Lin Ruochun cursed.


    "As long as it works," Wen Qiao didn¡¯t care at all and smiled at Lin Ruochun, "Although I don¡¯t have a snake now, that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t get one in the future. If you disturb my sleep again because of this, don¡¯t blame me for being rude."


    Lin Ruochun, unnerved by Wen Qiao¡¯s cheery demeanor and recalling the snake from the photo, shuddered and quickly walked away.


    Couldn¡¯t she just avoid trouble if she couldn¡¯t provoke it?


    -

 Chapter 75 - 74: Not Very Honest

    Chapter 75: Chapter 74: Not Very HonestThe Crown Prince of Li Country had proposed to marry Princess Rong Huan and left behind a letter hastily bidding farewell the very next day.


    The letter simply stated that there was an important matter at court and that he would visit another day.


    Outside the imperial city, in a guesthouse, a tall figure stood by the window, watching the caravan of Li Country leave Jing Country, with a cold glint flickering in his eyes.


    At that moment, a respectful voice came from behind, "Crown Prince, everything has been arranged."


    The man grunted in acknowledgment, picked up the teacup from the table, took a sip, and then turned to leave.


    With the departure of the Crown Prince of Li Country, not only did Princess Rong Huan heave a sigh of relief, but Prince Jing also relaxed. Although Li Country was a friendly neighbor, Princess Rong Huan was his most beloved and he had heard some rumors about the Crown Prince. He really didn¡¯t want to marry off his treasured daughter to him.


    When Prince Jing reached Princess Rong Huan¡¯s chamber, she was practicing her calligraphy with a gloomy expression. Upon seeing Prince Jing, she called out "Father" and then lowered her head again.


    "Ah Huan, do you have something on your mind?"


    Princess Rong Huan stubbornly replied, "No."


    Prince Jing didn¡¯t press any further. He looked around her chamber and felt that something was amiss. He asked, "Where is Huo Cheng?"


    Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, an ink blot spread on the rice paper, followed by Princess Rong Huan¡¯s sulky voice, "I don¡¯t know."


    "Oh?" Prince Jing became curious and sat down beside her, "Don¡¯t you usually keep a close eye on your little guard? How come you don¡¯t even know where he is now?"


    "He is not mine!" Princess Rong Huan retorted with a neck stiff and face flushed, revealing a touch of youthful shyness, "Father, don¡¯t talk nonsense!"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s head was slightly bowed, her neck as graceful as a swan, her exposed skin fair like a block of tofu, tempting as if inviting a bite.


    "Did you two have a fight?" As he spoke, Prince Jing raised his hand to touch Princess Rong Huan¡¯s head, his hand naturally sliding down to her shoulder.


    The actor playing Prince Jing was Luo Bin, a senior figure in the industry with a somewhat stagnant early career, who only saw success in recent years and was a late bloomer. Not long ago, he was even shortlisted for the Magnificent Award for Best Actor.


    But why did Wen Qiao feel that this Best Actor nominee¡¯s hands were somewhat restless?


    Without revealing anything, Wen Qiao glanced at the director¡¯s team in front. The scene was about to wrap up, and she didn¡¯t want to cause everyone to redo it because of her. Moreover, Luo Bin¡¯s hand on her shoulder was in a blind spot visually; apart from feeling his fingers rubbing against her shoulder through the fabric, no one else could see it.


    Even if she spoke out about this matter, no one would stand up for her, and she would instead attract trouble.


    She suppressed the disgust in her heart and the urge to fling Luo Bin¡¯s hand away, and continued acting.


    "No," Princess Rong Huan pouted slightly. Given that Huo Cheng was wooden, how could they possibly have a quarrel?


    Seeing that Wen Qiao didn¡¯t resist, Luo Bin grew bolder. Noticing Wen Qiao¡¯s pouty lips and her coquettish demeanor, he took advantage of the blind spot to move his hand more audaciously on Princess Rong Huan¡¯s shoulder.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hand hidden in her sleeve clenched into a fist; in her mind, she had already dismantled Luo Bin¡¯s intrusive hand eight hundred times over.


    Prince Jing caught a glimpse of the character "Huo" unintentionally written on the rice paper by Princess Rong Huan and suddenly asked, "Ah Huan, do you like Huo Cheng?"


    Like Huo Cheng?


    Princess Rong Huan stared blankly at Prince Jing as if she didn¡¯t quite understand the implication of his words. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No! I don¡¯t like him at all!"

 Chapter 76 - 75: What on Earth Is the Goal?

    Chapter 76: Chapter 75: What on Earth Is the Goal?"Although she said that, her blushing cheeks betrayed her true feelings."


    Prince Jing was no ordinary man, and having fathered Rong Huan, how could he not see through Rong Huan¡¯s heart?


    Yet at that moment, he refrained from saying more. He was well aware of Huo Cheng¡¯s family background¡ªdue to famine in his village, his parents had both passed away. Subsequently, he was sold into the palace where he was supposed to be castrated, but he resisted. An Imperial Guard commander noticed his potential during this defiance and took him away to be groomed.


    Afterwards, when Rong Huan faced an assassination attempt, Huo Cheng risked his life to save her. Since then, Prince Jing had promoted him to specially protect Rong Huan.


    Besides his family background, Huo Cheng was not inferior to any sons of dukes or ministers in the court, whether in terms of character or appearance.


    But this background was precisely the most important point.


    Rong Huan had been cherished by him since she was young; he couldn¡¯t bear to see her suffer even the slightest bit. If Rong Huan truly wished to marry him, Prince Jing was not against arranging a noble family background and lineage for him.


    But the thought of his precious daughter getting married made him feel like he could still observe Huo Cheng for a while longer.


    There was no rush.


    Rong Huan hadn¡¯t expected her retort to be overheard by Huo Cheng. He tightened his grip on the Cherry Pancake, standing stiffly outside the bedroom door. The setting sun elongated his shadow, a picture of loneliness surrounding him.


    The cameraman extended Huo Cheng¡¯s figure until it blended into a wide shot. Director Zhang, watching the scene on the monitor, shouted "Cut!" through the loudspeaker.


    Upon hearing the command, Wen Qiao immediately sprang up from the cushion, not forgetting to bow and thank Luo Bin: "Senior Luo, thank you for your hard work."


    She made sure to observe all the niceties.


    Luo Bin glanced at his now-empty palm, slowly putting it down, with a pleasant smile on his face: "You did well, impressive for someone so young."


    "Thank you for the compliment, Senior Luo."


    Ugh. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A lecher masquerading as a nice old man.


    "But I think you still have a lot of room for improvement. How about I come to your room tonight to discuss further?"


    "How could I possibly trouble Senior Luo like that?" Wen Qiao pretended not to grasp the insinuations in his words, "Besides, I¡¯ve got a night scene to shoot tonight."


    With so many people around on the set, Luo Bin found it hard to say more and just gave her an appraising once-over as he left, eliciting goosebumps on Wen Qiao. Were it not for the majesty of the law, she would¡¯ve loved to rush at him and gouge out his eyeballs.


    What are you looking at?


    Am I something you can just ogle as you please?


    Wen Qiao strode back under the shelter of the set, grabbed the iced Americano that Jiang Yao had just bought, and took a big gulp to quell the rage in her heart.


    Yet at that moment, someone just had to come and provoke her.


    The next scene was Wen Qiao¡¯s confrontation with Lin Ruochun, who, dressed in her costume, stopped while passing by her.


    "Nowadays the bar for the entertainment industry is really low; displaying such a naive, sweet acting style, you actually have the nerve to embarrass yourself."


    Wen Qiao glanced up at Lin Ruochun: "If you¡¯re so talented, why don¡¯t you become a director? If you can¡¯t stand me, put your money where your mouth is and finance the project to replace me. If you can¡¯t, then stop blabbering. Are you making up for being mute in your past life?"


    "You!" Lin Ruochun flapped her sleeves indignantly and dropped a menacing line: "We¡¯ll see about this in a bit."


    Wen Qiao nonchalantly replied with an "Oh", hinting, "She¡¯s stuttering in this lifetime."


    "You¡¯re the one who¡¯s stuttering!"


    Watching Lin Ruochun storm off angrily, Jiang Yao was baffled: "Tell me, she comes to provoke you every time and always ends up humiliated. What¡¯s she really after?"

 Chapter 77 - 76: Is This Your Professionalism?

    Chapter 77: Chapter 76: Is This Your Professionalism?"How should I know? Recently, I haven¡¯t threatened her, and now she starts hopping around again," Wen Qiao gulped down another sip of her iced Americano. "If we weren¡¯t the same gender, I¡¯d suspect she¡¯s deliberately courting death to get my attention."


    Jiang Yao looked at Wen Qiao in shock, then rolled her eyes in response to the latter¡¯s "Am I wrong?" gaze.


    "You really are self-centered, aren¡¯t you?"


    -


    In the drama, Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun¡¯s characters were best friends, but in reality, they were rivals who would fight to the death rather than shower each other with affection.


    Portraying deep sisterly love was indeed challenging.


    Wen Qiao was a professional and absolutely refused to let her personal emotions bleed into her work. She thought Lin Ruochun would do the same, after all, she knew Lin Ruochun genuinely loved acting.


    But what she thought was just that¡ªwhat she thought.


    The filming location was the gazebo in the garden outside Rong Huan¡¯s bedroom. Before the director even called action, Lin Ruochun, lifting her skirt, sat in the shade, leaving the spot half in the sun for Wen Qiao. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao glanced at her, said nothing, and walked over to take a seat in that spot.


    It was supposed to be a simple, subdued scene of intimate friend¡¯s heart-to-heart. If shot well, it would take no longer than ten minutes. However, Lin Ruochun kept making mistakes.


    Either her gaze was too cold or her expressions too disdainful. After Director Zhang scolded her twice, she managed to stabilize her expression, but then she started changing the lines.


    As time passed, the sun moved slowly along its arc, the scorching rays beating directly down on Wen Qiao¡¯s head.


    She hated the heat, and the uncomfortable fabric of her costume was fanning the flames of her irritation.


    Director Zhang stood up from behind the monitor, angry, "Lin Ruochun, do you want to pack up and leave?"


    "I¡¯m sorry, director, but the sun has muddled my brain. I¡¯ll get it right this time for sure."


    Lin Ruochun had been personally selected by Director Zhang, and he was confident in her acting skills. Although he looked a bit displeased, he didn¡¯t say much more.


    Wen Qiao glanced at Lin Ruochun sitting in the shade and then looked up at the sun directly above her, speechless.


    Who is the one getting sunburnt here?


    Director Zhang was quite hypocritical. If it had been her making mistakes, she would have been scolded from the first error. But Lin Ruochun got chance after chance, despite repeating the same mistakes three times.


    She was really beginning to wonder, did Fu Jinghen threaten Director Zhang at knifepoint to take her as the lead actress, which is why he seemed to dislike her so much?


    After the director called for a ten-minute break, Wen Qiao stood up and looked down at Lin Ruochun from above: "Is this the professionalism you bragged about? I must say, you¡¯ve really opened my eyes."


    The scornful tone and icy gaze sent a shiver down Lin Chun¡¯s spine.


    She instinctively wanted to retort, but Wen Qiao did not give her the chance and walked away after speaking.


    Lin Ruochun sat stunned on the stone seat when Jiang Wei came over and soothingly put her hand on her shoulder: "Xiao Chun, don¡¯t be angry, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t mean it, after all, she was pushed into this. If it doesn¡¯t go well, Director Zhang will dislike her even more, and that¡¯s why she¡¯s taking it out on you."


    Lin Ruochun glanced at Jiang Wei¡¯s hand on her shoulder, frowning tightly: "Take it off."


    Jiang Wei was taken aback but composedly removed her hand and sat opposite her, continuing, "I know you don¡¯t like Wen Qiao, I don¡¯t like her either. If the two of us team up to get her out of the cast..."


    "Who wants to team up with you?"

 Chapter 78 - 77: This green tea really suits you

    Chapter 78: Chapter 77: This green tea really suits youJiang Wei had not finished speaking before Lin Ruochun interrupted her. "Who do you think you are to join forces with me? Yes, I do hate Wen Qiao, but if I¡¯m to drive her away, I¡¯ll do it myself and I certainly won¡¯t stoop to doing anything filthy with you."


    She picked up the prop from the table, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it towards Jiang Wei.


    The tea splashed out, scalding Jiang Wei¡¯s arm; she screamed and quickly stood up, retreating.


    "Lin Ruochun! Don¡¯t think just because you have your parents¡¯ backing you can do whatever you want."


    "I¡¯m doing whatever I want, what can you do about it?" Lin Ruochun snorted dismissively, her verbal skills honed after being ridiculed by Wen Qiao a few times. She glanced at the tea and said, "This green tea matches you quite well."


    Having said that, she got up and left.


    -


    After being scolded by Wen Qiao, Lin Ruochun seemed to have regained her composure and after a break, managed to nail the scene in one take.


    The next scene involved Jiang Wei and Ye Shengnan, which meant Wen Qiao could rest for a while. Sitting under the shed, she noticed an iced Americano added to the table and exclaimed in surprise, "Why did you buy another one, isn¡¯t it far?"


    "I didn¡¯t buy it," Jiang Yao pointed with her lips. "Your esteemed neighbor bought it."


    "Lin Ruochun?"


    "Yeah, who else."


    Wen Qiao turned around and scanned the area, spotting Lin Ruochun standing behind the director, sneakily glancing at her while checking the monitor for the scene¡¯s playback.


    As soon as their eyes met, Ruochun immediately lowered her gaze back to the monitor. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao sneered.


    Childish.


    She picked up the iced Americano and took a sip. Jiang Yao casually asked, "You dare to drink it even though Lin Ruochun bought it? Aren¡¯t you afraid she might poison you?"


    Wen Qiao asked her in the same tone, "You dared to accept it even though Lin Ruochun bought it? Aren¡¯t you afraid she might poison me?"


    They looked at each other and simultaneously said, "She wouldn¡¯t dare."


    After several days together, and with the knowledge from the original work, she knew that Lin Ruochun wasn¡¯t bad by nature; she was just spoiled by her family, a bit pretentious and dramatic.


    A child who recognized her mistakes and corrected them could still be considered good.


    -


    That evening, while video chatting with Fu Jinghen, she told him about the incident. Fu Jinghen smiled lightly, "Lin Ruochun is just a bit spoiled, but if you talk to her right, she will listen."


    Wen Qiao snorted, "You seem to know a lot."


    As her words fell, the doorbell rang, and Wen Qiao walked over to peep through the peephole.


    It was Luo Bin.


    Wen Qiao realized why her scenes tonight had been canceled¡ªit was this old lecher pulling strings.


    "Wen Qiao, it¡¯s me, Mr. Luo," Luo Bin¡¯s voice came through the door. "Open up, I know you¡¯re in there."


    Jiang Yao just happened to be out, leaving Wen Qiao alone in the room.


    She always liked to cut through the gourd quickly; moreover, evading and retreating from such matters only encouraged the other party to take further liberties.


    Fu Jinghen heard the voice too and sat up straighter, "Is someone there?"


    Wen Qiao stepped back and looked at Fu Jinghen, "President Fu, have you ever beaten anyone up?"


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t know why she asked, but he honestly replied, "No."


    In his youth, when all the boys were hot-blooded and defiant, a small friction could escalate into a group fight.


    But Fu Jinghen never deigned to argue or engage in meaningless activities. In his view, those who resorted to violence were simpletons.

 Chapter 79 - 78: A Free Martial Arts Show for You

    Chapter 79: Chapter 78: A Free Martial Arts Show for YouMoreover, whether it was in his youth or now, it seemed that no one dared to provoke him. Where he stood, he was like a stabilizer, absolutely commanding the atmosphere.


    So every time Qin Xiang went out to fight, he would bring Fu Jinghen along. He didn¡¯t need to lift a finger; he just needed to show his presence.


    But Fu Jinghen often ended up cleaning up the mess.


    Wen Qiao had anticipated this response because she couldn¡¯t imagine what it would look like if Fu Jinghen were to hit someone.


    She blinked, "A free martial arts show for you, don¡¯t make a sound later."


    When Fu Jinghen saw the cunning flash in her eyes, he guessed that she definitely had some mischievous plan in mind.


    While Wen Qiao was looking for a place to put her phone, Fu Jinghen opened Feng Li¡¯s WeChat.


    [Fu Jinghen: Send some security guards from Yingcheng Hotel to stand by on the 6th floor.]


    Wen Qiao found a spot that was hidden from view yet allowed Fu Jinghen to see everything. She propped the phone there, pouted her lips, and put a finger to them, "Shh, don¡¯t talk."


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze landed on Wen Qiao¡¯s puckered lips, which were tempting in their Rosy hue, like cherries waiting to be plucked. He covertly shifted his gaze to her eyes and nodded.


    Wen Qiao ruffled her hair to make it look like she had just woken up. Then she pulled at her nightgown to expose half of her shoulder.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s expression darkened as he watched all this on video.


    Amid a series of increasingly urgent knocks, Wen Qiao opened the door, her eyes bleary, feigning surprise, "Mr. Luo, what brings you here?"


    Luo Bin¡¯s gaze fell on the slightly open neckline of Wen Qiao¡¯s attire, and upon seeing the tender skin there, he unconsciously swallowed, "Were you sleeping?"


    Wen Qiao certainly didn¡¯t miss this gesture, inwardly disgusted but outwardly sweet and submissive, "Yes, Mr. Luo, what do you need?"


    "Oh, nothing much." Luo Bin put on an air of decency, "I just wanted to discuss tomorrow¡¯s script with you; after all, we play father and daughter, and we have quite a few scenes together."


    "Alright." Wen Qiao stepped aside, "Then please come in, Mr. Luo."


    Seeing his plan succeed, Luo Bin was inwardly pleased. As he walked past Wen Qiao, his arm brushed against hers as if by accident.


    Wen Qiao took a deep breath, lowered her eyes, and noted which arm Luo Bin had used to touch her. Then she closed the door.


    As the sound of the door locking echoed in the room, Wen Qiao straightened her clothes and crossed her arms, leaning back against the door.


    "Mr. Luo, coming to see me this late, it can¡¯t be just about discussing the script, can it?"


    Luo Bin turned around in response, seeing the clarity in Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes, he knew she had been pretending earlier. His interest deepened.


    "Knowing all that, you still let me in?"


    Could this kind of person even be a contender for the best actor?


    Lin Chun¡¯s words were indeed true; the entry threshold in show business these days is really low. How could such people deserve the respect of being addressed as seniors?


    Wen Qiao advanced step by step, "If I didn¡¯t let you in, how could we proceed to the next part?"


    Hearing this, Luo Bin thought Wen Qiao had long understood his hint and was just waiting for him to take the initiative. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It appears that the innocent appearance of women is all an act; deep down, they¡¯re all flirts.


    Luo Bin watched her legs as they moved one after another. His desire evident in his eyes, as she was just two steps away, he reached out his arm intending to pull her closer.


    "I like your kind -- knowledgeable and sensible."

 Chapter 80 - 79: Hard Work, Comrades

    Chapter 80: Chapter 79: Hard Work, ComradesHis hand hadn¡¯t even touched Wen Qiao when his wrist tightened, and suddenly someone yanked him forward. His left half was twisted halfway around, followed by a bone-cracking noise at his shoulder, and then came the intense pain that shot straight into his brain.


    "I also like people like Mr. Luo, who know how to read the room," said Wen Qiao sarcastically. "It seems you knew I was going to dislocate your arm, so you kindly offered it to me."


    Luo Bin was sweating profusely from the pain. "Wen Qiao, let go, please. Let¡¯s talk this out."


    "Why don¡¯t you just talk?" Wen Qiao replied. "I can hear you." S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao lifted her leg and kicked the back of his knee. With a thud, Luo Bin knelt on one knee.


    "I really don¡¯t understand," Wen Qiao continued, indignantly. "You¡¯re already so old, what interest could you have in us innocent girls? Do you think because we¡¯re female artists, we¡¯re easy to bully? Do you even have the energy for that, or the stamina? Just listen to your bones cracking¡ªI could break them with one squeeze. You still dare to try and take advantage of me? Have you already booked a hospital bed?"


    "I swear, if I don¡¯t leave you with an unforgettable lesson today, it¡¯d be a complete waste of the more than ten years I¡¯ve spent learning judo!"


    Wen Qiao raised her leg again and kicked his other leg, forcing him to kneel on both knees.


    As he tried to resist with his other arm, Wen Qiao immediately grabbed it and twisted it, sneering, "If you hadn¡¯t reminded me, I would¡¯ve almost forgotten. It was that arm you used to take advantage of me."


    Another crack of bone, and Luo Bin couldn¡¯t help but cry out.


    Jiang Yao, who had just reached the door to swipe her card, rushed in upon hearing the cry, "What¡¯s going on here, why do I hear a man...."


    Before she could finish, upon seeing Luo Bin with both arms twisted behind his back, kneeling in front of her, Jiang Yao¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. "Oh, my, God."


    Hearing her voice, Wen Qiao looked up and innocently said, "I¡¯m just doing a public service here."


    Jiang Yao didn¡¯t need Wen Qiao to say more; she could guess what happened. She raised her hand to signal that there was no need for further explanation.


    "The real question now is how to get rid of him."


    This question was just too perfect.


    Wen Qiao herself fell silent for a moment.


    Suddenly, another male voice came from inside the room, "Security will be up in a bit. Hand him over to them."


    "Holy shit!" Jiang Yao got startled. "Wen Qiao, you had another man hidden in your room?"


    That¡¯s when Wen Qiao remembered her fianc¨¦ was still there, next to the couch on the small cabinet. She carelessly took a sun-protective garment from the couch, rolled it into a rope and tied up Luo Bin¡¯s wrists, then stuffed a pair of her own socks into his mouth.


    Clean socks, of course¡ªthe most mercy she could afford Luo Bin.


    Jiang Yao opened the door and cautiously peeked out, looking around. She saw two security guards in uniform walking towards her and stopped in front of her. "Miss Jiang, President Fu sent us."


    As soon as they finished speaking, the room¡¯s door was flung open, and the security guards saw Wen Qiao dragging Luo Bin out, tied up.


    "Thanks for your help, comrades."


    The security guards: "...No trouble at all."


    Once they¡¯d disposed of him, Wen Qiao rushed back into the room and grabbed her phone, pleading for praise, "How did I do, how did I do? Was I cool just now?"


    Fu Jinghen, appearing on the screen, was looking down at something. Glancing up lazily at her after hearing her words, he drawled, "Silly."


    Wen Qiao knew exactly what he meant, and playfully stuck out her tongue. "But I still have you, right? You¡¯ve arranged everything for me, haven¡¯t you?"


    She was no fool. The moment Fu Jinghen suggested giving Luo Bin to the security, she knew he had planned her way out.

 Chapter 81 - 80: Brother Jinghen

    Chapter 81: Chapter 80: Brother JinghenThinking of this, Wen Qiao flashed a charming smile at Fu Jinghen, "Men and women working together makes the task less tedious, I¡¯m doing this for the people by taking care of the pest. I¡¯ve dealt with him, now the rest is up to you to handle, right, President Fu?"


    Fu Jinghen returned his gaze to the book in his hand, saying nothing.


    Wen Qiao tentatively asked, "President Fu?"


    "..."


    "Fu Jinghen?"


    "..."


    "Husband?"


    "..."


    Wen Qiao persisted, "Brother Jinghen?"


    Fu Jinghen paused for a moment, then finally looked up at her, "Shut up, don¡¯t call me that."


    Wen Qiao really did purse her lips. After a while, she resumed, "So about Luo¡ª"


    Before Wen Qiao could finish her sentence, the door was knocked on again. Jiang Yao peeked through the peephole and said, "It¡¯s Song Qian."


    "What is he doing here so late?"


    Jiang Yao replied, "He must have just seen it. He looks pretty anxious."


    Wen Qiao looked at the screen showing Fu Jinghen, who was engrossed in his book as if oblivious to the world outside, and said, "Hold on for a moment, I have someone here."


    Saying that, she placed her cellphone down on the coffee table.


    Fu Jinghen then lifted his head, looking at the darkened screen.


    He was supposed to wait? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fine.


    "Qiaoqiao, hurry and open the door, I just saw Luo¡ª"


    Before Song Qian could finish, Jiang Yao pulled open the door, causing Song Qian to stagger a few steps forward before stabilizing himself.


    "Keep your voice down a bit more, the whole hotel could hear you," Wen Qiao walked over and raised her eyebrows at him.


    "Sorry... I got too excited," Song Qian acknowledged his slip and lowered his voice, whispering in Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, "Are you okay?"


    ...


    There was no need to make it look like a clandestine spy meeting.


    "Do I look like something¡¯s wrong?"


    Only then did Song Qian scrutinize her carefully. Indeed, she seemed quite intact.


    At least compared to Luo Bin, who was carried out, she was standing steadily on her own feet.


    "That¡¯s true, at least you weren¡¯t carried out," Song Qian concluded after his observation and then asked, "What happened?"


    "He tried to make improper advances on me, so I locked him up and gave him a good beating," Wen Qiao summarized the whole incident in one sentence.


    "You should at least try to be a bit more discreet about it, aren¡¯t you afraid others will find out by just letting security carry him out?"


    Song Qian felt the way Wen Qiao handled the matter was somewhat improper and immature.


    "Why should I care if others find out? If he dared to target me, he¡¯s finished. Besides, I wasn¡¯t the one who made a mistake here, I¡¯m not the one who should be scared; he should be."


    "If I conceal it, he¡¯ll only act more recklessly. I don¡¯t want to see such disgusting people again on set. It¡¯s best if everyone knows he¡¯s a hypocrite and has Director Zhang kick him out of the crew."


    The thought of having scenes with Luo Bin in the future made Wen Qiao nauseous; she was never one to suffer in silence but aimed to cut off future troubles.


    "But¡ª"


    "There are no buts." Wen Qiao cut him off and changed the subject, "What did you come to see me for?"


    "Oh, it¡¯s nothing big." Song Qian was indeed distracted as he raised his cellphone, "I came to invite you to play a game. I sent you a message earlier, but you didn¡¯t reply, so I thought I¡¯d come over. Then I just saw Luo Bin coming out of your room."


    "Enough, shut up, I got it." Wen Qiao turned around and walked inside, flopping down on the sofa. She picked out a bright red apple from the fruit bowl, tossed it in her hand, and took a bite before starting to dismiss him, "Go back; I¡¯ll carry you in the game in a while."

 Chapter 82 - 81: Having a Husband, All is Sufficient

    Chapter 82: Chapter 81: Having a Husband, All is Sufficient"The game is bigger than the sky," Qiao said, and Song Qian instantly scurried back.


    Upon closing the door to her room again, Jiang Yao looked at the defiant figure on the sofa and sighed, "It really is true that having a husband takes care of everything."


    Qiao bragged, "It¡¯s all thanks to my excellent taste."


    Jiang Yao: "..."


    If I remember correctly, wasn¡¯t your marriage arranged by your mother?


    You were totally against it at the beginning, and now you¡¯re taking all the credit.


    But Jiang Yao knew that if she were to refute, Qiao would definitely have a pile of excuses ready for her. To avoid wasting saliva, Jiang Yao merely chuckled twice and went to take a shower with her clothes.


    Qiao, munching on an apple and humming a song, lounged on the sofa for two minutes before she realized she had forgotten something.


    She suddenly sat up and checked the cell phone on the coffee table¡ª


    The video call had been disconnected. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    ???


    Didn¡¯t she tell him to wait for her?


    Qiao tried calling again via video, but it cut off automatically without anyone picking up.


    He must have fallen asleep.


    Thinking this, Qiao didn¡¯t call again. After another big bite of her apple, she placed it on the table, sent Song Qian a hooked-finger emoji, then switched WeChat to her game interface and started to play.


    Perhaps because of Luo Bin, Qiao was particularly eye-catching in today¡¯s game. Once her skills were charged, she would unleash her ultimatum, forcing opponents to not dare leave their towers.


    Song Qian watched as Qiao dominated onscreen, from his initial silent gaping to eventually cracking sunflower seeds and watching a movie, occasionally checking their team¡¯s performance on his phone. Qiao was comfortably ranked first, easily carrying the team.


    Women really are terrifying.


    That was his final conclusion.


    -


    Compared to Song Qian¡¯s relaxed state, Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t doing so well.


    He stared at the phone on the table that had vibrated a few times ten minutes ago and then fell silent, squinting his eyes.


    Great.


    Just great.


    -


    The next morning, the first thing Jiang Yao did upon waking up was to check Weibo since, as a competent agent, she naturally needed to be on top of all the news online.


    When she saw her artist¡¯s name popping up on the trending list, her first thought was that something bad had happened.


    It was both expected and unexpected.


    Blinking away the blur in her eyes to see the full title of the trending topic, Jiang Yao exclaimed, "Fuck," which immediately woke the still soundly sleeping Qiao.


    "What¡¯s happening? Is there an earthquake?"


    Qiao asked, flipping off the covers to run outside.


    Jiang Yao quickly stopped her and handed her the phone: "You¡¯ve been slandered again."


    Qiao took the phone, rubbing her eyes and looking down at the screen¡ª


    #WenQiaoLuoBin


    #NightlightReappearance


    Her drowsy eyes suddenly widened.


    Damn it.


    How could her name be side by side with such scum on the trending list?


    Even a space in between would have been better.


    This is just bad luck.


    Qiao clicked on one of the trending posts, which was a video posted by a blogger with hundreds of thousands of followers. The video, only a few seconds long, clearly showed Luo Bin entering Qiao¡¯s room, but there was no footage of him leaving¡ªclearly meant to mislead.


    Judging by the clip, the video was shot from a tricky angle just in front of Qiao¡¯s room, not easily noticed by anyone.

 Chapter 83 - 82: Stand Out from the Crowd

    Chapter 83: Chapter 82: Stand Out from the CrowdNetizen comments were unbearable to look at.


    "Every other day, I see the name Wen Qiao popping up in the trending topics. What¡¯s happening? Has even the boss of Weibo fallen at her feet?"


    "Female celebrities these days really aren¡¯t picky, huh? Luo Bin is old enough to be her dad, right?"


    "A couple of days ago, I saw her costume photo and started to think better of her, but now, I¡¯m disgusted."


    "I¡¯m begging for ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ to change its lead actress. Otherwise, I¡¯m abandoning the drama. I absolutely can¡¯t let someone with such loose morals play my adorable little Rong Huan."


    "I told you, she got the female lead role by sleeping her way up, and there¡¯s actually people stanning her. Hilarious. The fanbase reflects the idol, so her fans must be just like her, right?"


    Wen Qiao read this comment, her eyes narrowing as she silently took note of this person¡¯s Weibo ID.


    Jiang Yao snatched the phone away, quickly flipped open the covers, and got out of bed. "That¡¯s enough, stop reading and get up to wash up and go to the set. I¡¯ll handle this; you don¡¯t need your phone either, to spare yourself from those disheartening online comments."


    Wen Qiao watched as her phone, left by the bedside, was taken by Jiang Yao and asked, "If you¡¯re worried about me getting upset, why did you show me the trending search just now?"


    Jiang Yao smiled. "If I hadn¡¯t given you a heads up, would you rather be clueless once you got to the set?"


    Saying this, she even patted her on the cheek.


    Wen Qiao touched her patted cheek and pouted, "Well, thanks a lot for that."


    "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up. Get up and go to the set, you should get there early today and lend a hand, make a good impression," Jiang Yao pulled off Wen Qiao¡¯s covers and pushed her out of bed.


    "Director Zhang hates it when cast and crew cause trouble that affects filming progress. After you beat him up like that, there¡¯s no way the shoot can proceed."


    "But you weren¡¯t in the wrong about this. Just act as usual on the set today. If Director Zhang gets angry, let him scold you a bit to vent, but don¡¯t say anything else. Wait until I¡¯ve figured out who took that video and find some solid evidence, then we can speak with the facts."


    Jiang Yao rambled on and on, leaving Wen Qiao dazed to the point her brain nearly knotted up.


    Seeing her in such a daze, Jiang Yao lifted her hand and slapped her on the back of the head, "Wake up."


    Wen Qiao let out a cry of "ow," clutching the back of her head and giving Jiang Yao a resentful look before sluggishly getting out of bed and shuffling towards the bathroom in her slippers.


    Jiang Yao rolled her eyes at her unhurried demeanor, as if nothing was wrong, and kicked her on the butt, prompting her to hurry into the bathroom faster.


    Jiang Yao muttered, "This kid really won¡¯t shape up unless she¡¯s disciplined..."


    "Hey, Sister Yao!" Wen Qiao called out, her mouth full of toothpaste, peering out from the bathroom door at Jiang Yao. "Leave my phone with me. Even if I don¡¯t look, there will still be people in the group trying to nauseate me. Having my phone will make it easier to reach you."


    Currently, Wen Qiao did not have an assistant. With Jiang Yao about to handle the matter, leaving her alone on set was indeed worrying. With this in mind, Jiang Yao handed her the phone.


    Still feeling uneasy, after some thought, Jiang Yao took out her phone and scrolled to Ye Shengnan, whom she had added not long ago and with whom she had only ever exchanged a single medication name and never interacted with again. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Yao Aya: Emperor Ye, I have to go take care of something. Could you keep an eye on Qiaoqiao for me? It won¡¯t be much trouble, just make sure she doesn¡¯t get into mischief.]

 Chapter 84 - 83: Gratitude and Reciprocation

    Chapter 84: Chapter 83: Gratitude and ReciprocationNot long after, Wen Qiao received a reply from Ye Shengnan.


    [Y: Okay.]


    -


    It was the digital age now, where one could know everything under the heavens without leaving the house, and the speed of information dissemination was incredibly fast.


    After arriving at the film crew, Wen Qiao felt that something was off. Crew members would occasionally glance at her, then quickly look away.


    Gossip was in human nature, and the entertainment industry was a hotbed for rumors. Having an issue with people from the same crew was unusual if nothing seemed amiss.


    Having been shooting for more than a week, Wen Qiao was lively; she greeted everyone she saw, shared tasty treats she occasionally found, never skimped on politeness, and sometimes arrived early to help set up props. Apart from Director Zhang, everyone else in the crew quite liked her.


    But now, not a single person came over to talk to her. Wen Qiao was prepared for this and didn¡¯t feel anything amiss. Before the rumors were cleared up, nobody wanted to stir up trouble.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about her shadow being crooked as long as she stood straight; let people say what they would. Once Jiang Yao found the evidence and clarified things directly, it would be much more effective than making futile excuses.


    Song Qian arrived early every day to set up the scene. Seeing Wen Qiao, he greeted her as enthusiastically as ever, "Your scene doesn¡¯t start until ten today, why did you come so early?"


    Wen Qiao responded gloomily, "Isn¡¯t it because I messed up and need to show some good behavior?"


    "If I hadn¡¯t seen Luo Bin being carried out last night with my own eyes, and if you hadn¡¯t raised my game rank by a whole tier last night," Song Qian mercilessly exposed her pretense, "I might have believed what you said." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao immediately dropped the pitiful act, "Don¡¯t you know about gratitude? I helped you level up and you still expose me."


    "How do I not know!" Song Qian defended himself, "I saw the trending search early in the morning and immediately took your side without a second thought. Actually, I recorded a video last night, but I wasn¡¯t sure how your team wanted to handle it, so I didn¡¯t release it."


    Song Qian pulled out his phone, opened his gallery, and played a video about five seconds long showing Luo Bin being dragged away by two security guards by his arms and legs.


    Initially, Song Qian didn¡¯t think much of it and found it amusing, so he casually recorded a video to share as a fun story of the day with his childhood friend.


    It was only later that it dawned on him that practically everyone living on that floor was from the "Red Makeup" crew. Upon closer inspection, he realized the person being dragged away was Luo Bin and, seeing the carpet wrinkled outside Wen Qiao¡¯s room door, guessed what had happened.


    When the gossip hit the trending searches, Song Qian was one of the first from the crew to see it and the first to defend Wen Qiao publicly.


    He had started playing with social media in high school and had quite a few followers. However, without clear evidence to corroborate the story, netizens wouldn¡¯t just take his word for it.


    He sent the video to Wen Qiao, "Although it doesn¡¯t capture the entire process, it should help a bit."


    Although the video couldn¡¯t completely prove that nothing untoward had happened between Wen Qiao and Luo Bin, it was still a piece of evidence.


    "Thanks, I¡¯ll treat you to dinner another day," Wen Qiao sincerely thanked him and forwarded the video to Jiang Yao, briefly explaining where it came from.


    "How about we go for barbecue by the river?"

 Chapter 85 - 84: Resorting to Any Means for Fame

    Chapter 85: Chapter 84: Resorting to Any Means for FameSong Qian was anything but polite, immediately sliding down the conversational slope with ease, "That barbecue stand by the river, I¡¯m telling you, is absolutely amazing, so delicious!" Song Qian was also successfully sidetracked by her, going on and on about the gem of a food spot he had discovered: "It¡¯s the second one from the south, and their barbecue sauce is so good, I think they could patent it."


    "Really? Are you serious?" Wen Qiao doubted his words, "That sounds too good to be true."


    "Really!"


    The two heads leaned in close, whispering to each other, and if it weren¡¯t for Wen Qiao¡¯s makeup artist waiting in the makeup room and coming out to find her after hearing her voice, the two would have chatted away until lunchtime.


    The makeup artist tasked with doing Wen Qiao¡¯s makeup was the same one from the promotional photo shoot, and she had a rather good impression of Wen Qiao. The young girl always greeted her warmly every time they met, and her manager always made sure she got her share of whatever drink was bought.


    Seeing her with droopy eyelids, the makeup artist thought she was worried about the things happening online and tried to console her with a reassurance, "Truth will out eventually, so try not to take it too much to heart." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao looked up at her in surprise, not expecting the makeup artist to believe in her. Pretending not to be moved would be a lie; she smiled gratefully at the makeup artist, "Thank you, I understand."


    Although Wen Qiao truly didn¡¯t care about others¡¯ opinions, the makeup artist¡¯s words undoubtedly injected a warm current into her heart, and her mood lifted somewhat.


    The cellphone on the table lit up with a screen notification, and Wen Qiao glanced over¡ªit was a new Weibo notification:


    Luo Bin posts a response.


    She didn¡¯t want to upset herself, but upon seeing the headline, she couldn¡¯t help but grab her phone and open the message to read.


    She was curious to see how this spineless old man, whom she had figuratively deboned, would respond.


    @Luo Bin: Young girls these days really will stop at nothing for fame. She had asked me to come over to help her with her scenes, and I thought as a newcomer just starting out, it was only right to look out for her a bit more, especially since it¡¯s rare to find such a dedicated newbie nowadays. But I never expected, alas, it turns out I was blind to true character.


    A not-too-long, not-too-short statement that didn¡¯t mention Wen Qiao by name but was connected to her in every sentence.


    Wen Qiao had never encountered such a shameless and incompetent man; the one who did wrong was him, yet she was being made to carry the can, truly a case of blaming the victim.


    Moreover, last night¡¯s incident wasn¡¯t known only to Wen Qiao and him. She thought that if Luo Bin had any decency left, he would¡¯ve stayed as far away as possible. Unexpectedly, not only did he not hide, but he even had the gall to play the victim.


    When it came to being shameless, Luo Bin could claim second place, and she felt that no one would dare claim the first.


    Wen Qiao closed her eyes briefly, trying to suppress the rising anger within, to no avail.


    She clicked on the "comment" section, her fingers hovered for a moment, and then she posted a response.


    @WenQiaoqiao replies: I should have broken your wrist yesterday to save you from acting out today.


    It was the weekend, and the working and student crowds were at home with plenty of time to indulge in online gossip. Not long after Wen Qiao made her comment, "Wen Qiao furiously curses Luo Bin" trended on the hot search list again.


    This seemed like there was more to the story, and netizens fell into confusion for a moment, with some bystanders adopting a wait-and-see attitude, while Wen Qiao¡¯s haters kept furiously typing.


    "She¡¯s panicking, she¡¯s panicking, she¡¯s panicking. Trying to shift the blame after a failed sneaky move."


    "How can she speak to Luo Bin like that? He¡¯s an established actor in the industry, even close to a Best Actor nomination once. Wen Qiao is really showing no respect at all."

 Chapter 86 - 85: She Would Rather Quit the Performance

    Chapter 86: Chapter 85: She Would Rather Quit the Performance"Pity Mr. Luo, Wen Qiao should just roll out of the entertainment circle," someone said. "Don¡¯t forget, she once tried to seduce Qi Ming. Such a person with a history should no longer stay in the entertainment industry."


    "...." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t bother with what followed; at the moment, she was shooting under the blazing sun.


    Today¡¯s scene involved Princess Rong Huan being punished for her laziness by her martial arts instructor, forcing her to perform horse stance under the sun.


    When Wen Qiao reviewed the script schedule yesterday, she hadn¡¯t seen this scene; she reasonably suspected that Director Zhang had deliberately moved it forward.


    If it weren¡¯t for this drama being her chance to turn things around, if it weren¡¯t for the director¡¯s fame, if she weren¡¯t so unbearably unestablished in the industry, she would have turned on her heel and left.


    But she didn¡¯t yet have the clout to throw her weight around.


    At that thought, Wen Qiao¡¯s competitive spirit was ignited; even as her bent legs started trembling from standing too long, her eyes blazed with defiance.


    Did others want to see her make a fool of herself?


    Not a chance.


    Director Zhang sat behind the monitor and, upon noticing the change in her eyes, found himself admiring Wen Qiao.


    This girl sure is stubborn.


    -


    Lin Ruochun, waiting under the shed to film her scene, could hardly bear to watch. She looked at Wen Qiao, sweating profusely not far away, and could vaguely make out a damp patch on the back of her clothes.


    With a delayed reaction, she asked her assistant, "Momo, don¡¯t you think Director Zhang dislikes Wen Qiao?"


    Assistant Momo, munching on watermelon and engrossed in a drama, nodded absentmindedly: "Yeah, Ruochun, your reaction time is really long. You¡¯re just realizing it now?"


    Lin Ruochun, puzzled: "Why?"


    Momo paused the show and explained to Lin Ruochun: "What else could it be? It¡¯s because Wen Qiao parachuted in as the lead actress. I heard that Director Zhang originally cast Jiang Wei as the lead, but Wen Qiao¡¯s powerful backers shoved Jiang Wei into the second lead spot. If the director¡¯s first choice for lead actress gets replaced, do you think he¡¯d like Wen Qiao?"


    "Really?" Lin Ruochun pondered, "I think Wen Qiao is doing pretty well, certainly better than Jiang Wei."


    If Jiang Wei had been the lead, and Lin Ruochun had to act out a deep sisterly love rivalry with her, she would rather quit.


    "What did you say, Ruochun?"


    "Nothing....."


    Lin Ruochun shook her head and opened Weibo to see how the situation was unfolding. For some reason, she just felt an inexplicable trust in Wen Qiao.


    She believed Wen Qiao wouldn¡¯t stoop so low, even if she were to cheat behind Fu Jinghen¡¯s back, it shouldn¡¯t be with someone like Luo Bin, who could be his father.


    Moreover, she had been madly in love with Qi Ming before and later engaged to someone as outstanding as Fu Jinghen. Even if her brain was damaged, her taste couldn¡¯t possibly plummet to that extent.


    If the male protagonist of this scandal had been Ye Shengnan or Song Qian, she might have believed it a bit more.


    Scrolling through netizens¡¯ comments, and upon seeing that remark about Luo Bin nearly being nominated for Best Actor, Lin Ruochun impulsively replied ¡ª "But you said ¡¯nearly¡¯."


    The entertainment industry was never a world of just black and white; everyone had some dirt on them. It was just that due to intertwined interests, everyone tacitly chose not to expose each other.


    Luo Bin was far from clean.


    Lin Ruochun came from a powerful background, well-protected by her family, but that didn¡¯t mean she was clueless.


    "Ruochun, what are you daydreaming about?"


    Seeing her silent for so long, staring blankly at her dark phone screen, Momo tapped her on the shoulder.


    "Oh, nothing, nothing."


    When Lin Ruochun snapped out of it, she was taken aback.


    Why was she trying to defend Wen Qiao?

 Chapter 87 - 86: I Have Nothing to Say

    Chapter 87: Chapter 86: I Have Nothing to Say"Is your brain broken?"


    But it was already posted, and deleting it now would only seem like trying to hide something. Lin Ruochun thought about it and decided not to bother with it. Let the agent scold if she wants to.


    Anyway, she felt quite relieved after posting it.


    She actually didn¡¯t have a preference for Wen Qiao. It might be because of a shared passion for acting; she just couldn¡¯t stand the one-sided comments from netizens.


    The scandal involving Luo Bin and Wen Qiao had been the focus of netizens¡¯ attention that day, and it wasn¡¯t long before Lin Ruochun¡¯s response hit the trending searches.


    "Proud and elated ha ha ha ha ha, Chunchun¡¯s reply is so sharp."


    "It¡¯s only ¡¯almost¡¯ if it¡¯s almost. Wait until you can hold the Best Actor trophy in your hands before you talk."


    "I¡¯m dying of laughter, Chunchun is always so to the point." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wait, is Lin Ruochun speaking up for Wen Qiao?"


    "...."


    While Momo was engrossed in her drama, the scene on her screen suddenly paused, followed by the note "Sister Xiu" jumping onto it.


    Momo, in a flurry, wiped her hands and mouth before stuffing the watermelon she was holding into Lin Ruochun¡¯s hands and answering the phone: "Hello, Sister Xiu."


    "Where is Lin Ruochun? Why isn¡¯t she taking my calls?"


    Momo, confused, let out an "Ah" and turned to glance at Lin Ruochun, who was slowly chewing on the watermelon she had stuffed into her arms, and honestly replied, "Sister Xiu, Chunchun is eating watermelon."


    "She has the time and leisure to eat watermelon? She¡¯s been eating, and now she¡¯s posting comments online! Why is she suddenly speaking up for Wen Qiao? She really isn¡¯t afraid of getting herself dirty!"


    Chen Xiu¡¯s roar faintly reached Lin Ruochun¡¯s ears. She dug a piece of watermelon into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster. Turning to face Momo, who was innocently bearing the brunt of Chen Xiu¡¯s anger, she swallowed the watermelon down and gestured for Momo to come closer with a hook of her finger.


    Understanding the cue, Momo immediately said to Chen Xiu on the other end of the line, "Sister Xiu, Sister Xiu, please calm down a bit, Chunchun has something to say to you."


    Lin Ruochun took the phone, and with a completely detached tone said to Chen Xiu, "I have nothing to say," and then hung up with a click.


    "..."


    Momo was dumbfounded.


    Lin Ruochun stuffed the watermelon back into her arms and said very calmly, "Eat the watermelon."


    Momo mechanically shoved a piece of watermelon into her mouth, and it took her a moment to realize something.


    When had her Chunchun become so wildly cool and domineering?


    -


    After a scene was finished, Wen Qiao¡¯s face was covered with beads of sweat, and the makeup artist hurried over to touch up her makeup.


    During the downtime, she glanced at her phone, there were absolutely no messages from Jiang Yao. Biting her lip, she said "Hold on a moment" to the makeup artist and stood up to call Jiang Yao from a corner.


    "Hello, Qiaoqiao."


    Jiang Yao¡¯s voice came through the earpiece.


    "How¡¯s the investigation going?"


    "Almost there, just focus on your filming."


    Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t foolish, and could instantly tell there was something vague in Jiang Yao¡¯s words. She laughed, "Sister Yao, I¡¯m not that delicate. You might as well be straightforward. Being so secretive makes me worry even more."


    "....."


    There¡¯s silence on the other end for a moment before Jiang Yao¡¯s voice came again: "Last night the surveillance on our floor was under maintenance, so we couldn¡¯t use the footage. The two security guards who took him to the hospital making a statement to clear you wouldn¡¯t be convincing enough, and people might suspect they were bribed by you."


    "....."


    No wonder Luo Bin went to great lengths to switch out her scenes from last night, it was all calculated.

 Chapter 88 - 87: Dominating the Trending Searches

    Chapter 88: Chapter 87: Dominating the Trending SearchesIn the eyes of the audience, Luo Bin was a seasoned actor who had achieved maturity through years of experience, while Wen Qiao was a newcomer who was just out of the gate and full of scandal. Most people would think that this hot search incident was Wen Qiao trying to cling on to fame.


    Moreover, the mess she had caused with Qi Ming had also made headlines. Without solid evidence, no one would confidently believe Wen Qiao.


    Once a female star gets involved in such matters, her acting career is pretty much over.


    If she had complied with Luo Bin, he might have still spoken on her behalf today, but she didn¡¯t; instead, she sent him to the hospital.


    "That video was definitely sent out in a fit of rage,"


    Wen Qiao said, "The hot search matter shouldn¡¯t be his doing."


    With this kind of issue, online users would definitely hurl more abuse at women, but they wouldn¡¯t completely let men off the hook either. With such a self-destructive act, it¡¯s unlikely Luo Bin would do it. The hot search was someone else¡¯s doing; Luo Bin was just trying to exonerate himself.


    "Or maybe..." Jiang Yao hesitantly suggested, "you can seek out your President Fu? Weren¡¯t you on a video call with him when Luo Bin entered your room yesterday? If he steps forward to explain for you, surely no one will misunderstand you anymore." S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "And then what? Expose my relationship with Fu Jinghen to the public?"


    Wen Qiao rejected Jiang Yao¡¯s suggestion, "That won¡¯t work, find another way."


    Besides, if Fu Jinghen had wanted to help her, this hot search wouldn¡¯t have happened today.


    No sooner had she spoken than her phone beeped twice. Wen Qiao glanced at it, saw it was from Fu Jinghen, and told Jiang Yao, "Fu Jinghen¡¯s calling," before she hung up on Jiang Yao and answered Fu Jinghen¡¯s call.


    Wen Qiao greeted with a "Hello."


    "The video has been sent to you, deal with it yourself."


    "Acting impulsively without a backup plan, if there¡¯s a next time, no one will help you."


    The man¡¯s chilling voice came through the earpiece, his tone even and unfluctuating, like a robot¡¯s scripted response.


    But before Wen Qiao could say anything, the call was abruptly cut off.


    Wen Qiao listened to the dial tone, puzzled.


    Such a terrible temper.


    Did FS Group¡¯s stock take a hit?


    Wen Qiao stood by a wall covered in green ivy, which looked refreshing. She looked up at the wall of green and muttered under her breath, "I sincerely wish that FS Group¡¯s stock will shine as bright green as you do."


    -


    After hanging up the phone, Fu Jinghen¡¯s furrowed brows did not relax. His index finger rhythmically tapped on the desk. After a while, he pressed the intercom and summoned Feng Li into his office.


    Soon there was a knock on the door.


    "Come in."


    Feng Li walked in and stood in front of the desk, "President Fu, what can I do for you?"


    "What¡¯s the deal with Luo Bin¡¯s Weibo?"


    "What Weibo?" Feng Li was taken aback, then quickly pulled out his phone and opened Weibo. Upon seeing Wen Qiao¡¯s name dominating the hot searches, he inhaled sharply and blurted out, "Boss Lady is awesome, monopolizing the hot searches."


    Before he could finish, a folder flew straight towards him.


    He deftly dodged to the side and closed his mouth, innocently looking at Fu Jinghen.


    "Didn¡¯t I tell you to deal with this?" Fu Jinghen glared at him coldly, "Is this the result of your ¡¯resolution,¡¯ letting him post that kind of message on Weibo?"


    Feng Li quietly started, "Actually, I haven¡¯t dealt with it yet..."


    "What did you say?" Fu Jinghen raised his voice, "Then what have you been doing all morning? Meditating?"

 Chapter 89 - 88: There Will Always Be a Day When You Fall Down

    Chapter 89: Chapter 88: There Will Always Be a Day When You Fall Down"You told me this afternoon that I needed to discuss a collaboration with ES, and I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on the progress of the contract. I even asked you which issue I should resolve first, and you told me that there are priorities in affairs and let me decide for myself, so I went to handle the contract issue first."


    Feng Li shivered with fright, and a series of words without any pause or punctuation marks tumbled out of his mouth.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen felt somewhat weary.


    "Are you saying that you think the Boss Lady¡¯s matter is more important than the collaboration, and that I should resolve that first?" Feng Li had an epiphany.


    Good heavens!


    When had the Boss Lady¡¯s status in President Fu¡¯s heart become so elevated!


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen cast a cold glance at him, his black pupils as inscrutable as an ancient well.


    Feng Li got another jolt, quickly dropped a "Don¡¯t worry, Boss, I¡¯ll take care of it right away," and darted out of the office.


    The office returned to silence, and Fu Jinghen leaned back in his chair, recalling the words Feng Li had just spoken.


    Wen Qiao more important than cooperation?


    That wasn¡¯t exactly the case; he just disliked others stepping on his woman to climb upward, that¡¯s all.


    -


    After praying to the ivy for a little while, Wen Qiao then remembered the words Fu Jinghen had said.


    A video? What video?


    Wen Qiao switched to WeChat, opened Fu Jinghen¡¯s chat, and indeed saw that he had sent a video shorter than five minutes in length.


    It was a full recording of her thrashing Luo Bin the previous night, from the moment Luo Bin entered her room, to when Jiang Yao came in, and to when Wen Qiao threw him out. Not a single step was missed.


    In the top right corner, Fu Jinghen¡¯s presence had been specially obscured by an emoji, so later Wen Qiao only needed to say she was video chatting with a friend and happened to record everything. It wouldn¡¯t expose her relationship with Fu Jinghen. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s heart leapt with joy, finally finding a way to resolve the situation.


    Although she didn¡¯t care, being framed was still an unpleasant taste.


    She sent the video to Jiang Yao, and Jiang Yao quickly sent a voice message back.


    "President Fu is really effective, deserving of someone who runs such a big company. This attitude of always having a backup plan is definitely something we should learn from. I¡¯ll go clarify on Weibo right now; this video, along with the statements from those two security guards, should do the trick. Oh right, there¡¯s something else; Lin Ruochun seems to have spoken up for you. Take a look for yourself."


    ?


    Lin Ruochun speaking up for her?


    The sun rising from the west?


    With the matter resolved, Wen Qiao¡¯s mood cleared up after the rain. Humming a tune, she walked back while opening Weibo to see how Lin Ruochun had spoken up for her.


    As she walked, she heard a mocking female voice say, "Qiaoqiao, you really have some nerve. After such a big incident, you still feel like singing here? Or is it that the events on Weibo are true? You really... Director Zhang is most intolerant of such incidents in his crew. I advise you to take the initiative to resign from the role while it¡¯s just started to spread. That will minimize the loss to the crew; otherwise, if Director Zhang drives you out, then you really won¡¯t have any face left."


    Jiang Wei left unsaid words, which Wen Qiao could guess with her heels what she wanted to say.


    She sneered internally. The incident had barely occurred, and she could no longer keep up the pretense.


    The two had never seen eye to eye. Jiang Wei pretended to be sisters with her only out of self-delusion, while Wen Qiao had never given her a chance.


    "This incident has been over for a whole morning now, and I¡¯ve already shot two scenes. Have you heard Director Zhang say a bad word about me? As long the director doesn¡¯t kick me out, I¡¯ll be the female lead for the day, and for today, I¡¯ll suppress you for a day."

 Chapter 90 - 89: Do you think I would be afraid?

    Chapter 90: Chapter 89: Do you think I would be afraid?Jiang Wei¡¯s expression immediately became awkward, "Wen Qiao, don¡¯t be so smug, careful not to climb too high, or you might fall down someday."


    Wen Qiao, who was slightly taller than Jiang Wei, used her height advantage and, with a downward glance, said, "You think I¡¯m scared? I¡¯d advise you to take care of your own matters and protect your own stuff, stop coveting what isn¡¯t yours, lest you end up with nothing."


    Her long hair that hung by her waist swayed beautifully in the air, and the hem of her red chiffon dress fluttered like waves as she walked, keeping her back straight as she moved out of Jiang Wei¡¯s sight.


    On her way back to the studio, Wen Qiao happened to meet Lin Ruochun, who thanked her spontaneously, though it was unclear if it was intentional.


    Lin Ruochun looked momentarily uncomfortable, "I wasn¡¯t trying to help you; I just dislike Jiang Wei as the female lead even more."


    After she spoke, she huffed and turned away.


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Okay.


    Quite tsundere.


    -


    Jiang Yao was very efficient and quickly posted a video of Wen Qiao beating up Luo Bin from her personal account with the caption¡ª"How about a role reversal?"


    Wen Qiao also retweeted Jiang Yao¡¯s post, adding the line, "Trash should stay in the trash can."


    Soon after, Huasong Media¡¯s official account posted a clarification and warning statement, threatening legal action against those spreading false rumors.


    Netizens hadn¡¯t yet recovered from the shock of the "role reversal" when a popular blogger with a million followers suddenly exposed dark secrets about Luo Bin¡ªhow he bullied people on set, harassed extras, and tried to seduce rookie actresses, throwing one bombshell after another at his audience.


    "I feel like a monkey hopping around a melon field, dodging melons looking for a place to hide."


    "It just shows that Wen Qiao is a tough nut to crack, Luo Bin probably shattered his foot kicking it."


    "Luo Bin: Fuck, I should have never messed with Wen Qiao, thought I could get a good bite but ended up biting into myself."


    "Didn¡¯t see it coming, such a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao recalled a comment she saw that morning, dug out the screenshot, blurred the commenter¡¯s profile picture, and posted another tweet¡ª


    "You can insult me, but not my fans. I don¡¯t have many fans, and if you scare them away, I will get mad."


    Below it was attached a lawsuit statement, the accused being the person who insulted Wen Qiao¡¯s fans in the screenshot.


    Today¡¯s Weibo scene was thoroughly owned by Wen Qiao; the melons netizens were enjoying came from her brand, and her posts instantly drew numerous comments.


    "Are you really that protective of your fans? If I become your fan now, will I be protected too?"


    "Why does it... look... kinda badass."


    "Given that, I should hit the follow button and see what it¡¯s like to be protected." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I just finished watching that video! Have to say! Sister Qiao has killer moves, I¡¯m a fan."


    "I also came here after watching the video. That line, ¡¯Do you have the stamina?¡¯ made me burst out laughing and instantly made me a fan, and not just me, I even pulled in my roommates to support Sister Qiao!"


    "The entertainment industry definitely needs cleaning up. We now know of one Luo Bin, but there must be countless others out of our sight, assuming seniority and doing unspeakable deeds."


    In an era of free speech, where good opinions exist, bad ones are inevitable.

 Chapter 91 - 90: Rotten Eggs

    Chapter 91: Chapter 90: Rotten Eggs"Flies don¡¯t swarm a seamless egg. Would Luo Bin have paid attention to Wen Qiao if she hadn¡¯t seduced him and just quietly focused on acting?"


    "Exactly, exactly. The person above is right, Wen Qiao totally looks like a vixen. There are other actresses in the crew, why would Luo Bin not bother them instead?"


    "It couldn¡¯t be that Wen Qiao tried to seduce Luo Bin, failed, and is now blaming him, could it?"


    "It¡¯s not completely impossible, after all, Wen Qiao is someone with a past record."


    "No wonder Qi Ming didn¡¯t fancy her. How could such a filthy woman have the cheek to like someone else? I bet the female lead of ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ got her role by sleeping her way up."


    "....."


    The public has always been particularly harsh on women, and with her reputation already rotten to the core because of her incessant pursuit of Qi Ming, any little stir was bound to bring on a whole internet¡¯s worth of abuse.


    Although Wen Qiao didn¡¯t care much about what others thought of her and was mentally prepared, she wouldn¡¯t let someone point at her nose and curse her, especially when she had done nothing wrong. Why should she accept insults from these irrelevant people for no reason?


    Just because she¡¯s a public figure, should she accept the public¡¯s criticism?


    Ever since she entered this crew, she¡¯d been low-key and diligent, but there were still those persistent flies trying to drill through her "iron egg" with a diamond drill.


    Even though she was the victim in this whole matter, she still had to endure these malicious guesses from others.


    Although she was no saint, who believed that everyone in the world was pure and good, nor did she always think the worst of people, the comments from these people truly disgusted her.


    Wen Qiao furiously tapped on the keyboard to strike back.


    @Wen Qiao replies to XXZZ: Flies don¡¯t swarm a seamless egg. You seem so knowledgeable, looks like flies have targeted your stinky egg, huh? S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    @Wen Qiao replies to Your Strawberry is So Sweet: Can¡¯t be, can¡¯t be, it¡¯s already 1202, surely nobody still doesn¡¯t know that ¡¯vixen¡¯ is a compliment saying a woman is beautiful, right? Are you sure you¡¯re not my fan, complimenting me?"


    @Wen Qiao replies to Down With Homework Imperialism: Seems like you have quite the imagination, how about I give you the pen and you continue writing? Once you finish, remember to tag me to see your made-up little story, then I can give you a poor review.


    @Wen Qiao replies to Lalala12138: I¡¯m so sorry, this person with a ¡¯past record¡¯ can still stand bright and glamorous on stage, while you, some unknown creature, can only dare to tap your keyboard behind a screen.


    @Wen Qiao replies to Daniel Wu¡¯s Woman: I really want to set up a crowdfunding for you, so you can get a corneal transplant and cure your delusional disorder. If you¡¯re Daniel Wu¡¯s woman, I¡¯ll immediately do a live broadcast of an upside-down hair wash.


    Wen Qiao shot back at all those comments that made her uncomfortable, one after another.


    Although the best way to kill rumors is to let them die out on their own, without engaging or giving them attention, and they¡¯ll soon be overshadowed by new news, Wen Qiao felt that if she did nothing, those netizens would just think she was an easy target, and would even consider her silence as a tacit admission, quick to put countless scandalous hats on her head at the slightest provocation.


    What she did wasn¡¯t just to vent or immaturely clash with them a few times, the important thing was she wanted to make her stance clear.


    Neither female stars nor ordinary people have the right or obligation to accept insults and verbal abuse from others, especially when they have done nothing wrong.

 Chapter 92 - 91: Speaking Out for Wen Qiao

    Chapter 92: Chapter 91: Speaking Out for Wen QiaoWen Qiao¡¯s counter-attack on netizens once again topped the trending searches, followed by "Lin Ruochun Speaks Up for Wen Qiao," and the official Weibo account of the "Red Makeup" production team also released a statement, essentially saying that Luo Bin had exhibited improper conduct and had been dismissed from the production team, thereby clarifying their stance.


    "Oh my God, Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth is so good at comebacks, hahaha, how about starting a class? I¡¯ll wait online."


    "Wait for what? Teacher Wen is in session, please accept this disciple¡¯s bow."


    "I used to think Wen Qiao was pretty, then I thought her character wasn¡¯t that great, but now I think I can align my principles with her facial features."


    "Are there any more haters? Come on, I¡¯ve already moved my little stool over to sit and wait for Teacher Wen¡¯s mini lessons."


    "Suddenly, I find Wen Qiao quite likable... What¡¯s going on?"


    "..."


    The online discussion about Wen Qiao continued unabated for a while, and some even mentioned her under the haters¡¯ comments, urging her to counter-attack. Wen Qiao¡¯s private inbox was already overloaded with messages, but she didn¡¯t read a single one.


    While netizens were expressing their opinions, Wen Qiao was still under the clutches of the director, begging for food.


    In the production team, the issue of Luo Bin harassing his colleagues had drew a lot of attention. From the director to the minor staff members, everyone was speaking up for Wen Qiao, some to ride on her coattails and some truly lending a hand. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Wei had just finished her filming, and when she pushed open the door to the rest room, her assistant Qianqian came up to greet her.


    "Sister Wei, Sister Qing said that you must post a Weibo after you finish filming."


    Jiang Wei closed the door and asked, "What Weibo?"


    "A Weibo standing up for Wen Qiao."


    Qianqian, worried Jiang Wei would disagree, relayed verbatim what Li Qing had said to her on the phone, "She said she knows you and Wen Qiao don¡¯t get along, but now is not the time for you to be petty. The entire production team has made their stance clear and is siding with Wen Qiao, and Luo Bin has been fired. If you don¡¯t say something, netizens will definitely speculate."


    "I got it." Jiang Wei nodded and held out her hand, "Give me the phone then."


    Even if Li Qing hadn¡¯t spoken, she would have spoken up for Wen Qiao. After all, since Jiang Yao released that clarifying video, the vast majority of netizens were on Wen Qiao¡¯s side.


    And today, Wen Qiao could be said to be the queen of Weibo¡¯s trending topics, a mere flick of the finger to post a Weibo could increase visibility and curry favor from the public. Why not?


    But what she hadn¡¯t expected was that Lin Ruochun would take the initiative to speak up for Wen Qiao.


    Jiang Wei did not share the "Red Makeup" official Weibo statement but instead composed and posted her own tweet¡ª


    @JiangWeiV: The malice towards women in this world will never disappear, but we still love this world all the same.


    She didn¡¯t mention Wen Qiao or anyone else by name, but anyone with eyes could tell she was responding to the Luo Bin incident.


    Weiwei fans who caught wind of Jiang Wei¡¯s post cheered in unison.


    "Grand vision is still seen in Weiwei, speaking up for Wen Qiao without regard for past grievances."


    "Weiwei is right! ¡¯Though the world inflicts pain upon me, I respond with song.¡¯


    "Following in Weiwei¡¯s footsteps, we¡¯ll always love this world!"


    "Weiwei fans welcome the arrival of Princess Xuanjia!"


    "Weiwei fans welcome the arrival of Princess Xuanjia! +1"


    "Weiwei fans welcome the arrival of Princess Xuanjia! +2"


    "Weiwei fans welcome the arrival of Princess Xuanjia! +10086"


    "...."

 Chapter 93 - 92: None of Your Business

    Chapter 93: Chapter 92: None of Your BusinessFor a moment, due solely to the Luo Bin incident, "Red Makeup" blew up on Weibo even though it had not yet aired and had only started filming for about a week.


    The issue was smoothly resolved, and the nameless heavy atmosphere that had loomed over the crew instantly dissipated. During the lunch break, the crew members returned to normal, treating Wen Qiao no differently than usual¡ªas if the morning¡¯s coldness towards her had never occurred.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t feel hurt, just somewhat speechless, and lamented that indeed, this was an era of going with the flow.


    And Jiang Wei felt that her actions that morning were a bit too impulsive. She had thought that the matter was settled and that Wen Qiao wouldn¡¯t have a solution, but unexpectedly, Wen Qiao had been on a video call with someone at the time, which just so happened to capture the entire incident.


    The Weibo post by Jiang Yao stated that Wen Qiao was video calling her, but Jiang Wei found it hard to believe. They lived in the same room¡ªwhat would they video call about if there¡¯s nothing to do? Even if they were video calling, why cover it up?


    A figure suddenly flashed through her mind.


    Had Wen Qiao been video calling with Fu Jinghen last night?


    Thinking this, Jiang Wei became a bit unsettled.


    If that was the case, then she definitely shouldn¡¯t have confronted Wen Qiao so harshly this morning.


    Although the filming requirements for "Red Makeup" were a bit strict, the treatment was very good, and the crew¡¯s boxed meals were well-balanced with both meat and vegetables.


    Just as Qianqian was about to go collect Jiang Wei¡¯s boxed meal, Jiang Wei stopped her, "Remember to bring back Wen Qiao¡¯s portion as well."


    Before Qianqian could ask why, she saw Jiang Wei getting up from her chair, "Never mind, I¡¯ll go myself." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Jiang Wei arrived at the shed where the boxed meals were placed, Lin Ruochun was also there by chance.


    She thought that since Wen Qiao¡¯s agent was not around, and she did not have an assistant, plus she was currently filming and certainly didn¡¯t have time to collect it, Ruochun decided to help take Wen Qiao¡¯s as well since she was getting her own anyway.


    To her surprise, someone else also had the same kind-hearted intention.


    Their hands both reached for the boxed meal labeled with Wen Qiao¡¯s name at the same time, causing them to pause.


    Seeing this, Jiang Wei started laughing, "Ruochun, when did you become so close with Qiaoqiao?"


    Lin Ruochun felt uncomfortable looking at Jiang Wei¡¯s fake smiling face, "None of your business."


    Jiang Wei¡¯s expression remained unchanged, her hand still holding onto the boxed meal, "Do you have something against me?"


    "Not at all. I never have opinions about insignificant people."


    Implicitly saying, "You¡¯re not worth it."


    Jiang Wei didn¡¯t get upset, pretending not to understand the insinuation, "That¡¯s good then."


    She looked at the boxed meal in her hand, "I¡¯ll take Wen Qiao¡¯s meal to her. I¡¯m closer to her anyway, right next to her."


    Lin Ruochun suddenly laughed, "Jiang Wei, doesn¡¯t it tire you to wear a mask every day?"


    That morning, she had unintentionally seen Wen Qiao walking dejectedly toward a corner. Afraid that she wouldn¡¯t be able to withstand the blow and might lose her will, Ruochun followed her quietly, driven by the belief that saving a life was more meritorious than building a seven-tiered stupa, and that she would be restless if she didn¡¯t offer help after seeing her in need.


    Then she saw Wen Qiao answering a phone call, but her demeanor changed significantly before and after.


    The call lasted less than ten minutes. During the first three minutes, she was cold and exceptionally composed; but as soon as she moved the phone away from her ear and then back again, her entire demeanor transformed.

 Chapter 94 - 93: Good Luck

    Chapter 94: Chapter 93: Good LuckLin Ruochun didn¡¯t know how to describe it, but she felt that in the last few minutes of her phone call, something was off, her fingers intermittently picking at the leaves in front of her.


    Lin Ruochun was puzzled. What had the leaves done to her to deserve such treatment?


    Once she realized that Jiang Wei was simply making a phone call, she breathed a sigh of relief and was about to head back when she saw Jiang Wei approaching Wen Qiao.


    She stealthily moved closer, maintaining a distance where she wouldn¡¯t be noticed but could still overhear their conversation.


    Then she heard how Jiang Wei provoked Wen Qiao, and how Wen Qiao retorted sharply.


    She had to admit, Wen Qiao really had a way with words.


    Seeing Jiang Wei¡¯s face grow progressively uglier, Lin Ruochun almost burst into applause.


    After their confrontation in the morning, Jiang Wei was skittering over at lunch to help Wen Qiao pick up her lunch box. Lin Ruochun thought Jiang Wei must be suffering from a split personality.


    "What are you talking about, Ruochun? I don¡¯t quite understand."


    Lin Ruochun couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste her breath on her, she needed to hurry back and drop the lunch box on Wen Qiao¡¯s desk, making sure Wen Qiao didn¡¯t realize she was the one who got it; otherwise, she would definitely be teased.


    "If you don¡¯t understand, forget it." Lin Ruochun forcefully snatched Wen Qiao¡¯s lunch box and looked into Jiang Wei¡¯s eyes, "I suggest you give up early, Brother Jinghen will never fancy someone fake like you."


    She intended to leave but then stopped, turning back to look at her, "I heard you¡¯re vying for the ES endorsement?"


    "What do you mean?" Jiang Wei immediately tensed up.


    "It doesn¡¯t mean anything." Lin Ruochun shrugged, "Good luck."


    With that, Lin Ruochun proudly strode towards Wen Qiao¡¯s tent.


    The smile Jiang Wei had maintained shattered at Lin Ruochun¡¯s last words, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath to calm herself down.


    When Wen Qiao finished the last scene before lunch and came back, she saw Lin Ruochun lurking underneath her tent, seemingly up to something.


    She quieted her steps and loomed behind Lin Ruochun, "What are you doing?"


    "Ahhh!" Lin Ruochun screamed in fright and stumbled several steps backward. In her haste, she tripped over her own feet and landed squarely on the ground.


    "Hey!"


    Wen Qiao was too late to reach out and catch her; she could only watch as Lin Ruochun fell to the ground.


    Falling on the stone pavement, Lin Ruochun felt as if her bottom had deflated from the impact, pain bringing tears to her eyes as she looked up at Wen Qiao.


    "Ah! Ah-ah-ah!"


    Now it was Wen Qiao¡¯s turn to be startled by Lin Ruochun¡¯s tears. She quickly crouched in front of her and, unable to find tissues, clumsily rolled up her sleeves to wipe away Lin Ruochun¡¯s tears.


    "Why are you crying, did it hurt that much? I didn¡¯t mean to scare you, stop crying, okay?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun felt embarrassed enough falling in front of Wen Qiao; crying from the pain was just too humiliating.


    She sniffled, held back her tears, and pushed away Wen Qiao¡¯s hand, "Who¡¯s crying? You must be blind."


    She gritted her teeth, pushed herself off the ground, and without looking back, Lin Ruochun took her lunch box and walked away.


    Wen Qiao reached out towards her retreating figure, "I¡¯m sorry."


    She somehow felt that Lin Ruochun was beating a hasty retreat.


    Turning back, she noticed something peeking out from underneath the script. Wen Qiao moved the script aside, and there was the lunch box with her name on it, lying on the table.

 Chapter 95 - 94: Full of Love and Longing

    Chapter 95: Chapter 94: Full of Love and LongingThinking back on Lin Ruochun¡¯s sneaky behavior earlier, Wen Qiao knew what was going on in her heart.


    This person didn¡¯t want her to know about the lunch box she had brought, but hadn¡¯t even hidden it properly.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t know why, but she had been assigned an unusually large number of scenes today; however, she could feel that this probably wasn¡¯t because the director was intentionally making things difficult for her.


    After sitting down and taking a couple of bites of her meal, she paused, picked out the chicken leg, took out her phone, and sent a photo of her box of vegetarian dishes to Fu Jinghen.


    "Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Wuu wuu wuu, feel so pitiful, Master Wen can only eat some little green veggies after a busy day."


    "Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: When you compare it with yours, plus it was personally ordered by me, filled with all my love and longing for President Fu, don¡¯t you think your lunch today tastes particularly delicious?"


    No sooner had she sent the message than a staff member came running over: "Wen Qiao, the director is calling you."


    "Huh?" Wen Qiao glanced at the intact chicken leg: "But I¡¯ve just started eating."


    "What are you eating for? Stop eating, the director is in a rush, you won¡¯t even get a lunch box tomorrow," the staff member said, reaching directly for Wen Qiao¡¯s wrist.


    "Hey hey hey, wait a second." Wen Qiao picked up the chicken leg with a plastic bag, took a big bite, and mumbled to the staff: "Alright, let¡¯s go."


    Staff: "...."


    What can you do if you don¡¯t eat a bite of this chicken leg?


    -


    By the time Jiang Wei arrived with coffee in hand, Wen Qiao had already left, and there was an unfinished lunch box still on the small table.


    Seeing that no one was there, Jiang Wei was about to leave when the edge of her clothes accidentally brushed against Wen Qiao¡¯s script on the table.


    With a "plop," the script fell to the ground, and Jiang Wei picked it up and flipped through it.


    She had underestimated this Wen Qiao.


    Suddenly, something flashed in her eyes, and looking down, Jiang Wei saw it was Wen Qiao¡¯s phone under the script.


    It seemed Wen Qiao had left in a hurry and hadn¡¯t had time to lock the screen, which displayed the chat history between her and Fu Jinghen.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s eyes flickered, and she looked around.


    The noon sun baked down on her, feeling hot and making one want to doze off, with no one paying any attention to this spot.


    She picked up Wen Qiao¡¯s phone, scrolled through it a bit, and noticed that while there weren¡¯t many messages between the two, Fu Jinghen had responded to almost all of the messages sent by Wen Qiao.


    Jiang Wei eyed the content on the display with a dark gaze, tapped a few times, and then quickly put the phone back.


    She also placed the script back on top, as if nothing had been touched.


    -


    Today could be said to be the busiest day Wen Qiao had on set since joining the crew.


    She had barely had a few bites of her lunch before she was called away by the director to prepare for the next scene. She didn¡¯t feel tired during the filming, but once she got to the hotel room, Wen Qiao felt like a deflated ball, completely collapsing.


    She was so hungry she could feel her stomach touching her back.


    She lay sprawled out on the couch, struggling for five minutes between ordering room service or going downstairs to buy barbecue by the river before she got up and headed downstairs.


    Song Qian had recommended the barbecue by the riverside in the film city to her, saying it was incredibly delicious, but the only downside was that there was no delivery service.


    She had been wanting to try it, but Jiang Yao had been strict with her, worried she would eat too much at night and swell up the next day, and had always pulled her away to prevent her from going.


    Today, Jiang Yao had gone back to Huasong to handle some trending issues, so there was finally no one keeping an eye on her. Wen Qiao was determined to seize this rare opportunity and indulge to her heart¡¯s content. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She could just get up a bit earlier tomorrow and have a cup of coffee and go for a run.

 Chapter 96 - 95: Falling into Water

    Chapter 96: Chapter 95: Falling into WaterFortunately, the riverside barbecue wasn¡¯t too far from the hotel where she stayed. After donning a hat and mask, fully armed, Wen Qiao headed straight for the barbecue stand.


    "Boss, this one, this one, this one, ten skewers each."


    While ordering skewers, Qiaoqiao managed to exhibit an air of grandeur, as if she was directing troops on a battlefield.


    The barbecue stand was quite crowded. After Qiaoqiao placed her order, she retreated to the back of the crowd to wait, taking in the view of the riverside.


    The architecture in the film city leaned towards an ancient style, with green bricks, red tiles, small bridges, and flowing water, all presenting an entirely different scenery.


    The sound of the babbling brook unwittingly calmed one¡¯s heart.


    Wen Qiao braced her arms on the bridge railing, closing her eyes to enjoy the summer breeze for a moment.


    She took her phone out and snapped a picture of the river surface to send to Fu Jinghen.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: It would be great if you were here to see this beautiful scenery.]


    Fu Jinghen must have been busy, as he didn¡¯t reply quickly. Wen Qiao didn¡¯t mind; she was just casually flirting.


    "Miss, your skewers are ready."


    "Oh, coming!"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up as she bounced over, paid, grabbed the skewers, and hurried back to the hotel, unable to wait.


    My little treasures, I¡¯ll be eating you so soon!


    With every step, she increased her pace, and suddenly, Wen Qiao heard a cry of alarm. On reflex, she looked over and saw Lin Ruochun¡¯s face disappear behind the bridge railing.


    She immediately ran over. Lin Ruochun was flailing in the lake water, constantly shouting for help.


    Without a second thought, Wen Qiao dropped the skewers, stepped onto the bridge railing, and leaped down.


    Lin Ruochun was struggling incessantly in the water, and with the light from both sides of the riverbank, Wen Qiao easily found Lin Ruochun¡¯s head bobbing on the water¡¯s surface. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao slid one hand under her armpit, guiding her towards the shore.


    After fishing her out of the water and tossing her onto the grass, Wen Qiao herself sat down next to her, feeling drained.


    "I wouldn¡¯t have guessed, you look quite thin, but you are so heavy to pull."


    Lin Ruochun, who had swallowed several gulps of water, was coughing nonstop on the bank. Seeing this, Wen Qiao hurriedly grabbed her shoulders to pull her back: "Get away from the lake. You want to go back in just after getting out? If you really want to jump in, wait till I¡¯m gone, don¡¯t bother me."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s words didn¡¯t leave any face for her, but Lin Ruochun, having just escaped death, didn¡¯t have much force in her retort. She shrugged off Wen Qiao¡¯s hands: "Don¡¯t pretend to be nice."


    "?"


    Wen Qiao was amused by the accusation, "Pretend to be nice? If I were pretending, I wouldn¡¯t have jumped in to save you just now. I could¡¯ve just stood on the shore and yelled for help. Ungrateful, really!"


    "If you hadn¡¯t asked me to come here, how would I have fallen in?" Lin Ruochun thought back to her near-drowning and shuddered with fear.


    "I asked you to come here?" Wen Qiao laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke: "Has your brain been waterlogged in the lake? Why would I ever ask you out?"


    "You invited me out to thank me and treat me to barbecue!" Lin Ruochun became anxious when she saw Wen Qiao deny it.


    After coughing out the water in her lungs and with a hoarse voice: "Be brave enough to own up to what you do, Wen Qiao, don¡¯t let me think any less of you."


    "Why should I admit to something I didn¡¯t do?"


    Wen Qiao had never had a moment when she dared to do something but not admit to it.


    Lin Ruochun: "Isn¡¯t 6599 your phone number? You sent me a text today at noon, saying you wanted to meet me tonight."


    That was indeed Wen Qiao¡¯s phone number, but she had absolutely no recollection of sending Lin Ruochun any text messages about meeting up.

 Chapter 97 - 96: Bad Woman 1.0

    Chapter 97: Chapter 96: Bad Woman 1.0She seized on the key point in Lin Ruochun¡¯s words, "When exactly at noon?"


    "Don¡¯t you know when you sent the text message yourself?"


    Seeing Lin Ruochun act as if nothing could affect her, Wen Qiao¡¯s temper flared up. She slapped the back of her head, "Just say it if I ask you, do I need to ask if I already knew?"


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Wen Qiao. No one had ever dared to hit her since she was young.


    "What are you looking at? Speak up, or I¡¯ll hit you again."


    Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t afraid of her at all, and even waved her arm as if to say if Lin Ruochun uttered another unnecessary word, that slap would land on her head once more.


    Lin Ruochun pursed her lips, reluctantly saying, "After the lunch boxes were distributed at noon."


    Hearing this timing, Wen Qiao frowned and seemed deep in thought.


    Lin Ruochun, seeing her silent, thought she was feeling guilty and immediately clamored, "Why are you not talking now, guilty, huh?"


    Wen Qiao glanced at her sideways and moved her lips to mutter, "Idiot."


    Lin Ruochun, unwilling to be insulted, was about to retort when Wen Qiao cut her off, "I was barely a few bites into my lunch when I was called away to shoot a scene. When would I have had the time to send you a message?"


    "Who knows if you were slacking off or not." Lin Ruochun felt Wen Qiao was making excuses, "Wait and see, I¡¯ll find the evidence to show you." S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She wanted to take out her phone to show Wen Qiao the message she had sent to herself, but after searching and not finding it, she realized her phone had been stolen right before she fell into the lake.


    Seeing her reaction, Wen Qiao almost understood what had happened.


    "If you don¡¯t believe me, go ask the director. I was shooting right under his watch. Go and ask if I had time to slack off," Wen Qiao tugged at her wet, clingy clothes. "Besides, I ask you to come out, and you just come out? You have no sense of caution at all, serves you right for falling into the lake."


    "You!"


    Lin Ruochun wanted to argue back but realized that Wen Qiao was right¡ªshe truly had her guard down, having actually gone to the meeting after seeing the text message that evening.


    Although summer was in full swing, the lake water was still cold. The evening breeze made their wet clothes stick to their skin, causing an involuntary shiver.


    "Let¡¯s go, head back."


    Wen Qiao stood up from the grass and kicked Lin Ruochun¡¯s leg with the tip of her foot, "Can you get up?"


    "Who do you think you¡¯re looking down on?" Lin Ruochun huffed, and swiftly climbed up from the grass.


    "Still able to argue with me, seems like you weren¡¯t too scared."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao walked ahead while Lin Ruochun followed behind. The two of them walked one in front of the other, neither initiating conversation.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, Lin Ruochun softly called out, "Hey," to which Wen Qiao turned back, "What is it?"


    "That..." Lin Ruochun fidgeted with her shirt hem, seeming to struggle to speak, and stuttered without being able to utter a complete sentence.


    Wen Qiao grew impatient, "What do you want to say?"


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s voice was as soft as a mosquito, "It¡¯s just... thank you."


    Wen Qiao seemed not to have expected her gratitude and was stunned for a few seconds.


    Lin Ruochun, noticing her surprise, glared at her, "What are you looking at? Didn¡¯t hear clearly, or what? I won¡¯t repeat it if you didn¡¯t."


    Wen Qiao snapped back to reality and scoffed softly, "You¡¯re welcome. Even if the person who fell in tonight was someone unimportant, I wouldn¡¯t have just stood by, so don¡¯t feel too grateful to me."

 Chapter 98 - 97: Do You Like Fu Jinghen?

    Chapter 98: Chapter 97: Do You Like Fu Jinghen?Wen Qiao looked at her meaningfully, silent for a few seconds before suddenly asking, "Do you like Fu Jinghen?"


    "What are you talking about? How could I possibly like Brother Jinghen?"


    Lin Ruochun raised her head somewhat frantically, her small face, pallid from falling into the water, now flushed a deep red.


    Wen Qiao observed her with a scrutinizing, half-smiling gaze, "Really? Since you don¡¯t like Fu Jinghen, why then do you hate me because of him?"


    "I just simply can¡¯t stand the things you do, don¡¯t overthink it!"


    Although Lin Ruochun¡¯s explanation lacked persuasiveness, the sincerity and openness in her eyes were undeniable. Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t expected her dislike for him to stem from such a simple reason.


    She thought about the original content of the story; Lin Ruochun wasn¡¯t an important character, only appearing occasionally, and Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t the male lead either. His storyline wasn¡¯t very detailed.


    Wen Qiao had only guessed that Lin Ruochun liked Fu Jinghen based on her actions after their engagement in the original scenario, but now it seemed she might have been mistaken?


    If she had known she would be transplanted into the story, she would have finished the entire book. Quitting after seeing the original leads end up together was evidently an unwise decision. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t make foolish mistakes anymore. I will live well with your Brother Jinghen."


    Actually, as Wen Qiao spoke the last sentence, she felt a bit guilty.


    Because she wasn¡¯t sure she could do it, even though her fascination with Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t waned yet.


    "Really?" Lin Ruochun seemed unsure as she asked again, only relaxing when she saw Wen Qiao nod her head. She stepped forward, shoulder to shoulder with her, murmuring, "Although I still don¡¯t like you much, considering you saved my life, I¡¯ll temporarily side with you. I despise that Jiang Wei even more. If she takes Brother Jinghen away, I will look down on you."


    Wen Qiao listened to her words, feeling a bit amused. They were only a few months apart in age, yet Lin Ruochun was still so childish, overly naive, obviously coddled too well by her family.


    Yet, she hadn¡¯t experienced any real hardships either, also pampered by her family from a young age, so why wasn¡¯t she as gullible as Lin Ruochun?


    "Is that right?" Wen Qiao retorted, "Then why were you defending me on Weibo before?"


    "I that was! That was..." Lin Ruochun¡¯s cheeks reddened, her lips stammered for a long time before she squeezed out, "I was protecting Brother Jinghen¡¯s face. You¡¯re his fianc¨¦e, whatever trouble it caused wouldn¡¯t be good for him either."


    "But not many people know about me and Fu Jinghen," Wen Qiao said, her eyes twinkling with amusement as she looked at her, "We are in a hidden marriage, you know."


    Under the dim streetlight, Wen Qiao¡¯s makeup-free face was plain yet elegant, her wet hair sticking to her cheeks, slightly disheveled, but her eyes sparkled with humor, deep and inviting, catching Lin Ruochun off guard.


    Wen Qiao noticed her zoning out, pinched her thumb and index finger together, and snapped her fingers in front of her, "Snap out of it, what are you daydreaming about."


    Lin Ruochun realized she had almost fallen into the trap of Wen Qiao¡¯s beauty and had been caught red-handed, her face flushed even redder, her voice involuntarily raised, "Still, some people knew about it, all the high society big shots who attended your engagement party! Whatever happened before... never mind, it¡¯s all in the past, but if you cause more trouble after the engagement, it still wouldn¡¯t look

 Chapter 99 - 98: Pregnant Before Marriage

    Chapter 99: Chapter 98: Pregnant Before MarriageLin Ruochun: "....."


    Could she still take back her thanks now?


    Seeing Lin Ruochun¡¯s infuriated expression, Wen Qiao felt particularly pleased. Driven by rare curiosity, she asked, "Why do you dislike me so much?"


    Lin Ruochun haughtily turned her head away: "You know very well."


    "?"


    What was with this tone of accusing some scoundrel?


    "What do I know?"


    Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t know if she was feigning ignorance or truly didn¡¯t understand, but she became somewhat agitated: "If you don¡¯t like Brother Jinghen, why did you agree to get engaged to him? The engagement is one thing, but why did you have to do that kind of thing, too?"


    She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she had misspoken and hung her head, muttering, "Anyway, you¡¯re just a bad woman."


    "Don¡¯t worry,, I won¡¯t embarrass your Brother Jinghen."


    Although Wen Qiao¡¯s current feelings for Fu Jinghen were merely a whim supplemented by his attractiveness, she understood the principle that spouses shared honor and disgrace. Even if she truly fell for someone else later, she wouldn¡¯t do anything inappropriate while she was still involved with Fu Jinghen.


    She still held onto that much moral integrity.


    "Really?" Lin Ruochun seemed skeptical as she pressed further.


    "Really."


    Wen Qiao, amused by Lin Ruochun¡¯s suspicion, changed the subject: "Then why do you dislike Jiang Wei?" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t like her, I hate her," Lin Ruochun seriously corrected her.


    "Alright, then why do you hate her?"


    "I just can¡¯t stand the sight of her."


    The grudge between Lin Ruochun and Jiang Wei had been building for a long time. Initially, Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t hate Jiang Wei, since, after all, they both mingled in the same circles and occasionally saw each other at social gatherings.


    Lin Ruochun was younger and both Fu Jing and Qin Xiang treated her like a sister, showering her with a bit more care. These gestures didn¡¯t sit well with Jiang Wei, who started throwing snide remarks at Lin Ruochun. Every woman understood these games, and although Lin Ruochun could guess her intentions, she wasn¡¯t one to complain to others, so she didn¡¯t confide in Fu Jing. But she wasn¡¯t a pushover and was naturally able to retaliate.


    If it were anyone else under the misunderstanding that Lin Ruochun fancied Fu Jing, she would have hastily clarified things. But it came to Jiang Wei, she felt that explaining would only demean her own status. Jiang Wei was welcome to misunderstand, and since Fu Jing cared about her, she was more than happy to annoy Jiang Wei further.


    Thus, whenever Jiang Wei was around, Lin Ruochun would act a bit closer to Fu Jing than usual, but she never crossed any boundaries¡ªit was all just to irritate her.


    The two had been at this standoff for a while, and Lin Ruochun had also entered the entertainment industry. Shortly after her debut, thanks to a supporting role in an ethics drama that garnered her a fanbase, she was dubbed the "Nation¡¯s Sister." At that time, she was about to sign a deal with a cosmetics endorsement, and negotiations were progressing smoothly. However, just as they were about to close the deal, a slew of negative publicity about her erupted online.


    It said she was a poor student who frequently skipped classes and even uploaded a photo of her wearing a high school uniform at the gynecology department of a hospital, suggesting she was pregnant before marriage.


    The reports about her poor grades were true, though they weren¡¯t that bad, and her skipping classes was also true since she really couldn¡¯t absorb the monotonous math classes. But the allegations about her being pregnant before marriage were entirely fabricated.

 Chapter 100 - 99: Endorse Children鈥檚 Clothing

    Chapter 100: Chapter 99: Endorse Children¡¯s ClothingShe had suffered from irregular menstruation, and once fainted from the pain during her period, Mrs. Lin then took her to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, but she didn¡¯t expect people to speculate wildly.


    Originally, the spokesperson had been changed to Jiang Wei.


    Although there was no clear evidence, in such a situation, whoever benefited was the instigator.


    However, Lin Ruochun had no conclusive evidence and couldn¡¯t do anything about Jiang Wei, and since the Lin Family¡¯s business was in crisis, Lin Ruochun did not want to burden her parents with these trivial matters and kept them a secret.


    Later, when the financial situation improved and business picked up, the Lin Family found out that their beloved daughter had suffered such a grievance upon her debut. But since some time had passed, revisiting the incident wouldn¡¯t do Lin Ruochun any good, they publicly revealed her identity and supported her.


    It¡¯s uncertain whether it was the public disclosure of her identity that prevented Jiang Wei from making further moves, but after that incident, Jiang Wei restrained herself considerably and was quite polite when they met.


    Lin Ruochun was no saint; she genuinely disliked Jiang Wei and had no interest in pretending to be amicable or sisterly with her, just as before when she couldn¡¯t stand her.


    She was too lazy to waste her acting skills in front of someone like Jiang Wei.


    Seeing that Wen Qiao didn¡¯t want to elaborate further, she didn¡¯t press on.


    It was Lin Ruochun, though, who suddenly brought up a topic, "Do you know ES?"


    "Of course. It¡¯s such a top brand, how could I not know it?"


    This brand wasn¡¯t invented by the original author; Wen Qiao had already liked its perfumes before crossing over and had bought several bottles of ES perfume. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "They are choosing an Asian spokesperson, ES has an unwritten rule that they accept recommendations for their spokesperson."


    "Moreover, they don¡¯t have standard criteria, if the temperament fits their standards, even if there are scandals, they can still promote them. If you¡¯re interested, I can help you," Lin Ruochun said while observing Wen Qiao¡¯s reaction.


    Unfortunately, perhaps because she felt somewhat guilty or because it was her first time doing this, she got caught red-handed peeping at Wen Qiao.


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes dodged, "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "Spill it," Wen Qiao crossed her arms and scrutinized her, "You¡¯re offering me such a big piece of meat, what are you scheming?"


    "I¡¯m not scheming anything..." Lin Ruochun murmured softly. In the end, she couldn¡¯t overcome her moral scruples and surrendered, "Okay, I heard that Jiang Wei is determined to get this endorsement, but I don¡¯t want her to succeed. I actually quite like the stuff from ES, and if she becomes the spokesperson, I¡¯ll never buy their products again."


    "So, you want me to compete with Jiang Wei?"


    "....Yes," Lin Ruochun ruffled her hair, her voice a bit subdued, "I know it might seem a bit underhanded, but I just don¡¯t like Jiang Wei."


    "Then why don¡¯t you go yourself."


    "Because the temperament doesn¡¯t fit..." As she said this, Lin Ruochun became irritated, "My family is in design, and my mom and ES¡¯s chief designer were university classmates. Last year, my mom took me to dinner with her, do you know what the chief designer¡¯s first words to me were?"


    Wen Qiao cooperatively asked, "What?"


    "She asked if I was an adult yet, what grade I was in. I was really speechless. Should I feel honored? In my twenties, but with the face of a sixteen or seventeen-year-old."

 Chapter 101 - 100: Independent Women of the New Age

    Chapter 101: Chapter 100: Independent Women of the New AgeWen Qiao really didn¡¯t expect Lin Ruochun to give such an answer and couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. After receiving Lin Ruochun¡¯s resentful gaze, she coughed twice and cleared her throat, examining Lin Ruochun closely.


    When Lin Ruochun wasn¡¯t wearing makeup, she actually looked quite young, with an oval face, round almond eyes, cherry lips, and a hint of baby fat still on her cheeks. Her bare-faced look gave one the feeling of seeing their first love.


    And not to mention, this shoulder-length bob really made her look like a high school student.


    "Sister, have you considered taking a different path?"


    Wen Qiao put her hand on her shoulder and mischievously flicked her chin with her index finger.


    "What?"


    Wen Qiao sincerely suggested, "How about endorsing children¡¯s clothing?"


    "Wen Qiao!" Lin Ruochun flared up, "Can¡¯t you talk like a normal person for once?"


    "Not really."


    "...."


    Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t want to say another word.


    She shouldn¡¯t have gotten to know Wen Qiao! Going further back, she shouldn¡¯t have come to shoot "Red Makeup"!


    Seeing the girl he was hugging getting angry, Wen Qiao teased her like a kitten, scratching her chin, "Okay, okay, don¡¯t be mad. It¡¯s just an endorsement deal, I can clinch it for you."


    Lin Ruochun looked up at her, puzzled: "?"


    What¡¯s with this nonchalant tone, as if you¡¯re talking about today¡¯s nice weather?


    "But I don¡¯t need your help, I can do it myself."


    "You, yourself?" Lin Ruochun clearly didn¡¯t believe her, thinking Wen Qiao was bragging, "Are you sure?"


    "Sure." Wen Qiao stroked her chin, appearing thoughtful, "I¡¯ll bring it up with Fu Jinghen and see. I should still have some clout in front of him."


    "Come on, can¡¯t you act like a modern independent woman?" Lin Ruochun urged, "You should fight for it yourself. It feels more fulfilling."


    "Isn¡¯t Fu Jinghen something I fought for? Moreover, I think having the skill to secure an endorsement effortlessly is also a talent. Plus, having such an awesome fianc¨¦ means I¡¯m already more successful than most, which feels even more fulfilling."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s tone was utterly matter-of-fact, "Having one awesome person in the family is enough. My fianc¨¦ is already awesome, so I¡¯m perfectly content being a gold digger."


    Lin Ruochun: "..."


    She actually found Wen Qiao somewhat reasonable...


    They had reached the entrance of the hotel while talking, and it just so happened that Song Qian, who had just finished his work, saw the two of them looking like drenched chickens. Startled, his gaze shifted back and forth between Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun, "Did you two... have a water duel or something?"


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    Lin Ruochun: "....."


    Wen Qiao looked at him helplessly, "It¡¯s a long story."


    From the first day on set, Song Qian had witnessed their intense rivalries, and seeing them like this now made him worried: "Then give me the short version."


    Why does he have to dig so deep?


    Wen Qiao thought that she¡¯d have to spill the beans today given Song Qian¡¯s meddlesome nature, but just as she was about to speak, she saw Song Qian raise his hand and interrupt her, "Hold on."


    Song Qian ran to the front desk, asked for two towels, and brought them over, "Dry yourselves first, don¡¯t catch a cold." Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun took them and murmured a thank you.


    Song Qian, flattered, apparently hadn¡¯t expected Princess Lin to thank him and immediately responded, "No need, no need, no need."

 Chapter 102 - 101: How did you get here?

    Chapter 102: Chapter 101: How did you get here?Wen Qiao was teased into laughter by the two of them, and just as she let out a laugh, she received glares from both.


    Song Qian asked, "You haven¡¯t explained, what¡¯s going on with you two?"


    "To put it simply, she fell into the water by accident, and I happened to see it. Operating on the principle of not standing by and watching someone die, I jumped in and pulled her out."


    "How did you just happen to see it?" Song Qian asked again.


    "Are you the ¡¯why kid¡¯ or something?" Wen Qiao was speechless. "I went to the riverside to buy barbecue, and that¡¯s when I saw it."


    As soon as she mentioned this, Wen Qiao suddenly realized, "Damn it, my barbecue!"


    Saying this, Wen Qiao prepared to rush outside, but Song Qian was quick to grab her, "Where do you think you¡¯re going?"


    "I¡¯m going to look for my skewers!"


    "If you go looking now, I bet you can¡¯t even find their corpses."


    "That¡¯s true..."


    Wen Qiao, like an eggplant beaten by frost, drooped and hung her head down. She lifted the towel to cover her head as if to shut out all her sorrow.


    Seeing her like this, Song Qian consoled her, "Come on, don¡¯t be sad. It¡¯s just some skewers. If they knew you left them to save someone, they would rest in peace."


    Listening to this, Lin Ruochun felt a bit uncomfortable and asked, "Are you comparing me to the skewers she bought?"


    Wen Qiao looked mournfully at Lin Ruochun, "Do you really have to ask? In my heart, the skewers are worth more."


    Hearing Wen Qiao say that she was worth less to her than skewers, Lin Ruochun got angry, "Then you shouldn¡¯t have saved me!"


    "Ah," Wen Qiao sighed sorrowfully, glancing at Lin Ruochun. "I¡¯ve already saved you, what¡¯s the use of saying this now? If you had said this before, I¡¯d probably be eating skewers by now."


    It goes without saying, Wen Qiao had an exceptional ability to infuriate Lin Ruochun.


    Sure enough, after Wen Qiao made that comment, Lin Ruochun¡¯s anger surged to a peak, "Wen Qiao!"


    "....."


    Song Qian, startled by her shout, immediately jumped in as the peacemaker, "Ladies, let¡¯s not fight. When we¡¯re not busy, I¡¯ll treat you both to skewers!"


    "Really?"


    At this, Wen Qiao perked up, looking at Song Qian with a cheerful face.


    Her head wrapped tightly in a white towel, only her face showing, she resembled No-Face from Spirited Away.


    Song Qian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, raising his hand to pat her head. "Really, you both have night scenes the next two days. Once you¡¯re free, shall we go?"


    Wen Qiao raised both hands in agreement, "Sounds great."


    As her words dropped, she felt a chill on her back and shivered involuntarily. Turning around, she saw the elevator doors at the lobby slowly closing, catching a glimpse of a bright light reflecting inside the elevator. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What are you looking at?" Following Wen Qiao¡¯s gaze, Song Qian only saw the tightly closed elevator doors.


    Wen Qiao shook her head, "Nothing."


    How come she felt the watch worn by that person in the elevator looked a bit familiar?


    "Lin...." Song Qian looked toward Lin Ruochun, seeming to ponder how to address her, then skipped the formality and directly asked, "Are you going?"


    "I am!" Lin Ruochun answered resoundingly, "Of course I¡¯m going."


    She wanted to see just what charm those skewers possessed that had Wen Qiao so enchanted.


    -


    The three of them didn¡¯t stand in the lobby for long. After taking the elevator up to the floor where their drama group was staying, they each returned to their respective rooms.

 Chapter 103 - 102: Undressing

    Chapter 103: Chapter 102: UndressingWen Qiao swiped her card to open the door, suddenly sneezed, and rubbed her nose as she weakly made her way toward the bathroom.


    She felt like she was coming down with a cold.


    "Where have you been?"


    A male voice suddenly came from behind her, startling Wen Qiao so much that she froze on the spot.


    Then she realized why the voice sounded so familiar and bravely looked behind her.


    The man had broad shoulders, his hair was meticulously groomed, and the black suit made him look exceptionally noble and imposing.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes widened as she walked toward the man in a towel, "How did you get here?"


    Her voice was full of surprise and disbelief, but seemingly without any joy.


    Fu Jinghen put down the magazine he was holding, looked up at her, and frowned, "What happened to you?"


    He had caught a glimpse of her in the lobby downstairs and thought she had just come out of a bath wrapped in a towel, but now, seeing her clothes wet and clinging to her body, her lips slightly pale, she looked more like she had just climbed out of a river.


    He stood up, took off his suit jacket, grabbed Wen Qiao¡¯s wrist, and walked her to the bathroom without her turning back, still shocked by his sudden appearance in her room.


    Fu Jinghen led her into the bathroom and turned on the tap; soon, the sound of running water filled the room.


    He rolled up his shirt sleeves and tested the water temperature.


    The warm yellow light in the bathroom fell on the man, softening the lines of his face more than usual, as he crouched in front of the bathtub, his shirt sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing a section of his forearm.


    Wen Qiao leaned against the wash basin, enjoying the pleasant view in front of her.


    Indeed, good-looking people look good no matter what they do.


    "You haven¡¯t told me yet," Wen Qiao asked again, "Why did you come?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen paused momentarily, then countered with a question that was unlike his usual style, "Didn¡¯t you just send me a message saying it would be nice if I were here? What, you¡¯re not welcoming me now?"


    "No way! How could I!" Wen Qiao¡¯s emotions surged, her fervor almost like raising a fist in oath, "President Fu, how can you think that! Every day I hope against hope for your arrival, how can you say I¡¯m not welcoming you."


    ...


    The sound of water stopped, and Fu Jinghen stood up, the bathroom light mostly blocked by his body; Wen Qiao involuntarily looked up at him.


    "Take off your clothes."


    "...Huh?" Wen Qiao was confused.


    "Or do you want to bathe with your clothes on?"


    "Ah, no, no." Wen Qiao shook her head, took off the towel wrapped around her, and then, looking at Fu Jinghen still standing in front of her, tentatively asked, "President Fu, you¡¯re still standing here... do you want to join me?"


    ...


    The response was the man turning around to leave and the sound of the bathroom door locking.


    After Wen Qiao finished her bath, she suddenly remembered something¡ª


    She had been led to the bathroom by Fu Jinghen, so she! Forgot! To! Take! Her! Pajamas!


    And there were! No! Towels! In the bathroom!


    Although the production crew¡¯s accommodations were quite good, they were just staying in regular rooms, not suites, and just outside the bathroom was a small sitting area; going out there bare...


    That still wouldn¡¯t be quite right.


    After standing dumbfounded for half a minute, Wen Qiao resigned herself to the situation, cracked the bathroom door open slightly, poked her round head out, and called out, "President Fu?"

 Chapter 104 - 103: Blow for Me

    Chapter 104: Chapter 103: Blow for Me"...."


    "Fu Jinghen?"


    Footsteps echoed in the room, and soon, Fu Jinghen appeared before her.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by the situation, Wen Qiao¡¯s voice grew weaker, "I forgot to bring my clothes....."


    Fu Jinghen glanced down at her, as she was leaning sideways, revealing part of her shoulder, while droplets from the tips of her hair fell onto the floor from her pale and round shoulder.


    However, Wen Qiao misinterpreted his look and hurriedly explained, "I¡¯m not trying to seduce you, it¡¯s because you brought me to the bathroom that I forgot my clothes! Don¡¯t get the wrong idea! If you want to blame someone, blame yourself!"


    Seeing her flustered appearance, Fu Jinghen was actually much calmer, "I wasn¡¯t thinking anything."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Well played.


    She was completely blocked by that response.


    "Go get my clothes quickly!" Wen Qiao was angry, "Are you trying to freeze me to death so you can marry another woman?"


    Fu Jinghen also realized the current situation wasn¡¯t suitable for chatting, asked where her clothes were, and went to the bedroom to fetch them.


    When Wen Qiao came out of the bathroom dressed, Fu Jinghen had already returned to sitting on the sofa, and upon seeing her, he pointed to the dining table, "Go drink the ginger soup."


    Following his pointing, Wen Qiao looked over and saw a cup of brown liquid waiting for her to drink.


    Looking at the color, Wen Qiao felt an aversion, "I think I can go without drinking it. It¡¯s no big deal, plus it¡¯s the middle of summer, the water isn¡¯t that cold."


    As if contradicting her on purpose, she sneezed a ground-shaking sneeze right after saying those words.


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen gave her a silent questioning glance.


    Fine.


    She took back her previous words.


    Wen Qiao resignedly walked over and only then did she notice a small pack of White Rabbit Creamy Candy next to the cup. She paused, then turned to glance at the man on the sofa.


    Fu Jinghen was still holding the magazine he was interested in before, his long fingers pinching one of its pages, making a noise as the paper turned.


    Wen Qiao withdrew her gaze, pinched her nose, closed her eyes tightly, and gulped down the ginger soup in two or three drafts.


    After drinking, she stuck out her tongue and quickly unwrapped a candy and popped it into her mouth. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The sweetness of the candy masked the spiciness of the ginger soup, and Wen Qiao¡¯s scrunched-up face gradually relaxed.


    Water droplets from her hair fell onto her hand, and Wen Qiao glanced sideways, then casually walked up behind Fu Jinghen, stood on tiptoes, leaned forward slightly, and let the water from her hair drip onto his hand, then she asked seemingly nonchalantly, "What are you reading?"


    Fu Jinghen looked up and saw her hair was still wet, "Go and dry your hair."


    "It¡¯s fine, no need to dry it, it¡¯ll dry on its own in this weather."


    Fu Jinghen frowned at her, seemingly disapproving of her words.


    Wen Qiao muttered softly, "I¡¯ve told you before I don¡¯t like to blow-dry my hair, and you¡¯re still pushing me... that¡¯s a bit inconsiderate."


    Fu Jinghen looked somewhat helpless, "Then what do you want to do?"


    She took the bait.


    Wen Qiao stifled a rising smile, blinked at him, "How about you dry it for me?"


    She deliberately softened her voice, adding a hint of coquetry.


    Fu Jinghen stared at her for a few seconds, then suddenly understood something, chuckled softly, "Wen Qiao, why beat around the bush."


    "...."


    After her little scheme was uncovered, it was embarrassing to say the least.

 Chapter 105 - 104: He is a Fortunate One

    Chapter 105: Chapter 104: He is a Fortunate OneBut Wen Qiao was best at turning unfavorable situations into favorable ones for herself.


    After Fu Jinghen had finished speaking, she put on a pitiful expression, "I was afraid you¡¯d refuse if I asked directly for you to dry my hair. Although I¡¯m pursuing you now, I¡¯m also a girl with thin skin, and I don¡¯t want to be rejected."


    "I message you every day to make you like me, asking about your day, scrounging up all sorts of delicacies, and now I have to wrack my brain just to have you dry my hair."


    As she spoke, she even sighed heavily, her shoulders drooping, looking completely deflated.


    "How could there be such a pitiful fianc¨¦e like me, caught to work less than a week after getting engaged, living far from her fianc¨¦, everyday worrying about him being snatched away by someone else, and after all the effort of chasing him, not getting any response."


    Fu Jinghen felt that if he didn¡¯t agree to dry her hair, she could nag him all evening.


    Pinching the bridge of his nose, he stood up and walked towards the bathroom to get the hairdryer and plug it in.


    "Come here."


    "Okay."


    Wen Qiao hurried over and stood in front of Fu Jinghen.


    The humming of the hairdryer filled the room, and the warm air enveloped Wen Qiao, making her slightly drowsy.


    The man¡¯s slightly rough fingertips occasionally brushed against her cheek, bringing a tickling sensation.


    Their figures reflected in the bathroom mirror, one tall and one short, one rigid and one soft, particularly harmonious.


    Wen Qiao squinted, enjoying the sight in the mirror: the man bent over, his expression serious. Fu Jinghen was probably drying hair for the first time, his movements still somewhat stiff and awkward, even accidentally catching her hair, causing her to hiss in pain.


    "Ouch, you¡¯re going to pull out all my hair."


    Wen Qiao cried out instinctively, and her head involuntarily leaned towards Fu Jinghen.


    "Sorry."


    Fu Jinghen, inexperienced, stared at Wen Qiao¡¯s long hair and frowned slightly.


    "Never mind, since it¡¯s your first time drying a girl¡¯s hair, I won¡¯t hold it against you." Wen Qiao waved her hand generously, then remembered something and said, "Old people say, a woman¡¯s hair should only be touched by one man in her entire lifetime, so you have to take responsibility for me, you can only dry my hair from now on."


    Such a young age, yet so bossy.


    "Which old person?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    "?"


    Was that the focus?


    Shouldn¡¯t the focus be on the latter part of her statement? Why was he only concerned about the first three words?


    And she had just read it online; how was she supposed to know which old person said it?


    Facing the curious face of Fu Jinghen in the mirror, Wen Qiao was speechless, "President Fu, is that really the point?"


    "Hmm, I¡¯m quite curious." Fu Jinghen gently combed her hair with his fingers, turning the hairdryer to a lower setting to hear Wen Qiao¡¯s words more clearly. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Curious your head!


    Wen Qiao closed her eyes and squeezed a few words between her teeth, "My grandma said it, okay?"


    "....." Seeing that pursuing further would make Wen Qiao¡¯s little volcano erupt, Fu Jinghen wisely chose not to continue, nodding, "Okay."


    "......"


    Wen Qiao thought if it weren¡¯t for Fu Jinghen¡¯s handsome face, she might have thrown him out by now.


    Due to Fu Jinghen¡¯s questioning just now, Wen Qiao felt a bit weary, and she quieted down for a while.

 Chapter 106 - 105: I Never Believe Online Rumors

    Chapter 106: Chapter 105: I Never Believe Online RumorsBut it only lasted a moment.


    A few minutes later, Wen Qiao leaned back her head, bumping against Fu Jinghen¡¯s shoulder. Then she pointed towards the image in the mirror, tilting her head slightly, "Take a look, we look so well-matched standing together."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the mirror and didn¡¯t speak, but he didn¡¯t deny it either.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t mind. She recalled an unanswered question from before and asked again, "You still haven¡¯t told me, how did you come here?"


    What an incessant curiosity.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s fingers threaded through Wen Qiao¡¯s hair, flicking his wrist so the warm air could reach the inner layers of her hair.


    The young girl¡¯s hair was fine and soft, a sign of good fortune. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He replied, "I had some business around here."


    "Oh," Wen Qiao nodded, "So you just happened to stop by to see me..."


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t respond, knowing from his understanding of Wen Qiao, what she was about to say was the real point.


    "I thought you came because you saw the rumors online and were worried I might be upset. But now, it seems I¡¯ve been wishful thinking again."


    With her hair dry, Fu Jinghen turned off the hairdryer and took another look in the mirror. Wen Qiao was pouting, her displeasure written all over her face.


    Fu Jinghen shifted his gaze away and unplugged the hairdryer, his voice indifferent, "I have never believed those rumors online."


    "Uh..."


    His arm was resting on the cabinet where the hairdryer was placed. Wen Qiao darted into the space between him and the cabinet, making it look as if Fu Jinghen had enveloped her in his embrace.


    "Not believing the rumors online..." Wen Qiao drew out her words, repeating what Fu Jinghen had said, then blinked, "Does that mean I can interpret it as you trusting me, and that¡¯s why you don¡¯t believe those rumors?"


    Fu Jinghen looked down at her. The small woman¡¯s height barely reached his chin. At this moment, she was looking up at him, her eyes collecting the bathroom light, exceptionally bright, as if she wanted to draw in anyone who met her gaze into a pool of clear spring water.


    "Sure," Fu Jinghen lowered the arm he had on the cabinet, releasing Wen Qiao from his "enclosure," and casually averted his eyes, "Even without me, given your previous taste, it¡¯s impossible you would fancy someone old enough to be your father."


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    What do you mean even without you?


    So you think you¡¯re the unsurpassable peak for me, huh?


    "Heh," Wen Qiao chuckled dryly, "President Fu, you really are full of yourself."


    He realized that Wen Qiao seemed to particularly favor the scent of roses; her shampoo, body wash, and even perfume carried the fragrance of roses.


    When Fu Jinghen went to get her pajamas from the bedroom, upon opening the closet, he was greeted by a burst of rose fragrance that was refreshing and not at all cloying.


    Having dried her hair, Fu Jinghen¡¯s body had also picked up a bit of her shampoo¡¯s scent. Wen Qiao caught the smell of roses on his shirt. She moved closer, resting her head on his shoulder and taking a deep breath, her voice slightly surprised, "Fu Jinghen, you smell like my shampoo."


    As she spoke, she sniffed again, "And mixed with your scent, it¡¯s actually quite nice."


    Fu Jinghen had a fir scent mixed with a hint of tobacco. Wen Qiao didn¡¯t usually like smokers, but she unexpectedly didn¡¯t mind the smell of smoke on Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen extended a finger emotionlessly against her forehead, creating some distance between them, and brought the conversation back to a serious note, "I might not believe the rumors, but that doesn¡¯t mean other people will trust you

 Chapter 107 - 106: Mr. Fu

    Chapter 107: Chapter 106: Mr. Fu"If you¡¯ve chosen this circle, you should understand the rules of survival within it."


    "You might have felt relief after hitting someone, but it has also brought you a fair amount of trouble, a consequence of your impulsiveness. No one can always be there to clean up your mess in time. I am your fianc¨¦ and will be your husband in the future, you can rely on me, that¡¯s not an issue, but you can¡¯t stay immature forever. Do you understand?"


    As Fu Jinghen spoke, Wen Qiao¡¯s flailing arms gradually stilled with each sentence.


    She was not a naive and foolish girl who acted only for her own happiness without considering the consequences.


    Each and every experience she now faced was a first in her life and would become her unique life experiences.


    After entering the world of the book, she officially embarked on her journey in the entertainment industry. Although she knew that this circle was not as glamorous as it appeared on the surface, her passion for acting filled her with love, which somewhat beautified or temporarily made her forget the darker aspects.


    In her previous world, aside from the early death of her parents, her life had been smooth sailing. Her older family members protected her well. Coming here inadvertently, relying on her understanding of Fu Jinghen¡¯s character, she was confident that he would never neglect his fianc¨¦e. Subconsciously, she felt reassured, thinking that whatever she did, he would clean up her messes, which indeed he had.


    But, Fu Jinghen¡¯s recent words were like a wake-up call for her.


    Indeed, after the death of her parents, her family loved her even more, paving a smooth path for her and clearing all obstacles. While she felt that her family interfered too much and didn¡¯t leave her room to grow, which made her somewhat disgruntled, she still took it for granted.


    But now, thinking back, could she really manage if they truly let her go and make her own way?


    The answer was clearly no, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have caused the incident with Luo Bin.


    "I know I was wrong, I was too impulsive and didn¡¯t think of the consequences, it won¡¯t happen again."


    Wealthy as she might be, Wen Qiao lacked the bad tendencies usually associated with children of wealth; she was willing to admit her mistakes and learn, so after being scolded by Fu Jinghen, she felt more embarrassed than angry.


    When she made a mistake, it was indeed a mistake. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing her sincere expression, Fu Jinghen knew she had taken his words to heart. Just as he was about to retract his hand, the young girl in front of him blinked at him.


    "However..." Wen Qiao paused, recalling the first thing Fu Jinghen had said, smiling like a sly little fox, "Did you just say you would trust me unconditionally?"


    "..."


    Although she knew his unconditional trust was based on the fact that she was his fianc¨¦e, Wen Qiao still felt inexplicably happy.


    She swayed slightly, dodging Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand on her forehead, and threw herself into his arms, softly wrapping her arms around his waist.


    "You¡¯re really a life coach." Wen Qiao thought for a moment and threw out a title: "Mr. Fu."


    The unique fragrance of a woman, mixed with the fresh sweetness of a shower, momentarily stunned Fu Jinghen.


    At that moment, the doorbell rang. Wen Qiao lifted her head, patted Fu Jinghen¡¯s back twice, and said, "I¡¯ll get the door!"


    With that, she quickly left.


    Although the hotel bathroom was not spacious, it wasn¡¯t cramped either. But once Wen Qiao left, Fu Jinghen inexplicably sighed in relief, feeling as though the bathroom space had suddenly expanded quite a

 Chapter 108 - 107: Am I Unsightly to Others?

    Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Am I Unsightly to Others?The lingering tingling sensation on his neck seemed to remind him of the scene where the woman¡¯s breath had just touched it.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s brows puckered slightly as he raised his hand to touch it, his fingertips, slightly cool, covered the tingling spot.


    -


    "I ordered two ginger cokes; I¡¯ve just delivered one to Princess Lin, and this one is for you."


    Song Qian stood at the door, handing over the plastic bag he was carrying.


    "Ah..." Wen Qiao was momentarily stunned, "You didn¡¯t have to go through all the trouble, I¡¯ve already¡ª"


    "It¡¯s no trouble, just on the way," Song Qian interrupted her. "You¡¯re one of the main pillars of our crew, if you get sick,"


    "It will delay the filming progress," Wen Qiao smoothly continued his sentence.


    Sometimes, compared to Director Zhang and Deputy Director Song, Wen Qiao felt that Song Qian was more like a director who poured his heart and soul into the crew, always worried that someone might cause a delay in filming. Despite being only in his twenties, he seemed to have endless worries every day.


    Since he had already bought it, and it was a thoughtful gesture, she might as well drink another bowl.


    "Since Deputy Director Song is so considerate, I¡¯ll accept it." Wen Qiao took it, joking with a smile, "Your future girlfriend will surely be very lucky."


    Song Qian scratched his head, embarrassed: "You should drink it quickly; I¡¯m heading back now."


    The incident with Luo Bin had just come to an end, and it would be problematic if anything else happened. Song Qian was tactful, and Wen Qiao understood this as well. She nodded, "Bye, see you tomorrow, Deputy Director Song."


    "See you tomorrow." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    When Fu Jinghen came out of the bathroom, he happened to hear the woman¡¯s crisp voice saying "see you tomorrow," followed by a male voice at the door, returning the same farewell.


    After Wen Qiao closed the door and turned around, she was startled to see a man standing behind her, her heart leaping to her throat. Only after realizing that Fu Jinghen was the only man in the room did her breathing settle.


    "Why don¡¯t you make any noise when you walk?" Wen Qiao complained.


    Having been startled by him twice in one night, Wen Qiao felt she was becoming jumpy.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at Wen Qiao, who was patting her chest to calm herself, then looked past her towards the door. "Who was just here?"


    "Song Qian." Wen Qiao placed the ginger coke she was holding onto the table, opened the lid, and steam wafted out. She suddenly let out a small yelp.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s brow twitched, he walked over, concern barely noticeable in his tone, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    He thought Wen Qiao had scalded herself, but she just blinked dumbly a few times, the urgency in her voice was a hundredfold more than his: "When did you get here just now? Did he see you? Ahh, when someone knocks on the door, don¡¯t you know to hide? If someone saw, what could¡¯ I do? I¡¯ve just escaped the shadow of Luo Bin..."


    Before him was the anxious figure of the little woman, gesturing wildly, chattering away; as Fu Jinghen heard her last sentence, his voice had already sunk, he looked at her expressionlessly, "Are you comparing me to Luo Bin?"


    "Ah..." Wen Qiao realized she might have said the wrong thing, covered her mouth, and shook her head, "No, I didn¡¯t mean that."


    Fu Jinghen pressed, "Am I not fit to be seen?"


    "No, no," Wen Qiao shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum: "Isn¡¯t our relationship supposed to be kept secret? If someone saw, it¡¯d be hard to explain."


    Fu Jinghen gave her a deep look, said nothing, then turned his gaze to the bowl on the table with steam rising from the dark contents and asked, "What¡¯s this?"

 Chapter 109 - 108: What鈥檚 the Benefit?

    Chapter 109: Chapter 108: What¡¯s the Benefit?"Ginger coke, Song Qian brought it over because he was afraid I¡¯d catch a cold along with Lin Ruochun," Wen Qiao leaned in to sniff the bowl, the pungent, spicy scent of ginger neutralized by the soda, it wasn¡¯t unpleasant to smell after all.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s mind involuntarily conjured up the scene he had witnessed downstairs upon his arrival, the trio standing in the lobby, chatting and laughing. However, it was quite clear that Song Qian stood closer to Wen Qiao, and their interaction seemed more intimate.


    "Lin Ruochun?" asked Fu Jinghen.


    "Yeah, I went out to buy some barbecue earlier, and then I happened across her falling into the lake. Struck by a bout of benevolence, I fished her out," Wen Qiao lifted her chin, seeking praise with an air of expectancy, "What do you think, aren¡¯t I quite the hero, overlooking past grievances?"


    "...Uh-huh."


    But what concerned Fu Jinghen more was another matter, "The drowning, was it related to you?"


    "How did you know?" Wen Qiao was startled; she hadn¡¯t gone into much detail about the incident, how could Fu Jinghen have known? sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Just a guess." Seeing that her attention was fixed on him, Fu Jinghen subtly moved his fingers and pushed the dark concoction on the table a little further away without a sound.


    Strangely, the sight of the bowl annoyed him.


    It was quite foul-smelling, too.


    "What happened?" he inquired again.


    "I don¡¯t know either." Wen Qiao was equally puzzled about the incident, "Lin Ruochun said that I sent her a text at noon, telling her to meet me at the riverbank in the evening. But I was filming all afternoon and didn¡¯t have a moment to touch my phone. Yet, she recited my phone¡¯s last digit perfectly, then she went, and after that, her phone was stolen, and when I saw her next, she was dropping into the lake."


    "Hefty guts," Fu Jinghen sized her up and down, his gaze lingering for a two-second pause on her fair and slender, crossed legs. After noting that there were no apparent scrapes or bruises on her, he looked away, "The phone?"


    "Ah..." Wen Qiao let out a small exclamation of surprise, slightly guiltily touching her nose, "If nothing went wrong, its remains should still be in the lake."


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    "What¡¯s up?" Wen Qiao reached out and lightly scratched the palm of Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand, "Is Brother Jinghen planning to personally take action to resolve this for me?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and he retorted with raised eyebrows, "If I help you, what¡¯s in it for me?"


    "Wow, really, President Fu?" Wen Qiao was taken aback, "You want a reward for such a small favor?"


    "Or you expect me to work for free?"


    "Fine then." Wen Qiao volleyed back, "What reward do you want?"


    The incident obviously had someone¡¯s fingerprints all over it, and most likely, it was Jiang Wei¡¯s handiwork. After all, if Lin Ruochun really drowned, she would be the prime suspect since the text inviting her to the riverbank came from Wen Qiao¡¯s phone number.


    Should the filming for "Red Makeup" be unable to continue, not to mention the identity of the prospective Fu Family daughter-in-law being jeopardized.


    And all this would be most advantageous to Jiang Wei.


    However, investigating this matter was neither particularly difficult nor easy, but Wen Qiao was preoccupied with filming and only had Jiang Yao, her agent, by her side, lacking even an assistant. With insufficient time and manpower, she might as well leave it to Fu Jinghen.


    After all, for him, this was a piece of cake.


    Besides, isn¡¯t the bother between people what breeds affection? With such a useful tool at her disposal, Wen Qiao would be foolish not to take advantage.


    After pondering for a few seconds, Wen Qiao still chose to share her speculation with Fu Jinghen, "If it turns out in the end that it was indeed Jiang Wei¡¯s doing, you wouldn¡¯t shield her just because you grew up together as childhood friends, right?"

 Chapter 110 - 109: Help Me Solve It

    Chapter 110: Chapter 109: Help Me Solve ItFu Jinghen glanced at her, "Who told you that Jiang Wei and I grew up together as childhood friends?"


    "Eh? Isn¡¯t that so?"


    The original story is written like this, isn¡¯t it? Jiang Wei and Fu Jinghen have known each other since they were sixteen or seventeen, that¡¯s about ten years now. Doesn¡¯t that count as childhood friends?


    Fu Jinghen was silent, not wishing to say more.


    Wen Qiao pouted, her peripheral vision catching sight of the bowl of ginger coke, "Huh," she exclaimed, "How did it get over there?"


    As she spoke, she moved to bring the bowl of ginger coke over.


    Upon seeing this, Fu Jinghen stopped his action of adjusting his tie and said in a cold tone, "Don¡¯t drink it."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hand had just touched the edge of the bowl when she looked at Fu Jinghen confusedly, "Why?"


    "Ginger dispels dampness and drives away the cold, but mixing it with coke significantly reduces the effect," Fu Jinghen glanced at her indifferently, "Plus, coke can cause weight gain. As a female celebrity, shouldn¡¯t you control your weight? Don¡¯t you have any self-discipline?"


    "Moreover, you¡¯ve just had a bowl of ginger soup. There¡¯s no need for a second one." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    Wen Qiao choked up; Fu Jinghen was questioning her professionalism.


    "Still going to drink it?" he asked.


    "No! I¡¯m! Not!" Wen Qiao stomped her foot and turned around. In that moment, she saw Fu Jinghen untying his tie, his hands with distinct knuckles tugging at it.


    She raised her eyebrows, stopped in her tracks, and leaned on the edge of the table, watching Fu Jinghen without blinking.


    Sensing Wen Qiao¡¯s gaze, Fu Jinghen turned his head to glance at her, his eyes signaling ¡¯what¡¯s wrong?¡¯


    "It¡¯s nothing," Wen Qiao drawled, "I just thought your way of untying your tie was quite sexy. Allow me to admire it for a bit."


    "..."


    Initially, she thought Fu Jinghen would ignore her remark as usual. But to her surprise, after a two-second pause, Fu Jinghen walked over to her, stood in front of her, let his hands hang down, grabbed her wrist and placed her hand on his tie: "How about you untie it for me?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s tone rose slightly at the end, his thumb rubbing against the back of her hand, carrying a hint of seduction.


    Wen Qiao looked at their overlapping hands, raised her head, and unexpectedly collided with Fu Jinghen¡¯s dark, deep eyes. In them, her own figure was reflected.


    She watched as Fu Jinghen slowly leaned down, the distance between them growing shorter, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw him place his hands on the table behind her, encircling her between his arms and the table.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s heart suddenly "thumped," skipping a beat. She steadied herself and curved her lips: "Well, since President Fu has extended such a gracious invitation, how could I refuse?"


    She slowed her breathing and raised her other hand as well, both hands coming together to help Fu Jinghen untie his tie.


    The man¡¯s gaze was too intense, as if it could see directly into the depths of her soul. Even though Wen Qiao focused all her attention on the tie at hand, she could still feel Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes upon her.


    Normally, untying a tie would just take a blink of an eye, but for some reason, Wen Qiao felt somewhat flustered and her hands became clumsy.


    She closed her eyes, slowed her breathing, and tried to suppress the overly active little heart in the left side of her chest.


    Her movements sped up, and in a moment, the tie came off, and even the top button of the shirt was undone.


    "Done," Wen Qiao patted Fu Jinghen¡¯s shoulder: "I even helped you undo a button on the house, don¡¯t thank me too much."


    Without waiting for Fu Jinghen to speak, Wen Qiao turned to leave first.


    "Wen Qiao."


    The man¡¯s deep voice came, making Wen Qiao¡¯s steps subconsciously halt. Before she could ask what¡¯s the matter, she heard him again: "Untying a tie, what¡¯s there to be nervous about?"

 Chapter 111 - 110: Is it Annoying How I Keep Pestering You?

    Chapter 111: Chapter 110: Is it Annoying How I Keep Pestering You?"Who, who¡¯s nervous!" Wen Qiao¡¯s voice rose, "Nonsense."


    "You...."


    "What about you, you¡¯d better go take a shower and go to bed early, so you can leave early tomorrow. I still have to film, don¡¯t hold me back from being diligent."


    Wen Qiao cut off what Fu Jinghen was about to say, turned around, feigned composure, and smiled at Fu Jinghen, "Is that okay with you, President Fu?"


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen was silent for a second, "Okay." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After getting the man¡¯s response, Wen Qiao nodded, turned around, and walked toward the bedroom, looking as usual, but her quickened pace somewhat betrayed her.


    Once she entered the bedroom and escaped the view of Fu Jinghen, Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulders sagged.


    Damn.


    This man was seducing her!


    Luckily her willpower was strong; otherwise, if she tainted Fu Jinghen¡¯s innocence, she¡¯d have to take responsibility.


    Wen Qiao walked briskly to the window, parted the curtains slightly, and pressed her face against the small opening to cool down.


    Outside the bedroom, Fu Jinghen saw Wen Qiao¡¯s figure disappear, then he lowered his gaze to the tie stuffed into his hand and curved his lips into a smirk.


    After calming down by the window for a while, Wen Qiao quickly realized that she was supposed to be the one seducing Fu Jinghen. How could she let him counter-flirt?


    No, that won¡¯t do.


    Thinking of herself, Wen Qiao, who had roamed the field of love, she couldn¡¯t be defeated by an old man who had never been in a relationship.


    With this thought, Wen Qiao adjusted her mood, opened the door, and prepared to regain the upper hand, full of fighting spirit.


    But as soon as she opened the door, she saw Fu Jinghen sitting back on the sofa, holding the magazine from earlier, casually flipping through it.


    "Aren¡¯t you going to take a shower and sleep?"


    Fu Jinghen looked up at her when he heard the sound, "Who said I was staying here?"


    "If you¡¯re not staying here, then what was the point of having me untie your tie just now?"


    As soon as the words came out, Wen Qiao immediately regretted asking the question, because she felt like she saw the words "Just playing with you" written brightly across Fu Jinghen¡¯s face.


    "......"


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject, "Then where are you staying?"


    "Upstairs."


    Upstairs?


    The rooms upstairs had the same layout as theirs, and it¡¯s not like they haven¡¯t shared a bed before; there was no need to be so prudish as to book another room. If Fu Jinghen really booked a room above hers then he truly had money to burn.


    But, the top floor of Yingcheng Hotel was the presidential suite, right?


    If so, then it did fit with Fu Jinghen¡¯s domineering CEO persona, after all, even with the generous conditions of the "Red Makeup" production team, it didn¡¯t extend to providing presidential suites for every actor.


    Plus, Wen Qiao heard there was a bar on the top floor only open to members.


    She heard they had a lot of good liquor.


    It would be a shame not to take advantage of it.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes twirled around, then she playfully flopped down beside Fu Jinghen, batting her eyelashes at him, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, President Fu, you booked the top floor suite, didn¡¯t you?"


    Fu Jinghen looked at Wen Qiao who was leaning on his arm and acting like an innocent little rabbit, after she had taken a shower, she had changed into conservative T-shirt shorts with a SpongeBob pattern on them. Yet, the material for summer sleepwear is so thin, the thin fabric between their skins was hardly a barrier.


    Fu Jinghen, who had been lazily sitting on the sofa, tensed up slightly and gave a faint "Hmm" in acknowledgement.


    Sure enough, hearing his confirmation, Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up, "Then let¡¯s hurry up and go?"

 Chapter 112 - 111: As Long as You鈥檙e Happy

    Chapter 112: Chapter 111: As Long as You¡¯re Happy"Where are we going?"


    "Upstairs. Since you don¡¯t sleep here, why should I? Or is it that you don¡¯t want to take me there?" As this thought crossed her mind, Wen Qiao¡¯s lips puckered, her eyebrows drooped, and her mood instantly wilted. "No wonder you didn¡¯t tell me you booked a room upstairs. You never planned to bring me along."


    "It¡¯s not like that..."


    "Enough, don¡¯t say anymore. I know you don¡¯t like me. I¡¯m so clingy¡ªannoying, right? Back at home, you only slept with me because you had no choice, and today, out of humanitarian spirit, you came to check on me. There¡¯s no way you¡¯d want to squeeze into this little crummy bed with me."


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao straightened up from leaning on Fu Jinghen¡¯s arm, her head drooping, her shoulders shrugging pathetically.


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    Not this again.


    He simply didn¡¯t want to sleep in a bed that other women had slept in, found it too troublesome to change bedsheets late at night, and considering all the crew members were on this floor, it wouldn¡¯t be convenient when he left in the morning. Besides, he was not comfortable with the uninviting bed in Wen Qiao¡¯s room, hence he booked a suite upstairs.


    But looking at the little woman beside him, who hadn¡¯t heard a word yet was already oozing thick layers of grievances and sadness, Fu Jinghen felt both helpless and amused.


    He stood up, reached for his suit jacket draped over the back of the sofa, "Let¡¯s go then."


    "I knew you couldn¡¯t bear to leave me alone in this room." Wen Qiao suddenly lifted her head and broke into a sweet smile, performing a dramatic change of expressions as if in a Sichuan opera for Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    Although he knew she was pretending, Fu Jinghen felt somewhat powerless against her.


    "Wait for me, okay? I need to fix myself up a bit."


    "Okay."


    Wen Qiao scrambled off the sofa, in a rush she slipped into her slippers, but inadvertently, her right foot kicked the left slipper far away¡ªit hit a nearby table corner and then bounced back some, spinning between her and the corner. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seemingly not expecting such a scenario, Wen Qiao looked at her slipper flying off, then down at her curled toes, and finally, turned her head dazedly towards Fu Jinghen, "Fu Jinghen, my slipper flew away."


    Just as she spoke, she suddenly heard a deep, magnetic chuckle behind her. Since he was close, it surrounded Wen Qiao¡¯s ears like a bass sound from a subwoofer.


    She paused for a moment, then turned to look.


    The smile on Fu Jinghen¡¯s face had not faded, and he didn¡¯t seem inclined to conceal it. When Wen Qiao turned towards him, he didn¡¯t hide his amusement.


    Wen Qiao surprisingly noticed a dimple on Fu Jinghen¡¯s cheek that wasn¡¯t very prominent; it showed faintly when he smiled.


    The usually stern lines of his face softened with his smile, his narrow eyes harboring a slight mirth, and the top button of his shirt, usually fastened, was now undone, revealing a hint of collarbone. Having lounged on the sofa for a while, his shirt wasn¡¯t as crisp as usual, loosely fitting him, and exuded a casual air, making him resemble a somewhat frivolous aristocrat.


    There it was again¡ª"thump."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s recently calmed heart throbbed anew.


    Whimpering internally.


    She truly adored this man who could oscillate between being unapproachable and a charming scoundrel.


    But this incident of kicking her own slipper away...

 Chapter 113 - 112: You Should Be Glad You Didn鈥檛 Give Him a Heart Attack

    Chapter 113: Chapter 112: You Should Be Glad You Didn¡¯t Give Him a Heart AttackWen Qiao lowered her head and glanced at her feet, huddled together.


    With a sigh of resignation.


    Let it fly away then.


    After all, it wasn¡¯t the first time she¡¯d flung a shoe in front of Fu Jinghen.


    She then intended to maintain her stance, akin to a one-legged golden rooster, and hop over to slip on the other shoe, but before she could move, her wrist was grabbed.


    "Stay put."


    Fu Jinghen casually tossed aside his suit jacket and walked over, hooking the tip of his index finger under the flip-flop that Wen Qiao had kicked away, then bent down to place it under her foot: "Put it on."


    "Oh."


    Wen Qiao slipped her foot into the flip-flop and swiftly left the scene of the incident.


    If she didn¡¯t leave soon, she was afraid Fu Jinghen would hear her increasingly agitated heartbeat.


    Watching the somewhat panicked departure of "SpongeBob," the man reminded her, "Slow down, no rush."


    The elevator levels kept jumping upwards, and once the elevator doors closed, a transparent mirror surfaced. Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t help but ask after his attention had been kidnapped by the yellow figure behind him for who knows how many times, "Is this what you call a disguise?"


    "Yep." Wen Qiao tilted her head and looked past him at herself in the mirror: "Is there anything wrong with it?"


    Fu Jinghen turned to look at Wen Qiao, who was wearing a SpongeBob robe, a Pikachu hat on her head, squeezing handles that hung in front of her chest, causing one of Pikachu¡¯s ears to perk up when pinched, and also wearing a plain black mask that only revealed her peach blossom-shaped eyes. He was somewhat speechless.


    .....


    He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on what exactly was wrong.


    "As long as you¡¯re happy."


    With a "ding," the elevator stopped on the seventh floor. Fu Jinghen was pulled back from his thoughts and stepped aside, blocking the jumble of yellow behind him.


    The elevator doors slowly opened, and Qin Xiang¡¯s face, often wearing a frivolous smile, appeared outside.


    "Eh? Old Fu, you¡¯re not in your room?"


    Fu Jinghen, seeing it was him, relaxed a bit. Although he didn¡¯t answer his question, his expression clearly read, "Isn¡¯t that obvious? If I were in my room, would you be seeing me here?"


    Qin Xiang: "....."


    Okay.


    He should not have asked.


    Qin Xiang stepped into the elevator and stood next to Fu Jinghen, chattering non-stop: "Really, I don¡¯t know why you¡¯d personally come for a small company¡¯s merger. If not for the abundance of beauties in the film studio city, I wouldn¡¯t bother. The half-day drive is exhausting."


    "...."


    "Zhang Yan and the others have opened a private room on the seventh floor, and they¡¯ve invited many minor celebrities, all quite attractive. I just came back from there and was about to fetch you." Saying this, Qin Xiang elbowed Fu Jinghen, "Wanna go take a look?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced at him sidelong and subtly increased the distance between them, his tone indifferent: "No thanks."


    "Don¡¯t be like that, go take a look for my sake?" Qin Xiang urged, "You say you won¡¯t check out the beauties, yet you go out of your way to stay at this hotel, halfway across Hang City, for what?"


    "How about I go with you instead of Fu Jinghen?"


    A soft female voice suddenly rose from within the elevator filled with Qin Xiang¡¯s voice, followed by a scream.


    "Holy shit, ah ah ah ah, there¡¯s a ghost, Old Fu!"


    Qin Xiang leaped up, hugging Fu Jinghen¡¯s body, reacting faster than his brain.


    "...."


    One second.


    Two seconds.


    Three seconds. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Four seconds.


    Five seconds.


    Wen Qiao squinted at the massive figure clinging to Fu Jinghen, "How much longer do you plan on holding onto my fianc¨¦?"


    "...."

 Chapter 114 - 113: A Respectable Good Citizen

    Chapter 114: Chapter 113: A Respectable Good CitizenQin Xiang was stunned for a moment, fixed his gaze on the spot behind Fu Jinghen, and only after seeing the "SpongeBob" standing in the corner did he widen his eyes, asking with disbelief, "Wen Qiao?"


    "It¡¯s me." Wen Qiao, too impatient to wait, took a step forward and impatiently tugged at the arm Qin Xiang was holding around Fu Jinghen, "Get off of him." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Qin Xiang was caught off guard and was indeed pulled away by Wen Qiao, even staggering a couple of steps backward.


    Wen Qiao, like an old hen protecting her chick, stood in front of Fu Jinghen and sized Qin Xiang up and down, then commented, "Such a height, wasted."


    Qin Xiang: "..."


    He got it!


    This woman was mocking his actions just now.


    Qin Xiang stood up straight, straightened his clothes, and asked, "What are you doing here?"


    "My fianc¨¦ is here, so of course I¡¯m here," Wen Qiao replied unpleasantly. "Besides, if I weren¡¯t here, how would I know that you tried to take my fianc¨¦ to some shady place while I was away?"


    "?"


    Qin Xiang stared wide-eyed, "What shady place? Don¡¯t overthink it, I am a law-abiding citizen."


    He looked towards Fu Jinghen, who had been silent next to them, "Fu Jinghen, tell me, when have I ever taken you to a shady place?"


    Wen Qiao also turned her head to look at Fu Jinghen, thinking to herself that if he said they had been to one, this elevator would become his last stop in this world.


    Due to her movements just now, the handle that had been hanging in front of Wen Qiao¡¯s chest had been swung behind her. Fu Jinghen, rarely curious about such children¡¯s toys, was now playing with it in his hands. When he heard Qin Xiang toss the question to him, he moved his gaze from the bobbing Pikachu ears to Qin Xiang¡¯s face and drawled, "I¡¯ve never been, but you, I wouldn¡¯t know."


    Qin Xiang: "???"


    Wen Qiao turned back, glaring fiercely at him, "Did you hear that? Stay away from my fianc¨¦ in the future, do not lead him astray."


    "???"


    Qin Xiang was almost amused to anger, "What do you mean by leading him astray? I just thought he had a busy day and wanted to take him out to relax a bit."


    "Oh, really?" Wen Qiao crossed her arms and tilted her chin up, looking at Qin Xiang, "Seeing pretty girls is relaxing for you? No need to bother, I¡¯m this stunning beauty in front of him now, more than enough to help him relax."


    "Just you? You¡¯d be lucky not to give him a heart attack, let alone relax."


    Qin Xiang chuckled dismissively, the excitement caused by the scare dissipating, and he leaned lazily against the elevator wall, "Not to be rude, but if you don¡¯t like him, why do you care so much?"


    "When did I ever say I didn¡¯t like Fu Jinghen?" Wen Qiao retorted with scorn, "Which ear did you hear that from? I¡¯ll chop it off for you; such useless ears are just extra weight."


    Fu Jinghen, who had been toying with Wen Qiao¡¯s Pikachu hat behind her, flickered his gaze and curled his lips at this remark.


    You know what?


    This ugly-looking hat was actually quite fun.


    Qin Xiang instinctively covered his own ears, looked at Wen Qiao with astonishment, "Don¡¯t you feel guilty saying that? If you liked Old Fu, would you drug his nephew at your engagement banquet?"


    "..."


    Tch.


    How could he bring up the most inappropriate thing?


    Wen Qiao thought for a moment about Qin Xiang¡¯s description in the original work.


    The Qin Family¡¯s second son, Fu Jinghen¡¯s childhood friend; with an elder brother to handle the inheritances, he wouldn¡¯t have to worry about taking over the family business, so under the protection of his brother, he could easily live the life of his carefree young master.

 Chapter 115 - 114: Glorious and Great

    Chapter 115: Chapter 114: Glorious and GreatThough his personality starkly contrasted with Fu Jinghen¡¯s aloof asceticism¡ªif Fu Jinghen was that type, then Qin Xiang was the frivolous playboy type. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But his capabilities were not to be underestimated. He wasn¡¯t particularly interested in the family business; instead, he started his own gaming company. Given his passion for it, he managed to propel the company to great success.


    Still, as talented as he was, taking his fianc¨¦e to see other women was definitely not okay.


    After making that remark, Qin Xiang knew he had misspoken and glanced nervously at Fu Jinghen. Seeing that Fu Jinghen¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t changed, he let out a slight sigh of relief.


    "Don¡¯t you know all women are fickle? Who hasn¡¯t been blind in their foolish younger years? My eyes have healed now. Is it so wrong to fall head over heels for my fianc¨¦ the moment I saw him at the engagement party?" Wen Qiao fired at Qin Xiang like a fighter jet, "And, are you braindead? If I liked him, would I drug him then dump him in a bathtub and just leave?"


    "I....."


    "I¡¯m actually quite curious how a serious guy like my fianc¨¦ could be friends with someone like you, who is ignorant and timid."


    "You......"


    "Forget it, I don¡¯t even want to know. After all, doesn¡¯t everyone have a few questionable friends? Without you, we wouldn¡¯t be able to see how brilliant and great my fianc¨¦ is, right, Qin Laoer?"


    "???"


    We¡¯re just arguing, why are you making personal attacks? Can¡¯t you handle it?


    Qin¡ªignorant and timid¡ªLaoer felt he needed to reclaim some dignity, unwilling to be belittled by a kid, he began to argue back, but as soon as he was about to stand up, he felt Fu Jinghen shift his gaze toward him.


    He immediately leaned back against the elevator wall.


    Wen Qiao noticed his movement and asked, puzzled, "Did a thorn grow on your butt?"


    Qin Laoer: "......"


    You have your powerful backing, so you¡¯re awesome. I¡¯m not going to stoop to your level.


    With a "ding," the elevator doors opened, and Wen Qiao glanced at the floor number, grabbed Fu Jinghen, and walked out, huffing loudly before leaving.


    Qin Xiang immediately followed and complained, "Old Fu, did you hear that? Your fianc¨¦e is provoking me again."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at their intertwined hands, the young girl¡¯s hand soft and boneless in his hold.


    "You just said ¡¯my fianc¨¦¡¯. Do you think I¡¯d side with you?"


    Qin Xiang: "...."


    Holy shit?


    Impressive, huh?


    -


    As soon as they entered the room, Wen Qiao hurried to the bedroom and dove into the soft, large bed, wrapping herself in blankets and sighing contentedly.


    "The beds in the presidential suite really are different."


    Fu Jinghen followed, laughing a bit as he watched her cocoon herself, "If you like it so much, why not get one yourself?"


    "That wouldn¡¯t be right," the cocoon struggled to sit up, explaining seriously, "The entire cast is staying on the fifth floor, including Director Zhang. If I stay in the penthouse by myself, it would stand out too much. No, no."


    A strand of hair fell on her lips, tickling her. Wen Qiao pouted and blew the hair away, continuing, "Even the princess, Lin Ruochun, isn¡¯t getting special treatment. I shouldn¡¯t either. Plus, Director Zhang already doesn¡¯t like me because I parachuted into the leading role. I don¡¯t want to rub him the wrong way."

 Chapter 116 - 115: Obedience

    Chapter 116: Chapter 115: ObedienceThe little girl really had a way with logic.


    Fu Jinghen silently curved the corner of his mouth, tossing his suit and tie aside as he cautioned, "I¡¯m going to shower, you play by yourself for a while."


    At these words, Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes involuntarily lit up but then she suppressed them, saying obediently, "Okay, you go."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t miss this small action; he stared at Wen Qiao for a while before stepping forward, bending over, and meeting her gaze at eye level. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao felt a surge of panic inside, but still locked eyes with Fu Jinghen and asked softly, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Wen Qiao unconsciously licked her lips as she had just eaten a candy, the milky sweetness of the White Rabbit candy still faintly discernible as she spoke.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze flickered, then he raised his hand and reached out toward Wen Qiao¡¯s cheek.


    The movement was at a perfectly normal speed, but in Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes, it seemed to move in slow motion.


    Her heartbeat unconsciously quickened as her eyes darted back and forth between Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes and his approaching hand; just when she was almost dizzy with anticipation, she suddenly felt a void before her, and that strand of hair was hooked behind her ear.


    The man¡¯s fingertips, rough with thin callouses, grazed Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, a tingly feeling that made her involuntarily tilt her head.


    "Don¡¯t run around, be good."


    After saying that, Fu Jinghen straightened up, gave her head a light pat, then turned and walked towards the bathroom.


    Once the man¡¯s tall figure had disappeared behind the door, Wen Qiao finally snapped back to reality, rolled around on the bed, and wriggled out of the covers.


    She touched her ear that Fu Jinghen had just brushed, pursed her lips, put on her shoes and a mask, and dashed out.


    Not running around was out of the question.


    If she wasn¡¯t going to have a drink, what was the point of coming to the top floor?


    Qin Xiang stepped out of his room and immediately caught sight of a bright yellow figure bouncing away and disappearing around the corner.


    He walked to the next room, curled his fingers, and knocked twice, waiting a moment without getting an answer.


    He raised an eyebrow, his intuition telling him that the flashy yellow figure was definitely Wen Qiao, the same one who had been strutting around in the elevator just now.


    And surely, this restless one had sneaked out while Fu Jinghen was in the shower.


    With the intention of checking on her on behalf of Fu Jinghen, to make sure she didn¡¯t cause any trouble, Qin Xiang followed after her.


    He swore, it wasn¡¯t out of curiosity.


    Five minutes later, Qin Xiang glanced at a small wooden sign hanging nearby that said "Members Only Beyond This Point," took out his phone, and recorded a video for Fu Jinghen.


    [Rich as Croesus Mr. Qin: Don¡¯t say I don¡¯t have you in my heart, bro, but your troublesome fianc¨¦e has run in here. Finish your shower and come catch her.]


    After sending the message, Qin Xiang pocketed his phone and walked in.


    Yingcheng Hotel was situated within the country¡¯s largest film and television city, attracting a diverse crowd, so the top-floor bar was open exclusively to members. However, the place was still bustling, with rich second-generation kids likely calling in some minor stars for company.


    Looking around, the booths were almost all occupied.


    To avoid being spotted by Wen Qiao, Qin Xiang kept a distance from her as he entered, quickly scanning the room and immediately spotting the yellow bundle beside the bar.


    But there was also a man sitting next to this yellow bundle.


    The two were cheerfully tossing dice.

 Chapter 117 - 116: The One Who Flirts First is Cheap

    Chapter 117: Chapter 116: The One Who Flirts First is CheapQin Xiang snorted coldly, knowing that this woman was up to no good, preparing to cuckold Old Fu again!


    When the waiter saw Qin Xiang, he immediately came forward and asked respectfully, "Mr. Qin, the usual spot?"


    "No," Qin Xiang lifted his hand and pointed to a booth right behind Wen Qiao, "Let¡¯s sit there."


    "Okay."


    Using the potted plants as cover, Qin Xiang nestled into the booth¡¯s sofa, always keeping an eye on the activity around the bar. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This Old Fu, why is he taking so long to shower? He¡¯s like a little girl.


    Thinking this, he sent another message to Fu Jinghen.


    [Rich Mr. Qin: Old Fu, if you don¡¯t come soon, you¡¯ll find another hat on your head.]


    The man shaking dice with Wen Qiao had come over not long after she sat down.


    Actually, Wen Qiao had attracted quite a bit of attention when she first came in due to her outfit.


    The dim lighting in the bar didn¡¯t allow for a good look at people¡¯s faces, and Wen Qiao was so well-covered that all the rich second-generation kids thought she wasn¡¯t as pretty as the scantily clad stars they brought along.


    But there¡¯s always someone with peculiar taste.


    When Wen Qiao noticed a man sitting beside her, she looked up; he had a baby face, fairly delicate features, resembling a college student who hadn¡¯t yet graduated.


    If this was two years ago, he would¡¯ve been her type.


    "A beauty here alone?" Seeing her look his way, the man extended his hand, "Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Pat Star."


    Hmm...


    How should I put this...


    The man¡¯s flirting was both clich¨¦ and tacky.


    Clearly a newbie to the scene.


    Wen Qiao shook his hand briefly, "Is that so? What a strange coincidence."


    Once the drinks arrived, Wen Qiao removed her mask and took a sip. The man, seeing her face clearly, frowned in thought for a moment, then said, "You¡¯re Wen Qiao, I know you, I¡¯ve seen your dramas."


    "Really?" Wen Qiao feigned surprise, "Like which ones?"


    The man paused, his face momentarily embarrassed, then quickly compensated, "You¡¯ve done so many dramas, I can¡¯t remember which one to mention right now."


    Wen Qiao smiled knowingly, touched her glass to the one in the man¡¯s hand, "Then let¡¯s pretend I never asked."


    What a joke.


    Since her debut, the original owner had been tailing Qi Ming day in and day out¡ªhow would she have had time to act?


    The man also took a sip from his glass, "I¡¯m Zhou Ruixian, in the film academy, class of 2020. Technically, you¡¯re my senior."


    Oh...


    Looks like I guessed right.


    Not yet graduated.


    Wen Qiao nodded, "Hello, junior."


    "Hello, senior." Zhou Ruixian flashed an innocuous smile, "Senior, are you still chasing after Senior Qi Ming?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s smile paused, her gaze deep and meaningful.


    This Zhou junior seemed to be looking for trouble.


    Seeing Wen Qiao silent, Zhou Ruixian feigned surprise, "No way, senior, all these years and you still haven¡¯t succeeded?"


    Alright.


    I¡¯m now quite certain that you¡¯re just here to pick a fight.


    Wen Qiao gently placed her glass on the bar, smiling sweetly at him, "Junior, you¡¯re so curious, why don¡¯t you quit acting and become a paparazzi instead? You might support a family sooner that way."


    Zhou Ruixian¡¯s smile stiffened, "I was just asking, why does senior have to be so aggressive?"


    ?


    Calling her aggressive?


    He¡¯s the one who started trouble first.


    Well, then, let this senior teach this ignorant junior how to behave.


    "Okay."

 Chapter 118 - 117: Drain Water

    Chapter 118: Chapter 117: Drain WaterWen Qiao propped her cheek in her palm, resembling a gentle senior sister, "How about this, we play dice. If you win, you can ask me a question. If you lose, you drink."


    "Sure."


    Zhou Ruixian agreed readily. He¡¯d dominated drinking parties for years without a single defeat.


    Seeing his agreement, Wen Qiao raised her hand and snapped her fingers, summoning the waiter. In no time, the bar in front of them was lined up with drinks, with a smaller cup stacked on top of the larger ones. Wen Qiao gently flicked the first small cup, causing the rest to fall into the larger glasses below.


    The glasses clinked crisply, foam spilling over. Wen Qiao pushed the dice in front of Zhou Ruixian.


    Both shook the dice and then came to a stop.


    Wen Qiao lifted her chin slightly, "You first."


    "No, ladies first."


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue and, without even glancing at her own dice, she blurted out, "Three ones."


    Hearing this, Zhou Ruixian raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Senior sister, do you even know how to play? Starting off so big."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s index finger rhythmically tapped her cheek, complaining indignantly, "Of course I do, don¡¯t underestimate me."


    Zhou Ruixian looked at her, his eyes gleaming with disbelief. In the bars, the more someone tried to show off, the bigger the loser they were.


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t look at her dice, he decided not to look at his either and lifted his hand, "Add one."


    "Open."


    Wen Qiao uncovered the lid on her dice, revealing only two of the five dice showing the one-dot side up.


    "If I don¡¯t have any here," Zhou Ruixian drawled as he slowly moved the cover, "Senior sister, you¡¯ll have to drink¡ª"


    Wen Qiao glanced down, and as the light above flickered for a moment, she clearly saw the points on Zhou Ruixian¡¯s dice and picked up a glass from the table.


    Before Zhou Ruixian had a chance to see his own dice, he saw Wen Qiao picking up the drink, gloating, "See, I told you you didn¡¯t know how to play, trying to act all¡ª"


    He didn¡¯t finish his sentence before seeing the cup in Wen Qiao¡¯s hand extended toward him.


    Zhou Ruixian looked down at his dice, finding exactly one showing the one-dot side up.


    "Sorry about that." Wen Qiao pushed the drink a bit closer, "I guess I¡¯m just luckier."


    His smirk drooped as he took the glass and downed it in one go, "Another round!"


    He refused to believe Wen Qiao¡¯s luck could hold.


    Then, the next fifteen minutes served him a harsh lesson in reality.


    The whole row of drinks on the shelf ended up in Zhou Ruixian¡¯s belly, and just as the second row was queuing up to enter, Wen Qiao interrupted.


    "Ha! I told you your luck couldn¡¯t always be that good." Zhou Ruixian clapped his hands and cheered as if he found money.


    Wen Qiao glanced at Zhou Ruixian as if he were a fool, then tilted her head back and swallowed her drink, "I was a bit thirsty, thank you."


    Thank you, his male dignity felt provoked.


    "Another round!" Zhou Ruixian clenched his fist and vowed, "If I don¡¯t win until you¡¯re utterly convinced today, I¡¯m not a Chinese!"


    "That¡¯s really not necessary to swear such a fierce oath," Wen Qiao tried to persuade.


    "Let¡¯s start!"


    Wen Qiao looked at him deeply and decided it was best to throw the game, or else he would really need to change his nationality.


    Fifteen minutes later, Wen Qiao looked at Zhou Ruixian, who was unconscious on the table, at a loss for words.


    She swore.


    She had genuinely tried to go easy.


    But the man in front of her clearly couldn¡¯t handle it.


    That wasn¡¯t her fault.


    Really. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 119 - 118: Pretending to be Drunk

    Chapter 119: Chapter 118: Pretending to be DrunkFu Jinghen arrived at the pub and immediately spotted the two people at the bar.


    He merely glanced their way before heading to the booth where Qin Xiang sat.


    "What took you so long?"


    Fu Jinghen sat down opposite Qin Xiang, "Had to deal with some work."


    Qin Xiang clicked his tongue, "I overestimated Wen Qiao¡¯s importance to you. It turns out she¡¯s not as important as your work."


    Fu Jinghen looked up at him but said nothing.


    The booth was close enough to the bar to catch bits of Wen Qiao¡¯s voice.


    "Get up, stop playing dead, you¡¯ve still got two drinks left."


    Qin Xiang straightened up and tattled to Fu Jinghen, "Look, that¡¯s your little fianc¨¦e¡¯s true colors!"


    He remembered Wen Qiao¡¯s behavior before Fu Jinghen¡¯s arrival and couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for him, "Man, your sister is really heartless, setting you up with such a young fianc¨¦e. With that much energy, it¡¯s like she got you a daughter, not afraid that you won¡¯t be able to handle it."


    "I have nothing I can¡¯t handle, if you can¡¯t, don¡¯t assume I can¡¯t either."


    ?


    Qin Xiang felt like Fu Jinghen was implying something about him.


    "Who are you saying can¡¯t handle it?"


    Fu Jinghen gave him a lazy glance, the implication all too evident. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No, bro, I genuinely feel for you. Why are you attacking me personally?"


    "How much is your sympathy worth?"


    Qin Xiang: "......"


    Forget it.


    Let¡¯s just fall out.


    Fu Jinghen looked towards the bar and then spoke, "Is that Old Zhou¡¯s grandson?"


    "Yes."


    Fu Jinghen suddenly smiled cryptically, "Later, make sure he gets sent home."


    He paused, then added, "Make sure to send him to Old Zhou."


    With that, he got up and walked toward the bar.


    Qin Xiang: "?"


    Was Fu Jinghen really that understanding?


    His fianc¨¦e had been out at the bar playing with another man all night, and he¡¯s still so considerate to send the guy home?


    Wen Qiao looked at Zhou Ruixian sprawled on the table, already out cold, feeling somewhat helpless.


    Did he come on his own or what?


    Isn¡¯t there anyone to pick him up?


    Just then, a familiar deep male voice came from behind.


    "Have you had enough fun?"


    Wen Qiao swiftly turned her head, and the moment she saw Fu Jinghen, she flopped down into his arms, muttering, "I drank too much, Fu Jinghen."


    The way she drawled out the name ¡¯Fu Jinghen¡¯ was so soft and whiny, it was ticklish to the heart.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s hands loosely supported Wen Qiao¡¯s waist to hold her steady, "Where¡¯s your mask?"


    Wen Qiao pointed to her pocket with a coy voice, "It¡¯s in my pocket."


    Fu Jinghen fished out the black mask from her SpongeBob pajamas and put it on her, then put on the hood of her robe as well, looking down at her, "Can you walk by yourself?"


    Wen Qiao, upon hearing that, slumped even more, "Seems like I can¡¯t."


    Fu Jinghen stepped back, and Wen Qiao, leaning on his support, also fell forward from the momentum, her feet instantaneously hitting the floor, stumbling a couple of steps before stabilizing.


    "I think you can walk by yourself."


    "No," Wen Qiao seriously refused, "Just now, I accidentally hurt my foot, so I can¡¯t walk by myself."


    "So?" Fu Jinghen looked at her, "What are you planning to do?"


    "I want you to carry me."


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao opened her arms wide, asking for a hug from Fu Jinghen, even attempting to throw herself at him.


    Fu Jinghen put out a finger against her forehead, keeping her at a distance, "Stop pretending."

 Chapter 120 - 119: Pretentious

    Chapter 120: Chapter 119: PretentiousWen Qiao bent her legs, crouching down to dodge Fu Jinghen¡¯s fingers. In the next second, a soft, plush mass appeared in Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms.


    Fu Jinghen was an extremely responsible person, so Wen Qiao was certain he wouldn¡¯t push her away and leave her behind. With this in mind, she buried her head deeper into Fu Jinghen¡¯s chest, murmuring sleepily, "So sleepy, I want to go back to sleep."


    "Really going to sleep?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    Wen Qiao nodded her head, "Really slee¡ªOh no!"


    Mid-sentence, Wen Qiao felt a tight grip around her waist, pulling her backwards. A cool sensation traveled up her legs to the soles of her feet and then shot up to her brain.


    "Bang¡ªCrash."


    "I¡¯m so sorry, so sorry."


    The anxious male voice, along with the sound of shattering glass, came from behind. Wen Qiao turned around and saw that a bar waiter had mishandled the tray, causing the glasses to fall and spill some cold drink on her legs.


    "Are you okay?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    "I¡¯m¡ªno," Wen Qiao instinctively responded, then quickly shifted gears, "Ah no, there¡¯s a problem!"


    Wasn¡¯t this an opportunity?


    Hearing her words, the waiter trembled in fear, "I¡¯m so sorry, miss. It was my mistake."


    "....."


    How embarrassing, forgetting there were others around.


    Wen Qiao looked at the visibly nervous waiter with a smile, "It¡¯s alright, just be more careful next time."


    Knowing the kind of wealthy patrons that frequented this place, the waiter felt even more anxious. Wen Qiao¡¯s words made him grew more fearful.


    He brought over some napkins and squatted down to clean Wen Qiao.


    "No no no no, no need!" Wen Qiao immediately jumped back to avoid the waiter, then squatted down and snatched the napkins from the waiter¡¯s hand, "Really, it¡¯s okay. You better clean up the glass shards so no one gets hurt."


    The waiter understood that Wen Qiao really didn¡¯t mind and gave her a grateful smile before picking up the tray and walking away.


    Wen Qiao cleaned the drink from her legs, then looked up pleadingly at Fu Jinghen, "Now I really can¡¯t walk. My shoes are sticky from the drink."


    Fu Jinghen looked down at the small figure crouching on the ground, sighed helplessly, bent down, and with one hand on her shoulder and the other supporting her knees, he picked her up horizontally.


    "So melodramatic."


    -


    Qin Xiang was dumbfounded in the booth.


    What the hell?


    Was that the boneless woman in Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms the same Wen Qiao who had just shouted, "Is the leftover drink in your cup meant for feeding fish? If you can¡¯t drink it, don¡¯t show off"? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    And the most crucial point¡ª


    Fu Jinghen had witnessed everything Wen Qiao did! And yet, he still ended up carrying her back!


    He actually carried her!


    Wasn¡¯t she left at the bar just before because of work?


    How did it turn out like this!


    This time he was standing in the fog, invisible to all.


    -


    Wen Qiao¡¯s arm hooked around Fu Jinghen¡¯s neck, and just as they were about to leave the bar, she suddenly leaned out of his embrace, "What about that dead fish of a boy?"


    Fu Jinghen paused, looking down at her.


    Realizing she was still pretending to be drunk, Wen Qiao weakly nestled back into his chest, "Ah, my head really hurts."

 Chapter 121 - 120: Already Slept Together

    Chapter 121: Chapter 120: Already Slept TogetherUpon leaving the tavern, they were greeted by a burst of brightness, and everything in sight became clear and distinct.


    Fu Jinghen withdrew his gaze from Wen Qiao¡¯s face and walked steadily forward, carrying her, "If your face were a little redder, I might have believed your tall tale."


    "....."


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a moment and then from his words, she inferred another meaning, "Then if you don¡¯t believe what I¡¯m saying, why are you still carrying me?"


    The young girl¡¯s eyes captured the light from the crystal chandelier above, sparkling even more brilliantly.


    "Shall I put you down now?" Fu Jinghen made as if to loosen his grip.


    "I know why you¡¯re carrying me now!" Wen Qiao immediately tightened the arm hooking around Fu Jinghen¡¯s neck, her voice rising in pitch.


    Fu Jinghen looked at her, raising his eyebrows in response.


    "Because you¡¯re kind-hearted, broad-minded, tolerant, amiable, benevolent, and responsible."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen: "Thank you."


    "You¡¯re welcome."


    Just as the atmosphere between them was about to sink into an oddly quiet lull, Fu Jinghen suddenly commented, "Quite rhythmic."


    "....." Wen Qiao was taken aback, "Thank you."


    "You¡¯re welcome."


    Wen Qiao: "......"


    She suddenly felt a bit tired.


    But couldn¡¯t quite pin down exactly where the tiredness was coming from.


    -


    The two returned to their room, and Fu Jinghen, cradling Wen Qiao, strode straight toward the bedroom. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao kicked her legs: "To the bathroom, to the bathroom, I need to take a bath."


    It wasn¡¯t noticeable in the tavern just now, but after coming out, Wen Qiao felt her body had acquired a bit of the smell of smoke and alcohol.


    Not pleasant at all.


    Fu Jinghen, carrying her, changed direction toward the bathroom.


    After Wen Qiao¡¯s feet touched the ground, she took off the SpongeBob bathrobe she was wearing and was about to close the door when she realized that Fu Jinghen was still standing at the bathroom doorway, not having left.


    "Do you have something else to do?"


    "Weren¡¯t you just too drunk to walk?" Fu Jinghen looked at her indifferently, "Now you can bathe by yourself?"


    Wen Qiao understood what he was getting at, cocked her head, and provocatively whispered, "So, President Fu is going to help me bathe?"


    "It¡¯s not out of the question."


    Saying so, Fu Jinghen lifted his leg, intending to come in.


    !


    "But I think bathing is a small matter and doesn¡¯t require troubling President Fu!" Wen Qiao suddenly bounced three feet high, her eyes, which were still a bit confused, instantly became clear, and she swiftly pushed Fu Jing out with both hands.


    "We¡¯ve already slept together¡ª" Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t resist, allowing her to push him out as he dragged out his words, "What¡¯s there to fear in taking a bath?"


    "Who¡¯s afraid!" Wen Qiao hissed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, "I just think that President Fu, you¡¯ve been busy all day, and I wanted you to rest earlier."


    Before the door closed, Wen Qiao, in an attempt to cover her tracks, added, "If I need anything, I¡¯ll call you."


    Her blushing cheek flashed past the door crack and with a "click," the bathroom door was locked.


    Fu Jinghen watched the firmly shut glass door and chuckled softly.


    So the missy still knows what modesty is.


    When she¡¯s being provocative, she puffs up like a little bantam rooster, but the moment she¡¯s teased, all her feathers droop.


    After some thought, Fu Jinghen still approached and knocked on the bathroom glass door, "Watch your step, don¡¯t slip."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s voice, tinged with embarrassed anger, came from the bathroom, "I know! Go and rest!"


    Fu Jinghen stopped teasing her and turned away.


    Only after listening to the footsteps outside fade away did Wen Qiao begin to confidently undress.


    What¡¯s going on, anyway?

 Chapter 122 - 121: Brown-Nosing

    Chapter 122: Chapter 121: Brown-NosingIn the novels, aren¡¯t domineering CEOs with multimillion-dollar assets supposed to be the aloof and cool types, silent yet super intelligent with low emotional intelligence?


    How come when it comes to Fu Jinghen,


    he¡¯s just so different?


    Indeed, character settings in novels are all lies.


    Before coming up, Wen Qiao had already taken a shower, and this time she just needed to rinse off the smell of smoke and alcohol from her body¡ªit didn¡¯t take long before she came out.


    Fu Jinghen still had some work-related matters to deal with, and at the moment, he was sitting at his desk, looking at the email Feng Li had sent him.


    Wen Qiao walked over and glanced at it, her eyes scanning the dense text that filled the entire screen, which could instantly make her want to retreat.


    Just as she was about to look away, she suddenly spotted some familiar content. Craning her neck, she leaned in closer and asked, "Is ES Brand going into partnership with you guys?"


    "Yeah."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t intend to hide anything from her and said, "They¡¯re coming to Jingcui."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up. With the ES Brand moving into Jingcui Mall, wouldn¡¯t it be easier to secure the endorsement deal?


    Seeing her expression, Fu Jinghen knew what little schemes were running through her head. He slid back a bit, leaned against the chair back, and looked up at her, "Interested?"


    Wen Qiao chuckled twice, "Hehe," and said, "You truly deserve to be President Fu, who has held his position for a long time. You can see right through my little schemes; this little lady is thoroughly impressed¡ª"


    "Don¡¯t butter me up," Fu Jinghen interrupted her. "You want the endorsement?"


    Wen Qiao furiously nodded, "Uh huh, uh huh, uh huh."


    ES is an international luxury brand, and the endorsers they¡¯ve gotten in the past were either current top-tier celebrities or evergreen famous actresses. Being an internationally renowned brand, they seek glamour and beauty, so actresses with looks of the girl-next-door were immediately ruled out.


    Plus, ES had done their homework before entering the Chinese market, and they were already planning collaboration with FS. The female artists under Huasong would certainly be a top choice, and after a preliminary selection, Wen Qiao¡¯s name had the highest buzz.


    ES was not very familiar with Wen Qiao¡¯s previous scandals, and even after they found out, it was not an issue with Fu Jinghen¡¯s support backing her.


    But...


    "It won¡¯t work," Fu Jinghen flatly denied her request.


    "Why not?!" Wen Qiao¡¯s face fell immediately.


    "Because ES values image and doesn¡¯t like female stars who drink."


    Wen Qiao: "......"


    Alright then!


    He¡¯s holding a grudge!


    "You¡¯re being vindictive, aren¡¯t you?" Wen Qiao perked up her butt and sat on the wood desk, looking down at Fu Jinghen, "ES is entering the Chinese market for the first time. Their previous endorsers have been mostly European and American celebrities, and their chief designer likes to find inspiration at bars, places filled with glittering decadence. Furthermore, their boss owns a vineyard, so telling me ES doesn¡¯t like actresses who drink is just treating me like a three-year-old.


    "Besides¡ª" Wen Qiao narrowed her eyes and raised her finger to point at herself, "I¡¯m not an alcoholic!"


    Fu Jinghen asked, "Then why do you go to bars?" S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao subconsciously replied, "To drink¡ª"


    The final word muted instantly under Fu Jinghen¡¯s hardly veiled smile.


    Wen Qiao countered, "What about you? Why do you go to bars?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s dark eyes met Wen Qiao¡¯s questioning gaze, "What do you think?"


    "......"


    Wen Qiao fell silent momentarily, then jumped off the table and crouched beside Fu Jinghen¡¯s legs. She tugged at his trouser leg with her hands, her voice soft, "I was wrong. I shouldn¡¯t have promised you and then sneaked out to drink, but that¡¯s no reason not to give me the ES endorsement."

 Chapter 123 - 122: Jealousy

    Chapter 123: Chapter 122: Jealousy"And besides, my popularity and reputation have gradually started to improve. If I could also snag the endorsement from ES, I could even take the chance to hype up ¡¯Red Makeup.¡¯ When one person achieves success, everyone related rides on their coattails¡ªat once achieving two goals. Why wouldn¡¯t I go for it?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the small hand clutching his pants, then looked up at the fluffy head, "Mhmm, continue."


    Wen Qiao mustered up her emotions, feeling it was about enough, before looking up at Fu Jinghen with tearful eyes, "Did you see Weibo today? Because of the incident with Luo Bin, I have been cursed by netizens all day. As a young girl, my reputation has been damaged, and I have to endure insults from people who blindly follow the crowd. Now, even asking my fianc¨¦ for a brand endorsement, I¡¯ve been rejected. How miserably woeful I am..."


    "I used to believe that genuine emotions still existed in this world, but reality struck me hard, making me realize that the world is only full of extreme cruelty. If I can¡¯t land the ES endorsement, then I feel like there¡¯s nothing left for me to cling to in this world..."


    She reasoned with logic and moved with emotion. If Fu Jinghen still wouldn¡¯t agree, then she would have to find another way. After all, she had already boasted so much.


    As Fu Jinghen listened to Wen Qiao¡¯s increasingly outrageous speech, he felt that if he didn¡¯t agree to her, she might just open the window and jump from the top floor.


    He lifted his hand to pinch his brow, pulling her up from the ground. Before he could say anything, he saw the corners of Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth dip, and tear-filled eyes that looked ready to cry in the next second.


    "President Fu¡ª"


    He felt a twitch in his brow, "Don¡¯t call me that."


    Wen Qiao really did shut her mouth, merely looking at him with pitiful eyes.


    Fu Jinghen looked away from her eyes, "Come back to the company next Monday."


    Wen Qiao silently rejoiced but still managed to control her increasingly excited heart. Feigning ignorance, she asked, "What for?"


    "Let¡¯s start with a photo shoot and see how it goes."


    Wen Qiao immediately dropped the about-to-cry expression, replacing it with a generous and proper smile, "Alright, President Fu. I definitely won¡¯t let you down. I¡¯ll deliver a satisfactory result for you and ES."


    Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t help but glance at her, "Not going for a full performance?" S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What¡¯s the point of wasting emotions once the goal is reached, especially since you¡¯ve seen through it?" Wen Qiao returned to her smiling self within two seconds.


    "Why don¡¯t you go and fight for it yourself?" asked Fu Jinghen, "Aren¡¯t you afraid of being criticized for taking resources from me over and over?"


    "I have you, so why would I need to fight for it myself? Besides, getting resources from you doesn¡¯t mean I lack talent. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have agreed to my requests." Wen Qiao¡¯s fingers twirled through her hair lazily, "Actually, it¡¯s less about my confidence in myself and more about my confidence in you. President Fu has managed FS for so many years; you have that discernment."


    Fu Jinghen felt a movement in his heart, he couldn¡¯t deny that Wen Qiao¡¯s flattery was quite comforting.


    "But President Fu," Wen Qiao paused, blinked at him, and smiled like a fox that stole a hen, "You wanted to agree to my request from the beginning, didn¡¯t you? And yet you made me plead like this. Do you have some sort of wicked taste, or are you doing this because you¡¯re jealous about me having drinks with a man?"


    The emotion in Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes faded, and he straightened up to look back at the computer, "You¡¯re overthinking it."


    "Okay then." Wen Qiao didn¡¯t press further, yawned, and walked towards the bed.

 Chapter 124 - 123: Children Love Beauty

    Chapter 124: Chapter 123: Children Love Beauty"But if you really have some sort of weird taste, I won¡¯t laugh at you."


    "....."


    "Or if you really are jealous, I would be very happy."


    "....."


    Wen Qiao lay down on the bed and snuggled into the blanket, comfortably sighing.


    Before closing her eyes, she didn¡¯t forget to say goodnight to Fu Jinghen, "President Fu, good night, don¡¯t work too late, or I¡¯ll feel heartache."


    "Shut up, annoying."


    "Oh."


    Wen Qiao was truly tired. From the moment she opened her eyes this morning, she had been busy like a spinning top, worrying about Luo Bin¡¯s matters while filming. In the evening, she even heroically rescued someone in the lake, and was utterly exhausted by the end of the day.


    Soon after, she fell into a deep sleep.


    Listening to the silence from the other side of the bed, Fu Jinghen turned his head to look.


    In the white bedding, a beautiful and cute head was nestled; perhaps feeling a bit hot, Wen Qiao stretched one leg out of the covers. Her legs, entangled with the blanket, twisted together like a pretzel. The person and the blanket were both on the very edge of the bed, ready to roll off with just a turn. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Such a liberated sleeping posture.


    After watching for a while, Fu Jinghen stood up and walked to the bedside, turned off her lamp, and planned to move her inward to prevent her from falling off and causing a fuss later.


    Just as he bent down, Wen Qiao turned over, revealing her entire leg outside the blanket.


    A patch of pale skin entered his peripheral vision. The lines of the woman¡¯s leg were smooth, the flesh evenly distributed, curving over the blanket with the ankle¡¯s sinew distinctly visible.


    For a moment, he couldn¡¯t tell if it was her leg that was whiter or the blanket.


    Fu Jinghen felt a tightness in his throat, his Adam¡¯s apple involuntarily shifted, and as he was about to divert his gaze, he suddenly noticed a scratch on the inner side of Wen Qiao¡¯s calf that he hadn¡¯t seen before.


    Fu Jinghen looked at the still sleeping Wen Qiao, gently parted her leg, and the red mark on her fair skin was particularly striking.


    It must have been from the glass shards that splashed up in the tavern earlier.


    Maybe it was due to getting wet while bathing; the skin around the wound was slightly whitened.


    The footwear was wet and sticky, not wanting to walk on her own, demanding to be carried, a bit fussy, yet she wasn¡¯t complaining about the real cut.


    Fu Jinghen called for the hotel service, got a medical kit, took out the alcohol and swabs, and kneeled by the bed, gently dabbing the red mark.


    His movements were careful, a tenderness he didn¡¯t even recognize in himself.


    Perhaps it was the sting from the alcohol, sleeping Wen Qiao frowned, moved her leg, trying to free herself from Fu Jinghen¡¯s grasp.


    Fu Jinghen stopped his actions, loosely holding her ankle, waiting for her to settle down before reapplying the medicine.


    After applying the medicine, Fu Jinghen picked up Wen Qiao and shifted her inward, straightened the leg that got scratched to avoid it getting rubbed.


    The hotel¡¯s pillows were very soft; Wen Qiao¡¯s head sank into one, her eyes tightly shut, with some stray hairs sticking to her face. Fu Jinghen reached out to brush away those stray hairs.


    She looked much cuter asleep than usual.


    He wondered if that scratch would leave a scar; nowadays young girls care so much about beauty, and if it did scar, he would have a headache dealing with the upset young lady.


    Fu Jinghen pursed his lips and sent a message to Qin Xiang.


    [Fu Jinghen: Have someone bring the Scar Removal Ointment from your house to me tomorrow.]

 Chapter 125 - 124: The Vast Horizon is My Love

    Chapter 125: Chapter 124: The Vast Horizon is My Love[Wealthy Mr. Qin: ?]


    [Wealthy Mr. Qin: You want?]


    [Fu Jinghen: Yeah.]


    [Wealthy Mr. Qin: Where do you have a scar on your body? And since when did you start caring about beauty?]


    [Fu Jinghen: Kids care about beauty.]


    [Wealthy Mr. Qin: ....]


    Fine then.


    He seemed to understand something. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    -


    The next morning, Wen Qiao was woken up by the relentless ringing of a phone like the heralding of doomsday.


    Her wonderful dream disrupted, Wen Qiao had not yet opened her eyes, but her brows were already tightly furrowed.


    "Fu Jinghen, your phone is ringing!"


    Wen Qiao shouted out in annoyance, then she pulled the blanket over her head and went back to sleep.


    Fu Jinghen, hearing the noise, came out of the bathroom, followed the sound, and found the phone with a phone case plastered with cartoon decorations. He paused for a moment.


    Taking the phone, he patted the bulging lump hiding under the blanket.


    "This is your phone."


    The lump under the blanket moved a bit, then rolled to the side, clearly uninterested in dealing with Fu Jinghen.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the caller ID, stepped outside to take the call, but before he could speak, Jiang Yao¡¯s angry roar came through the receiver.


    "Wen Qiao, where the hell have you died off to? You¡¯re not replying to messages, and this is the eighth call I¡¯m making ¡ª you only pick up now! I¡¯ve only been away for two days, and when I come back, you¡¯re not even in your room? You¡¯re a public figure for crying out loud, still in the midst of filming, and you give me a night of not returning home? Are you trying to reach the sky?"


    After Jiang Yao finished her tirade, without waiting for Wen Qiao¡¯s response, the fire in her chest burned even fiercer, "Speak, don¡¯t play dead."


    "I¡¯m Fu Jinghen."


    "?"


    "Wen Qiao is still sleeping."


    "??"


    "If you¡¯ve got something to discuss, wait until she wakes up."


    "???"


    With each sentence Fu Jinghen uttered, Jiang Yao¡¯s breath weakened a bit, and her strong will to survive allowed her to process in a mere two seconds the fact that she¡¯d just screamed at her boss.


    Then, taking a deep breath, holding it, her voice instantly switched to an extremely respectful tone.


    "President Fu, hello, President Fu, goodbye."


    After saying that, she hung up with a "click".


    "..."


    After hanging up, Fu Jinghen checked the time, thinking it was about time for Wen Qiao to get up.


    He went back into the room and patted the blanket: "Time to get up."


    The blanket didn¡¯t move an inch.


    "You¡¯re going to be late."


    The blanket moved slightly.


    Fu Jinghen watched the lump for a while, then opened his phone, searched for a fervent song on Baidu, lifted a corner of the blanket, and tossed the phone inside.


    After a while, a song¡¯s voice came from the blanket.


    "The vast horizon is my love, the endless green mountains at the foot are blooming, what kind of rhythm is the ya most swinging..."


    "So annoying!"


    The lump on the bed finally reacted vehemently, Wen Qiao abruptly threw off the blanket and sat up, glaring furiously at Fu Jinghen.


    "What the¡ª"


    "If you don¡¯t get up now, someone might see you coming out of this room, and I won¡¯t explain for you."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s question was cut off midway by Fu Jinghen preemptively, as he stated matter-of-factly.


    "..."


    Silent for two seconds, Wen Qiao wilted again: "But I¡¯m really sleepy and want to sleep."


    Fu Jinghen, looking down on her from above, offered a solution, "Quit the shoot, go home and sleep."


    "No need; suddenly, I feel all peppy and energized." Wen Qiao rolled out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and as she passed by Fu Jinghen, she even stretched lazily.

 Chapter 126 - 125: No Wonder I Can鈥檛 Get Up in the Morning

    Chapter 126: Chapter 125: No Wonder I Can¡¯t Get Up in the Morning"The weather¡¯s sunny and bright, another beautiful day, good morning, President Fu."


    After saying that, she headed straight for the bathroom.


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    Drama queen.


    -


    Her skincare products were all in her room downstairs, so Wen Qiao¡¯s washing up was quick. By the time she came out, Fu Jinghen had already sat down at the dining table, eating the breakfast delivered by the hotel.


    She didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with Fu Jinghen, grabbed a sandwich from the table, took a bite, and waved her delicate little hand in front of his eyes.


    "I¡¯m leaving now, President Fu, don¡¯t miss me too much while we¡¯re apart."


    "Mhm." Fu Jinghen seemingly assured her, looking up seriously, "I won¡¯t."


    Wen Qiao choked and quickly turned to leave.


    She shouldn¡¯t harbor any girlish fantasies about Fu Jinghen!


    Wen Qiao got up relatively early and didn¡¯t run into anyone familiar as she went downstairs, smoothly making her way back to her room.


    Just as she unlocked her door, she saw Jiang Yao standing behind it, scrutinizing her.


    She instinctively took a couple of steps back, "When did you get back?"


    "Just a short while ago." Jiang Yao stepped forward, "Did President Fu come?"


    "Yeah."


    Wen Qiao walked into the room and shut the door.


    "Did you sleep with him last night?"


    "Yeah."


    Jiang Yao: "How did you sleep?"


    Wen Qiao looked at her strangely. "Just lay on the bed and slept, how else?"


    "No wonder," Jiang Yao gave her a meaningful look, "no wonder you couldn¡¯t get up this morning."


    "..."


    Wen Qiao was speechless at Jiang Yao¡¯s dirty mind, "Don¡¯t overthink it; nothing happened."


    "I get it, I get it," Jiang Yao winked conspiratorially, "no need to be shy, I¡¯m not an outsider."


    You know shit.


    Wen Qiao rolled her eyes, pushed past her, and walked further into the room.


    She washed her hands and started picking out her clothes for the day from the closet.


    Actually, once she got to the set, she would have to wear costumes daily and seldom got the chance to wear her clothes. But as meticulous as Wen Qiao was, if there were a chance to let her clothes see the light of day again, she would take it.


    She chose a white off-the-shoulder chiffon blouse that highlighted her delicate collarbones and paired it with some denim shorts, bursting with energy.


    Jiang Yao leaned in to look her over. Upon seeing Wen Qiao¡¯s fair neck, she asked, "So really, nothing happened?"


    "We slept chastely, ok?" Wen Qiao closed her closet and turned around, "What¡¯s with that disappointed look?"


    Jiang Yao smacked her lips, "It doesn¡¯t make sense, why wouldn¡¯t anything have happened? With your figure, how could President Fu remain unmoved?"


    While speaking, Jiang Yao even sketched out two curves in the air with her hands.


    Wen Qiao thought about her SpongeBob pajamas from the previous night and also about Fu Jinghen¡¯s age and style. If his brain was functioning properly, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have been tempted by her appearance.


    Wen Qiao looked at her naive manager who had gifted her seductive pajamas on their engagement night, hoping to use her allure to tempt Fu Jinghen. She decided it¡¯d be better not to tell her, to spare her sleepwear from any unwarranted distress.


    But she forgot that Jiang Yao¡¯s divergent thinking wasn¡¯t something ordinary people could keep up with. After only a brief two seconds of silence, Jiang Yao had already conjured up all sorts of nonsense.


    "President Fu isn¡¯t impotent, is he?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    "Well, that¡¯s not it either."

 Chapter 127 - 126: Visit the Set

    Chapter 127: Chapter 126: Visit the Set"Enough, don¡¯t talk about it anymore." Jiang Yao¡¯s heart ached, "How would you know if you never tried?"


    Wen Qiao: "..." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, I find your reasoning quite compelling.


    "It¡¯s really unexpected that President Fu looks so... but actually turns out to be so..." Jiang Yao sympathetically patted Wen Qiao¡¯s hand, "You¡¯ve been wronged."


    "Actually, it¡¯s not that¡ª"


    "Even though President Fu isn¡¯t great in that aspect, it¡¯s okay, he¡¯s rich, good-looking, and high-status, already way ahead of most men." Jiang Yao¡¯s tone shifted, "Being with him, you¡¯re not at a loss."


    Wen Qiao felt it was time to drop the subject and reminded aloud, "We should head to the set."


    "Right, right, we should hurry, don¡¯t be late."


    Watching Jiang Yao¡¯s flustered departure, Wen Qiao sighed.


    President Fu, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to explain for you, but I¡¯m truly powerless.


    Please don¡¯t blame me.


    The scene to be shot today was about the severe drought in the south. To stabilize public morale, Prince Jing was preparing to send the Crown Prince to survey the situation in his stead.


    After Huo Cheng learned of this news, he schemed to have Princess Rong Huan take him along.


    Director Zhang was highly efficient. The actor playing Prince Jing arrived at the set today, an experienced thespian with a kind and benevolent appearance.


    Wen Qiao greeted the senior actor before heading for make-up.


    After several days of adjusting, the cooperation among the crew had improved, especially between the two leads, Wen Qiao and Ye Shengnan.


    Ye Shengnan, who had recently won the Best Actor award, was naturally impeccable in his acting.


    Wen Qiao was a newcomer. Although his acting was still somewhat unpolished, he gradually matured under Ye Shengnan¡¯s guidance.


    Once they had finished make-up and hair, Director Zhang started filming.


    Huo Cheng sat on the palace steps, staring at the distant city walls, lost in thought.


    When Princess Rong Huan came out and saw Huo Cheng¡¯s silhouette, she felt inexplicably forlorn. Picking up her skirts, she walked over and sat beside him.


    "Huo Cheng," she called out softly.


    "Hmm?" Huo Cheng came back to his senses, saw that it was Princess Rong Huan, and stood up to bow. But she stopped him.


    "I¡¯ve told you before, when it¡¯s just the two of us, you don¡¯t have to treat me as a princess."


    Huo Cheng, unusually, did not insist and they sat side by side.


    A while later, Princess Rong Huan asked, "Huo Cheng, is something troubling you?"


    Huo Cheng didn¡¯t immediately answer, and Princess Rong Huan wasn¡¯t in a hurry. She rested her head on her knees, breaking off a twig and mindlessly doodling something in the dirt.


    After a moment of silence, Huo Cheng turned and saw that she had written his name.


    He smiled slightly, "Is the Princess writing my name?"


    Princess Rong Huan then realized her subconscious act and, flustered, smeared Huo Cheng¡¯s name away, her voice stiff, "No, you saw it wrong."


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes, you saw it wrong!"


    The smile on Huo Cheng¡¯s face grew as he watched her ears turn red with shyness. Unconsciously, he raised his hand wanting to touch them but stopped himself last minute, the smile fading.


    After a while, he spoke again, "Have I ever told the Princess that my hometown is in Zhezhou?"


    Princess Rong Huan turned to him, startled.


    Zhezhou, the place hit hardest by the drought, faced famine, the people¡¯s suffering was indescribable, refugees scattered in all directions.


    Looking at Huo Cheng¡¯s forlorn profile, Princess Rong Huan felt an oppressive discomfort in her heart.


    She had heard before that Huo Cheng¡¯s parents died because of the famine caused by the drought.

 Chapter 128 - 127: Curiosity

    Chapter 128: Chapter 127: CuriosityRong Huan didn¡¯t know how to comfort Huo Cheng, so he pursed his lips and mustered the courage to lean in and hug him.


    Huo Cheng¡¯s body stiffened, and his expression showed a moment of daze.


    "Everything will get better."


    After mildly whispering these words into Huo Cheng¡¯s ear, Rong Huan hurriedly stood up and ran away.


    But Huo Cheng still sat there without moving for a long time.


    When Fu Jinghen and Qin Xiang arrived, they saw the scene between Wen Qiao and Ye Shengnan.


    Qin Xiang, stroking his chin, commented, "This Wen Qiao really has something." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After finishing, he met Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze.


    For some reason, he read a sense of pride from it that seemed to say, "You think I don¡¯t know that, when have I ever misjudged someone?"


    Both actors were reliable, often nailing their scenes in one take when in the right emotional state, so Director Zhang was completely engrossed, watching the monitor intently during filming.


    Fu Jinghen and Qin Xiang¡¯s arrival didn¡¯t disturb anyone, and it was only after Qin Xiang spoke and the scene was finished that Director Zhang realized the big sponsor had arrived.


    "Jinghen? When did you get here? Why didn¡¯t you say anything in advance?"


    As Director Zhang said this, the staff around the monitor also took notice of them.


    Fu Jinghen and Qin Xiang, with their outstanding demeanor and remarkable looks, were no less attractive than male celebrities in the entertainment industry, even exuding an added noble and distinguished charm.


    Their presence was like a striking view in the landscape.


    The young girls on the film crew were all excited to see them.


    Compared to Fu Jinghen¡¯s indifference, Qin Xiang seemed much more flirtatious.


    With a frivolous smile on his face, he charmed the young women in the crew.


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t even glance at him as he moved to the side, putting some distance between them, and nodded at Director Zhang, "Just passing by and thought to take a look. Didn¡¯t mean to interrupt."


    Although Director Zhang was somewhat displeased initially by Fu Jinghen pushing Wen Qiao as the female lead, after a few days, his impression of her had improved.


    Hearing what Fu Jinghen said, Director Zhang joked, "Really just passing by?"


    He didn¡¯t know that Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen were engaged; he assumed their relationship was more like a sponsorship arrangement. But feeling that Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t that kind of person, he was a bit uncertain how to judge.


    He glanced at the content playing back on the monitor and said, "You indeed have good judgment."


    Fu Jinghen knew what he meant and slightly smiled without engaging further, instead he asked, "I heard that the assistant director¡¯s nephew is also with the crew?"


    "Yes," Director Zhang nodded. "Old Song¡¯s nephew is studying film directing at university, graduating this year, and joined the crew to learn. What¡¯s up, you looking for him?"


    "No," Fu Jinghen shook his head, his tone somewhat meaningful, "Just heard that the assistant director¡¯s nephew is young and promising, was a bit curious."


    Director Zhang gave him a suspicious look, "Since when are you so nosy?"


    And why did his words sound so awkward?


    It didn¡¯t seem like a compliment.


    Fu Jinghen merely smiled faintly, without saying much.


    Not far away, Song Qian, who was busy moving things, suddenly sneezed and wrinkled his nose.


    Who was talking about him?


    -


    Senior leaders were inspecting, and the enthusiasm of the entire film crew was at an all-time high, each member showing their very best in the presence of Fu Jinghen, the biggest financial backer.


    Among them, Jiang Wei took the lead.

 Chapter 129 - 128: Power Couple CP

    Chapter 129: Chapter 128: Power Couple CPShe had just changed her clothes when she heard that Fu Jinghen had arrived at the set, and immediately rushed out.


    Since entering the entertainment industry, Jiang Wei had never concealed her family background. After signing with Huasong Media, it was even revealed by paparazzi that the Jiang Family and the Fu Family were not only acquainted but also business partners. Furthermore, Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei, being close in age, were often mentioned together.


    At several banquets, both were invited, and though not as each other¡¯s dates, there were still numerous photos on social media afterwards showing them mingling and laughing with others in the midst of clinking glasses.


    Even if they did not appear in the same photo, the two of them had a matching presence and temperament, and such photos provided netizens with endless space for their imaginations. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    One was a humble gentleman of the business world, young and promising; the other was a well-known actress on the stage, graceful and dazzling. In terms of family, education, and appearance, they were both deemed a perfect match.


    For a time, rumors of a business-and-entertainment industry marriage alliance were rampant.


    Some imaginative netizens even claimed that the FS Group¡¯s foray into the luxury goods and service industry, and the establishment of Huasong Media was all to win over a beauty and guard her.


    And this beauty, according to unanimous netizen opinion, could be none other than Jiang Wei.


    Some fans even created a "Power Couple" fan group on social media dedicated to Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei, which quickly amassed a large following, rivaling on-screen couplings of the entertainment industry.


    With rumors flying high, the main subjects of the whirlwind, Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei, had never once stepped forward to explain. No matter what the two of them truly thought on the inside, in the public eye, no explanation was equivalent to a tacit admission.


    Jiang Wei was also surprised by Fu Jinghen¡¯s arrival. Since its establishment, Huasong Media had produced numerous dramas, some with a larger IP than "Red Makeup," but this was Fu Jinghen¡¯s first visit to a set. She just worried that he was there for Wen Qiao.


    She had expected to see Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen glued to each other¡¯s side when she arrived, but instead, they were like strangers, with no interaction at all.


    After observing for a while, she felt that no one in the crew seemed to be aware of their relationship.


    While Jiang Wei was doubtful, she felt more happy than anything else. She suppressed her excitement, walked unhurriedly to Fu Jinghen¡¯s side, and greeted him in a casual manner.


    "Brother Jinghen."


    When Fu Jinghen heard her voice, he turned his head and took a glance, pausing almost imperceptibly upon seeing Jiang Wei.


    After Wen Qiao told him about that matter last night, he asked Feng Li to start an investigation.


    Although the matter was not yet clear, after hearing Wen Qiao¡¯s question the night before, Fu Jinghen also gave it some thought. He had an engagement with Wen Qiao and was certainly going to marry her in the future.


    He was not unaware of the past rumors but had simply chosen to ignore them. He understood the nature of the entertainment industry, where sometimes indifference and depriving a rumor of attention was the best way to cool it down.


    Furthermore, Jiang Wei¡¯s father had also asked him to take care of her. Such a request from an elder was naturally not something that Fu Jinghen could refuse.


    But now, with a fiancee, it was best not to create too many misunderstandings¡ªfor everyone¡¯s sake, and Wen Qiao was the one he would spend his life with.

 Chapter 130 - 129: Xiao Qiang CP

    Chapter 130: Chapter 129: Xiao Qiang CPEven after determining the truth that it wasn¡¯t related to Jiang Wei when Wen Qiao¡¯s phone was stolen to send Lin Ruochun a message, causing her to fall into the water, he still planned to keep his distance from Jiang Wei. Apart from love, he needed to provide his wife with at least a sense of security. That was his responsibility as a man.


    However...


    Fu Jinghen thought for a moment, realizing he hadn¡¯t been that enthusiastic towards Jiang Wei before either.


    He nodded at Jiang Wei and then looked away.


    He was not overly enthusiastic, but he didn¡¯t completely ignore her either.


    Just as Jiang Wei was about to say something else, Fu Jinghen had already turned his head, his gaze intently fixed on the content replaying on the monitor. Jiang Wei followed his gaze and saw Wen Qiao appear on the screen.


    The screen showed Wen Qiao wearing a white Ru Sha Dress that highlighted her slim, elegant figure, and wearing a tassel pendant on her forehead that added a touch of nobility. Every frown and smile radiated the pampered air of a princess.


    The smile on Jiang Wei¡¯s face faded slightly, her eyelids drooping slightly to hide the sudden surge of jealousy within.


    Although time had passed and the super-couple heat between Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei had gradually cooled down, many netizens were still enthusiastically shipping them. There were even a few young girls in the crew who shipped their relationship. Now seeing Fu Jinghen visiting the set, ostensibly for inspection, it could very well be a visit to Jiang Wei.


    And seeing Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei together, pink bubbles seemed to float around them in the eyes of their fans.


    Some even reopened their Weibo super-topic chat, taking a picture of the two and posting it there¡ª


    Super couple fans, come get your sugar! President Fu visits the "Red Makeup" crew, a handsome man and beautiful woman pair is just too pleasing to the eye.


    As soon as the picture was posted, it immediately attracted a large number of dedicated fans.


    "AAAAAAA it¡¯s the New Year, the way President Fu looks down at Weiwei is so doting!"


    "My gosh! The wait is over! The stunning beauty who dominates the big screen turns coquettishly charming in front of President Fu!"


    "Please, any writers out there, write a fanfic about these two! Really want to read one!"


    "Is it real, is it real, it must be real, right?"


    "Drop the ¡¯is it¡¯, it must be real!"


    "..." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Suddenly, the "super couple cp" surged into the hot searches.


    But not everyone welcomed Fu Jinghen¡¯s visit with open arms.


    Wen Qiao, dressed in a costume, sat on a small stool, using the wide skirt to properly cover her legs, lazily leaning back in the chair while listening to Jiang Yao quietly gossiping next to her about the stories the netizens concocted about Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei, her eyes on the legendary "super couple."


    As Jiang Yao once again passionately read out the latest updates from the "super couple" super-topic, Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t hold back.


    She straightened up and, under Jiang Yao¡¯s gaze which seemed to say, "Is it finally going to start? Should I go buy some sunflower seeds or popcorn?", flicked back the hair clinging to her back, and then leaned back in the chair, letting her hair fall.


    "Ah, that¡¯s indeed much cooler."


    Jiang Yao: "?"


    So, after all that chatter which dried up my throat, all you have to respond with is flipping your hair?


    Wen Qiao, noticing her gaze, looked puzzled: "Why are you looking at me like that?"


    "I just said so much, don¡¯t you have any thoughts?"

 Chapter 131 - 130: Useless Jealousy

    Chapter 131: Chapter 130: Useless Jealousy"Don¡¯t even get me started, I actually do have some thoughts."


    Jiang Yao¡¯s eyes immediately lit up, "What is it? What is it?"


    "What¡¯s with the excitement?" Wen Qiao asked her.


    "Ah? No, you¡¯re mistaken," Jiang Yao reigned in her blazing curiosity, waving her hand dismissively, "Just spill it, what are your thoughts?"


    "....."


    Wen Qiao gave her a speechless look and took a flyer that Jiang Yao had somehow gotten hold of, aligning it before taking it in her hand to fan herself, her mouth opening and closing, "That thing, the ¡¯power couple,¡¯ who comes up with these names? It¡¯s so tacky. Why not just call it the ¡¯cockroach couple¡¯? At least that has a better implication, strong and hardy, everlasting. If any net users ever pair me up and give it such a tacky name, I¡¯d definitely have to wipe out that fan club entirely."


    "Mhm, mhm," Jiang Yao nodded furiously, hungry for more, "And then? What else?"


    "That¡¯s it."


    "Mhm, mhm," Jiang Yao nodded again, taking a second or two before realizing what Wen Qiao had just said, "That¡¯s it?"


    "What else could there be?" Wen Qiao slowly closed her eyes, planning to rest for a while, and spoke more slowly, "Would there be truly earth-shattering thoughts? Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei have known each other for so long, would he be engaged to me if there was something more?" sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "The outside world sees Fu Jinghen as the ¡¯gentleman of gentlemen,¡¯ but that¡¯s all for show. In truth, he is incredibly proud. A person¡¯s character is greatly influenced by their family background. Someone like Fu Jinghen, born at the finish line and long accustomed to a lofty position, what can¡¯t he get if he wants it? He wouldn¡¯t let himself not get what he desires."


    Wen Qiao rambled on, her voice tinged with the lethargy of being sun-soaked, "Since all these years he hasn¡¯t had anything happen with Jiang Wei, that proves nothing will happen in the future. Netizens, well, they like to chase after shadows, sweet or bitter, it¡¯s just entertainment when they¡¯re bored. You can¡¯t deprive them of even that hobby, right? If they enjoy shipping, let them ship, it doesn¡¯t hinder me. Life is for our own viewing. I¡¯m in the midst of it, no one knows it clearer than me. To be jealous of such baseless things¡ª"


    At this point, Wen Qiao opened one eye, looked outside at Jiang Yao, and waggled a finger, "Not sensible."


    "....."


    Jiang Yao listened by her side, feeling there was some truth to it, but something still seemed off to her, something she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on. Just as she was about to say something, she caught a glimpse of a figure from the corner of her eye. Looking up, she immediately stood up from her chair, "President Fu."


    Hearing Jiang Yao¡¯s shout, Wen Qiao opened her eyes half a beat slower and was met with dazzling sunlight that made her quickly furrow her brows, plunging her vision into darkness.


    Fu Jinghen, seeing this, moved discreetly a step to the side to shield her.


    It took Wen Qiao a moment to recover and see the person standing before her, and she too stood up from her small stool, "President Fu."


    Different from the flirty and coquettish tone she had in private, Wen Qiao¡¯s call of "President Fu" was utterly respectful, with no hint of personal feeling.


    Fu Jinghen imperceptibly frowned but then relaxed, giving a non-committal "hm."


    Wen Qiao had thought he came over for a reason, but after waiting for a while, Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t make a peep. She exchanged a glance with Jiang Yao and saw the staff around them, pretending to be busy but actually stealing glances their way. She weighed her words before asking, "President Fu, is there something you need from me?"

 Chapter 132 - 131: What I Lack Least Is Money

    Chapter 132: Chapter 131: What I Lack Least Is MoneyWen Qiao¡¯s voice had always been somewhat cold, but she would act spoiled when talking with Fu Jinghen, so it would sound very sweet. However, now as she spoke with him, her tone and voice were no different from how she spoke with anyone else.


    It just sounded much more estranged.


    Fu Jinghen suddenly felt like the Wen Qiao who had clung to him last night, asking to be carried back, was just a figment of his imagination.


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen paused for a moment, and when he opened his mouth again, his voice had suddenly turned colder, "It¡¯s nothing."


    After saying that, he turned his head and walked away.


    Wen Qiao stood rooted to the spot, puzzled. She blinked and leaned in to whisper to Jiang Yao, "Do you feel like Fu Jinghen is angry?"


    Jiang Yao shook her head, "No, why do you think that?"


    "It feels like he¡¯s a bit cold."


    "President Fu isn¡¯t exactly a warm person to begin with, right? He seems polite to everyone on the surface but is actually indifferent at heart, isn¡¯t he?"


    Wen Qiao touched her chin thoughtfully and nodded, then her expression paused, "Why does that sound so familiar to me?" S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao blinked, "Aren¡¯t those characteristics described in boss novels?"


    "Since when have you started reading romance novels?"


    "I was just bored."


    Wen Qiao took out her phone, opened an app, and handed it to Jiang Yao, "I¡¯ve recently found a novel called ¡¯The Actor Eats Soft Rice Every Day¡¯ which is quite good. I recommend you read it when you¡¯re free."


    With the topic diverted, they didn¡¯t dwell on Fu Jinghen anymore.


    While the two were busy discussing the plot of the novel, a sullen female voice suddenly rang out beside Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, "Did you know that Brother Jinghen and Qin Xiang were going to come to the set?"


    "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"


    "Yah yah yah yah yah yah yah yah yah!"


    Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao were so startled by the sudden appearance of the voice that they almost lost their souls, screaming and hugging each other tightly with their eyes shut tight, not daring to open them.


    "Stop screaming," Lin Ruochun said impatiently while digging at her ears, "It¡¯s me."


    Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao, with eyes still closed, took a moment to recognize the voice. After a while, Wen Qiao slowly cracked her eyes open a little to take a cautious look. Upon seeing Lin Ruochun¡¯s world-weary face, their hearts, which had been hanging so high, finally settled back down safely.


    Wen Qiao let go of the arm around Jiang Yao and rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Who are you trying to scare in broad daylight? If I had a heart condition or something, you¡¯d be facing bankruptcy."


    "I can¡¯t go bankrupt because what I have no shortage of is money."


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    Jiang Yao: "....."


    Fine, you¡¯re rich and impressive.


    "Did you know last night that Brother Jinghen and Qin Xiang were coming here?" Lin Ruochun, seeing that Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t answered her earlier question, asked again.


    "Yeah," Wen Qiao straightened the slightly askew wig on her head and said nonchalantly, "After I pulled you out of the water and went back to my room yesterday, Fu Jinghen was already there."


    Lin Ruochun grew anxious, "Then why didn¡¯t you tell me!"


    Before Wen Qiao could answer, Jiang Yao raised her hand and interrupted them, her eyes darting back and forth between the two, "Wait, what do you mean you pulled her out of the water?"


    "Ahh, I¡¯ll explain that to you later tonight," Wen Qiao reassured Jiang Yao and then turned to Lin Ruochun, "Why should I tell you about my fianc¨¦ coming over, and besides, didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t like Fu Jinghen?"

 Chapter 133 - 132: Bad Woman 2.0

    Chapter 133: Chapter 132: Bad Woman 2.0"I¡¯m not into Brother Jinghen! But, but....."


    Lin Ruochun hesitated for ages, her face turning red, yet she failed to come up with a rational explanation.


    Wen Qiao looked at her suddenly shy demeanor, then recalled what she just said, and suddenly had an epiphany, raising her finger at her, "I get it, you¡¯re into Qin Wu...."


    Before she could finish, Lin Ruochun lunged forward, covering Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth with her hand.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t expect Lin Ruochun to pounce suddenly and lost her balance. Both of them fell backward until Wen Qiao¡¯s back hit a pillar next to the tent and they stopped just in time.


    Due to the impact, Wen Qiao¡¯s back hit the stone pillar hard, and she winced in pain.


    Damn it.


    That really fucking hurts.


    Jiang Yao looked at the two bodies pressed together and asked seriously, "Should I leave you two alone for a moment?"


    No sooner had she finished speaking than a teasing male voice came from behind, "Yo, what¡¯s Ruochun up to? Pouncing on someone like that."


    Being the person closest to Lin Ruochun, Wen Qiao could feel how Lin Ruochun¡¯s body stiffened for a moment; her facial expression became unnatural, her eyes filled with a warning.


    "Don¡¯t you dare tell anyone!"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes crinkled with amusement and glanced down, gesturing for her to remove her hand from his mouth.


    Lin Ruochun slowly let go, ready to cover Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth again at a moment¡¯s notice.


    Seeing her cautious look, Wen Qiao found it even more amusing. She glanced at Qin Xiang approaching and whispered in Lin Ruochun¡¯s ear, "I might help you keep your secret¡ª"


    Lin Ruochun caught the implied condition and immediately nodded in agreement, "Whatever you ask for, I¡¯ll agree."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes smiled even brighter, her beautiful peach blossom eyes turning into crescents, "I like your pragmatism, we can talk."


    As soon as she said that, Qin Xiang reached them, and the next second, the weight on her disappeared.


    Qin Xiang grabbed Lin Ruochun by the back of the neck and lifted her off Wen Qiao, feigning a stern warning, "Ruochun, keep your distance from this kind of woman. Don¡¯t let her lead you astray."


    Wen Qiao leaned against the pillar, arms crossed, smiling ambiguously at Qin Xiang, "Then do tell, what kind of woman am I?"


    Qin Xiang: "A bad woman."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Fine.


    There was a reason Lin Ruochun fell for a blockhead like Qin Xiang.


    At least, when it came to her judgement, the two of them were remarkably in sync.


    She poked Lin Ruochun¡¯s head, "So tell me, how have I led you astray?"


    Although there wasn¡¯t any hint of threat in her tone, Lin Ruochun was still reluctant to speak freely, only defending Wen Qiao, "No, you haven¡¯t. You haven¡¯t led me astray."


    As she spoke, she brushed off Qin Xiang¡¯s hand from her neck, "Don¡¯t talk nonsense¡ªWen Qiao is very nice, and she¡¯s my lifesaver. Be more polite to her."


    "What lifesaver?" Qin Xiang furrowed his brows. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..." Lin Ruochun pursed her lips, "It¡¯s a long story, I¡¯ll tell you after everything is resolved."


    "Why wait until after it¡¯s resolved? Tell me now, so I can help you solve it." Qin Xiang¡¯s frown deepened, and his tone grew more anxious, "Didn¡¯t I tell you not to keep things from me? If something happens to you, my mom will skin me alive when I get back."

 Chapter 134 - 133: Who Said I Was Here to See Her

    Chapter 134: Chapter 133: Who Said I Was Here to See HerThe final sentence successfully made Lin Ruochun swallow back the words she was about to say. She said impatiently, "I already said I¡¯ll tell you later. Why are you so annoying? What did you come over here for?"


    Meanwhile, Wen Qiao, who was listening to their conversation, was rendered speechless upon hearing what Qin Xiang had said.


    No hope left.


    Qin Laoer was also beyond saving.


    Then she began to wonder, how could anyone who hangs out with Fu Jinghen be like this in matters of love, each one more clueless than the last?


    Birds of a feather flock together indeed.


    "Alright, alright, if you don¡¯t want to talk, I won¡¯t ask. Just calm down," Qin Xiang said, seeing she didn¡¯t want to continue, without pressing further, and coaxed her, "Fu Jinghen ordered afternoon tea for your crew, want to go have some?"


    Wen Qiao, who had been enjoying the show, felt that she had watched enough. She had only had a small sandwich in the morning and was feeling a bit hungry now. She stretched lazily, straightened up, and let out an "ouch": "Let¡¯s go eat something."


    Whether intentional or accidental, when Wen Qiao lowered her arm, she hit Qin Xiang on the head. Realizing what had happened, she repeatedly apologized: "Sorry, sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to hit you. My apologies, Qin Laoer."


    Qin Xiang jumped up in a second, gritting his teeth, "Say it again, and don¡¯t you dare call me Qin Laoer."


    "Got it, Qin Laoer," Wen Qiao replied nonchalantly, waving her hand and walking over to Jiang Yao, hooking her arm and heading toward the director.


    Qin Xiang stood in place and could still faintly hear the words Wen Qiao was saying.


    "What is this guy¡¯s head made of? It hurts to hit it. Look, my hand is all red now."


    "...."


    Qin Xiang looked at Lin Ruochun and spoke earnestly, "See, you really should stay away from that kind of woman in the future, got it, Ruochun?"


    Lin Ruochun gave him a cold glance: "You call me Ruochun one more time, and I¡¯ll start calling you Qin Laoer from now on."


    After speaking, Lin Ruochun turned and left.


    Qin Xiang watched Lin Ruochun¡¯s retreating figure with deep pain and regret.


    It was over.


    His cute and well-behaved Ruochun had definitely been led astray by that bad woman Wen Qiao.


    -


    Fu Jinghen and Qin Xiang didn¡¯t stay at the set for very long; they left around noon.


    When leaving, Wen Qiao only followed the director and others to send them off perfunctorily. After all, she and Fu Jinghen had a secret marriage, and it was her own idea to begin with, so it wouldn¡¯t be right to seem too enthusiastic.


    On the other hand, Jiang Wei gave them a bunch of pleasantries, advising them to "be safe and have a smooth trip."


    Wen Qiao stood at the back of the crowd, idly twirling her hair, feeling a bit out of place. When she looked up, she locked eyes with Fu Jinghen in front of the crowd. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She blinked and moved her lips, silently saying "goodbye."


    Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that after she said those two words, the look Fu Jinghen gave her turned colder.


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Oh my God.


    A man¡¯s mind is so hard to guess.


    Jiang Yao nudged her shoulder next to her: "Aren¡¯t you going to say something?"


    "No, I¡¯m not going for the excitement."


    "But you did remind me; I really should say something."


    Wen Qiao paused for a moment, then pulled out her phone, found Fu Jinghen¡¯s WeChat, and sent him a message.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Have a safe trip. Message me when you get home, okay? I¡¯ll miss you. Love you, xoxo. Kiss Kiss JPG.]


    "Don¡¯t understand you. You won¡¯t say it in person, yet you insist on sending a message."

 Chapter 135 - 134: President Fu鈥檚 Little Scheme

    Chapter 135: Chapter 134: President Fu¡¯s Little SchemeWen Qiao put away her phone and lifted her chin haughtily towards Jiang Yao, "You don¡¯t understand. Everyone thinks we have no connection, but I am actually the person here with the closest relationship to him. This kind of secretive contact is the most tantalizing, right?"


    Jiang Yao: "...."


    She really didn¡¯t understand.


    After dealing with Qin Xiang, Lin Ruochun squeezed out of the crowd, came up beside Wen Qiao, and said in a lowered voice, "Why are you still standing here? Hurry up and see him off. Look at Jiang Wei; she¡¯s so eager she might as well climb into the car and leave with Brother Jinghen. How can you remain so indifferent?"


    "She can dream on about getting into the car." Wen Qiao shrugged indifferently. "Besides, we¡¯re secretly married; it¡¯s not good for me to send him off."


    And to think, on her first day on set, Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t see her off, so she certainly wasn¡¯t going to see off Fu Jinghen.


    Seeing her nonchalant demeanor and then glancing at Jiang Wei, who was eager to the point of agitation, Lin Ruochun became anxious and stomped her foot. She reached out to tug at Wen Qiao, nearly dragging her away, her mouth agape as if about to shout. But Wen Qiao, perceptive of her intentions, spoke first, calmly saying, "Don¡¯t forget your little secret is still in my hands. Try shouting out; see what happens?"


    "..."


    Lin Ruochun immediately clamped her mouth shut and released Wen Qiao¡¯s clothes, even smoothing them out as she apologized, "Sorry, that was presumptuous of me." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No problem."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes crinkled with a smile as she patted Lin Ruochun¡¯s hair. "Let¡¯s go back and review the script. Whether they¡¯ve come or gone, we have a drama to shoot."


    Lin Ruochun nodded and followed Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao away.


    -


    The black business car gradually picked up speed, turning the crowd into a mere dot in the rearview mirror. Propping his legs up, Qin Xiang settled into his seat and remarked in wonder, "I still can¡¯t believe you personally came down to Hang City to do business just to take a glance at Wen Qiao."


    "Who said I¡¯m here to see her."


    A cool voice rose in the car, prompting the driver in front to involuntarily straighten up, though Qin Xiang remained as unflappable as ever, showing no fear whatsoever.


    "Not? Do you think I¡¯d believe that? Feng Li said that you had abandoned this partnership, yet you picked it up again suddenly. Wasn¡¯t it just to find an excuse to come here and take a look?" Qin Xiang looked at Fu Jinghen teasingly. "President Fu, your roundabout way of thinking sure is costly."


    Fu Jinghen looked at Qin Xiang expressionlessly, "Say one more word, and you¡¯re out of here."


    His eyes, dark as ink, were as inscrutable as an ancient well. It could be quite intimidating to be on the receiving end of his cold stare, and of the two people Mr. Qin feared the most, one was his brother and the other was Fu Jinghen.


    With that look from him, Qin Xiang¡¯s sardonic expression diminished a bit, "Alright, if you say it¡¯s not, then it¡¯s not."


    Fu Jinghen then withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to rest.


    Although he didn¡¯t like to admit it, the Hang City partnership was indeed something he had initially given up on.


    The partnership wasn¡¯t likely to lose money, but it also wouldn¡¯t bring any significant benefits to FS.


    In the years since Fu Jinghen took over FS Group, armed with his formidable skills and his unique insights into capital operation, he took FS up more than a notch. And someone whose standards couldn¡¯t be higher was him.


    He usually wouldn¡¯t bother with such a lackluster deal.


    Yet he gave the partners a chance.


    Part of the reason was indeed the desire to see how Wen Qiao was doing.

 Chapter 136 - 135: I鈥檓 Going to Chop Her Up!

    Chapter 136: Chapter 135: I¡¯m Going to Chop Her Up!He originally thought that a young girl in her early twenties, facing an old and disrespectful man like Luo Bin, and later getting scolded nonsensically by netizens, would end up crying her eyes out. However, after seeing for himself, he realized that she was living quite carefree.


    Even if he hadn¡¯t shown up, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered to her.


    His presence was just like this collaboration with FS, neither meritorious nor faulty.


    Fu Jinghen even felt that, had he not come, perhaps Wen Qiao would have been even more carefree.


    Wasn¡¯t she planning to go eat barbecue with Song Qian?


    Recalling the words Wen Qiao said to Jiang Yao, although he didn¡¯t hear everything, he got the gist.


    She was right¡ªif he really wanted to be with Jiang Wei, by now he would no longer have anything to do with her, so there was really no need for such jealousy, and indeed, a wife who was generous and sensible did fit his idea of a partner.


    But for some reason, after listening, he felt uncomfortable inside.


    It was as if something was missing.


    She talked about keeping their marriage secret, and in front of others she really did act like a stranger to him, as if the coquettish Wen Qiao who pinched her voice when sweet-talking him was all his own fantasy. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A sense of irritability surged up for no reason, and he couldn¡¯t pinpoint where it was coming from.


    Suddenly, a "ding dong" sound of glass clinking rang out beside him, and he opened his eyes to look.


    Qin Xiang was taking a box of ice cubes out of the car fridge and pouring them into a glass, then shuddered suddenly, as if he had sensed something, and turned his head in slow motion, only to meet Fu Jinghen¡¯s ferocious gaze.


    "Brother Fu," Qin Xiang raised his glass and cautiously asked, "Would you like a drink?"


    "Keep it down."


    Qin Xiang nodded rapidly like a pecking chicken: "Okay, Brother Fu."


    It was only when he saw Fu Jinghen close his eyes again that the breath Qin Xiang was holding finally relaxed.


    My goodness.


    That was terrifying.


    -


    Arriving back at the hotel in the evening and just stepping into the room, Jiang Yao adopted an interrogative stance, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, watching Wen Qiao: "Don¡¯t walk any further in, first tell me, what exactly happened with the falling into the water incident."


    Wen Qiao had been whipped by Director Zhang under the scorching sun all day, and now was dragging her tender and feeble body half-dead inside, having only taken two steps before being stopped by Jiang Yao.


    And judging by her posture, it seemed that if she didn¡¯t come clean, Jiang Yao would throw her out of the room the next second, letting her spend the night in the hallway.


    Wen Qiao rubbed her face, summoning a bit of energy: "Why so serious, I¡¯m not refusing to tell you."


    Jiang Yao "hmmph" twice: "You better."


    It wasn¡¯t without reason that Jiang Yao made such a big deal; it was because Wen Qiao had too many instances where she caused big troubles without warning, and she didn¡¯t have much credibility left, at least not with Jiang Yao.


    Wen Qiao looked at Jiang Yao with a look of grievance: "Can¡¯t you let me sit down before I talk?"


    The last word rose in a whine, thick with aggrievement, coupled with Wen Qiao¡¯s pouting, looking like a soft dumpling, with a grieving emotion in her eyes that seemed about to spill over. Not just any man could resist that look, let alone Jiang Yao, who couldn¡¯t stand being stared at like that.


    She shivered and shifted slightly to the side: "Alright, alright, I¡¯ll let you go in and sit down to talk."


    Wen Qiao immediately perked up, striding cheerfully towards the sofa, and flopped down on it like a lump of mud, letting out a contented sigh.

 Chapter 137 - 136: You are the Empress

    Chapter 137: Chapter 136: You are the EmpressLying down is definitely the most comfortable.


    Jiang Yao followed her and kicked her dangling legs, "Stop playing dead; speak up."


    "To put it simply, I went to buy barbecue by the river last night and happened to see Lin Ruochun fall into the water. Being the kind-hearted person I am, I jumped in and pulled her out."


    Wen Qiao explained to Jiang Yao the gist of the event and her speculation about the mastermind behind it.


    Unlike Fu Jinghen¡¯s calmness, as soon as Jiang Yao heard her analysis and about Jiang Wei confronting her the day before, a fierce rage ignited immediately. She sprang up from the couch, wishing she could grab a knife and storm into Jiang Wei¡¯s room.


    Wen Qiao quickly grabbed Jiang Yao¡¯s arm, "Sister Yao, Sister Yao! Stay calm! Stay calm! This is just my speculation! We can¡¯t just confront anyone without clear evidence."


    "Let go of me! I¡¯m going to chop her up! What nerve she has, daring to provoke me in your presence when I¡¯m not around, not considering the master when beating a dog, does she think I¡¯m dead?"


    Wait a minute.


    Something¡¯s not right.


    Initially touched by Jiang Yao¡¯s fury on her behalf, Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but question, "Are you calling me a dog?"


    Jiang Yao was extremely protective. Even though she had previously seen Wen Qiao render Jiang Wei speechless, hearing her talk nonsense again still made her angry.


    Jiang Yao had always treated Wen Qiao like a younger sister, always protecting her, and now was no exception.


    Opinions about Wen Qiao online were mixed, mostly negative, merely because she had foolishly pursued Qi Ming, but who didn¡¯t have the right to pursue those they liked or things they desired? Just because she was a woman and a public figure, was it wrong to follow the man she liked?


    Furthermore, she wasn¡¯t following Qi Ming around anymore. She had a legitimate fianc¨¦, and still, Jiang Wei, that clown, dared to trouble her. What kind of situation was this?


    "I¡¯m telling you, this whole thing was likely done by Jiang Wei. I¡¯ve also heard some things about her and Lin Ruochun. She used your phone to send messages to Lin Ruochun, causing her to fall into the water. Plus, practically everyone in the group knows about the discord between you and Lin Ruochun."


    As she spoke, Jiang Yao furiously slapped the table with her palm, "Now everybody will definitely suspect that you bear a grudge against Lin Ruochun and that¡¯s why you did it. There are only three main female actors in this drama. With two gone, doesn¡¯t it just benefit her alone? Such a big appetite, she¡¯s not afraid of choking!"


    Wen Qiao looked at the coffee table with some concern.


    Silently mourned it for three seconds. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She watched Jiang Yao, who was furious as if she had suffered some great personal injustice, and couldn¡¯t help but pat her on the back to calm her down, "Alright, alright, don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯ve already asked Fu Jinghen to investigate. Once the results are out, we can confront her with the evidence, and it won¡¯t be too late. That way, it¡¯ll be more justified."


    Jiang Yao rolled up her shirt sleeves high, sat on the sofa with her legs apart, and her hands on her knees, looking every bit like a gang leader, "Who does she think she is? Daring to mess with my people? And let me tell you, the video of Luo Bin knocking on your door that night, I suspect she was the one who sent it out. It must have been those two conspiring together."


    "You said it yourself, it¡¯s just a suspicion, it might not be her. Don¡¯t worry, the truth will come out one day."

 Chapter 138 - 137: I am a Straight Woman of 800

    Chapter 138: Chapter 137: I am a Straight Woman of 800Wen Qiao coaxed her, "A gentleman¡¯s revenge is not too late even after ten years, don¡¯t be mad, don¡¯t be mad. Now, breathe in! Breathe out!"


    Jiang Yao actually followed Wen Qiao¡¯s breathing rhythm for a while but still felt a bout of frustration stuck in her chest. "No, I can¡¯t calm down. Wait for me, I¡¯m going to dig up some dirt on her and spread it, just to give her a headache too."


    "Don¡¯t try to persuade me," Jiang Yao preemptively stopped Wen Qiao, blocking whatever she was about to say next, "Even if it turns out it wasn¡¯t her doing, just for the fact she came to provoke you, I have to return the favor. You are the Empress, and she can¡¯t even compare to a concubine, jumping around causing chaos."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Actually, she wasn¡¯t exactly a saint either, harboring love for all, including those who disliked her and even wanted to harm her, letting them off the hook easily. She always believed in defeating her enemies with a single move, planning to wait until the truth was clear and then slam the evidence in their face so they could never rise again.


    Those petty little tricks were just too bothersome for her to engage in.


    "Buying trending searches to expose Jiang Wei¡¯s scandals might not bother her for the moment, but you are indeed increasing her popularity."


    This statement from Wen Qiao successfully calmed Jiang Yao down.


    Right.


    She was spending her own money to increase her rival¡¯s popularity?


    That really was brainless.


    Seeing her expression, Wen Qiao, slightly disdainful, sighed, "I really don¡¯t know if I¡¯m the agent or you are. Why do I have to be the one to point out this basic principle to you?" sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao: "..."


    She was just overly concerned, that¡¯s all!


    "Ungrateful!"


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but laugh, pulling Jiang Yao into a hug and planting a kiss on her cheek, "A beauty¡¯s kiss, don¡¯t be mad now."


    Jiang Yao feigned disgust, wiping her face and scooting aside to avoid Wen Qiao, "Gross, keep your distance. I¡¯m a straight woman through and through."


    "People want my kisses and can¡¯t even get them," Wen Qiao rolled her eyes, stood up from the couch, and swung her hand as she walked away, "I¡¯m going to take a shower."


    "Go ahead," Jiang Yao waved her hand dismissively.


    She needed some time to cool down as she was still feeling rather frustrated.


    A few steps out, Wen Qiao suddenly remembered something, halted, and walked back, "Oh right, I forgot to tell you, I¡¯m going back to Jiang City next week to shoot an ad for ES. Remember to book the flight."


    Jiang Yao replied nonchalantly again, "Got it, got it."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    She felt like it couldn¡¯t be that simple.


    Indeed, just as Wen Qiao entered the bathroom and began to undress, a scream suddenly erupted from the living room.


    "Ah¡ª"


    Frightened, Wen Qiao immediately dropped her clothes, covering her chest with her hands.


    "What happened?"


    As soon as she spoke, someone knocked on the bathroom door from outside.


    "What did you just say? Say it again?" Jiang Yao asked incredulously.


    Peering through the frosted glass door at the silhouette behind it, even without seeing her expression, Wen Qiao could imagine Jiang Yao¡¯s face looking ferocious and ready to pounce.


    Instinctively, she stepped back, worried that Jiang Yao might break through the door next, and replied, "I said, I¡¯m going back to Jiang City next week to shoot an ad for ES. Remember to book the flight."


    "Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah!"


    The glass door was banged on again.


    "Is it the ES I¡¯m thinking of?"

 Chapter 139 - 138: Evil Capitalists

    Chapter 139: Chapter 138: Evil CapitalistsWen Qiao helplessly responded, "Who else could it be?"


    Jiang Yao let out another scream, her whole body almost plastered to the door, "You¡¯re going to shoot an advertisement for ES, does that mean you¡¯re going to be their spokesperson?"


    "Nothing¡¯s confirmed yet," Wen Qiao didn¡¯t want to speak too definitively, "Fu Jinghen just said he wants me to go back and shoot briefly to see how it goes. There¡¯s no certainty that I¡¯ll secure the endorsement."


    Jiang Yao immediately flattered her, "That¡¯s okay, you¡¯ll definitely do great."


    "Although I¡¯m touched by the confidence you have in me, but¡ª" Wen Qiao leaned on the washstand absently tapping the ceramic tiles with her fingers, "can you let me take a shower first? With you sticking to the door, I feel like I¡¯m being spied on."


    "Oh, oh," Jiang Yao bounced back sharply upon hearing that, "You go ahead and shower first."


    She was now inclined to treat Wen Qiao almost like a revered ancestor, naturally agreeing to whatever she said.


    With her mood from earlier swept away, she hummed a song and left the bathroom.


    What about later? She still had an age advantage over Wen Qiao by being born a few years earlier. Now that her Qiaoqiao was rising, Jiang Wei still had to step aside.


    Listening to the faint lyrics of "Today is a good day" passing through the door, Wen Qiao shook her head helplessly.


    -


    The collaboration between ES brand and FS had been in discussion since the beginning of the year, with their brand director visiting personally several times for onsite inspections.


    Business people always sought to maximize their interests; Fu Jinghen and ES¡¯s CEO were no exception, both sides tense for a long time, showing no signs of yielding.


    But Fu Jinghen was not anxious at all.


    It was inevitable for ES to establish itself in the market of Hua Country, and Jingcui Mall was their best, optimum, and only choice. If ES were willing to cooperate with another company over a few percentage points, thereby degrading their brand, that would be another story.


    Psychological warfare was exhausting, and eventually, ES¡¯s side could no longer sit still. This time, ES¡¯s president, design director, and market manager specially flew to Jiang City to discuss cooperation with Fu Jinghen, showing full sincerity.


    Three people sat on each side of the spacious solid wood table.


    On one side was FS Group, led by Fu Jinghen, and on the other were representatives from ES.


    ES¡¯s president, Armand, who was half Hua Country by descent, had a Chinese mother and was named Gu Yi. He had blond hair and blue eyes, but his facial features were much softer, yet the shrewdness in his eyes was undiminished.


    As the contract was opened to the last page in front of him, he picked up a pen but suddenly paused just before signing his name, and looked across at the composed Fu Jinghen, "Fu, are you really unwilling to compromise even a bit?"


    His Chinese pronunciation was not very standard and lacked fluency, perhaps because he hadn¡¯t been studying it for long.


    Fu Jinghen offered a faint smile, "If President Gu isn¡¯t ready to decide, I can wait a bit longer."


    Hearing this, Gu Yi sighed, signed his name on the contract, and muttered, "Truly a ruthless capitalist, never taking a loss."


    The secretary at his side, hearing this, tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "President Gu, don¡¯t forget, you¡¯re a capitalist too."


    Gu Yi: "..."


    Embarrassed.


    He had indeed forgotten.


    After the contract was signed, the cooperation between ES and FS was finally settled.


    "Fu, pleasure doing business with you."


    Fu Jinghen reached out to shake Gu Yi¡¯s hand, "Pleasure doing business." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As they withdrew their hands, the severity at the negotiation table vanished. Gu Yi¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity, "Fu, I¡¯d like to meet the spokesperson we¡¯ve chosen."

 Chapter 140 - 139: A Very Beautiful Woman

    Chapter 140: Chapter 139: A Very Beautiful WomanHe paused and then added, "Looking at the photos, she¡¯s a very beautiful woman."


    Gu Yi¡¯s words reflected a mix of curiosity and admiration for the ES brand ambassador. Fu Jinghen felt an inexplicable surge of pride when he heard someone praising Wen Qiao¡¯s beauty.


    "She¡¯s filming right now, and she¡¯ll be back in a few days for the advertisement shoot," Fu Jinghen explained.


    "I see," Gu Yi nodded. "It¡¯s surprising, Fu, that you even keep track of your artists¡¯ schedules, quite... "


    Gu Yi paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "Approachable? Can I use that word?"


    "If President Gu thinks it¡¯s appropriate, then it¡¯s appropriate," Fu Jinghen was now easy to talk to.


    Feng Li, standing nearby, glanced at his boss and thought to himself, what approachable? That¡¯s his future wife; of course, he knows her schedule.


    But that comment...


    Feng Li glanced at his boss again.


    He figured it was better to keep quiet.


    After all, it hasn¡¯t only been villains who died from talking too much.


    -


    Since ES decided to collaborate with FS, they registered a Weibo account. Fu Jinghen and Gu Yi had lunch together at noon, and that very afternoon, the official ES Weibo account announced a partnership with the FS group and their entrance into Jingcui Mall¡ª


    @ES V: Moving forward hand in hand, looking forward to a bright future @JingcuiMall.


    Once this Weibo was posted by ES, it caused quite a stir in Hua Country¡¯s entertainment circle.


    Artists who had already heard the rumors early in the morning weren¡¯t all that surprised, but those who found out about the strong alliance between ES and FS through the Weibo were so shocked they couldn¡¯t close their mouths.


    Every actress with a bit of success and standing in the entertainment industry started to hustle, all in the race to endorse for ES.


    ES was known for female-oriented designs, with a wide range of involvement, but mostly applicable to women.


    ES enjoyed international fame, but they had never tapped into the Hua Country market before. Now that they had entered into a partnership with FS and were setting up shop in Jingcui Mall, which had the highest foot traffic and best service, they would undoubtedly choose a domestic female artist to endorse their brand.


    In fact, many stars knew that Huasong Media was part of the FS group, and since ES had reached a collaboration agreement with FS, they would certainly prioritize their own talent when selecting a brand ambassador.


    After all, it¡¯s only logical to keep the best opportunities within the family.


    Some artists, however, didn¡¯t lose heart and wanted to try their luck with the mindset that participating was what mattered.


    But as soon as they heard that Jiang Wei was also interested in the endorsement, they immediately abandoned the thought of competing.


    Who is Jiang Wei?


    She¡¯s a half-child-star with tens of millions of fans and a double winner of the best actress award, the leading lady of Huasong Media, the largest media company in the country.


    Who would be so foolish as to try and compete head-to-head with her?


    Moreover, considering the Jiang Family¡¯s good relationship with the Fu Family, the endorsement seemed destined for her. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Furthermore, last year at an international fashion show co-hosted by ES and the G family, Jiang Wei was the only Hua Country female star invited besides the veteran actress Mei Lanqiao.


    Mei Lanqiao is an entertainment industry predecessor, a female star who became wildly popular across Jiangnan in the 90s, once sweeping through the era, holding numerous awards, and enjoying extremely high national recognition.


    In that era when internet media was not yet prevalent, Mei Lanqiao truly became a household name, with her posters plastered all over the streets and alleys and her songs being played in all the shops and on every audio player.


    And with Jiang Wei attending the show alongside Mei Lanqiao, her status in the entertainment industry was invisibly elevated.

 Chapter 141 - 140: Also Brought Someone Along

    Chapter 141: Chapter 140: Also Brought Someone AlongOne was the nation-sweeping movie queen of the nineties, the other the youngest intellectual TV queen of the new era. In the clash of eras, each had their own aesthetic, garnering no small amount of attention on international runways.


    Even Jiang Wei felt certain that this endorsement would be in her bag, but just to be safe, after seeing ES¡¯s Weibo post, and waiting till just after nine o¡¯clock¡ªfiguring the other party should have arrived at the company by then¡ªshe decided to make a call to an acquaintance in FS Group¡¯s president¡¯s office to confirm.


    But, the answer she received was unexpected. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Li Qing pushed the door open just in time to hear a "crash" as things were knocked to the ground.


    She quickly looked up, then immediately shut the door.


    "Ouch, my dear ancestor, who¡¯s upset you now to make you so angry?"


    Jiang Wei stood in front of the cabinet, with a pile of scattered cups and sundry small items by her feet.


    Li Qing walked over, took Jiang Wei¡¯s arm, and asked softly, "Weiwei, what¡¯s wrong? Has something happened?"


    "The spokesperson for ES," Jiang Wei paused, clenched the cellphone in her hand, and enunciated each word, "they¡¯ve chosen Wen Qiao."


    Li Qing was also taken aback, "Are you sure about the information? It¡¯s really her?"


    "It¡¯s straight from Fu Jinghen¡¯s secretary¡¯s mouth, there¡¯s no mistake."


    One of Fu Jinghen¡¯s work secretaries was Jiang Wei¡¯s university senior. To always be up-to-date with Fu Jinghen¡¯s affairs, she¡¯d kept in contact with her, although before, it had always been about Fu Jinghen. This was the first time she had reached out to the senior about her personal matter, and the result was this insufferable news.


    Why her?


    From the moment Jiang Wei found out that ES was going to collaborate with FS Group, she had already been in touch with ES, and ES had shown interest in working with her. Even up until recently, the manager of ES¡¯s marketing department had taken the initiative to call Li Qing, asking if she had time to join them for a meal. Yet today, she got news of a one hundred and eighty-degree change.


    When she called the manager of ES¡¯s marketing department to inquire, the manager no longer had the warm attitude of the past but spoke formally, saying they hoped for an opportunity to work with her next time.


    The sure deal had slipped through her fingers, and Jiang Wei was livid.


    Moreover, it was possible that like the "Red Makeup" incident, Fu Jinghen was behind the scenes, helping Wen Qiao secure this endorsement.


    Realizing this possibility, Jiang Wei¡¯s rage was layered with a veil of jealousy.


    "Don¡¯t panic, don¡¯t panic," Li Qing pulled Jiang Wei out of the chaos and towards the couch to sit down.


    "I¡¯ll make a call and ask, you just wait a moment."


    The assistant to the manager of ES¡¯s marketing department was Li Qing¡¯s high school classmate; their connection with ES¡¯s marketing department was all thanks to her.


    The phone rang several times before it was picked up. Li Qing was relatively familiar with her, so she skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point, "Didn¡¯t you say you were very interested in collaborating with us? How come the spokesperson changed to another artist at the end?"


    "I¡¯m not very clear about it either, I just know that this time President Gu personally came to sign the contract, and the spokesperson was also his personal selection."


    Li Qing turned to glance at the distraught Jiang Wei, lowered her voice, and asked, "Is there any way to deal with this?"


    "...."


    There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and then it was said, "This time coming to Hua Country, President Gu brought someone along with him....."

 Chapter 142 - 141: A Bargain Husband Not Used is Wasted

    Chapter 142: Chapter 141: A Bargain Husband Not Used is WastedAfter hanging up the phone, Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She walked back to Jiang Wei¡¯s side, "I¡¯ve thought of a way. Just relax and finish shooting today¡¯s scenes well. I¡¯ll go and ask the director for a leave on your behalf. You¡¯ll take tonight¡¯s flight back to Jiang City."


    Jiang Wei looked up at her, her furrowed brow still not relaxed, "Going to do what?"


    Li Qing smiled mysteriously, not answering her question, and pulled her up from the couch to push her into the bathroom, "Go brush your teeth and wash your face. Focus on shooting well today and don¡¯t think about anything else. Leave everything to me."


    -


    "Director, your lunch box." S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Director Zhang was sitting behind the monitor, carefully checking for any issues with the scene that had just been filmed when he heard a female voice behind him. Shortly after, a lunch box appeared in front of him.


    He turned around and saw Wen Qiao placing the lunch box and then stepping back a good distance.


    "Why are you standing so far away?" Director Zhang frowned slightly, "You might as well shout to me from the ground beneath your tent."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao pursed her lips and played with the stray hair in front of her forehead, taking small, hesitant steps towards Director Zhang.


    It wasn¡¯t that she wanted to stand so far away; she just didn¡¯t dare to get too close to Director Zhang.


    His stern demeanor while filming reminded her too much of her high school homeroom teacher, her ultimate nightmare, the darkest mark on her fragile young heart.


    Additionally, since she was forced into the role of the Female Lead, Director Zhang was particularly strict with her. Sometimes, he would just stare at her, and she would break out in a cold sweat.


    Jiang Yao had booked a return flight to Jiang City for tonight, for three days, which meant they definitely had to ask the director for time off. She had intended to have Jiang Yao ask Director Zhang for leave, but the girl was even more reluctant to speak with him. As soon as she heard they had to ask for leave, she was faster to run away than anyone else.


    True sisterhood¡ªshared fears and all.


    With no other choice, Wen Qiao had to step up to the challenge herself.


    Wen Qiao was fully aware of her position as a late arrival. Recently, she¡¯d been involved in an incident that caused a sudden cast change, and although it wasn¡¯t her fault, she played a part in it. People tend to displace their anger. Though Director Zhang didn¡¯t explicitly show it, Wen Qiao still had to tread carefully.


    So she had chosen midday to bring Director Zhang his lunch, hoping to casually mention her request for a leave. That should do the trick.


    "Director, I¡¯d like to ask for some time off."


    She had expected Director Zhang to scowl, chastise her for creating so many problems so soon after shooting started, as if to say, "How dare the Female Lead, with so many important scenes, ask for a three-day leave," and so on.


    Because Jiang Yao had told her, while Director Zhang seemed approachable normally, when it came to filming, he became utterly unyielding, as if possessed. He once had a movie with a major male lead, and the Female Lead, who didn¡¯t have many scenes, wanted two days off. Director Zhang had told her to leave the set.


    Wen Qiao had it all planned out. If Director Zhang refused her, she would have Fu Jinghen communicate with him.


    After all, why waste a husband, even if he¡¯s just for show?


    But Director Zhang just gave a noncommittal "hmm" and then turned back to monitoring the footage.


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    Was it really that easy?


    He wasn¡¯t going to lecture her?

 Chapter 143 - 142: Love Fool

    Chapter 143: Chapter 142: Love FoolDidn¡¯t they just have the Female Lead with few scenes walk off set? How come when this Female Lead with plenty of scenes asks for leave, it¡¯s that easy?


    Wen Qiao felt this didn¡¯t quite match Director Zhang¡¯s style, so she sneaked up behind him and scrutinized his back.


    Director Zhang sensed something and suspiciously twisted around to look back, catching Wen Qiao¡¯s inquisitive gaze that she hadn¡¯t retracted in time.


    "What are you skulking around for?"


    "Nothing, nothing." Wen Qiao shook her head like a rattle-drum and then asked uncertainly, "Director Zhang, did you approve my leave?"


    "Mhm, is there a problem?"


    "No, no problem." Wen Qiao straightened up reflexively after his counterquestion: "Then I¡¯ll be off now, goodbye Director Zhang."


    After taking a few steps, Wen Qiao turned back and reminded him, "Director Zhang, you should eat first. Filming is important but so is eating. If you collapse while filming this afternoon, it will delay the progress."


    She paused, then went ahead and opened the lunch box for him: "I made sure to snag a chicken leg rice for you, it¡¯s best eaten while hot."


    After saying this, Wen Qiao dashed away, as fast as if something was chasing her.


    Director Zhang sat in his chair watching Wen Qiao¡¯s retreating figure, with an expression that seemed half-disgusted and indescribable but still picked up the lunch box and started eating.


    However...


    Why was the chicken leg in this chicken leg rice so small? It was gone after just two bites. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    -


    Jiang Yao booked a 9 p.m. flight to Feijiang City. The film city was relatively close to the airport, so they only left the hotel around seven o¡¯clock, arriving at the airport with just the right amount of time.


    Before boarding the plane, Wen Qiao even sent Fu Jinghen a text to report in.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: I¡¯m about to board the plane, in about two hours you¡¯ll be able to see me.]


    Fu Jinghen responded with "Hmm" and added, "Stay safe."


    Wen Qiao looked at these two messages from him and poked at the screen irritably.


    Fu Jinghen, this blockhead.


    Doesn¡¯t even know to ask if he should pick her up, completely hopeless.


    The next second, she felt a vibration in the palm of her hand, and she instinctively looked down to see a new message from Fu Jinghen.


    [Fu Jinghen: Do you need someone to pick you up?]


    "At least he¡¯s not entirely hopeless."


    Wen Qiao muttered, her lips slowly turning up as she tapped on the screen.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Is President Fu personally coming to pick me up? If not, then there¡¯s no need.]


    [Fu Jinghen: Hmm, it¡¯s not.]


    ....


    Might as well roll Fu Jinghen away, she wanted to change her male lead.


    This really is a piece of scrap, can¡¯t be used at all.


    The waiting room broadcasted the boarding notice, and as Wen Qiao walked out, she sent Fu Jinghen another message.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Then goodbye.]


    After sending it, she didn¡¯t wait for Fu Jinghen to reply before locking the phone and putting it in her pocket.


    Jiang Yao followed her, shaking her head, "Nauseating couples are just so sickly sweet, sending so many messages just before boarding the flight."


    "No, no, no, you¡¯re wrong." Wen Qiao raised a finger and swung it in front of Jiang Yao: "We¡¯re not a couple, we are husband and wife, Miss Jiang, please watch your wording."


    Jiang Yao: "..."


    Fine.


    Impressive.


    After checking their tickets and walking inside, Jiang Yao felt her phone vibrate twice in her pocket. She took it out, expecting some app notification but it turned out to be from Ye Shengnan.

 Chapter 144 - 143: Creating Trouble

    Chapter 144: Chapter 143: Creating Trouble[Y: Is it almost time to board?]


    [Y: Have a safe trip.]


    Jiang Yao¡¯s lips instantly stretched into a grin reaching all the way to her ears. After pondering for a moment, she held her phone and painstakingly typed out each letter.


    [Yao Aya: Okay, okay, thank you, Emperor Ye.]


    Wen Qiao noticed her unusual behavior and squinted her eyes as she leaned in, "What¡¯s so funny? You¡¯re grinning like you¡¯re smitten."


    "Nothing much, just replying to a message." Jiang Yao said cheerily, unable to resist praising, "Emperor Ye is such a nice guy, going out of his way to send a message reminding us to be safe."


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a moment, then decided to poke fun at her, "He specifically reminded you to be safe, right? Look, he didn¡¯t send me any messages."


    "That¡¯s because you don¡¯t have him as a contact, so he sent the message to me."


    Wen Qiao: "But he asked for your WeChat and not mine."


    "That¡¯s because I knew which medicine to buy, it would have been useless to add you." Jiang Yao didn¡¯t feel there was anything wrong with that.


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Wen Qiao felt she might be going insane; she actually found Jiang Yao¡¯s reasoning pretty sound.


    She was wrong.


    Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t the fool here, it was the lady next to her, Ms. Jiang, who was the real love-struck fool, wrapped in iron no less. Ye Shengnan¡¯s indirect and subtle hints were all interpreted by Jiang Yao straightforwardly, without the faintest hint of innuendo. Quite impressive indeed.


    She was beyond help.


    Inwardly, Wen Qiao silently prayed for Ye Shengnan, wishing him luck in his pursuit of his wife.


    -


    It wasn¡¯t the peak tourist season or any holiday, so there were relatively few passengers on the flight from Hang City to Jiang City at this time. There were only two passengers sitting in the first-class cabin.


    Jiang Wei, holding her boarding pass, walked ahead. Upon seeing the person sitting on the right front seat, she wrinkled her brow unconsciously.


    Talk about a small world.


    Li Qing, who followed behind her, noticed her odd expression, peered over and, after making out the scene, pulled at Jiang Wei¡¯s arm, "Don¡¯t be rash, it¡¯s only two hours. If you don¡¯t like it, just pretend you don¡¯t know them."


    Although Jiang Wei had just lost a sponsorship to Wen Qiao, she was still several years older than Wen Qiao and had debuted a few years earlier; she knew how to keep her emotions from showing.


    After taking a deep breath to adjust her mindset, Jiang Wei continued walking forward.


    Wen Qiao was catching the last few moments before the flight to browse for movies to download when she suddenly glimpsed someone stopping by her side. She looked up, somewhat surprised.


    "Qiaoqiao, you¡¯re also heading back to Jiang City?"


    Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t told her about the investigation into Lin Ruochun¡¯s drowning incident, so Wen Qiao treated Jiang Wei as usual. However, the two had already nearly torn their facades before, and now here was Jiang Wei greeting her as if nothing had happened. Wen Qiao admired that.


    If she wanted to pretend, Wen Qiao saw no reason to refuse. After all, everyone in the entertainment industry knew how to put on an act.


    Wen Qiao raised her hand and waved at her, "Yeah." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What a coincidence. Out of all the flights from Hang City to Jiang City, we chose the same one and our seats are next to each other too."


    Wen Qiao smiled, "Quite a coincidence."


    After speaking, she withdrew her gaze and continued looking at her phone.


    They were about to take off, and she needed to hurry to pick a movie.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s smile faltered, and she clenched her boarding pass tightly in her hand.


    So inexperienced. She gets one endorsement and starts looking down on everyone.

 Chapter 145 - 144: Counterkill

    Chapter 145: Chapter 144: CounterkillLi Qing nudged her from behind, and Jiang Wei then took her seat.


    While Jiang Wei had been talking to Wen Qiao, Jiang Yao had been staring at her the whole time. Only after Jiang Wei sat down did Jiang Yao lean close to Wen Qiao and whisper, "I forgot to tell you earlier¡ªthere¡¯s a rumor that Jiang Wei was also quite interested in endorsing ES. It seems like she had been negotiating with them all along, and now you¡¯ve swooped in halfway through. She probably harbors some resentment, so be careful."


    "Why didn¡¯t you say anything before?"


    Jiang Yao scratched her head sheepishly, "I just remembered..."


    "..."


    Alright then.


    Anyway, she had never taken Jiang Wei, this minor character, seriously.


    But...


    "Where did you hear these rumors from?"


    Jiang Yao smiled mysteriously, "Some secrets should not be revealed."


    "..."


    Thanks to Jiang Yao¡¯s warning, Wen Qiao was on guard, but she hadn¡¯t expected Jiang Wei to start causing trouble so soon.


    Five minutes before the takeoff, she found a movie she was interested in and started to download it. The next second, she felt a chill on her left shoulder. Turning her head, she saw a stream of brown liquid trickling down from her shoulder.


    The voice of Jiang Wei, somewhat flustered, apologizing reached her ears, "I¡¯m so sorry, I wasn¡¯t paying attention and accidentally spilled my coffee on you. I¡¯m really sorry."


    Then, she heard Jiang Yao let out a low gasp next to her.


    Wen Qiao, listening to this lame explanation, couldn¡¯t help but laugh on the inside.


    The aisle in this first-class cabin was so wide, and no one had bumped into her. The "accidental" coffee spill was really quite far-fetched.


    Jiang Yao quickly reached into her bag, pulled out some tissues, and handed them over, "Here, wipe it off."


    Wen Qiao was wearing a light-colored floral skirt today. The coffee, being a brown liquid, wasn¡¯t very noticeable upon a cursory glance.


    Wen Qiao took the tissues and said with a lightness in her voice, "It¡¯s okay, I know Sister Weiwei didn¡¯t do it on purpose."


    Jiang Wei continued to apologize, "I¡¯m really very sorry. What if we do this¡ªhow much did your skirt cost? I¡¯ll compensate you for it."


    If it had been someone else, they probably would have refused her offer, but Wen Qiao was different.


    "Well..." Wen Qiao drew out her words, thinking for a moment before saying, "I really can¡¯t remember. This skirt was bought for me by Fu Jinghen. I don¡¯t know the exact price, but the brand is from House D. You can just compensate me based on the average price of their skirts."


    Strictly speaking, the skirt was purchased with Fu Jinghen¡¯s credit card, but to say that Fu Jinghen bought it for her wasn¡¯t wrong either.


    With a light and breezy comment, she not only jabbed at Jiang Wei but also made her pay up¡ªa move that made Jiang Wei grind her teeth in frustration.


    Sure enough, after she said those words, Wen Qiao saw Jiang Wei¡¯s complexion turn ugly for a moment, but she quickly returned to normal.


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but admire, truly worthy of a multi-awarded actress¡ªher acting skills were impeccable.


    "Fine," Jiang Wei nodded, "I¡¯ll transfer the money to you via WeChat."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes smiled, "Great."


    After a second or two, she let out a small exclamation of surprise, startling Jiang Yao beside her.


    "What is it? What is it?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I just remembered I need to call Fu Jing and ask him to bring me a coat when he comes to pick me up later."


    With that, Wen Qiao opened her phone and directly called Fu Jinghen. The phone rang two or three times before the call was connected.

 Chapter 146 - 145: Men Should Look for Older Partners Who Will Cherish Them

    Chapter 146: Chapter 145: Men Should Look for Older Partners Who Will Cherish ThemA magnetic male voice came through the receiver, "Isn¡¯t it time for takeoff?"


    "Not yet." Wen Qiao¡¯s voice immediately became aggrieved, and she also put on a crying tone, weakly calling out, "Fu Jinghen¡ª"


    Originally lounging against the back of his chair, Fu Jinghen¡¯s brow twitched when he heard the little woman¡¯s elongated, teary call. He instinctively sat upright, with a hint of barely noticeable urgency, and asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Today I¡¯m wearing just a dress, and just now Sister Jiang Wei accidentally spilled some coffee on it. A big patch on my shoulder is all wet and chilly, and it looks really ugly. Can you bring me a jacket when you come to pick me up?"


    Although it wasn¡¯t too chilly, it truly did look ugly.


    When Wen Qiao mentioned she was going to call Fu Jinghen, Jiang Yao had guessed that she was trying to deliberately annoy Jiang Wei. But, after actually hearing her tone on the call, she felt the goosebumps on her body beginning to drop like they were free.


    This woman...


    Why was she even more coquettish than the usual tone she used when calling Fu Jinghen?


    Listening to that tender, delicate voice, she felt her bones soften.


    Sitting across the aisle from Wen Qiao, Jiang Wei¡¯s face now turned downright ugly, not even bothering to hide it.


    With these words, Wen Qiao was ostensibly asking Fu Jinghen to bring her a jacket but was actually subtly tattling, showing her magnanimity with a casually mentioned "accidentally."


    She perfectly played the "Although you¡¯ve hurt me, I will still forgive you generously, and I¡¯ll even make excuses for you," depicting it in full effect.


    To this, Wen Qiao expressed a hundred thousand points of satisfaction with herself.


    They had barely spoken two sentences when the flight attendant came over to remind them that the plane was about to take off, and that they needed to turn off their cell phones or switch them to airplane mode.


    Reluctantly, Wen Qiao cooed to Fu Jinghen on the other end of the phone for a while longer before finally hanging up.


    During the call, Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t glanced at Jiang Wei even once. Now, after hanging up, she propped her chin with her hand and turned to look at Jiang Wei, comforting her with, "Sister Weiwei, you don¡¯t have to feel too guilty. Fu Jinghen will bring me a jacket when he comes to pick me up."


    Jiang Wei: "..."


    She didn¡¯t feel guilty at all and even wanted to throw Wen Qiao off the plane.


    Li Qing timely held Jiang Wei¡¯s arm and smiled slightly at Wen Qiao, "It seems like Miss Wen and President Fu have a pretty good relationship."


    "It¡¯s very good indeed," Wen Qiao said unabashedly. "I¡¯m five or six years younger than him. He probably thinks of me as a kid to some extent, so he usually dotes on me very much."


    In the end, she sighed leisurely, "That¡¯s why, it¡¯s best to find a man older than oneself; they tend to be more caring. Oh, by the way, Sister Weiwei, haven¡¯t you had a boyfriend yet? You¡¯re twenty-seven this year, right? I happen to know a few quality men in their thirties. Want me to introduce you to them?"


    "I¡ª"


    Jiang Wei had just spoken a word when Li Qing interrupted her, "No need, our Weiwei isn¡¯t planning to date for the time being. She wants to prioritize her career."


    "Ah, I see. Sister Weiwei is so career-minded, not like me, always thinking about Fu Jinghen...."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s spirits drooped for a while, then recalling something, she added, "But the dating thing should also be moved up the schedule. After all, women start going downhill after thirty. While career is important, finding someone you love to be with until old age is also very blissful." S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 147 - 146: Crying

    Chapter 147: Chapter 146: CryingIt really sounded like a sincere suggestion.


    "...."


    Li Qing¡¯s smile seemed a bit forced too, since she and Jiang Wei were about the same age and neither had been in a relationship.


    "Thank you, we¡¯ll consider it. No need to bother Miss Wen anymore."


    "Uh huh, it¡¯s good that you¡¯ll consider it."


    Jiang Yao sitting beside had almost suffocated from trying to hold back her laughter, taking several deep breaths to suppress her wildly rising smile and the laughter that was about to burst from her throat.


    Wen Qiao glanced at her, scared, and shifted to the side, "You¡¯re not having an asthma attack, are you?"


    "You¡¯re the one with asthma!" Jiang Yao glared at her, turned her head slightly, and looked past Wen Qiao towards Jiang Wei.


    Jiang Wei had already put on her eye mask, but her tightly pursed lips still revealed her extremely agitated mood.


    Jiang Yao snickered a few times and gave Wen Qiao a thumbs up.


    One word¡ª


    Epic!


    Wen Qiao pressed her thumb back down, nodding slightly, "Keep it low key."


    Jiang Yao: "...."


    Say you¡¯re fat and you really start panting.


    No courtesy at all.


    Perhaps Wen Qiao¡¯s words were too cutting, because for the next hour, Jiang Wei never took off her eye mask, and whether she was truly asleep or not, she remained quiet the entire trip.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t know nor care what was going through her mind, enjoying the peace.


    As soon as the plane landed, Wen Qiao turned on her phone¡¯s mobile data.


    A message from Fu Jinghen popped up.


    [Fu Jinghen: Exit.]


    The message had been sent half an hour earlier.


    Concise and to the point, it had that dominant boss vibe of saying as little as possible.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Okay, coming right now, love you muah!]


    Right before getting off the plane, Wen Qiao glanced at Jiang Wei¡¯s side, saw that she and Li Qing were still wearing eye masks, puckered her lips, grabbed her bag, and hummed a tune as she walked out of first class.


    When there was no more noise around, Jiang Wei finally took off her eye mask, throwing it on the ground with a flick.


    -


    After walking through the passage, Wen Qiao instantly saw the man waiting at the exit.


    Without the constraint of a suit and tie, just in a white shirt and black pants, Fu Jinghen appeared more casual and relaxed than usual, his arm bent holding what seemed to be a jacket for her.


    The man¡¯s physical proportions were excellent, and his looks weren¡¯t something ordinary people could match. Even though it was late at night and there weren¡¯t many people at the airport, quite a few still glanced his way.


    Seemingly sensing something, Fu Jinghen looked up in her direction from a distance as Wen Qiao was still some steps away.


    Through the crowd, their gazes met across the distance.


    For some reason, Wen Qiao¡¯s heart suddenly skipped a beat.


    She subconsciously stopped in her tracks, and Jiang Yao, puzzled, asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    "Nothing." Wen Qiao shook her head, pulled on her face mask, and fiddled with a strand of her hair beside her cheek.


    It was a nervous habit of hers.


    But she didn¡¯t know where this sudden bout of nerves had come from.


    Facing his gaze, Wen Qiao walked towards him.


    Originally planning to throw a fit as soon as she saw him to really show how much she missed him¡ªwhich she didn¡¯t¡ªWen Qiao, standing right in front of him, suddenly didn¡¯t know what to say.


    "I¡¯ll go ahead then," Jiang Yao said sneakily after glancing back and forth at them a couple of times, feeling somewhat in the way at the moment.


    S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 148 - 147: Who is Pretentious Now?

    Chapter 148: Chapter 147: Who is Pretentious Now?After greeting him, she smartly pushed the luggage ahead with Feng Li, giving the two a chance to be alone.


    Wen Qiao looked at the man for a moment before casually asking, "Didn¡¯t you say you weren¡¯t coming to pick me up?"


    Fu Jinghen took off the jacket on his arm, unfolded it, and draped it over Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulders.


    "I was afraid that if I didn¡¯t come, someone really would end up crying."


    "...."


    Inside her left chest, there was another "thump."


    With a flicker in her eyes and a petulant tone, Wen Qiao said, "I wasn¡¯t going to cry."


    Looking down, Wen Qiao saw the jacket on her and immediately swept away the awkwardness she had just felt. She raised her head, the tone of disdain clear, "Fu Jinghen, why did you give me this jacket? I¡¯m wearing a floral dress today. There are already enough patterns, and this plaid jacket doesn¡¯t match this dress at all. It¡¯s so ugly."


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    How was he supposed to know that Wen Qiao was wearing a floral dress today? And even if it was a floral dress, what didn¡¯t match with this black and white plaid jacket?


    Weren¡¯t the colors black and white supposed to go with everything?


    Why are women so fussy?


    Besides, he had made a detour home from the office to get her a jacket, and instead of a word of praise, he was simply met with complaints.


    Fu Jinghen was a bit annoyed, "I didn¡¯t know what dress you were wearing."


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t even notice the change in Fu Jinghen¡¯s mood and kept checking out her outfit, mumbling with her lips moving, "Then why didn¡¯t you ask? Ah, it¡¯s really ugly. I feel like a flashy butterfly right now."


    "Then take it off and don¡¯t wear it."


    "How can I do that, didn¡¯t you see the coffee stain on my shoulder just now?" Wen Qiao had noticed something and looked up, pointing a finger at Fu Jinghen¡¯s furrowed brow, "Hey, why do you frown after just a few words? Are you that sensitive that you can¡¯t even handle a little talk?"


    "Now, who is being sensitive?" S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Oh no!" Wen Qiao stomped her foot, "Am I being sensitive? It was clearly you who got the wrong jacket, and yet you¡¯re blaming me for being fussy. How can you push all the responsibility onto me?"


    What the hell?


    Who is shirking responsibility now?


    "Wen Qiao," Fu Jinghen called out to her.


    Wen Qiao looked up instinctively, "Hmm?"


    "If you keep this up, you can go back by yourself."


    Looking at Fu Jinghen¡¯s face, which was written all over with "cold indifference," Wen Qiao immediately let out a whimper, "Wah, so fierce."


    Wen Qiao lowered her head, her shoulders heaving up and down, looking utterly pitiful.


    Like a little cat abandoned by its owner.


    "Brother Jinghen."


    A knowledgeable and gentle female voice came from behind Wen Qiao. She immediately shed the delicate damsel act, not even needing to look back as her eyes rolled up consciously with a swift motion.


    In the short span of two seconds, Fu Jinghen enjoyed a free show of face-changing, and then suddenly let out a low laugh.


    Wen Qiao, feeling her face heat up at the sound of his laughter, glared at him and gritted her teeth, "Laughing at what?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand, still resting on her shoulder, lifted a finger and lightly stroked her cheek, saying softly, "Young lady, mind your manners when you¡¯re out. Stop rolling your eyes all the time."


    "Oh," Wen Qiao pulled at the jacket on her shoulder and pouted, "Got it, thanks for the concern. I¡¯ll heed your advice, Mr. Fu."

 Chapter 149 - 148: Quite Grueling

    Chapter 149: Chapter 148: Quite GruelingFu Jinghen could somewhat guess why Wen Qiao was suddenly acting so quirky, but he maintained his manners, especially in front of others.


    Behind the two of them, Jiang Wei was walking towards them.


    Listening to the increasingly close sound of high heels clicking on the floor, Wen Qiao puffed up her cheeks and threw herself into Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms, tightly wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his chest. Feeling that wasn¡¯t enough, she affectionately rubbed her head against him.


    The sound of the high heels suddenly stopped behind them; Wen Qiao, looking triumphant, didn¡¯t immediately let go of Fu Jinghen.


    Hmm...


    Don¡¯t say.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace was quite secure and warm.


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but yawn, smack her lips, and cuddle some more before finding a comfortable position to naturally lean on.


    Fu Jinghen could easily guess why this young girl had thrown herself at him all of a sudden, but he didn¡¯t pull her out of his embrace, letting her be. He casually draped an arm around her shoulder and looked up politely to nod at Jiang Wei, who had stopped just a step away from them.


    Then, Fu Jinghen felt a pinch in the flesh around his waist from the person in his arms, a rush of pain flooding his brain.


    He gently patted Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulder, his tone carrying a hint of warning, "Behave yourself."


    Perhaps the intimidation wasn¡¯t enough, the little girl in his arms not only wasn¡¯t scared, but she also started to poke and prod him even more relentlessly.


    The ticklish sensation replaced the faint ache, giving Fu Jinghen a bit of a headache.


    This girl in his arms was quite a handful.


    Jiang Wei stood just a step away from the couple, partially blocked by the coat draped over Wen Qiao. She couldn¡¯t quite see what exactly Wen Qiao was doing, but she could feel the intimacy between them.


    Just now, she had seen Wen Qiao hanging her head low, while Fu Jinghen had a cold expression on his face, but in just a moment, the situation had changed completely.


    She opened her mouth, feeling a bit hoarse, and managed a smile as she continued speaking to Fu Jinghen, "Yes, Qiaoqiao and I are on the same flight."


    Finally, Wen Qiao lifted her head from Fu Jinghen¡¯s chest, looking at him, "Right, right, Sister Weiwei is on the same flight as I am."


    "I know," Fu Jinghen said, looking down at her, "You mentioned it."


    The distance between them was so close, their breaths mingling, making it seem from a viewer¡¯s perspective that they were moments away from a kiss.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s face turned pale from their oblivious intimacy. Clutching her handbag tightly, she spoke slowly, "I accidentally spilled some coffee on Qiaoqiao on the plane, I¡¯m really sorry about that."


    "No problem."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s brow furrowed deeply upon hearing these two words, and she was about to pinch him hard, surely without holding back this time.


    However, just as her hand reached for his waist, she heard the man above say, "Be careful next time."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hand hesitantly retreated.


    It seems her fianc¨¦ isn¡¯t so foolish after all.


    Beside them, a previously silent Li Qing couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, her voice slightly cold as she spoke, "President Fu, Miss Wen really doesn¡¯t hold back. Weiwei only accidentally spilled a bit of coffee on her, and when Weiwei offered compensation, she demanded so much. People who don¡¯t know better might think she¡¯s really short of money." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 150 - 149: Protective of One鈥檚 Own

    Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Protective of One¡¯s OwnWen Qiao rolled her eyes so hard upon hearing this that she almost couldn¡¯t roll them back, her body twisting as she was about to confront her, but a large hand on her shoulder restrained her.


    She looked up, puzzled, only to see the man¡¯s determined chin.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at Li Qing and actually recognized who she was. Although his tone didn¡¯t change much when he spoke next and his facial expression remained normal, his eyes gradually grew colder, "Miss Li jests, the things my wife, Fu Jinghen, uses are naturally not inferior."


    His hand rested on Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulder, his index finger lazily twirling her hair, forming a protective stance.


    The implication was, "The things Fu Jinghen¡¯s woman uses are expensive, it¡¯s not that we¡¯re asking for too much, you just can¡¯t afford the compensation."


    Jiang Wei¡¯s face turned completely pale when she heard the words "my wife, Fu Jinghen." She almost deformed her handbag by clutching it so tightly.


    Li Qing didn¡¯t expect Fu Jinghen to be so protective of Wen Qiao, instantly regretting her impulsive behavior. She glanced at Jiang Wei and could tell that her expression was indeed ugly.


    Yet Fu Jinghen acted as though he hadn¡¯t noticed and nodded slightly at Jiang Wei, "We¡¯ll be leaving now and will visit Uncle Jiang another day."


    As he turned around, Fu Jinghen thought of something else and said, "Wen Qiao is still young, if she causes any trouble on set or does anything wrong, I will discipline her at home, so don¡¯t trouble yourselves."


    After saying this, the hand around Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulder tightened slightly, leading her away.


    Jiang Wei watched their retreating figures, her jealousy no longer concealable.


    If Jiang Wei could initially maintain a calm facade upon hearing "my wife, Fu Jinghen," Fu Jinghen¡¯s last statement undeniably shattered her composure.


    The statement, while seeming polite at first, was extremely protective.


    He would discipline his own wife, Fu Jinghen, but no one else could.


    Not even a single word.


    "Wen Qiao."


    She gritted out the words between clenched teeth, her facial expression distorting slightly from the effort.


    She would pull Wen Qiao down herself someday.


    Li Qing looked at her worriedly, "Are you okay?"


    "I¡¯m fine." Jiang Wei closed her eyes, suppressing the sourness in her heart, and when she opened them again, she had returned to normal. She turned her head and asked, "Have you found out? Where is Gu Yi¡¯s fianc¨¦e?"


    -


    It wasn¡¯t until they had left the airport and gotten into the car that Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes were still unable to move away from Fu Jinghen. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The young girl¡¯s gaze was too overt, and it was the first time Fu Jinghen felt somewhat helpless being stared at so intensely. He asked with a hint of helplessness, "How much longer are you going to look?"


    "Oh, no rush." Wen Qiao propped her chin on her hands, her eyes twinkling, "You¡¯re my legitimate fianc¨¦ and so handsome too ¡ª why shouldn¡¯t I look at you for a lifetime?"


    "Not at all." Fu Jinghen reached out, manually straightening Wen Qiao¡¯s head, "We¡¯ll look more at home."


    "I don¡¯t want to." Wen Qiao pouted, twisting her head back, "Why can¡¯t I look now?"


    "Because there are two other living human beings in this car, thank you for your consideration."


    Suddenly, a serious voice came from the front passenger seat.


    Wen Qiao straightened up, clinging to the back of the passenger seat, looked at Jiang Yao sitting there and then at the driver, Feng Li, "Sister Yao? What are you doing here?"

 Chapter 151 - 149: Come Over

    Chapter 151: Chapter 149: Come Over"Where else should I be?"


    Under the car?


    It was then that Wen Qiao remembered that Jiang Yao had come back with her, only she had come out earlier.


    With this thought, Wen Qiao silently retracted into her seat.


    I¡¯m sorry.


    It was her own fault for forgetting about Jiang Yao¡¯s presence; she was guilty.


    The car moved smoothly along the broad streets, the atmosphere inside very quiet.


    Feng Li was focused on driving, not daring to chat with Jiang Yao because Fu Jinghen was dealing with business. If he got distracted by chatting and caused some sudden braking, he would have to pack up and leave.


    Jiang Yao, partly because of Fu Jinghen¡¯s imposing presence didn¡¯t dare speak much and partly because she was feeling sleepy, kept her eyes closed resting.


    Only Wen Qiao, for some reason, felt uncharacteristically energetic and couldn¡¯t stay still for a moment.


    Through the rearview mirror, Jiang Yao saw Wen Qiao sitting behind her, fidgeting and touching things around. She endured it for a while but ultimately, could not stop herself from calling softly, "Wen Qiao!"


    "Ah?"


    Wen Qiao, startled by the sudden call, froze in her seat.


    "Can you stay still, stop acting like a country bumpkin entering the city?" Before these words left her mouth, Jiang Yao felt an undeniable gaze fall upon her.


    With grit, Jiang Yao glanced at the rearview mirror and saw indeed, from slightly behind, Fu Jinghen watching her.


    The pressure from an authority figure was indescribable; without uttering a word, with barely discernible changes in his expression, just that light look was enough to make one crumble.


    Like Jiang Yao now.


    She shivered instantly, and the words at her mouth took a different turn, "Please behave."


    Her voice took on the gentlest tone she ever mustered, as if cajoling a three-year-old.


    After saying this, Jiang Yao didn¡¯t feel that gaze lift from her. She quickly changed her words again, "Never mind, do as you please."


    She had forgotten.


    This was Fu Jinghen¡¯s territory, and Wen Qiao was Fu Jinghen¡¯s person.


    And her, just now in Fu Jinghen¡¯s territory, speaking about his person¡ªdid she no longer want to live?


    After saying this, Jiang Yao only then felt the oppressive aura lift from her surroundings.


    Save me, save me.


    President Fu¡¯s gaze was terrifying.


    Meanwhile, Wen Qiao, sitting in the back seat, unaware of all this, was confused by Jiang Yao¡¯s two sentences. She didn¡¯t understand her intention and shifted her buttocks, preparing to lean in and ask for clarification when the wrist hanging by her side was grabbed by Fu Jinghen.


    "Stay quiet, and don¡¯t disturb others."


    Jiang Yao: "..."


    Actually, if it weren¡¯t for the lack of courage, she really would have loved to tell Fu Jinghen that she knew Wen Qiao before you even knew where you were, daring to call her ¡¯someone else¡¯!


    But she dared not say it.


    Moreover... sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Through the rearview mirror, she saw the previously lively Wen Qiao, seemingly unable to fit in the car, suddenly calm down and sit quietly in her seat after Fu Jinghen spoke, her facial expression a bit...


    Twisted?


    Sigh.


    It seems only President Fu can truly tame Wen Qiao, although she still seemed somewhat reluctant.


    However, the reality was not as Jiang Yao thought.


    Fu Jinghen, observing the sudden furrowing of Wen Qiao¡¯s brows, asked, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Then, Jiang Yao turned her head around to look, and Feng Li also threw his gaze from the rearview mirror following Fu Jinghen¡¯s question.


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    "Nothing."


    Underneath Fu Jinghen¡¯s palm, the wrist he covered moved restlessly a couple of times. He lowered his eyelids, and upon releasing the grip on Wen Qiao¡¯s wrist, his palm was immediately scratched a few times.

 Chapter 152 - 151: The Overbearing Boss鈥檚 Burden

    Chapter 152: Chapter 151: The Overbearing Boss¡¯s BurdenHe paused the movement of retracting his arm and looked up, only to see Wen Qiao silently mouthing two words to him, "Come here."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t move, his eyes filled with confusion.


    His palm was scratched again, conveying an impatient emotion, as if expressing the dissatisfaction of its owner.


    The nail traced across his palm; it wasn¡¯t painful, but it brought a strange sensation, making Fu Jinghen feel like his heart was also lightly scratched, causing a tickling feeling.


    The next second, he tightened his grip, securing the mischievous paw in his palm firmly, and then leaned over.


    A deliberately lowered female voice hung near his ear.


    "I think my leg is cramping, rub it for me quickly."


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    Although Fu Jinghen was a top engineering student, he had also done well in Chinese during his school days, but now he couldn¡¯t find a single word to precisely and vividly express his feelings at this moment.


    There was resignation and amusement.


    Due to her fidgeting leading to a cramp, Wen Qiao felt slightly embarrassed. She, who cared so much about her image, couldn¡¯t believe she was in such a comical situation.


    Thus, she called Fu Jinghen over to whisper, their distance close enough to be negligible. Wen Qiao even felt that with a slight tilt of her head, she could kiss Fu Jinghen.


    In fact, that¡¯s exactly what she did.


    Only, her target wasn¡¯t Fu Jinghen¡¯s face but his earlobe.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t know what she was thinking at the time; all she knew was that seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s fleshy earlobe made her think¡ª


    The chewy texture of this plump earlobe must feel particularly good.


    As soon as this thought popped into her mind, Fu Jinghen¡¯s earlobe was already in her mouth.


    She gently bit down on Fu Jinghen¡¯s earlobe and grinded it between her teeth, then she distinctly felt Fu Jinghen¡¯s body stiffen.


    It was the first time Wen Qiao was so bold; the embarrassment caused by her impulsiveness dispersed with Fu Jinghen¡¯s reaction, even making her forget about the cramp in her leg.


    She chuckled softly, let go of Fu Jinghen¡¯s earlobe, pulled back a little, and coyly said, "Sorry, I just thought your earlobe looked quite pretty, and I couldn¡¯t control myself."


    Her tone couldn¡¯t hide the laughter, and even without seeing her face, Fu Jinghen could imagine those familiar cunning eyes, like a little fox that had successfully sneaked a treat.


    Fu Jinghen swallowed hard, closed his eyes for a moment to suppress the rising impatience in his heart, leaned his upper body back to increase the distance between them, and looked at Wen Qiao.


    Sure enough, the little woman¡¯s face was bright with laughter, not showing the slightest bit of embarrassment.


    "President Fu, I heard that men with soft ears are afraid of their wives; since your ears are so soft, are you afraid of your wife too?"


    Afraid of his wife?


    Not a chance.


    Absolutely not.


    To think that he, the president of a listed company presiding over thousands of employees, was currently being teased by a woman six years his junior?


    He couldn¡¯t stand the thought of being laughed at if this got out.


    That just wouldn¡¯t do. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He was a man with the image of a domineering president.


    As Wen Qiao laughed at him, she suddenly felt light, and then found herself in a broad and warm embrace.

 Chapter 153 - 152: Have You Seen Enough?

    Chapter 153: Chapter 152: Have You Seen Enough?She let out an involuntary cry and once again caught the attention of the two people ahead.


    Jiang Yao turned her head to investigate the moment she cried out, and after seeing the situation between her and Fu Jinghen, she silently turned her head back, even raising her hand to shield the side of her face to avoid seeing anything inappropriate.


    ?


    "No, what are you covering your face for?"


    "I¡¯m the one being held and I¡¯m not even embarrassed yet, what are you blocking?"


    Then she saw in the rearview mirror Feng Li casting a surprised look that mixed admiration with joy, and within that joy was a hint of awkwardness.


    ??


    "What is this supposed to mean?"


    She and Fu Jinghen were officially engaged, so what was wrong with a hug?


    However, she couldn¡¯t quite match the complex and nuanced look in his eyes, despite being a professionally trained actress.


    A warm sensation on her exposed leg pulled her back from her scattered thoughts.


    A man¡¯s low voice inquired beside her ear, "Which leg?"


    Wen Qiao blinked and, prompted by his question, the initially ignored prickling pain resurfaced, and she pouted, "The left leg."


    That morning while filming, she had accidentally bumped her left leg, and the pain had flared up due to her moving abruptly.


    Now, she was sitting sideways on Fu Jinghen¡¯s lap, encircled by his arm, while someone rubbed circles on her left leg. His wide, strong palm, with a layer of callous, tickled against her soft skin.


    Surrounded by the familiar scent of fir, and with Fu Jinghen¡¯s handsome, fine features close at hand, Wen Qiao once again examined his face.


    His features were rugged and sharp, his eyes long and narrow, with thin, narrow eyelids that slightly upturned at the corners, giving a subtle flair of brazenness when his eyes were lowered.


    As the car moved forward, the dim streetlights intermittently danced across his face, his profile partly obscured in the light and shadow, appearing almost unrealistically handsome.


    And this man, right now, was lowering his gaze without any impatience, gently massaging her leg, helping to ease the pain.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s gaze slowly drifted downward, finally resting on his thin lips, and as though spellbound, she slowly leaned in towards him.


    Just as they were about to arrive at their destination, Fu Jinghen suddenly lifted his eyelids, his gaze sharply fixed on her.


    "Have you looked enough?"


    His mild counterquestion snapped Wen Qiao out of her trance, prompting her to quickly retreat.


    Realizing what she had almost done, Wen Qiao¡¯s face flushed with a deep red.


    A surge of a new sensation named "shyness," which she had never felt before and had never felt towards anyone, belatedly overwhelmed her.


    She flailed her limbs, attempting to get out of Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace, but he gripped her waist tightly.


    Fu Jinghen: "Don¡¯t move."


    Wen Qiao refused to listen to his nonsense, "Let go of me."


    Fu Jinghen clicked his tongue, looking at the restless young woman in his arms: "Move again, and you¡¯re on your own."


    Perhaps the current Fu Jinghen had a great impact on Wen Qiao since, hearing this almost domineering declaration, she indeed calmed down.


    However, she leaned her upper body back as far as possible, trying to maintain a "Chu River Han Boundary" distance from Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at her, with a light sneer, "What are you dodging? Weren¡¯t you just cooingly asking me to rub it?" S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    !


    "Would you please shut up?"

 Chapter 154 - 153: Grasping the Wrong Direction

    Chapter 154: Chapter 153: Grasping the Wrong DirectionActing spoiled with you is one thing, but for you to announce it so publicly in front of all these people, don¡¯t I have a face to save?


    "Clang"¡ªa noise came from the front passenger seat, and Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes twitched uncontrollably.


    Without looking, it must have been Jiang Yao, that naive little bumpkin, getting shaken up by it.


    And it wasn¡¯t just Jiang Yao, that one little bumpkin, who got shaken up.


    The car had slowed down for the red light at the crossroads ahead, and Feng Li, wanting to look back but fearing being silenced, struggled to turn his head. His inquisitive gaze met Jiang Yao¡¯s halfway.


    Subsequently, they both saw a bit of commiseration in each other¡¯s eyes.


    How wonderful, so thrilling, so full to burst.


    "About the incident with Lin Ruochun falling into the water¡ª" Fu Jinghen, looking down, rubbed Wen Qiao¡¯s leg, tossing out a topic to draw her attention back.


    "What about it? Did you find anything?" Wen Qiao immediately asked.


    Jiang Yao in the front passenger seat turned her head around as well.


    "We haven¡¯t found out everything. The camera on your tent was obstructed, but one of the cameramen captured footage of Jiang Wei leaving your tent during a behind-the-scenes shoot."


    "I see..." Wen Qiao slumped her shoulders, somewhat dejected, "I thought we could find some solid evidence, and then I would just throw the video in Jiang Wei¡¯s face, making her too ashamed to stay in the crew!"


    Fu Jinghen looked up at the girl in his arms, embodying the spirit of punishing evil with a righteous aura.


    "What do you plan to do now?" he asked.


    "What else can I do? I can only let her off the hook for now. Even if we captured her leaving my place, there¡¯s no footage of her touching my phone," Wen Qiao said, fiddling with Fu Jinghen¡¯s collar, "With Jiang Wei¡¯s status and mine, without solid evidence, no one will believe me even if I say it out loud. And God forbid people start accusing me of trying to frame her."


    "Mhm."


    Seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s lukewarm response, Wen Qiao extended her finger and poked his chin, "I just didn¡¯t expect that President Fu, of all people, would have times when he can¡¯t find out everything. Seems like not so capable, eh?"


    Feng Li, driving up front, couldn¡¯t help wanting to defend his boss, "Boss¡ª"


    He only managed to say one word before the rest of his sentence was choked back by the look Fu Jinghen sent him from the rearview mirror.


    Though Feng Li didn¡¯t understand why President Fu didn¡¯t want the Boss Lady to know about the things he¡¯d done, he obediently shut his mouth.


    After all, it was still Fu Jinghen who was paying his salary. He would just do as the boss says.


    Seeing Feng Li shut up, Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze finally settled on Wen Qiao¡¯s plump head, "If I¡¯m not capable, why are you still asking for my help? Why don¡¯t you investigate it yourself?"


    Wen Qiao, with an air of righteousness despite knowing she was wrong, retorted, "It¡¯s precisely because I¡¯m incapable, that¡¯s why I put my hopes on you, and look what happened! Hmph!"


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao¡¯s fingers once again mischievously poked out, but this time the direction was off and slightly askew, poking Fu Jinghen on the Adam¡¯s apple.


    Fu Jinghen hissed in response, but before he could say anything, the little woman in his arms had already quieted down. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯m sorry, I got the direction wrong with my finger, I was aiming for your chin."


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    You¡¯ve got the direction of your apology wrong, too.

 Chapter 155 - 154: Older Man

    Chapter 155: Chapter 154: Older ManJiang Yao couldn¡¯t help but complain after hearing this, "What kind of ill-fated beauty are you, to have such bad luck? Last time with Luo Bin, the security camera just happened to be broken, and this time, although there finally was surveillance, it was blocked."


    After the crew had set up their respective tents, Wen Qiao asked Jiang Yao to find four pieces of cloth to cover the surroundings of the tent to shield it from the sun.


    That really backfired, akin to lifting a rock only to drop it on her own foot.


    Wen Qiao also sighed, "Maybe, heaven doesn¡¯t want my path to fame to be too smooth. After all, they say that before heaven assigns a great responsibility to someone, it must first weary their mind, toil their muscles and bones, and leave them¡ª"


    She hadn¡¯t finished reciting the poem when her growling stomach interrupted her.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t said anything yet when Jiang Yao quickly stopped her, "No! You can¡¯t eat anything at night!"


    Knowing there was no persuading Jiang Yao, Wen Qiao then turned for comfort to her own boyfriend, rubbing her stomach and looking pitifully at Fu Jinghen, "I¡¯m hungry."


    "What would you like to eat?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    "I want fried chicken."


    Fu Jinghen responded, "Then stay hungry."


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    How did it turn out this way?


    -


    After the cramping in her leg subsided, Wen Qiao got off Fu Jinghen.


    After all, there were other people around and though Wen Qiao quite cherished his warm and comfortable embrace, it wasn¡¯t appropriate to keep clinging to him.


    Once she returned to her original seat, Fu Jinghen leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes for a quick rest.


    Watching the familiar surroundings slowly coming into focus, Wen Qiao belatedly realized something.


    Was Fu Jinghen doing that on purpose just now?


    To tempt her?


    Then embarrass her, avenging her previous teasing when she had bitten his ear?


    This man was too wicked!


    Too scheming!


    Too petty!


    She was a woman after all! And moreover, his fianc¨¦e¡ªwas such tit-for-tat necessary?


    Thinking this, Wen Qiao turned her head to look at the man beside her who was resting with closed eyes, and slapped him awake.


    "Wake up, what are you sleeping for? We¡¯re almost home."


    Fu Jinghen was slightly confused by this abrupt slap as he opened his eyes, looking at Wen Qiao with a slight frown.


    This woman really never settled down for a moment.


    The car smoothly stopped in front of Yujia Garden, and Wen Qiao was the first to jump out of the car.


    Following the sound of the door closing, Fu Jinghen keenly heard Wen Qiao mumbling¡ª


    "Sleep, sleep, sleep, that¡¯s all you know. Such a short trip back and still needs to close his eyes, typical of an old man."


    "?"


    -


    On the other side, Jiang Wei came back to her apartment and still looked upset as she reclined on the sofa with a frown, her mind uncontrollably replaying the scenes she had witnessed at the airport.


    The phone rang, and Jiang Wei glanced at the caller ID before switching off the screen.


    The call remained unanswered and automatically hung up. When the screen lit up again, a new message came in.


    Impatiently clicking her tongue, Jiang Wei opened the WeChat message.


    [Mom: Weiwei, are you busy?]


    [It¡¯s Weiwei, not tiny Wei: Just took a shower, didn¡¯t hear the phone. What¡¯s up?]


    [Mom: Oh, nothing important. It¡¯s just that your father has always wanted to secure Fu Family¡¯s new city development project. He was following up on it quite well until a few days ago when the bidding results came out, and another company won. Since you see Jinghen more often, we were hoping you could ask him about the situation.] sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Upon reading this message, Jiang Wei felt an icy chill throughout her body.

 Chapter 156 - 155: What Video?

    Chapter 156: Chapter 155: What Video?Fu Jinghen seemed to be employing this method to take revenge for Wen Qiao.


    Or was it that he knew something? And that¡¯s why he was warning her with this tactic?


    "Your luggage has been put away. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll be leaving now."


    Li Qing¡¯s voice rang out in the living room.


    Jiang Wei responded with a "Hmm."


    Just as Li Qing¡¯s hand touched the doorknob, Jiang Wei suddenly said, "I need Blanche¡¯s schedule by tomorrow morning."


    Li Qing paused for a moment, then said with some difficulty, "That might be a bit difficult, because¡ª"


    Jiang Wei cut Li Qing off with a displeased look, "I don¡¯t want to hear any excuses about what can¡¯t be done or what can¡¯t be gotten. I don¡¯t pay you a salary every month to hear you say ¡¯no¡¯ to me. If you can do it, then do it; if not, get lost."


    Li Qing¡¯s expression grew ugly. She held Jiang Wei¡¯s gaze for a few seconds, said "Understood," then opened the door and left.


    Li Qing worked quickly; it didn¡¯t take long for her to get hold of Blanche¡¯s schedule.


    The next day, Jiang Wei got up early and rushed to Yunshui Pavilion Hot Spring.


    According to Blanche¡¯s personal assistant, Blanche had reserved online in advance and would be visiting Yunshui Pavilion Hot Spring today, but the exact time was uncertain.


    To be on the safe side, Jiang Wei arrived early to wait.


    The receptionist at Yunshui Pavilion that day happened to be a female fan of Jiang Wei. Seeing her arrival, the woman¡¯s face lit up with an enthusiastic smile, "Sister Weiwei¡¯s back."


    "Hmm." Jiang Wei took off her sunglasses and returned a slight smile. After exchanging pleasantries with the receptionist, she skillfully steered the conversation toward her intended subject. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She unlocked her phone, sliding it across to the receptionist, "Actually, I¡¯m here to ask for a favor. Keep an eye out later, and when this woman arrives, tell her there¡¯s been a glitch with the system and her online reservation can¡¯t be honored."


    The receptionist glanced at the photo. A troubled look crossed her face, "Sister Weiwei, that doesn¡¯t seem right. If something happens, it could reflect badly on Tangshan Hot Spring..."


    "Don¡¯t worry, nothing will happen," Jiang Wei reassured her with a calm smile. "I¡¯ll be right here; nothing bad will happen. And if it does, I¡¯ll go explain things to President Zhou afterward."


    "This..."


    Seeing the receptionist hesitating, Jiang Wei¡¯s expression changed as she sighed helplessly, "I didn¡¯t want to resort to this either, but you know I recently lost the lead role in ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯. Wen Qiao knows I¡¯m close to Ah Ming and hasn¡¯t stopped tripping me up on the set. Even you fans know that I treat Ah Ming like a little brother. I don¡¯t understand why she can¡¯t let go of this grudge."


    "If I can¡¯t secure the endorsement with ES now, won¡¯t it just be giving people a laugh? The woman in the photo is the fianc¨¦e of ES¡¯s president, and I had no choice but to come up with this plan. I know it¡¯s not particularly honorable, but who wouldn¡¯t fight for their career? Besides, I really do love it."


    Hearing both Wen Qiao and Qi Ming¡¯s names mentioned, and combined with Jiang Wei¡¯s emotionally persuasive words, the receptionist¡¯s expression softened a great deal. Instead of seeing Jiang Wei as manipulative, she seemed genuine for being so direct.


    Seeing the receptionist deep in thought, Jiang Wei covertly swiped the phone¡¯s screen, and the photo of the woman switched instantly to a video.


    Jiang Wei sighed again, "If it¡¯s difficult for you, then forget I asked."

 Chapter 157 - 156: Negative Role Models for Contemporary Women

    Chapter 157: Chapter 156: Negative Role Models for Contemporary WomenAs she spoke, Jiang Wei picked up her cell phone and turned to leave.


    "Sister Weiwei, wait a moment!"


    The receptionist suddenly spoke up, staring intently at the cell phone in her hand, "Can I take another look at that video?"


    "Ah?" Jiang Wei asked, puzzled, "What video?"


    "The one you were just playing on your phone."


    Still confused, Jiang Wei hesitated, then opened her phone and looked down.


    After seeing the two people on the phone¡¯s screen, she instantly gasped.


    "This video..."


    In the video, Qi Ming and Wen Qiao were seen exiting a room one after the other, surrounded by their managers and assistants.


    It was the day they were shooting promotional photos for "Red Makeup" when Qi Ming had come to find Wen Qiao.


    The video was only a few seconds long, but it was clear enough to see both their faces.


    The receptionist had initially been a die-hard fan of Qi Ming. Jiang Wei had helped her get Qi Ming¡¯s autographs several times, which had also turned her into Jiang Wei¡¯s fan. But comparatively, she definitely liked Qi Ming much more.


    "This Qianqian, always saving videos on my phone without telling me."


    Jiang Wei exclaimed in surprise and quickly turned off her phone.


    But the receptionist, caught up in her emotions, didn¡¯t notice what she had said and grabbed Jiang Wei¡¯s arm, "Sister Weiwei, when did this happen? Is Wen Qiao still bothering our Ah Ming?"


    "This..." Jiang Wei showed difficulty on her face and didn¡¯t directly answer the receptionist¡¯s question, "Girls tend to get a bit carried away when they¡¯re around someone they like..."


    Though she didn¡¯t give a direct answer, for a girlfriend fan like the receptionist, seeing her idol with another woman in the same frame was enough to set her off.


    Not to mention this woman was once criticized by the entire internet.


    If anyone hated Wen Qiao as much as Jiang Wei did, it was Qi Ming¡¯s girlfriend fans.


    "How can this woman be so clingy? Doesn¡¯t she see what her status is? A nobody from the eighteenth-tier of celebrities, how dare she shamelessly chase after our Ah Ming?"


    The receptionist couldn¡¯t help but curse out loud.


    "You can¡¯t say things like that. Wen Qiao landed the lead in ¡¯Red Makeup,¡¯ and I heard she¡¯s interested in ES¡¯s endorsement this time. If she gets it, she could rise to the ranks of top-tier actresses, which would make her quite a match for Ah Ming."


    "Not a match, not a match, not a match! Even if she won all the awards, she wouldn¡¯t be worthy of my brother!" The receptionist was furious upon hearing Jiang Wei¡¯s remarks. If it weren¡¯t Jiang Wei saying this, anyone else claiming "Wen Qiao and Qi Ming are a good match" would have prompted the receptionist to physically lash out.


    The receptionist let go of Jiang Wei¡¯s arm, her chest heaving with emotion, still barely containing her disdain for Wen Qiao, "Sister Weiwei, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll stop her. You must secure the endorsement for ES, we can¡¯t let Wen Qiao succeed!"


    At that moment, Jiang Wei wasn¡¯t particularly anxious, "If it¡¯s too difficult for you, don¡¯t worry about it, just in case¡ª" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There won¡¯t be a just in case. I¡¯d rather be fired or have my salary docked, but Wen Qiao must not get that endorsement," the receptionist walked back and forth, furious, "Does she dare to bully you? Who doesn¡¯t know she stole that lead role from you? And who doesn¡¯t know that you¡¯ve known our Ah Ming for ages, almost like his own sister? You, an award-winning actress, supporting her and she doesn¡¯t even appreciate it, and still dares to stir up trouble."

 Chapter 158 - 157: Waiting

    Chapter 158: Chapter 157: Waiting"Relying on your wealthy patron to act unbridled? Miss Jiang, your family background is so prestigious, but she is the complete antithesis, a terrible role model for modern women!"


    Jiang Wei listened to the receptionist¡¯s incessant insults and her lips twitched upward, almost imperceptibly.


    During the photo shoot for the costume fitting, when she saw Qi Ming pull Wen Qiao away, she had Qianqian follow them and record the video.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that this video would come in handy at this very moment.


    Actually, after the Luo Bin incident, Jiang Wei had intended to wait until the situation escalated to a certain point before releasing the video online to add fuel to the fire. But before she had a chance to release it, Wen Qiao had posted a clarifying video.


    So the video remained on her phone. Although using it to provoke the Yunshui Pavilion receptionist was somewhat an overkill, it had, after all, helped her out this time.


    Jiang Wei stopped the restless receptionist, "Please keep today¡¯s events confidential. If Wen Qiao hears about it, she will definitely make things difficult for me again."


    The receptionist patted her chest confidently in reassurance to Jiang Wei, "I know, I won¡¯t tell anyone. Rest assured, Sister Weiwei."


    "But, Sister Weiwei, why don¡¯t you tell your family about her giving you a hard time? You are the treasured pearl of the Jiang Family, you shouldn¡¯t let others bully you."


    Hearing the words "treasured pearl," Jiang Wei¡¯s expression stiffened momentarily; she lifted her hand and tucked the hair beside her cheek behind her ear, "What¡¯s there to say? I¡¯m not a child who runs home to tattle over everything, and I don¡¯t want to use my family¡¯s status to oppress others. One has to be down-to-earth and take things step by step; it¡¯s more reassuring that way."


    The receptionist nodded emphatically in agreement, "Sister Weiwei, you really think big picture."


    Jiang Wei smiled, offering no reply.


    After waiting all morning without catching a glimpse of Blanche, Jiang Wei grew impatient and texted Li Qing from her phone.


    [Weiwei not Weiwei: Is your information reliable? I¡¯ve been waiting all morning and haven¡¯t seen a soul.]


    [Li Qing: Absolutely reliable, just wait a little longer.]


    Seeing Li Qing¡¯s response, Jiang Wei didn¡¯t have many options but to wait. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cup after cup of coffee later, and finally, after lunchtime, Jiang Wei caught sight of Blanche.


    Blanche was the fianc¨¦e selected by Gu Yi¡¯s family, a sound business marriage.


    According to what Li Qing¡¯s classmate said, Blanche really liked Gu Yi, but Gu Yi did not share the same sentiment.


    CAIN and ES were both luxury brands, but CAIN focused on the fashion industry. Being the treasured pearl of the C family, Blanche naturally had a haughty and domineering disposition. Once engaged to Gu Yi, she replaced all of his secretaries with men. Not to speak of women, she wouldn¡¯t allow even a male creature near Gu Yi.


    This wasn¡¯t a secret within ES; all the employees knew it.


    This time Gu Yi came to Hua Country to discuss a collaboration with FS, and she had come along. Gu Yi, however, found her annoying and often sent her away to entertain herself.


    When Li Qing received this information, she and Jiang Wei discussed starting their plan with Blanche.


    The two major brands uniting was a significant move, and since Gu Yi¡¯s grandfather particularly liked Blanche, as a sign of sincerity, they transferred all their shares to her upon their engagement. In ES, Blanche held shares equal to Gu Yi, giving her absolute say in all company matters.


    Jiang Wei wasn¡¯t looking to establish a great relationship with Blanche in a short amount of time, but she could get her to veto Wen Qiao as the spokesperson.

 Chapter 159 - 158: Do You Know Me?

    Chapter 159: Chapter 158: Do You Know Me?Even if Fu Jinghen really did protect Wen Qiao, he couldn¡¯t intervene in this matter.


    Although ES was the party coming to China to collaborate with FS, they still had the right to choose their own brand ambassador. Fu Jinghen wouldn¡¯t be able to force ES to pick Wen Qiao.


    Could he really ruin his partnership with ES over a woman?


    Jiang Wei understood Fu Jinghen; when he first took over FS, many directors doubted his abilities. It was only after several impressive victories fought day and night that he silenced those skeptics.


    How could he now forsake the career he was so proud of for a woman who had only recently gotten engaged and had even entangled with his own nephew?


    Impossible.


    Since ancient times, women have merely been ornaments to a man¡¯s successful career. Wen Qiao would definitely not be indispensable in Fu Jinghen¡¯s heart.


    Even if by a long shot she didn¡¯t get the endorsement, Wen Qiao wouldn¡¯t get her hands on it either.


    Thinking so, the sound of high heels clicking on the floor approached from afar.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s heart stirred, and she turned to look.


    A woman wearing sunglasses, a large sun hat, and a white spaghetti strap dress entered her vision, her feet adorned with strappy sandals that accentuated the length of her legs, her long hair cascading behind her.


    Although her face wasn¡¯t clear, Jiang Wei was inexplicably certain that this person was Blanche.


    She straightened up a bit and looked toward the reception.


    After reaching the front desk, the woman explained she had pre-booked online and handed over the booking information.


    The receptionist glanced at the member information displayed on the screen and, with an appropriately polite smile, said, "I¡¯m sorry, madam, our system has had a glitch recently. Any bookings made online haven¡¯t been effective."


    The woman pulled down her sunglasses, looking down from her height advantage at the receptionist, and spoke surprisingly fluent Chinese, "If there was a system glitch, you should¡¯ve informed us online ahead of time. Now here I am, and you tell me my reservation isn¡¯t valid. Are you joking with me?"


    Receptionist: "We¡¯re truly sorry. Our technical department is working on it. We won¡¯t put it on your bill this time and will waive the fee. How about you come back tomorrow?"


    "But my schedule for tomorrow is already arranged. How will you compensate for the time I¡¯ve lost?" Blanche had always called the shots and had never faced a situation that didn¡¯t go her way. Now she was agitated, "I want to file a complaint now, how about that?"


    Upon hearing this, the receptionist was alarmed. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    If she really went through with a complaint, that would be terrible.


    Even though she had just blurted out in a heated moment that she didn¡¯t care even if she lost her job, when push came to shove, people tend to be self-preserving and might back down.


    Before the receptionist could look for help from Jiang Wei, she heard Jiang Wei¡¯s voice, "Please charge this lady¡¯s fee to my account."


    Relief instantly washed over the receptionist, who looked towards Blanche, "Would that be okay with you?"


    Blanche sized up the suddenly appearing Jiang Wei with a bad tone, "Who are you?"


    Jiang Wei didn¡¯t mind her attitude; she smiled gently, extended her hand, and introduced herself, "Jiang Wei."


    Blanche did not reach out to shake it, but Jiang Wei wasn¡¯t embarrassed. She withdrew her hand and said, "The system issue isn¡¯t the receptionist¡¯s fault. I happen to have a private bath here, and if Miss Blanche doesn¡¯t mind, we can share."


    Blanche seemed surprised, "You know me?"


    Jiang Wei pointed to the cellphone on the table, "Your name is displayed on it."

 Chapter 160 - 159: He Doesn鈥檛 Like Me Anyway

    Chapter 160: Chapter 159: He Doesn¡¯t Like Me AnywayYunshui Pavilion was built against the mountain, its main feature being the natural hot spring formed by the diverted mountain streams.


    The private hot spring pools were located at the deepest part of the Hot Spring Garden, with twisted corridors, intricately carved palace lanterns hanging from the corners of the roofs, surrounded by screens full of ancient charm, where the dim light mixed with the misty vapor, creating a unique secret realm.


    Blanche had always loved these Chinese-style buildings and decorations, walking along with an excited heart.


    Jiang Wei watched her undisguised joyful smile and gained some understanding of Blanche¡¯s personality. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She said with a laugh, "If you come again in the future, just say my name, and the staff will bring you here."


    "Really?" Blanche asked excitedly, and then realizing she might have overreacted, she embarrassedly pursed her lips, "Wouldn¡¯t that be inappropriate?"


    "There¡¯s nothing wrong with that," replied Jiang Wei in a gentle and soft voice that seemed to have the power to soothe the heart, "I¡¯m often busy with filming and work outside, and I hardly have time to come here to soak in the hot springs. It would be a waste to leave it idle."


    "Are you a celebrity?"


    Blanche was not very familiar with the domestic entertainment industry and naturally did not recognize Jiang Wei.


    Jiang Wei smiled and nodded, "Yes."


    "Hey, that¡¯s perfect!" Blanche clapped her hands, straightened up, and picked up her phone from the shore, "Let¡¯s exchange contact information. If there¡¯s a chance to collaborate in the future, I¡¯ll reach out to you."


    Jiang Wei didn¡¯t move but instead asked, "Collaborate?"


    Blanche then realized she had not introduced herself. Diving in to exchange contact details and talking about collaboration would certainly make her seem like a scammer.


    "Do you know CAIN? It¡¯s that clothing brand," Blanche said, looking at Jiang Wei and patting her chest, "It¡¯s my family¡¯s business."


    Jiang Wei obviously did not believe her, "Little sister, even if you didn¡¯t say that, I wouldn¡¯t have asked you to leave."


    Seeing her disbelief, Blanche became anxious, "For real! I¡¯m telling the truth, please believe me."


    She frowned, seeming to be thinking about how to convince Jiang Wei of her sincerity.


    "Wait a moment."


    Saying so, Blanche tapped a few times on her phone, then handed it to Jiang Wei, "Look, this is CAIN¡¯s internal staff registration website, and there¡¯s my photo."


    The internal website of CAIN was only accessible to high-level executives, and at this point, Jiang Wei believed that Blanche was not making things up.


    She opened her mouth, her surprise clearly overflowing.


    Blanche looked at her somewhat triumphantly, "Now you believe me, I didn¡¯t lie to you."


    Jiang Wei was still incredulous and joked, "I did not expect that the random kid I picked up at the front desk would be so important."


    Blanche mumbled in dissatisfaction, "I¡¯m already engaged. I¡¯m not a kid anymore!"


    Jiang Wei was even more surprised, as Blanche looked so young and yet she was already engaged.


    Blanche, seeming especially displeased when others didn¡¯t believe what she said, pouted, "I really am engaged. I came here to discuss a partnership with my fianc¨¦, with FS¡ªyou know about them, right?"


    Jiang Wei nodded. How could she not be aware?


    She looked at Blanche, not asking about the nature of the partnership, but changed the question instead, "Then why didn¡¯t your fianc¨¦ come with you? You¡¯re in an unfamiliar place¡ªare you not worried about getting lost?"


    "If I get lost, then I get lost," Blanche said with a hint of gloom in her expression, "He probably hopes I don¡¯t go back. He doesn¡¯t like me anyway..."

 Chapter 161 - 160: It鈥檚 Been Too Long, I Can鈥檛 Remember Clearly

    Chapter 161: Chapter 160: It¡¯s Been Too Long, I Can¡¯t Remember Clearly"He doesn¡¯t like me," she murmured almost inaudibly, but Jiang Wei still heard her. She didn¡¯t continue to question her; instead, she pushed the fruit tray floating on the water toward Qiao, "Have some fruit and try not to think about the unhappy things."


    Upon hearing Jiang Wei¡¯s comforting words, the desire to vent inside Blanche gradually rose. She licked her lips, "I don¡¯t even know where I went wrong that he can¡¯t like me. Even coming to Hua Country this time to discuss the cooperation was my own idea. He never really cared about me..."


    Jiang Wei sighed softly, "Some people just don¡¯t like you, and there¡¯s nothing you can do to change their mind."


    Blanche looked up at Jiang Wei, "Sister Weiwei, do you have someone you like?"


    Blanche¡¯s eyes lit up with curiosity as she spoke to Jiang Wei, eager to know, "What is he like?"


    Seeing her curious baby look, Jiang Wei asked, "Do you want to see a photo?"


    "Can I?"


    "There¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t do."


    Jiang Wei opened her album, found Fu Jinghen¡¯s photo, and handed it to Blanche. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The man in the photo was in a suit, standing on a stage holding a microphone, with excellent body proportions and a distinguished demeanor.


    Blanche let out a small "Wow," "He¡¯s so handsome."


    She added after a pause, "But in my eyes, my fianc¨¦ is still more handsome."


    Jiang Wei just smiled, and said nothing.


    "So Sister Weiwei, how long have you liked him?"


    "Not very long," Jiang Wei thought for a moment, her hand moving to tuck her hair behind her ear, and shook her head with a touch of resignation, "It¡¯s been so long that I can¡¯t even remember."


    Blanche clicked her tongue; that must have been a long time, blurring the very concept of time.


    Jiang Wei actually uttered a rare truth. She couldn¡¯t remember since when, but Fu Jinghen had become the only person she could see in her heart and mind.


    Everyone else was merely a passing cloud to her.


    Yet, there was another woman by his side now.


    And her affection for him had long since become insignificant to him.


    -


    After an afternoon of interaction, Blanche¡¯s fondness for Jiang Wei soared, feeling almost as if Jiang Wei was a long-lost sister.


    As she was about to leave, Blanche reluctantly held Jiang Wei¡¯s hand and asked, "Sister Weiwei, can I come and visit you again? I don¡¯t have any friends here by myself; it¡¯s so boring."


    "Of course," Jiang Wei agreed readily, "I¡¯ll be in Jiang City in the coming days. You can call me anytime you feel bored."


    Blanche nodded frantically, her affection for Jiang Wei rising another level.


    At that moment, Jiang Wei¡¯s phone vibrated. She took it out and saw a message from Zhao Lan, Fu Jinghen¡¯s secretary.


    [Zhao Lan: President Fu will be going to Lin City for a business trip tomorrow, lasting two days.]


    -


    After returning home and freshening up yesterday, Wen Qiao immediately dove into bed.


    The soft mattress chased away the fatigue of her travel. Even though the beds in the hotels weren¡¯t bad, they couldn¡¯t compare to her home.


    Fu Jing was extremely particular about beds, much more than even Wen Qiao herself.


    However, his fussiness meant she also reaped the benefits.


    Wen Qiao slept straight through to nearly two in the afternoon before she fully woke up, during which Fu Jing woke her up twice, and she sleepily ate a little food before falling asleep again.


    If she hadn¡¯t been still breathing, Fu Jing might have thought she had passed away.

 Chapter 162 - 161: Want to Hold

    Chapter 162: Chapter 161: Want to HoldWen Qiao was rubbing her eyes as she crawled out of bed, nearly forgetting what day it was.


    She sat on the bed, holding the blanket around her, and looked around in a daze.


    The room was completely darkened by the thick curtains, with not a sliver of light to be seen. The air conditioner hummed softly, blowing out cold air, making the bedroom with its black and white minimalist design seem utterly vast.


    Suddenly, Wen Qiao felt a wave of grievance surge within her, as if she had been abandoned.


    But no sooner had this feeling surfaced, someone pushed the door open from outside.


    "Awake?"


    Wen Qiao instinctively looked up to see the brightness outlining the man¡¯s figure at the door, but she couldn¡¯t make out his expression. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Where did you go?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s voice carried the raspiness of having just woken up, with a hint of coy complaint.


    "In the study."


    Fu Jinghen walked in, drawing the curtains open just a crack to let in the morning sunlight.


    Just a beam of light came in, not enough to dazzle.


    "What time is it now?" Wen Qiao asked.


    "Half past eight."


    "Really?" Wen Qiao was taken aback: "I¡¯ve only slept for eight hours?"


    "......"


    Fu Jinghen seemed to find her use of the word "only" a bit baffling.


    He walked over and pulled back the covers: "Get up, let¡¯s eat."


    "I want to wash my face and wake up a bit."


    Fu Jinghen nodded.


    Wen Qiao had slept exceptionally long, her body felt limp, and she was somewhat reluctant to move. Sitting on the bed, she extended her arms towards Fu Jinghen: "I want a hug."


    Fu Jinghen stood by the bed and looked down at her. Although he didn¡¯t speak, Wen Qiao read an implied sentence on his face¡ª


    "Did you break your legs or something, needing someone to carry you the few steps from the bed to the bathroom? Do I need to wash your face for you too?"


    Wen Qiao pouted and sighed, murmuring to herself: "Ah, being a woman is truly so hard. I can¡¯t balance career and family. I left for a month to film, and upon returning, my fianc¨¦ is already so cold toward me."


    "How am I supposed to go on with life? Will the next time I come back be to news of our engagement being called off?"


    The final "Ah," Wen Qiao delivered with dramatic turns and heartfelt emotion.


    When she snapped back to reality, she found herself in Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms.


    Her legs naturally wrapped around his waist, and her arms circled his neck as she finally saw eye-to-eye with him.


    Wen Qiao blinked, and blinked again, her ears feeling a bit warm under her hair upon realizing their current position.


    How to put it...


    This posture was akin to holding a child, yet it also carried an indescribable hint of intimacy.


    "Didn¡¯t see that coming, Mr. Fu, you¡¯re quite the dark horse, enjoying holding me like this."


    Her ears might be warm, but Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth was never one to hold back.


    As soon as she finished speaking, a sense of weightlessness took over, causing her to scream instinctively. Her arms tightened and her legs, wrapped around Fu Jinghen¡¯s waist, clenched forcefully to prevent herself from falling off him.


    Wen Qiao looked into Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes, unsettled, and read another unspoken message¡ª


    "If you keep taking advantage while pretending innocence, I¡¯ll put you down to walk on your own."


    In less than a minute, Fu Jinghen demonstrated the consequences of Wen Qiao teasing him without knowing restraint.


    Wuu.


    Scary.


    So scary.


    Wen Qiao wilted, wrapping her arms around Fu Jinghen¡¯s neck and burying her head in his shoulder, no longer speaking.


    Seeing that she had finally quieted down, Fu Jinghen was content, his mouth curving into a satisfied smile.

 Chapter 163 - 162: You Think I鈥檓 Old?

    Chapter 163: Chapter 162: You Think I¡¯m Old?He lifted Wen Qiao again, one arm around her waist and one hand under her bottom, carrying her steadily toward the bathroom.


    While Wen Qiao was washing her face, Fu Jinghen stood behind her, watching her without leaving. After she finished, he slowly asked, "Are you busy tomorrow night?"


    "Not at all." Wen Qiao, with her eyes closed, reached blindly to the side for a towel. After fumbling for a while without grabbing it, she swung her hand behind her back and said, "President Fu, could you hand me the towel?"


    Some droplets of water from Wen Qiao¡¯s hand splashed onto Fu Jinghen¡¯s face, with one drop landing on his eyelashes. He frowned subconsciously as he grabbed the towel from the rack and handed it to her.


    After Wen Qiao dried her face and opened her eyes, she saw Fu Jinghen frowning at her, looking somewhat puzzled.


    Am I bothering you by just washing my face?


    She muttered quietly, "Moody old man..."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t catch what she said and asked, "What did you say?"


    Wen Qiao quickly shook her head, "Nothing."


    She then swiftly changed the topic, handing over the towel and turning around to apply her skincare products, "What did you ask me about tomorrow night for?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s movement was very natural, and by the time Fu Jinghen realized it, he had already rehung the towel on the rack.


    He gazed at the towel, all pink and decorated with a little kitten pattern, somewhat at a loss for words.


    How did this girl get me to obey her so smoothly?


    Wen Qiao, finding her hair down too troublesome, casually tied it into a bun. Her skull was also very pretty, round, with a high crown, which made any hairstyle suit her well.


    The bun plumped on top of her head, and paired with her Mickey Mouse-patterned loose nightgown, portraying her as a high school student of seventeen or eighteen was believable.


    Fu Jinghen suddenly recalled what Qin Xiang had said at the Yingcheng Hotel bar, "It¡¯s like you¡¯ve got yourself a daughter", looking at Wen Qiao¡¯s attire now.


    And he remembered how she had called him an "old man" yesterday.


    He¡¯d never cared about his age before, but at this moment, staring at the bun on her head, he felt a trace of world-weariness.


    Fu Jinghen rubbed his temples with a bit of a headache and said to Wen Qiao, who was applying products in front of the mirror, "Wen Qiao, how old are you?"


    "Hmm?"


    Wen Qiao turned around, puzzled, wondering why he suddenly asked about her age.


    Then she noticed that Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze was on her, and following his gaze, she saw the giant Mickey Mouse head printed on her chest.


    "....."


    Alright.


    She understood what Fu Jinghen meant.


    Wen Qiao huffed lightly, turning back to face the mirror as she continued to apply products, "What do you know? This is called youthful innocence."


    After a pause, she added, "Actually, it¡¯s normal for you not to understand, they say a generation gap occurs every three years; we¡¯re six years apart, that makes it two insurmountable chasms."


    Fu Jinghen lifted his eyelids, his gaze falling on the mirror in front of him, and slowly said, "Are you calling me old?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hand, which had been moving in circles on her face, paused, and her eyes glanced sideways to meet Fu Jinghen¡¯s, the next second her eyes curved into a smile, "I never said that, those are your words, President Fu."


    Fu Jinghen, who had been leaning against the bathroom door, languidly straightened up, casting a fleeting glance at Wen Qiao and dropping a line, "Since there¡¯s a generation gap between us, I think we might reconsider the endorsement for ES, given our different opinions." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 164 - 163: Loved by Everyone, Flowers Bloom at the Sight

    Chapter 164: Chapter 163: Loved by Everyone, Flowers Bloom at the SightHe then took strides to walk outside.


    Wen Qiao blinked her eyes at her reflection in the mirror, as if trying to comprehend the meaning behind Jinghen¡¯s words.


    Eh?


    Is that settled then?


    Jinghen had barely taken three steps when a scream came from the bathroom behind him.


    Before his brain could react, his lips curved into a smile as if they had a mind of their own.


    Then his shoulders tightened, his back felt heavier, and his waist was encircled once again by those familiar legs, he looked down and could lock eyes with SpongeBob on the slippers.


    Jinghen instinctively reached his hand behind to support Wen Qiao who had pounced onto his back, feeling slightly helpless inside.


    "Are you a monkey or something?"


    "Nope." Wen Qiao moved up a bit and whispered playfully into Jinghen¡¯s ear, "I belong to you."


    Wen Qiao seemed to already envision the soaring price of her value after endorsing ES, hence her exceptionally sweet talk.


    Jinghen: "....." S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing that Jinghen wasn¡¯t responding, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t mind.


    "What was that endorsement you mentioned just now all about?"


    Jinghen tilted his head, "You already know, don¡¯t you?"


    "Hehe, I just really want to hear you tell me yourself."


    "I could tell you, but you wouldn¡¯t understand," Jinghen said lightly, "After all, there are two insurmountable gulfs between us."


    ?


    Why is he holding such a grudge?


    Are all billionaires this petty?


    "I can understand, I can definitely understand," Wen Qiao clung tightly around Jinghen¡¯s neck, her upper body leaning forward, closing the slight distance between them.


    Jinghen¡¯s lips almost touched Wen Qiao¡¯s cheek.


    But the excited Wen Qiao naturally didn¡¯t pay attention to this.


    "There¡¯s no gulf, how could there be any gulfs, President Fu, you have astronomical knowledge and geographical wisdom, elders want to take you home as a son-in-law, children see you and wish to call you dad."


    "From eighty-year-old grandmothers to three-year-old children, everyone falls at your suited pants, you are truly adored by everyone and flowers bloom at your sight¡ª"


    "Shut up."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s impromptu speech had just started and hadn¡¯t reached its passionate climax when Jinghen made her stop.


    But she didn¡¯t mind, instead, she blinked those big eyes, eagerly awaiting Jinghen¡¯s next words.


    Jinghen suddenly found it hard to say "no" with those eyes looking at him. After quietly locking eyes for a few seconds, he walked back to the bathroom, bent down, and set Wen Qiao down.


    "I¡¯ll take you to meet with the people from ES tomorrow night, get ready."


    Wen Qiao asked, "What do you mean by meeting? Didn¡¯t you say we needed to first take a set of pictures for them to see and then decide?"


    Actually, ES had already had their eyes on Wen Qiao for the endorsement role, but when Jinghen visited Hang City last time, ES hadn¡¯t been quite sure, so he hadn¡¯t mentioned it.


    The contract had already been signed a couple of days ago, and the endorsement role was definitively settled.


    As for the pretense of taking pictures first for review, it was just an excuse Jinghen had casually concocted to keep Wen Qiao hanging.


    This girl¡¯s character is lacking in steadiness, if he had told her the news sooner, wouldn¡¯t she have become too proud to even remember her last name?


    Jinghen said, "ES wants to have a face-to-face meeting."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s smile hadn¡¯t left her face since the beginning, and now she adapted to whatever Jinghen said, sliding off his back to stand in front of him, her head nodding like a woodpecker: "Alright, President Fu, I guarantee I won¡¯t let you down!"

 Chapter 165 - 164: The Ill-Fated Mandarin Ducks

    Chapter 165: Chapter 164: The Ill-Fated Mandarin DucksFu Jinghen saw Wen Qiao almost raising three fingers to the sky, as if to swear an oath, and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He nodded and turned to leave the room.


    By the time Wen Qiao finished washing up and went downstairs, Fu Jinghen was already seated at the dining table.


    His white shirt fit him perfectly, his hair was meticulously combed, and he sat with his legs crossed, scrolling through something on his iPad with an indifferent expression. He exuded an air of detachment¡ª the epitome of a chaste noble gentleman. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao stood at the top of the stairs, eyeing the man and letting out a small sigh of admiration before shuffling down the stairs in her slippers.


    "Lift your feet when you walk."


    Wen Qiao stopped in her tracks and looked up, only to see Fu Jinghen still engrossed in his iPad, his head not moving an inch.


    "..."


    Damn it!


    Wen Qiao raised her hands in mid-air, clenched them together as if she was tearing Fu Jinghen into pieces, then threw him mercilessly into an imaginary trash can.


    Then, the instant Fu Jinghen looked her way, she immediately pulled back her expression and actions, casually walking toward the dining table as if nothing had happened.


    "President Fu, good morning," Wen Qiao greeted him and took a sip of the milk in front of her.


    Only then did Fu Jinghen shift his precious gaze from the iPad, "It¡¯s not early anymore."


    ...


    I was just saying hi, why do you have to be so fussy?


    Wen Qiao pursed her lips in pride, turned her face away, and stopped looking at Fu Jinghen to avoid spoiling her mood for breakfast.


    Noticing the little suitcase standing next to the living room couch, she turned her head back, "Are you leaving on a business trip?"


    "Yes," Fu Jinghen succinctly reported his itinerary, "I¡¯m going to Lin City for two days."


    "Ah..."


    Supporting her cheek with one hand and poking at the egg on her plate with a fork, Wen Qiao looked dejected, "I just got back and now you¡¯re leaving. When will we pitiful lovebirds be spared the agony of separation?"


    ...


    Fu Jinghen gave her a deep look, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and stood up from the chair.


    "I¡¯m leaving now. Be good these next few days at home."


    Fu Jinghen grabbed his suit jacket from the couch, put it on, picked up his suitcase, and as he reached the door, he paused, "Wen Qiao."


    Wen Qiao looked up from her plate, "Hmm?"


    After a moment of silence, Fu Jinghen said, "I¡¯ll try to come back early."


    "Sure thing."


    With a "click," the door closed.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s face brightened up, a cheerful tune involuntarily bubbling from her throat.


    Actually, whether he came back early or not didn¡¯t really matter to her.


    Without Fu Jinghen, she felt nothing.


    Wen Qiao stuffed an entire fried egg into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like those of a little hamster. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Jiang Yao.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Come out, we¡¯re going for a SPA this afternoon! Fu Jinghen¡¯s treat!]


    [Sister Yao: On my way!]


    Wen Qiao put down her phone, satisfied, and continued to enjoy her ordinary breakfast.


    What could be more delightful than splurging with someone else¡¯s card?


    Nothing.


    -


    Feng Li sat in the passenger seat, and as soon as Fu Jinghen got in, he began to brief him on the situation.


    "Last month, the general manager of the Lincheng Branch replaced the contractor with a relative from his own family, leading to issues such as cutting corners and exploiting workers. The worker who fell from the building has been sent to the hospital for treatment."


    After hearing Feng Li¡¯s report, Fu Jinghen¡¯s brows furrowed fiercely, "Fire him."

 Chapter 166 - 165: Don鈥檛 Guess the Boss鈥檚 Thoughts

    Chapter 166: Chapter 165: Don¡¯t Guess the Boss¡¯s ThoughtsFeng Li nodded, indicating that he understood.


    Actually, Feng Li already knew how this matter would be handled even without Fu Jinghen saying it.


    The branch general manager had privately transferred the construction project to his own relatives, which had already crossed Fu Jinghen¡¯s bottom line, not to mention that it almost caused a loss of life.


    Originally, Fu Jinghen had only gone to Lin City to inspect the progress of the work in person, but then this incident suddenly erupted last night.


    The Public Relations department had temporarily suppressed the news, and it had not been reported yet.


    Feng Li looked at the plane ticket, turned his head, and said to Fu Jinghen, "President Fu, the ticket has been rebooked. It departs in two hours."


    "Hmm."


    Originally, after this incident, they should have left in the morning, but when Fu Jinghen learned that the worker who fell from the building was not in mortal danger, he postponed their departure a bit.


    The reason was simple, he was afraid that if the little kitten at home woke up and found him gone, and he hadn¡¯t informed her of his schedule beforehand, she would throw a tantrum for a while.


    The image of Wen Qiao listless upon hearing news of his business trip suddenly made Fu Jinghen uncertain whether he had postponed his departure out of fear of Wen Qiao¡¯s fuss or because of something else...


    "Feng Li."


    "Here," Feng Li responded and turned back, "What is it, President Fu?"


    "From now on, send my daily schedule to my phone."


    "Ah? Wh..."


    Feng Li was baffled, instinctively wanted to ask why, but the question was choked back when he saw Fu Jinghen¡¯s stern expression.


    Damn.


    Don¡¯t try to guess the boss¡¯s mind.


    Wen Qiao had finished her meal and had done a beautiful makeup job on herself. Just as she had changed her clothes, Jiang Yao arrived.


    Her first words upon entering were¡ª


    "Did you secure the endorsement from ES?"


    Wen Qiao haughtily flipped her hair, "Of course. Who do you think I am?"


    "That¡¯s fantastic!" Jiang Yao opened her arms excitedly and hugged Wen Qiao, then immediately let go, "President Fu is really amazing!"


    The symbolically hugged and quickly pushed away Wen Qiao: "..." Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "What do you mean President Fu is amazing, didn¡¯t I contribute?"


    "Am I just eating for free here?"


    "What are you implying with that statement?"


    "That really hurts my feelings, you can go back now. The girls¡¯ gathering is hereby declared over."


    "Got it!"


    Jiang Yao waved her hand in front of Wen Qiao, then clenched it into a fist, and Wen Qiao instinctively shut her mouth following her gesture.


    ...


    Something seems off...


    "I¡ª"


    "Eh, your top and pants don¡¯t really match." Jiang Yao timely spoke.


    Wen Qiao indeed got distracted, "Really? I also felt something was off..."


    "Really," Jiang Yao nodded furiously, then thought a bit, and pushed her towards the wardrobe, "You better go change into a skirt, you look best in skirts."


    "Hey, you know what, I actually have several new skirts with tags still on."


    "Then you better go change."


    Jiang Yao breathed a sigh of relief once Wen Qiao entered the wardrobe.


    This little ancestor, always talking nonstop.


    A chattering little mouth that never pauses, really tough on President Fu¡¯s ears.


    It had rained late last night, only stopping in the early hours, but by the time Wen Qiao and the others left the house, there were no signs of rain.


    The sun was scorching, and the weather remained hot.


    Wen Qiao sat in the passenger seat, relying on her large sunglasses not to be recognized, rolled down the window, and hummed along with the music playing in the car.

 Chapter 167 - 166: Will You Help Me Pay the Money?

    Chapter 167: Chapter 166: Will You Help Me Pay the Money?During a rare vacation where she could also spend freely, Wen Qiao¡¯s mood today was absolutely wonderful.


    But in life, undesirable events always come unexpectedly.


    Beside her, Jiang Yao was telling her that after completing this drama series, her fame and resources would increase, and scripts would certainly be sent her way. If by then no good scripts appeared, they would have her take a break, opting to lack rather than have too much.


    After all, once an actor¡¯s reputation and image became fixed, it was hard to change, and she preferred Wen Qiao to have a period of hiatus rather than having her maintain exposure by acting in some bad movies.


    "However, if some variety show scripts come along, we can still consider it," Jiang Yao said, keeping an eye on the road ahead while discussing Wen Qiao¡¯s arrangements. "There are many variety shows with strong momentum nowadays, especially reality shows which readily reveal a person¡¯s strengths and weaknesses. As long as the performance is good, there¡¯s no worry about lacking popularity and exposure."


    "Whatever you arrange." S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    For work, Wen Qiao mostly followed Jiang Yao¡¯s arrangements unless she was particularly interested in a script or something similar and had her own thoughts.


    "Tsk." Jiang Yao furrowed her brows, glancing at the car ahead, "Is that car sick or something? Why does it keep cutting me off?"


    Wen Qiao looked over and furrowed her brows too.


    The car ahead was on the lane next to theirs, maintaining a moderate distance, but whenever Jiang Yao tried to accelerate, it would turn on its signal light and merge into their lane.


    "If his car wasn¡¯t so expensive and I couldn¡¯t afford the damage, I¡¯d floor the accelerator and crash into him to teach him a lesson about the ruthlessness of the road and the blindness of the vehicles!"


    Wen Qiao raised an eyebrow and lifted her hand, "If you want to crash, it¡¯s not impossible."


    What annoyed her the most were those who drove recklessly as if they were in an amusement park bumper car.


    Jiang Yao: "Huh?"


    Wen Qiao explained, "If it gets damaged, Fu Jinghen will pay."


    Jiang Yao twitched her lips, "When it comes to spending President Fu¡¯s money, you¡¯re really straightforward."


    "Why should I hesitate? He earns money for me to spend. If I don¡¯t spend it, what if another woman helps him spend it?"


    As Wen Qiao spoke, she took out her phone and opened her chat with Fu Jinghen, sending him a message.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Dear President Fu~ have you landed yet? Cute.jpg.]


    She said what she said but still felt it was necessary to give a heads-up.


    [Fu Jinghen: Speak directly if you have something.]


    ...


    That response was somewhat cold and heartless.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: If I accidentally crash into a luxury car, would you pay for the damages? Pitiful.jpg.]


    The next second, Fu Jinghen¡¯s phone call came through.


    Wen Qiao answered, "Fu¡ª"


    "Did you crash?"


    "Not yet," Wen Qiao¡¯s tone unconsciously carried a hint of grievance, as if she was a child bullied outside coming home to complain, "A car in front has been continuously cutting off our car, it¡¯s so frustrating! I want to teach him a lesson."


    Fu Jinghen clicked his tongue, "I also want to teach you a lesson."


    She really came up with that idea, going as far as crashing into another car.


    That wasn¡¯t just joking with her life.


    At that moment, Fu Jinghen had just gotten into the car from the Lindcheng Branch reserved for his pickup; the deputy head of the branch handed over a document from the front passenger seat. Seeing that Fu Jinghen was still on the phone, Feng Li raised his hand, gesturing, "Give it to me."

 Chapter 168 - 167: I鈥檓 Your Dad

    Chapter 168: Chapter 167: I¡¯m Your DadThe deputy general manager faintly heard a woman¡¯s voice over the phone and silently handed the document to Feng Li.


    So that was it.


    He understood.


    In Lin City, the weather was overcast, with dense clouds blanketing the sky, creating a heavy atmosphere that felt oppressive.


    But the crisp female voice on the other end of the line seemed to bring the good weather of Jiang City with her.


    "Damn it! He cut me off again. What, he looks down on female drivers?"


    Wen Qiao, phone in one hand, seemed to command the world with her other hand on the map: "Sister Yao, hit him back! I¡¯ll pay for it if we have to. We won¡¯t take this crap."


    Fu Jinghen pinched the bridge of his nose: "Wen Qiao, you¡ª"


    "Motherf*cker¡ª"


    Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Wen Qiao interrupted him again, agitated: "He even whistled at me. What¡¯s that about, he wants to pick me up?"


    After saying this, she realized that Fu Jinghen had seemed to call her name just now.


    "Did you just call me?" she asked. "What¡¯s up?"


    Fu Jinghen exhaled: "Nothing, just be safe."


    He paused, then added another sentence: "If you crash it, I¡¯ll pay for it."


    "Okay, love you, muah."


    Having said that, Wen Qiao immediately hung up the phone.


    "Sister Yao, hit him!"


    With that sentence from Fu Jinghen, Wen Qiao felt more confident, her spirit immediately rising.


    But the person in that car seemed to have had enough fun and, accelerating, zoomed off, leaving Wen Qiao and her group in a cloud of exhaust. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    "I¡¯ll be damned!"


    Wen Qiao wished she could storm up to that car and deliver an unseen blow from Foshan to the driver.


    What a jerk.


    "That¡¯s just disgusting."


    Jiang Yao wasn¡¯t that angry, trying to comfort her: "Alright, he¡¯s gone, that¡¯s what matters. If I really crashed into him on this big road, I¡¯d be freaking out too."


    Wen Qiao was still fuming, feeling choked up, and in her heart, she had already greeted the driver¡¯s ancestors for the past eighteen generations.


    Jiang Yao rubbed her head: "There, there, don¡¯t let it affect your mood. We won¡¯t encounter such tasteless people every day. We were just unlucky this time."


    Jiang Yao swore, when she said those words, she truly hadn¡¯t expected that they would meet that car and its owner again.


    After Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao parked their car at Jiang City¡¯s largest beauty center and got out, there suddenly came the sound of a car honking behind them.


    The abrupt and piercing sound startled them both, and they turned around to see the very same man from the car that had been playing cat-and-mouse with them on the road, getting out and looking exactly like a show-off.


    Floral shirt, ripped jeans, brown sunglasses, and a beret on his head.


    The man leaned on the car door and whistled at them: "Beauties, we meet again."


    "..."


    With an unspeakable expression, Jiang Yao looked at the person and car ahead, and asked, "When did you attract such a rotten peach blossom?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s face was expressionless: "Sister Yao, you can eat messy food but not talk mess. What if it was you who attracted him?"


    No sooner had she finished speaking than the man across from them shut his car door and walked straight toward Wen Qiao.


    Jiang Yao saw this and laughed: "Ha!"


    Wen Qiao also saw this and scoffed: "Heh."


    The man stopped in front of Wen Qiao, took off his sunglasses, and with a frivolous smile and unblinking eyes, extended his hand to her: "Cheng Jue, may I ask for the lady¡¯s distinguished last name?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes, hidden behind her sunglasses, coldly looked at the man in front of her. She moved her lips and enunciated clearly, word for word: "My, last, name, is, ¡¯Your Dad¡¯."

 Chapter 169 - 168: All Men in the World Look the Same

    Chapter 169: Chapter 168: All Men in the World Look the SameCheng Jue¡¯s smile faltered for a moment, then brightened even more, his face showing no hint of embarrassment, "Don¡¯t be so heartless, beautiful. I really want to make friends with you."


    Wen Qiao remained indifferent, "Can¡¯t you hear that I¡¯m sincerely rejecting you?"


    The harsh sun beat down on her, making Wen Qiao feel even more irritable. She didn¡¯t feel like wasting more words with this tasteless, flirtatious peacock in front of her. She raised her hand, touched his shoulder with the back of her hand, and forcefully pushed him aside.


    Cheng Jue, who hadn¡¯t been standing firmly to begin with, didn¡¯t expect this seemingly frail woman to have such strength, and was actually pushed aside by her.


    With the path cleared in front of her, Wen Qiao took a pack of tissues out of her bag, drew one out, and wiped her hands.


    "With all the time you spend keying someone else¡¯s car in the driveway, you might as well check out the ¡¯Pickup Bible¡¯. Even though it¡¯s all tricks, it¡¯s still more novel than your ¡¯making friends¡¯ line." Wen Qiao crumpled the tissue into a ball, tossed it casually, and the tissue arc landed perfectly in the trash can.


    In the end, Wen Qiao sneered disdainfully, "Even elementary school students don¡¯t use ¡¯making friends¡¯ to pick up girls anymore, country bumpkin."


    After saying that, she gestured to Jiang Yao on the other side of the car, "Let¡¯s go, Sister Yao."


    Jiang Yao, who had been thoroughly enjoying the show, hurriedly put away her phone in a mix of haste and panic. She scurried around the front of the car and joined Wen Qiao, linking arms with her and walking past Cheng Jue with her back straight.


    Jiang Yao gave a thumbs up in front of them, "Impressive, my Qiao!"


    Wen Qiao waved her hand modestly, "So-so, his little tricks are hardly worth my attention." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao let out a puzzled "Eh", "But why does this guy hitting on you look somewhat familiar to me?"


    Jiang Yao really thought he looked familiar. When that man had taken off his sunglasses, she felt as if she had seen him somewhere before, and after he introduced himself, even more so. Yet, she couldn¡¯t quite place him immediately.


    "The men out there all look the same, what¡¯s so strange about that?" Wen Qiao rolled her eyes, once again showing her disdain for Cheng Jue, "Also, he wasn¡¯t trying to hit on me. Don¡¯t ruin my reputation out there; he was just trying to make a scene."


    "Wearing that flashy, floral shirt around town, thinking he¡¯s Daniel Wu or something, just can¡¯t understand this tacky sense of style."


    President Fu¡¯s sense of style was better, always dapper in black and white suits.


    As Wen Qiao said this, they were at the last step of the stairs, and she didn¡¯t lower her voice. Instead, it seemed like she wanted someone to overhear; she even raised her volume slightly.


    Cheng Jue, wanting to catch up and try his luck again, halted in his tracks after hearing what Wen Qiao said.


    He looked at himself in a car window, his brow furrowing in confusion.


    He was indeed confident, but where was he ordinary?


    All those designer labels, that multimillion-dollar sports car, that handsome and charming face.


    What part of him was ordinary?


    Yet, he thought he was handsomer than Daniel Wu.


    The ringtone from his phone in his pocket went off, and Cheng Jue pulled it out, seeing the caller ID, he answered.


    Before the other person could speak, Cheng Jue excitedly yelled into the phone, "Qin Laoer, do you think I¡¯m ordinary?"

 Chapter 170 - 169: True Destiny Girl

    Chapter 170: Chapter 169: True Destiny GirlQin Xiang on the phone immediately bristled, "I¡¯ve fucking told you eight hundred times not to call me Qin Laoer, did a dog eat your ears?"


    "So, do you think I¡¯m ordinary?"


    "Ordinary? You¡¯re so bland that you¡¯d get lost in a crowd."


    "Stop messing around, I¡¯m being serious with you."


    "No, bro." Qin Xiang didn¡¯t understand, "Did you get some kind of shock from your old man at home?"


    "It¡¯s not the old man from my family, it¡¯s a woman." Cheng Jue stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching the graceful figure in his sight growing further and further away, he lifted his other hand to cover his chest, "I¡¯m telling you, I¡¯ve encountered my True Destiny Girl this time. Wow, I just got schooled by her. Do you know how cool she is? She told me to go read the Pickup Bible before talking to her again. She also said even primary school kids don¡¯t use ¡¯make friends¡¯ as a pickup line anymore and called me old-fashioned."


    Bathing in the sunlight with an enraptured expression, Cheng Jue said, "I, Cheng Jue, have been dominating the gentle township for so many years and yet have never met my match. This girl is too cool, the same one we saw that time in Houhu racing the car."


    Qin Xiang knew what Cheng Jue¡¯s words "it¡¯s a woman" meant as soon as he said them. He put his phone on speakerphone and tossed it aside, while half-heartedly listening and playing video games.


    The sound of "victory" coming from the speaker conveniently masked Cheng Jue¡¯s last words.


    After the game ended, Qin Xiang picked up the phone again and interrupted Cheng Jue¡¯s long-winded speech on the other end, "I¡¯m saying, Brother Jue, when you talked about that beautiful painter before, you also said she was your True Destiny Girl. And with the previous Brazilian model, you said the same. So do you have too many lives with a True Destiny Girl for each, or are you planning to send all the women in the world to heaven?"


    Having his secret exposed, Cheng Jue showed not a hint of embarrassment, but mysteriously uttered three words, "You wouldn¡¯t understand."


    "I fucking don¡¯t want to understand, you damn masochist," Qin Xiang "hehe" snickered twice, and then remembered the reason he made this call, asking, "Where¡¯s the perfume I asked you to bring? Hurry up and bring it over."


    "It¡¯s at home, what¡¯s the rush for?"


    "I¡¯m in a hurry, Lin Ruochun that ancestor of mine is acting weird, hasn¡¯t given me the time of day in almost a week, I gotta go and soothe her," Qin Xiang propped up his legs, tapped the ground with his toes and span in the chair, then grabbed the car keys on the table and stood up, "Never mind, I¡¯ll go to your place and get it myself, saves you from breaking it again." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cheng Jue spat out, jokingly said, "Hey, in the end, are you treating our little Ruochun as a sister, or as a child bride?"


    "Like your mother."


    After that, Qin Xiang hung up the call.


    Listening to the beep on the other end, Cheng Jue got angry.


    Ai my grass.


    Running errands as a free personal shopper, and he still gets yelled at?


    -


    Walking a long way out, Jiang Yao was still mulling over Wen Qiao¡¯s striking presence.


    Very demurely clinging to her arm, "Sister Qiao, from now on please call me Yao, you¡¯re the older sister."


    "....."


    Wen Qiao looked at Jiang Yao like she¡¯s crazy, "What¡¯s the matter, you want to ride on my head?"


    "....." Jiang Yao speechless, "I was just thinking of expressing my respect for you."


    Wen Qiao "hehe" chuckled twice, then asked, "So, what were you sneakily taking pictures of with your phone just now?"


    "Is there any connection between the two?"

 Chapter 171 - 170: A Heart That Beats Only for President Fu

    Chapter 171: Chapter 170: A Heart That Beats Only for President Fu"No," Wen Qiao answered honestly, and then asked again, "So, what were you just filming?"


    "I was just recording the historic moment of you heroically repelling the rapist," said Jiang Yao, unable to avoid the question. However, she only answered half of it.


    The other half...


    After Fu Jinghen arrived in Lin City, he first went to the hospital to visit the injured worker and left a sum of compensation money for his family.


    This compensation was not included in the company¡¯s expenses nor their insurance; it was a personal compensation from Fu Jinghen.


    Fortunately, the floor from which he fell wasn¡¯t too high; he only broke a leg and suffered a moderate concussion, nothing life-threatening.


    On the way to the branch office, Feng Li received a video sent by Jiang Yao, the agent of their Boss Lady.


    [Jiang Yao: Video.]


    [Jiang Yao: Quickly show it to President Fu, see how loyal our Qiaoqiao is to him. She is indifferent to flirting from a handsome man, her heart beats only for President Fu.]


    When Feng Li opened the video, unexpectedly, because he had turned the volume up to the maximum while listening to music during his shower the previous night, the video loaded and Wen Qiao¡¯s forceful voice filled the entire car¡ª


    "My surname is your dad."


    Feng Li: "..."


    He hurriedly covered his phone, pressing the volume button hard to turn it down to the lowest setting.


    Turning his head, he met Fu Jinghen¡¯s inquiring eyes.


    "Whose message is that?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No! Not from the Boss Lady¡¯s!" Feng Li immediately denied.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen stretched out his hand: "Give it here."


    Feng Li obediently handed over his phone, and while stretching his neck to look, a chill ran down his spine and he shrank back silently.


    Not watching it then, after all, the phone was his, and he could watch it later however he wanted.


    After a while, Fu Jinghen returned the phone to him.


    Feng Li took it, unlocked it, and found that the chat with Jiang Yao had been exited to the main interface of WeChat.


    And he, from top to bottom, searched carefully several times, yet couldn¡¯t find Jiang Yao¡¯s name in his message list.


    ?


    Did President Fu delete Jiang Yao¡¯s chat box?


    He hadn¡¯t watched that video yet!


    It was sent to him by Jiang Yao!


    For him!


    He was the one who had the right to decide whether or not to show it to President Fu!


    Then, he heard the same voice that had just come from his phone near him.


    He looked down again at his message list, where the conversation with President Fu still stood as of this morning.


    But he was now absolutely certain that President Fu had taken his phone, forwarded the video that Jiang Yao had sent to him, to himself, and even deleted the video content from his phone.


    !


    Can a human really do such a thing?!


    He looked mournfully at Fu Jinghen, but the latter seemed as if he hadn¡¯t received his glance at all and again extended his hand: "Earphones."


    Feng Li instinctively took out his own earphones and handed them over.


    Then, he saw Fu Jinghen methodically untangling the tangled earphones, putting them in his ears, opening the video, and leisurely watching it.


    !!


    Can a human really do such a thing?!


    Ah!


    Feng Li again contemplated resigning.


    He felt he had no personal rights at all, not even over the chat history in his own phone.


    What was the point of living then.


    None.


    Unless he could restore the chat history.


    Meanwhile, Fu Jinghen and Feng Li were like completely different scenery.

 Chapter 172 - 171: Dazzling World, Dizzying Sights

    Chapter 172: Chapter 171: Dazzling World, Dizzying SightsThe young girl¡¯s voice was melodious and forceful, sticking close to his ear. Fu Jinghen watched the screen and curved the corners of his mouth.


    Indeed, quite eloquent.


    The video was short and was over soon.


    Fu Jinghen unconsciously clicked again, and the video played once more, but...


    When he watched it for the first time, he had focused all his attention on Wen Qiao, but this second time, things were different.


    Fu Jinghen watched the man entering in the video and raised his eyebrow.


    Dared to poach from him?


    Interesting.


    Bold.


    Fu Jinghen put away his phone and, finally sensing that mournful gaze, turned his head and said, "When did you add Wen Qiao¡¯s agent on WeChat?"


    Feng Li said mournfully, "Last time, when you went to the airport to pick up the Boss Lady."


    The vice president in the front passenger seat twitched his ears.


    Boss Lady?


    Who¡¯s that?


    He hadn¡¯t heard that President Fu had gotten married.


    "Hmm, not bad," said Fu Jinghen, looking very cheerful, his expression bright, "Keep watching."


    "President Fu, I¡ª"


    "Double the bonus."


    "Alright, President Fu, I guarantee to complete the task," Feng Li immediately straightened his back, as if he had received a great mission, "I will definitely complete the task you have given me and ensure that not a single move of the Boss Lady escapes your sight."


    To hell with resigning.


    He would die at his workplace.


    He lived as President Fu¡¯s man and would die as President Fu¡¯s ghost.


    !


    Seemingly speechless at Feng Li¡¯s juvenile demeanor, Fu Jinghen shifted his gaze with a hint of disgust, "You don¡¯t need to be so detailed. She has her freedom; I¡¯m not surveilling her."


    "Freedom is surely freedom, but this isn¡¯t surveillance, this is your loving care for the Boss Lady," Feng Li didn¡¯t miss any opportunity to show loyalty, get noticed, and secure a raise. He moved closer to Fu Jinghen, sharing his analysis, "President Fu, think about it. The Boss Lady is so beautiful, and in such a heartthrob-filled entertainment industry, even if she¡¯s not interested in those inferior to you, can you guarantee that others won¡¯t have ideas about the Boss Lady?"


    Fu Jinghen barely lifted an eyelid and remained silent.


    Feng Li knew this was a sign from Fu Jinghen for him to go on, so he continued, "Moreover, when the Boss Lady goes out to film, it¡¯s for several months. You can¡¯t always be by her side. She is young and likes to have fun, and the entertainment world is dazzling. Don¡¯t you think?"


    Finally, he gave a periodic summary of his speech, "Thus, knowing the enemy and ourselves will ensure countless victories. Only if you are aware of the Boss Lady¡¯s situation can you prevent problems before they arise."


    "Mm," Fu Jinghen found some truth in Feng Li¡¯s words and nodded slowly, "Just be careful not to overdo it."


    "Understood, President Fu," Feng Li replied, putting on an ingratiating face, "So, President Fu..."


    Fu Jinghen, as if anticipating what he was about to say, took the document he was holding and opened it, saying, "I¡¯ll give you a raise."


    "Thank you, President Fu!"


    He was right after all; the Boss Lady was indeed a potential goldmine.


    He didn¡¯t even want to continue being President Fu¡¯s assistant anymore; he thought he¡¯d make money faster being the Boss Lady¡¯s assistant, constantly passing messages to President Fu.


    "President Fu, I think¡ª" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He wondered if the happiness and ease of everything that had just happened made Feng Li a bit too smug, and as he thought so, he indeed blurted it out.

 Chapter 173 - 172: Malicious Intentions

    Chapter 173: Chapter 172: Malicious Intentions"What are you thinking about?"


    Fu Jinghen, however, didn¡¯t give him a chance to finish speaking, cutting off his words before they could be said. Without even lifting his gaze, he asked, "You want to go to Wen Qiao¡¯s side?"


    Feng Li nodded: "Yes, I thought¡ª"


    "And pass on messages to me?"


    Feng Li nodded again, "Yes, I thought¡ª"


    "Do you want to get out of the car now?"


    Hearing this, Feng Li looked out of the car window.


    They were currently heading to the Jingcui Mall site selection spot in Lin City. In not too long, it would be transformed into a bustling shopping street. But for now, it was still undeveloped, nearly desolate.


    He shuddered, suddenly coming to his senses.


    The courage he had just now instantly dissipated.


    Fu Jinghen asked, "Still want to?"


    "No..." Feng Li shook his head like a rattle drum. "Don¡¯t want to anymore."


    And he dared not think about it anymore.


    He might as well stay obediently by President Fu¡¯s side.


    A bright future ahead!


    -


    Upon learning that Fu Jinghen had flown to Lin City, Jiang Wei contacted a reporter with whom she had a good relationship on a usual day. She then had Fu Jinghen¡¯s work secretary call Gu Yi, saying that Wen Qiao wanted to have dinner with her this evening. After receiving a positive response from the other party, she also called Wen Qiao, telling her that ES¡¯s President, Gu Yi, wanted to have dinner with her.


    When Wen Qiao received the call, she pondered for a moment but quickly agreed. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    At that moment, Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao were lying in a beauty salon, enjoying the process of becoming more beautiful.


    After hanging up the phone, Jiang Yao waved her hand, signaling for the two beauticians to step out first.


    The beauty salon, having served many celebrities and socialites, was very discreet.


    They considerately closed the door behind them as they left.


    When only Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao were left in the room, Jiang Yao finally asked, "Whose call was it?"


    "It was from Fu Jinghen¡¯s secretary. Someone from ES wanted to have dinner with me but didn¡¯t have my contact, so she conveyed the message."


    Wen Qiao nodded.


    "Didn¡¯t you say it was the day after tomorrow that President Fu would take you for dinner with the people from ES? Has it been moved up?"


    "No, tomorrow night it¡¯s the boss of ES who wants to meet me alone."


    Jiang Yao wrinkled her nose. "Why do I feel something off about this?"


    Wen Qiao rolled her eyes. "Watched too many thriller dramas, have you?"


    "Zack, look, who¡¯s this for? A partner¡¯s CEO inviting their own brand ambassador to dinner isn¡¯t simple, definitely not simple." Jiang Yao turned over, facing Wen Qiao, her eyes scanning her like X-ray as she continued, "Considering you¡¯re as beautiful as a flower, plus your figure is so stunning. What if the other party has ill intentions toward you?"


    "Sister Yao, tell me the truth, are you the president of the fan club I just started? How come you always praise me so much, it really makes one feel a bit embarrassed."


    Wen Qiao also turned over, supporting her head in her palm with the leg on top slightly bent. Her robe¡¯s collar was carelessly open. Even though her hair was styled like an old landlord¡¯s, it didn¡¯t affect her flirtation towards Jiang Yao.


    Facing Wen Qiao¡¯s suddenly flirty behavior, Jiang Yao had somewhat grown accustomed to it. After all, during the days they shared a bed in the film city, she knew underneath this beautiful skin lived a wild soul.


    Last night she had slept peacefully like a beautiful mermaid, but when she woke up the next morning, her eyes were crusted with sleep, her hair a mess as if blown apart by a grenade, and the blanket that once covered her body had disappeared...

 Chapter 174 - 173: He Can鈥檛 Bear to Let Go

    Chapter 174: Chapter 173: He Can¡¯t Bear to Let GoAll of this was the norm when the woman in front of her, who electrified her, woke up.


    Out in public, she was a glamorous superstar, but in reality, she was a greenhorn whose sleeping could rival fighting.


    This contrast made Jiang Yao think that if she ever posted a photo of Wen Qiao just after waking up alongside her usual, dolled-up photos on social media for fans to see, there would definitely be a bunch of them questioning if Wen Qiao had undergone plastic surgery.


    But this idea was just a thought for Jiang Yao.


    And now, facing the "electric woman" across from her, she remained indifferent, "I¡¯m not President Fu; even if you stripped naked in front of me, it would be useless. Save this seduction for President Fu." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s mind involuntarily conjured up that scene...


    Oh wow!


    That image is too beautiful; I can¡¯t think about it.


    "Is there any ambiguity in what I said to make you blush like that?" Jiang Yao asked sincerely.


    "Oh," Wen Qiao replied coolly, "It¡¯s hot."


    Saying this, she tugged at her bathrobe¡¯s collar.


    The collar of the bathrobe was already quite loose, and with Wen Qiao¡¯s pull combined with her current posture, Jiang Yao had a clear view of Wen Qiao¡¯s impressive cleavage.


    Then, she glanced down at her own.


    Tsk.


    It¡¯s just frustrating how others can make you feel so inadequate.


    "We¡¯ve strayed from the topic, I was actually telling you about Gu Yi asking you out for dinner tonight."


    Realizing the shift in topic wasn¡¯t right, Jiang Yao hurriedly brought it back.


    "You¡¯re the one who strayed first," Wen Qiao quickly retorted, "and it¡¯s just a dinner, what¡¯s the big deal?"


    "?"


    Jiang Yao wore a face of disbelief, "Do I really need to find solid evidence of industry manipulations and throw it in your face before you wake up?"


    Wen Qiao lay back down on the bed, hands crossed behind her head, her feet playfully wiggling: "No need, I¡¯ve always been quite aware."


    "So, are you still going?"


    Jiang Yao¡¯s question sounded just like a mom scolding a disobedient child, asking "Will you do it again?" expecting a "no."


    But she forgot, Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t a child that would make her life easy.


    "Of course," Wen Qiao replied, "Why wouldn¡¯t I?"


    "Why do you want to go?" Jiang Yao countered, "Unless you tell me ES¡¯s CEO is more handsome than Daniel Wu, why must you go have this dinner? Has President Fu left you starving?"


    "Well, he¡¯s not more handsome than Daniel Wu," Wen Qiao said cheerfully, "but if I don¡¯t go, the drama especially set up for me would lack its main character, right?"


    "??"


    Jiang Yao paused for a moment, "Are you saying, it¡¯s been intentionally arranged?"


    Wen Qiao shrugged noncommittally, "Otherwise, why would they set it up for tomorrow and then push it forward? Especially when Fu Jinghen is on a business trip."


    Jiang Yao slowly nodded, looks like her artist was quite sharp.


    "Sister Yao, even though your praise just now made me feel overly proud, I still have to tell you something, Gu Yi has a fianc¨¦e."


    Jiang Yao opened her mouth in surprise, "That is big news indeed! Are early marriages standard now for successful individuals?"


    "Early marriage? Fu Jinghen doesn¡¯t have one," Wen Qiao disagreed, "Fu Jinghen is already 27, an old man, definitely not in the early marriage category anymore."


    Jiang Yao: "If President Fu heard you say that, he¡¯d definitely fly straight back to give you a beating."


    Wen Qiao wagged a finger, "No, no, no, he wouldn¡¯t dare."

 Chapter 175 - 174: Who Do You Think You Are?

    Chapter 175: Chapter 174: Who Do You Think You Are?Jiang Yao rolled her eyes, nauseated by Wen Qiao¡¯s public displays of affection, as Wen Qiao pulled out her phone to send Fu Jinghen a WeChat message.


    "Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: President Fu, just a friendly reminder, it¡¯s time to change your secretary. I¡¯d blindly guess she¡¯s serving two masters and isn¡¯t loyal to you."


    "Fu Jinghen: ?"


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t reply to the message, locked her phone, and pressed the service bell beside her, summoning the beautician to continue her beautification journey.


    -


    On the other side, after receiving a certain confirmation from her senior, Jiang Wei¡¯s long-sullen mood finally brightened slightly.


    However, this beam of light had barely stayed long when a phone call scattered it the next day.


    Jiang Wei looked at the caller ID on the screen, took a deep breath, and answered, "Dad¡ª"


    She had barely spoken when she was interrupted by the person on the other end of the line.


    "Get back here now!"


    Hearing the "beep beep" sound in her ear, Jiang Wei lowered her head, a shadow flickering across her eyes.


    After driving home, as soon as she stepped through the door, a teacup flew violently toward her.


    She couldn¡¯t dodge in time and was struck on the forehead.


    The teacup hit the ground and shattered with a crisp "crack."


    Jiang Wei gasped, covering her forehead with her hand; it was already swelling, a testament to the thrower¡¯s force.


    "Oh dear, why lose such temper at your daughter."


    Jiang¡¯s mother came out and saw her daughter standing at the door with her forehead covered, surrounded by shards of the broken cup, and couldn¡¯t help feeling heartache.


    She took Jiang Wei¡¯s hand, led her to sit down on the sofa, opposite Mr. Jiang, who was visibly furious.


    "Ask your precious daughter what great deeds she has done outside."


    It was rare for Jiang Wei to come home, and yet as soon as she sat down, she faced her father¡¯s interrogation, her voice cooling involuntarily, "What have I done?"


    Mr. Jiang questioned, "You ask what you¡¯ve done? I ask you, does the FS New Town development project¡¯s failure have anything to do with you?"


    Jiang¡¯s mother was startled and also turned to look at Jiang Wei, "Weiwei, what¡¯s going on?"


    "Does our family not winning the bid have something to do with you?"


    Jiang Wei looked up at them, the swollen, purplish bruise on her forehead stark against her fair skin, "You called me back just to criticize and blame me?"


    Jiang¡¯s mother grew anxious, "Weiwei, what you mean, it really has something to do with you?"


    "Why do you even ask her? Assistant Feng made it crystal clear to me, saying that President Fu thinks I¡¯m a failure in raising my daughter, that he couldn¡¯t trust me with such a big project, and this almost destroyed my reputation."


    "Weiwei, what did you do?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing Jiang Wei remained silent, Jiang¡¯s mother pushed her slightly, "Say something."


    "It does have to do with me, so what?" Jiang Wei¡¯s voice was extremely calm, "I just couldn¡¯t stand Wen Qiao, so I taught her a lesson. Who knew Fu Jinghen would treasure her so much."


    This indifferent tone of Jiang Wei immediately infuriated Mr. Jiang, who slammed the table hard, causing the teacups on it to clatter.


    The servants in the room exchanged looks and quietly withdrew.


    "What kind of attitude is this?"


    "You¡¯re becoming more reckless as you get older." Mr. Jiang, his chest heaving with anger, declared, "I¡¯ve told you before, don¡¯t provoke Fu Jinghen, but you wouldn¡¯t listen. Who do you think you are?"

 Chapter 176 - 175: What Does It Mean?

    Chapter 176: Chapter 175: What Does It Mean?"What does Wen Qiao count as then, and why should she be Fu Jinghen¡¯s fianc¨¦e?" Jiang Wei suddenly stood up from the sofa, her eyes slightly reddened, "When I first told you that I liked Fu Jinghen, why didn¡¯t you say anything? Now that we¡¯ve lost a project, you come blaming me? Aren¡¯t you ashamed?"


    "You!"


    Mr. Jiang raised his hand but was stopped by Jiang¡¯s mother, "Stop hitting her, can¡¯t you see her face is already bruising?"


    Jiang Wei stiffened her neck, "Let him hit. Has he ever spared me since I was little?"


    "Sister Weiwei, please don¡¯t say that anymore!" Jiang¡¯s mother frowned and persuaded, "Go upstairs first, quickly."


    While saying so, she pushed Jiang Wei along.


    Reluctantly, Jiang Wei walked upstairs and could still hear Mr. Jiang and Jiang¡¯s mother arguing at the turn on the second floor.


    "It¡¯s all because you spoil her, look at the mess now."


    "And what about you, how much have you managed her?"


    "...."


    Feeling somewhat exhausted, Jiang Wei closed her eyes briefly and went back to her room on the second floor.


    Her phone vibrated once; she looked down to see a message from Blanche.


    "Sister Weiwei, what time are we leaving?"


    Jiang Wei thought for a moment¡ª


    "Six o¡¯clock."


    "ok."


    There was a knock on the door. Jiang Wei put down her phone and called out, "Come in."


    Jiang¡¯s mother pushed the door open and sat down beside Jiang Wei.


    "Sister Weiwei..."


    "Mom, just say what you want to say." S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Do you remember Aunt Zhang¡¯s son? Last time when I played cards with Aunt Zhang, she mentioned you, and her son has always liked you very much." Jiang¡¯s mother glanced cautiously at Jiang Wei, seeing no reaction from her, she continued, "She liked you very much, what do you think, do you want to have a meal with her son?"


    "....."


    Jiang¡¯s mother sighed and continued, "You know the situation our family is in right now. We hoped to turn things around with that new development project from the Fu Family, but now... Fu Jinghen is already engaged. Listen to me, stop wasting time on him; a woman¡¯s youth can¡¯t withstand delays."


    Jiang Wei scoffed softly, almost muttering to herself, "You really dare to say that."


    Jiang¡¯s mother thought she would refuse, "Sister Weiwei..."


    Jiang Wei, looking at her mother¡¯s anxious face, seemed to compromise and sighed, "Alright, mom, I got it, I¡¯ll consider it."


    Only then did Jiang¡¯s mother relax, smiling, "Will you eat at home tonight? I¡¯ll cook for you."


    "No." Jiang Wei refused, "I have plans with friends tonight."


    "Okay, then don¡¯t come back too late."


    "Um, got it."


    -


    When Wen Qiao arrived at the restaurant at the agreed time, Gu Yi was already there.


    Wen Qiao looked at the restaurant¡¯s decor and clicked her tongue twice.


    They really tried hard.


    She wondered if the foreign CEO of ES could tell that this was a couple-themed restaurant.


    On reaching the private room door, Wen Qiao knocked and heard a voice from inside say, "Please come in," before she pushed the door open.


    The moment Wen Qiao pushed the door open, the man sitting inside also stood up.


    Wen Qiao displayed a standard eight-tooth smile, extending her hand to the man, "President Gu, hello, I¡¯m Wen Qiao."


    Ever since Wen Qiao became interested in becoming the spokesperson for ES, she had looked up much information about ES online.


    Although she was a fan of the ES brand in her original world, she knew that the world of novels would inevitably have differences.


    Now it seems, the biggest difference is that in the original world, the CEO of ES was a very amiable old man, but here, the CEO of ES is a handsome East-West mixed-race man.

 Chapter 177 - 176: Preventing Problems Before They Arise

    Chapter 177: Chapter 176: Preventing Problems Before They AriseGu Yi took her hand, "Miss Wen, hello."


    "President Gu, please take a seat."


    Gu Yi sat down as instructed and asked, "May I know the reason Miss Wen wanted to meet with me today?"


    "To be honest, it was you, President Gu, who asked me to come here."


    The confusion cloaking his heart intensified, and Gu Yi uttered an "Ah," "What do you mean?"


    "Please cooperate with me during this meal later on."


    "How should I cooperate?" Gu Yi asked. "Do all of you Hua Country people love playing guessing games like this?"


    "Exactly."


    Wen Qiao smiled mysteriously and then, amidst Gu Yi¡¯s increasingly baffled expression, sent a message to Fu Jinghen¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Dear President Fu, where are you now?]


    [Fu Jinghen: On my way, fifteen minutes.]


    Fu Jinghen said it would be fifteen minutes, but Wen Qiao timed it and in about seven or eight minutes, Fu Jinghen had pushed open the private room¡¯s door.


    Gu Yi looked at the "uninvited guest" in surprise, mouth agape, and it took him a good while to come to his senses.


    "Fu? Why are you here?"


    Fu Jinghen walked in, shook hands with Gu Yi, then sat down next to Wen Qiao and explained, "Our company¡¯s artists lack experience in social gatherings, and are a bit scared, so I came to check on things."


    Wen Qiao glared at him.


    Who is scared?


    Who is scared??


    I am taking precautions!


    Understand?


    If you don¡¯t understand, then don¡¯t talk nonsense.


    However, Wen Qiao¡¯s series of mental reactions were immediately packed up and tossed into a corner when Fu Jinghen looked at her. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao felt helpless about her own subconscious cowardly behavior.


    Maybe this was the pressure that comes from someone at the top of the pyramid.


    Gu Yi, however, clearly sensed something strange, "Fu, what exactly are you two up to?"


    At that moment, someone knocked on the private room¡¯s door again. Thinking it was the waiter coming to serve dishes, Wen Qiao quickly patted Fu Jinghen¡¯s arm, "Go hide behind the screen."


    Fu Jinghen dissatisfied, "Why?"


    Gu Yi curious, "Why?"


    "Who knows if this waiter will report back to the mastermind behind the scenes," Wen Qiao, seeing Fu Jinghen unmoving, directly pushed him, "Go on, hurry up!"


    Fu Jinghen looked at her, reluctantly got up, and walked behind the screen¡ª


    And hid.


    Of course, that was just Wen Qiao¡¯s interpretation.


    He, President Fu, would absolutely not admit to the action of "hiding."


    "Please come in."


    Following Wen Qiao¡¯s words, the door of the private room was pushed open from the outside, and the waiter rolled in a cart, placing beautifully prepared dishes on the table.


    "Enjoy your meal."


    The door closed behind the waiter and without waiting for Wen Qiao to speak, Fu Jinghen came out from behind the screen and sat down next to her again.


    The opposite Gu Yi was close to being driven mad by this bizarre scene, but after asking "What exactly is going on now?" for a long time, no one answered his question.


    He could only give up inquiring and quietly ate his food.


    -


    On the other side, Jiang Wei and Blanche, tired from shopping, decided to look for a place to eat. Looking around, Jiang Wei said, "There¡¯s a new couples¡¯ restaurant nearby that I¡¯ve heard is quite good from friends. Shall we try it?"


    Blanche, visiting Jiang City for the first time, naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse Jiang Wei¡¯s suggestion.


    Carrying their shopping bags, the two made their way to the restaurant. Along the way, Jiang Wei asked casually, "Your fianc¨¦ doesn¡¯t have time to accompany you today?"


    "He has a business dinner."


    Jiang Wei asked, "A business dinner is more important than going shopping with you?"


    Blanche humphed twice, "In his heart, anything is more important than me, but it doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯m also very happy shopping with you."

 Chapter 178 - 177: How Are You Here?

    Chapter 178: Chapter 177: How Are You Here?Jiang Wei smiled.


    The restaurant was not far from the mall, and it took the two of them over ten minutes to walk there.


    Since it was not a weekend, and the restaurant was on the pricier side, there were not many people around.


    After they were seated, Jiang Wei glanced at the private room opposite them and handed the menu to Blanche, "Take a look at what you want to eat, my treat."


    Blanche took the menu, "Wow, thank you, Sister Weiwei."


    While Blanche was looking at the menu, Jiang Wei kept her gaze fixed on the private room opposite them. She took a sip of water from her glass, scanned the restaurant briefly, and upon finding a familiar face, she signaled with her eyes.


    Understanding the cue, the person brought a dessert straight from the kitchen towards the private room opposite Jiang Wei.


    The door to the nearby private room opened, and a Chinese-Western mixed-race face appeared in her line of sight.


    Jiang Wei let out a small exclamation, "Blanche, look, isn¡¯t that your fianc¨¦?"


    Blanche was startled at first, then looked up at Jiang Wei and followed her gaze, peering through the gap in the open door of the private room to see that all-too-familiar face.


    She shifted her position, attempting to get a clearer view of the person sitting opposite Gu Yi, but her view was obstructed by the waiter, though she could vaguely make out a light-colored hemline.


    The waiter came out, the private room door closed, and that familiar face, along with the light-colored hemline, disappeared from Blanche¡¯s sight.


    Jiang Wei tentatively asked, "Aren¡¯t you going to take a look?"


    Blanche hesitated.


    Jiang Wei furrowed her brows, fixating on the private room opposite, "This restaurant is for couples, so the person opposite President Gu shouldn¡¯t be a woman, right?"


    With that one sentence, she managed to get Blanche up from her seat.


    Blanche put down the menu and stormed towards the private room.


    Seeing this, Jiang Wei took another sip of water and then slowly rose to follow, calling out, "Blanche, calm down a bit, I was just guessing."


    In the midst of speaking, Blanche arrived at the door of the private room. She took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself, thinking about what she would do if she really opened the door to find Gu Yi with another woman.


    Two seconds later, she realized that aside from flipping the table onto the woman¡¯s face, there was no other solution that came to her mind.


    Jiang Wei stood behind her, patting her shoulder as a gesture of comfort.


    Blanche violently pushed open the door of the private room, startling everyone inside to turn and look at her. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    To her despair, she did indeed see a woman sitting opposite Gu Yi.


    But what she found strange was¡ª


    Why was there also a man sitting beside this woman?


    And why did this man look somewhat familiar?


    Jiang Wei seemed prepared, for when the door was pushed open, she could only momentarily see Gu Yi and, before she could get a clear view of the whole situation in the room, she blurted out, "Wen Qiao? You are here too¡ª"


    Before she could finish the sentence "here," she saw another person in the room who should not have been there.


    "Brother Jinghen ... how come you are here, too ..." Her voice trailed off involuntarily.


    Because she saw Fu Jinghen looking at her with his calm and undisturbed eyes, as if he had already seen through everything.


    The only woman in the private room, Wen Qiao, leaning on her hand, did not seem surprised at the sudden appearance of the two at the door, waved at them, "Hello there."


    She then greeted Blanche specifically, "You must be President Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e, hello there."

 Chapter 179 - 178: Ingeniously Unique

    Chapter 179: Chapter 178: Ingeniously UniqueFacing Wen Qiao¡¯s enthusiasm, Blanche looked at her warily, "Who are you?"


    "I am a candidate for ES¡¯s spokesperson," Wen Qiaoqiao raised a finger, pointing at Jiang Wei behind her: "I¡¯m in competition with that beautiful lady behind you."


    Gu Yi was also very surprised by the sudden appearance of his fianc¨¦e, but he seemed to vaguely understand something. He asked, "What are you doing here?"


    "What are you doing here?" Blanche countered.


    "I told you, I have a dinner engagement tonight," Gu Yi frowned, "Are you following me?"


    Blanche wanted to say no, but seeing the look of disgust on Gu Yi¡¯s face, she felt like he wouldn¡¯t believe anything she said now, so she suddenly lost the desire to explain.


    She snorted coldly, "A lovers¡¯ restaurant for a dinner engagement? How very original."


    "Right, I also think it¡¯s quite original," Wen Qiao maintained her palm-supporting-cheek posture, turning her gaze to Jiang Wei: "Sister Weiwei, what do you think? Since you picked the place, you have the most say."


    As Wen Qiaoqiao¡¯s voice faded, everyone in the private room turned to look at Jiang Wei.


    Gu Yi also realized the bizarre reasons for everything that had happened tonight and gave Jiang Wei a meaningful look.


    But at this moment, in this scene, it was as if everyone else had vanished from Jiang Wei¡¯s world, and she could only see Fu Jinghen staring at her calmly.


    Though he said nothing, it was enough to leave her stunned.


    Wasn¡¯t it said that Fu Jinghen wouldn¡¯t be back until tomorrow?


    How could he suddenly appear here?


    Wen Qiao gritted her teeth impatiently, suddenly not wanting to stay here any longer.


    "Fu Jinghen, you deal with the mess your childhood sweetheart has caused," she said.


    With that, Wen Qiao put on her mask, picked up her purse, and gently pushed past the two people blocking the private room door: "Excuse me."


    Blanche hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality and subconsciously stepped aside upon hearing this, while Jiang Wei was forcefully pushed aside by Wen Qiao.


    Seeing this, Fu Jinghen also stood up from his chair, buttoned up his suit, and apologized to Gu Yi: "My apologies for the farce, President Gu. I¡¯ll host you properly another time."


    Gu Yi didn¡¯t take tonight¡¯s drama to heart: "No need for another time, aren¡¯t we meeting again tomorrow?"


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen smiled and nodded, "I¡¯ll be leaving first."


    As he reached the door, his wrist was grabbed from the side.


    "Brother Jinghen, this isn¡¯t your¡ª"


    Fu Jinghen stopped in his tracks, pulling his wrist away from Jiang Wei¡¯s grasp: "Since Miss Jiang didn¡¯t take to heart what I said that day, I have nothing more to say to you."


    The distant reference to "Miss Jiang" left Jiang Wei¡¯s mind utterly blank.


    By the time she came back to her senses, Fu Jinghen had already walked far away.


    Wen Qiaoqiao¡¯s high heels clacked thunderously, drawing some diners¡¯ gazes in the restaurant.


    Muttering to herself, "Cheaters, flirting right in front of me, as if I¡¯m dead."


    "Having two eyeballs but not knowing where to look, it¡¯s like they might as well be donated to someone more deserving." S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s the 21st century, and there¡¯s still someone playing out these idiotic ¡¯catching cheaters in the act¡¯ dramas; it¡¯s an insult to my intelligence!"


    "I¡¯m so angry, if that bastard Fu Jing doesn¡¯t give me a satisfactory solution, I¡¯m going to end our engagement right now!"


    "What is your idea of a satisfactory solution?"

 Chapter 180 - 179: Don鈥檛 Even Think About It

    Chapter 180: Chapter 179: Don¡¯t Even Think About ItHer wrist was grabbed from behind, and a familiar male voice sounded next to her ear. Wen Qiao turned around to see the man who had just been in the private room now standing beside her.


    "Yo." Beneath her mask, Wen Qiao¡¯s lips curled into a mean smile. "Done flirting with your childhood sweetheart?"


    "Speak properly."


    "...."


    Wen Qiao glared at him, instantly enveloped by a sense of "grievance": "I don¡¯t want to talk to you!"


    "Then what do you want to do?" Fu Jinghen looked down at her. "Want to call off the engagement?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Fu Jinghen: "Don¡¯t even think about it."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    What was with this sudden domineering CEO attitude?


    Fu Jinghen took Wen Qiao¡¯s hand and led her outside.


    Wen Qiao struggled: "Damn it, Fu Jinghen, let go of me. This place is crowded, and I don¡¯t want to see ¡¯Hot young star and FS CEO¡¯s romance exposed¡¯ on tomorrow¡¯s Weibo trending headlines."


    His voice was calm and steady: "First, the term ¡¯hot¡¯ currently has nothing to do with you, second, if exposed, it would be about marriage, not romance, and third, if you keep yelling¡ª"


    Fu Jinghen stopped walking and turned to look at her: "I¡¯ll just carry you out."


    Wen Qiao was shocked: "What kind of evil spirit has possessed you today? Why are you talking so much?"


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    He knew he couldn¡¯t communicate with Wen Qiao with normal human logic.


    -


    Not long after Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen left, Gu Yi also prepared to leave.


    As he passed by Jiang Wei, he chuckled and spoke more straightforwardly: "I¡¯m really glad I didn¡¯t choose Miss Jiang as our spokesperson from the start."


    Jiang Wei¡¯s face turned even paler.


    Gu Yi looked at Blanche, who stood still. "Aren¡¯t you leaving?"


    Blanche, somewhat confused, glanced at Jiang Wei beside her with an ugly expression, thought for a moment, and then said "Goodbye," before catching up with Gu Yi¡¯s pace.


    -


    Until she returned home, Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t spoken a single word to Fu Jinghen.


    Watching her storm into the house, flinging her shoes off and stomping inside without even putting on slippers, Fu Jinghen felt a headache coming on.


    He bent down to straighten Wen Qiao¡¯s haphazardly removed shoes, then picked up her bright yellow slippers and went upstairs.


    The young woman was sitting in front of the dressing table, removing her makeup. The makeup remover smeared her eyeliner, darkening the area around her eyes, making her look like a national treasure panda.


    Fu Jinghen placed the slippers at her feet: "Wear the slippers."


    Wen Qiao kicked the slippers away: "No!"


    "Tsk¡ª"


    Wen Qiao then stretched out her leg, hooked the slippers back, and firmly put them on her feet. "Fine, I¡¯ll wear them. What¡¯s with the tsk?"


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    After Wen Qiao finished removing her makeup, Fu Jinghen was still standing behind her, not leaving.


    Wen Qiao got up, pretending not to see Fu Jinghen at all, but just after taking a step, her wrist was grabbed again.


    Where did he learn this annoying habit of always grabbing people¡¯s wrists?


    "The termination contract with Jiang Wei has already been sent over."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s struggling ceased abruptly, she blinked, and after two or three seconds, asked, "Isn¡¯t this kind of inappropriate?"


    Gu Yi raised his eyebrows: "How so?"


    "Everyone just assumes Jiang Wei is Huasong¡¯s top sister, and you terminated her contract just because of me, isn¡¯t that kinda bad¡ª"


    Her last word dragged on in tone, but her face showed nothing of feeling "kinda bad."


    "You¡¯ve got your advantage, no need to play innocent now."


    "!"


    Wen Qiao felt like hitting him again.

 Chapter 181 - 180: What鈥檚 the Difference?

    Chapter 181: Chapter 180: What¡¯s the Difference?Fu Jinghen chuckled, "Moreover, am I not promoting a new face here?"


    "...."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s desire to hit him vanished instantly as she coughed to maintain her composure, "Just to clarify, I am not Jiang Wei¡¯s stand-in."


    "No one thinks you are."


    Wen Qiao humphed twice, "Better not."


    Her frustration finally dissipated, Wen Qiao shook her wrist, and consequently, Fu Jinghen¡¯s arm also shook, "President Fu, let me go, I need to take a bath."


    There was a hint of coquetry in her voice.


    Fu Jinghen let go of her wrist as she had asked, his heart simultaneously releasing a quiet sigh of relief.


    Watching the young girl bounce off to the bathroom, Fu Jinghen reminded her, "Be careful."


    "I know, I know, you¡¯re such a nag."


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    -


    Considering yesterday¡¯s incident, Wen Qiao swore to present her most impeccable self at today¡¯s formal dinner.


    So after lunch, Wen Qiao spent the entire afternoon stationed at her vanity table.


    Fu Jinghen was next door in the study and would stroll out every so often, either to pour a glass of water or to water the plants¡ªanyway, he¡¯d always pass by the bedroom door.


    The vanity table was something Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao had picked up at the mall and had delivered home after Wen Qiao moved in, positioned right across the doorway.


    When Fu Jinghen first wandered out from the study, Wen Qiao was tilting her head, holding her eye area with one hand and wielding an eyebrow razor with the other, ready to groom her eyebrows.


    By the time he returned from downstairs with a glass of water, Wen Qiao had moved on to the next task¡ª


    drawing her eyebrows.


    Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t understand why women always liked to do such redundant things; his sister was like this, and now Wen Qiao was too.


    If you¡¯re going to draw on eyebrows, why shave them off in the first place?


    But he didn¡¯t ask, lest he come across as an idiot.


    After another twenty minutes, Fu Jinghen thought Wen Qiao might be nearly done and stepped out of his study, only to see Wen Qiao staring blankly at two lipsticks.


    "What are you daydreaming about?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s voice seemed like a lifeline to Wen Qiao, who held up the two lipsticks for him and asked, "Which color looks better?"


    Glancing at the two identical red tubes, Fu Jinghen counter-asked, "These two, what¡¯s the difference?"


    "Of course there¡¯s a difference!" Wen Qiao put down one of the lipsticks, twisted open the other, and swiped it twice on the back of her hand. Then she took the other one and did the same, explaining to Fu Jinghen one by one, "This one is a rotten tomato color, it¡¯s versatile, brightens the complexion and doesn¡¯t overshadow, but it¡¯s still eye-catching."


    "This one is a pumpkin color, a bit more towards orange, also brightening. It gives the makeup look a more ¡¯magazine-esque¡¯ vibe."


    To Fu Jinghen, Wen Qiao¡¯s brief comments might as well have been written in an ancient scripture.


    He really couldn¡¯t see any difference between the two colors, and he even began to doubt whether he was a bit colorblind.


    But seeing Wen Qiao looking at him expectantly, he didn¡¯t want to let on and randomly picked one, "This one, I guess."


    Seeing Fu Jinghen choose the rotten tomato color, Wen Qiao hesitated, "Ah, but I think this pumpkin color is pretty too."


    Fu Jinghen changed his recommendation, "Then go with the pumpkin color." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "But I also think the rotten tomato color looks good."


    "Then the rotten tomato color it is."


    Back and forth, Wen Qiao still couldn¡¯t decide, and she looked up at Fu Jinghen somewhat irritably, "Why don¡¯t you have any opinion of your own? Whatever I say goes. A person should have firm convictions!"

 Chapter 182 - 181: You Are Hopeless Again

    Chapter 182: Chapter 181: You Are Hopeless AgainShe lowered her eyes and silently muttered to herself as she looked at the two completely different colors on the back of her hand, "And you¡¯re the decision-maker of FS? I¡¯m genuinely a bit worried about FS¡¯s future..."


    Fu Jinghen: "?"


    You asked me to help you make a choice, and then you second-guess it. I follow your lead and you still say I lack resolve?


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s voice became somewhat cold, "Then choose for yourself."


    "What else could I possibly do?" Wen Qiao seemed to not notice the change in Fu Jinghen¡¯s emotions at all and gave him a pitiful glance, "You¡¯re no help anyway."


    Fu Jinghen: "??"


    No.


    You come to me for resources, and when it comes to endorsements, you don¡¯t think I¡¯m unreliable?


    And now you¡¯re burning bridges over choosing a lipstick?


    These thoughts, burdened by his ego as the tycoon, were definitely not going to be verbalized by Fu Jinghen, but he could express his dissatisfaction in a different manner.


    Fu Jinghen stared intensely at Wen Qiao, his burning gaze as if trying to bore two holes through her head, eager to see what kind of bizarre things were inside her little brain.


    But Wen Qiao was busy choosing lipstick and didn¡¯t spare him a moment¡¯s attention.


    One minute....


    Two minutes....


    Three minutes....


    ....


    Ten minutes....


    "I¡¯ve decided! This is it!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    With Wen Qiao¡¯s shout, the silent struggle finally came to an end.


    However, Fu Jinghen noticed that she didn¡¯t reach for either of the two lipsticks she had been pondering over but instead picked up a different one from another shelf.


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    So what was the whole long indecision about?


    Just a waste of time?


    Then he saw Wen Qiao take a tissue to wipe her lips, apply a bit of foundation, and blend it in with a puff.


    Fu Jinghen now was completely lost. He even forgot he was just about to get angry with Wen Qiao and asked, "Isn¡¯t foundation for the face?"


    "Yeah."


    Without embarrassment, Fu Jinghen asked, "Then why did you put it on your lips?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s mouth stretched into a grin, her speech slightly muffled, but it didn¡¯t prevent him from understanding, "Because my lips are too red."


    Fu Jinghen nodded, half understanding. He was about to ask, "If they are too red, then why wear lipstick at all?" but then he saw Wen Qiao applying the lipstick she had just chosen onto her lips.


    Fu Jinghen: "???"


    This truly touched upon President Fu¡¯s areas of ignorance.


    "Didn¡¯t you say they were too red?" Fu Jinghen asked again without shame, "Why apply lipstick then?"


    Wen Qiao ignored him, meticulously outlining her lips in the mirror, and after a while, once the lipstick was applied, she finally responded to Fu Jinghen¡¯s question, "Because..."


    After uttering just two words, Wen Qiao cut herself off.


    She suddenly realized that even if she did explain, Fu Jinghen wouldn¡¯t understand.


    "Never mind." She waved her hand, "You men wouldn¡¯t understand even if I explained it to you."


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen felt as if his intelligence was insulted. He seriously said, "I scored 135 in my college entrance exam Chinese."


    "Mhm, very impressive."


    Wen Qiao brushed him off with a reply, then let down her hair, moving on to the last step¡ª


    Curling her hair.


    Seeing that Wen Qiao was again oblivious to his mood, Fu Jinghen felt his dissatisfaction rise to a new level.


    He looked at the table full of cosmetics and suddenly found them extremely bothersome.

 Chapter 183 - 182: The Self-Cultivation of a Female Star

    Chapter 183: Chapter 182: The Self-Cultivation of a Female StarBut when he recalled the time he accidentally spilled Fu Qiang¡¯s foundation, which resulted in her locking him on the balcony to be fed to the mosquitoes for three hours.


    A nightmare surged in his heart, and Jinghen dismissed the idea of tossing out the pile of makeup.


    Makeup to women was like their lives, untouchable and sacred.


    After a while, in this silent standoff, Jinghen was the first to admit defeat.


    He realized that Wen Qiao seemed genuinely unaware of his mood swings. President Fu, who had been performing a monologue for quite some time, finally caught her attention with a couple of coughs.


    "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Jinghen¡¯s gaze fell on her bright red lips, "With foundation and lipstick, how will you manage to eat? Aren¡¯t you worried about poisoning yourself? There¡¯ll be no one to call 120 for you."


    At his words, Wen Qiao rolled her eyes dramatically, "Today¡¯s focus is the ES endorsement. Eating is just for show, not the main event. If I wanted to eat, couldn¡¯t I have done so at home?"


    "It¡¯s not like I didn¡¯t see you yesterday."


    Wen Qiao clicked her tongue, "What do you know? Yesterday was a special case. Today is my formal introduction as the ES spokesperson; of course, I have to dress up."


    Jinghen: "....."


    Fine.


    You always have a reason.


    -


    The temperature in the height of summer refused to fall, and by evening, humidity joined the heat, turning the air muggy. The setting sun stained half the sky red. The buzz of cicadas and the hustle of people briskly walking by captured the essence of the summer¡¯s heat.


    The black Bentley moved through the streets, the windows tightly shut, keeping the hot air out.


    Jinghen and Wen Qiao each occupied a corner of the backseat. One lay back lazily against the seat, resting a hand against the window frame and forehead, while the other sat upright with a straight back and knees together, shoulders held in a prim and proper manner.


    Today, Wen Qiao wore a thin, strappy red dress that showcased her exquisitely beautiful collarbones. She had picked up her hair on either side, securing it at the back of her head with a black bow, mixing a sense of liveliness with a hint of tenderness.


    Jinghen tilted his head slightly to glance at her, not quite understanding why this little woman beside him had started to act so formal before they even reached the dinner venue.


    "Don¡¯t you get tired?"


    "Not tired." Wen Qiao sat perfectly upright, even when scrolling through her phone she kept her neck straight in line with her back, eyelids lowered, refusing to lower her noble head.


    "What¡¯s the matter?" Jinghen asked. "Do you have a crown on your head?"


    "What?"


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t catch on at first to what he was implying. It took her a couple of seconds to register.


    She lifted her chin arrogantly, giving off a vibe that she deemed it beneath her to converse with Jinghen, "You wouldn¡¯t understand. It¡¯s self-discipline for a female star to maintain good posture at all times, wherever they are."


    No sooner had she finished speaking than a short chuckle came from beside her.


    "A female star who wears SpongeBob pajamas?"


    Wen Qiao immediately shot him a glaring look, trying to assert her aura over Jinghen.


    "That just proves the generational gap between us."


    Wen Qiao lightly tossed a strand of hair that had fallen to her chest to the back, her slightly curled locks lifting at her side. The tips brushed off Jinghen¡¯s shoulder in a fleeting touch.


    "Lin Ruochun even likes Pat Star; communication is seamless among us peers." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    A faint smell of roses entered Jinghen¡¯s nostrils just as a streetlight flashed by, casting light on Wen Qiao. Her slender, fair legs were crossed, with an anklet sparkling faintly on her ankle.


    Wen Qiao was someone who knew how to dress herself, whether it was a sweet or mature look, she could pull both off very well while also retaining her own style.

 Chapter 184 - 182: The Feeling of Life

    Chapter 184: Chapter 182: The Feeling of LifeFu Jinghen looked down and suddenly felt a surge of heat rising in his heart. He fiddled with his tie, turned his head to one side, and looked out the window.


    A while later, just when Wen Qiao thought he would no longer pay her any attention, she suddenly heard him chuckle lightly, "You two really match well."


    Wen Qiao: "..." S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Just speak if you want to speak.


    Why the sarcasm?


    -


    The car drove for more than an hour and finally stopped in front of Xiao Xiang Pavilion.


    Xiao Xiang Pavilion serves authentic Jiang City cuisine, but the owner is a bit quirky, serving only ten tables a day. Customers are not differentiated by status but by order of arrival; no matter who you are, if you didn¡¯t make a reservation, you can¡¯t dine here.


    The interior decoration of the restaurant is close to the style of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and a sense of history hits you as soon as you enter.


    Walking over a wooden bridge, the winding corridor in the middle has a rockery from which water cascades down, and the pond in the center is filled with blooming lotus flowers. The heat of summer seems to dissipate instantly, making one feel refreshed and delighted.


    Although Jiang City is a major metropolis, it also has many ancient buildings, mostly located in the suburbs, far from the hustle and bustle of the city center, creating a sanctuary.


    From the moment Wen Qiao entered, her eyes never stopped moving. She looked here and there, unconsciously slowing her pace. Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t rush her.


    Seeing that Wen Qiao could hardly take it all in, as if wishing she had another pair of eyes, he couldn¡¯t help but smile and asked, "Do you like this place?"


    "I do," Wen Qiao replied honestly. Just then, they passed a corridor where a carved lantern was hanging, its red tassels hanging down. Wen Qiao unconsciously reached out and fiddled with it, "The person who designed this courtyard must be someone with great taste and depth."


    Fu Jinghen paused for a moment, and asked nonchalantly, "Why do you say that?"


    Wen Qiao thought hard for a while, realizing that her limited vocabulary couldn¡¯t quite express what she wanted to say, so she simply spoke her mind, "Actually, I¡¯m not very fond of such ancient architecture. I watched too many horror movies as a child and always feel these old houses are creepy. I¡¯m afraid that at any moment, a ghostly woman wearing embroidered shoes and with disheveled hair might appear, mumbling ¡¯return my life to me¡¯ or something."


    As she spoke, Wen Qiao even asked Fu Jinghen, "Can you picture that?"


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t seem to need Fu Jinghen¡¯s answer, continuing on her own, "But this place, I think it¡¯s very warm, there¡¯s a feeling of life here."


    Thinking of something, Wen Qiao lowered her head and laughed, "I remember when I was little, my parents took me to my grandmother¡¯s house in the countryside. There was also a pond in the village, full of lotus flowers and leaves, very beautiful."


    Up ahead, there was a small step that one could easily miss if not paying attention, Fu Jinghen cautioned, "There¡¯s a step ahead, be careful."


    Wen Qiao nodded and responded with an "Okay."


    Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t specifically inquired about Wen Qiao¡¯s family background, but he had heard a thing or two from Fu Qiang. When Wen Qiao was very young, another woman with her son moved into Wen Feng¡¯s life. Later, Jiang Lai was hospitalized due to distress and her health deteriorated and eventually, Jiang Lai and Wen Feng got divorced, and soon after that woman became the new lady of the Wen Family.


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t know how Wen Qiao managed in the days that followed, but from what he heard now, before that woman appeared, Wen Qiao too had had a happy family.

 Chapter 185 - 183: Me and Our Daughter

    Chapter 185: Chapter 183: Me and Our DaughterFu Jinghen glanced at Wen Qiao and, seeing no significant change in her expression, began slowly, "What happened next?"


    "Oh, what happened next..." Wen Qiao squinted at the road ahead, seriously recalling the events, "When I returned from playing outside, it started raining, and I hadn¡¯t brought an umbrella. Just as I was wondering what to do, the little boy with me picked two lotus leaves from a pond and handed one to me. That was the first time I realized lotus leaves could be used like that."


    Fu Jinghen focused on a slightly different aspect, "The little boy?"


    "Yeah." Wen Qiao didn¡¯t see anything amiss and continued, "That boy was so pretty, fair and clean. A lot of little girls liked to play with him, but he only liked to play with me."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s tone gradually became boastful. Seeing this, any emerging emotions in Fu Jinghen dissipated instantly, and he commented lightly, "You were quite popular as a child."


    "What do you mean by that?" Wen Qiao corrected him, slightly dissatisfied, "I¡¯m still very popular, you know."


    Fu Jinghen raised an eyebrow but remained noncommittal.


    Wen Qiao, not wanting to dwell on it, continued rambling, "I was a bit wild as a child, climbed trees, jumped over walls, things like that. Once, at my grandma¡¯s house, I accidentally started a fire that burned down someone¡¯s crops. When the owners came knocking, my grandma chased me around the yard trying to hit me, so I mostly played with boys when I was young."


    The image that Wen Qiao just described unwittingly appeared before Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes: a little girl with a ponytail, mumbling her own excuses while dodging her grandmother¡¯s attempts to catch her, her hair messy, a little wild child.


    But certainly as beautiful as she is now.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s lips curved up slightly, "From what you¡¯re saying, maybe we shouldn¡¯t have a daughter in the future." S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After saying that, even Fu Jinghen himself was stunned for a moment, surprised that he had thought so far ahead. Then he remembered that he was already engaged to Wen Qiao, and they would definitely get married eventually. This thought made the matter seem not so distant.


    Perhaps Fu Jinghen¡¯s response was too quick; Wen Qiao didn¡¯t quite catch the implication and asked instinctively, "Why?"


    As Wen Qiao turned to look at him, Fu Jinghen slowly withdrew his gaze that had been resting on her and looked forward, "Because if we happen to get a mini-you, I might not be able to handle it."


    Wen Qiao stopped in her tracks and grabbed Fu Jinghen¡¯s arm, "Wait, are you complaining about me?"


    "No...."


    "What do you mean, no? You should look at your own issues, not find fault with me or our daughter."


    Wen Qiao felt that Fu Jinghen was criticizing her. When she was a child, she was chubby and adorable, loved by everyone, unlike the neighbor¡¯s child who at three years old only liked to lie in bed and wasn¡¯t active. She was lively and adorable; how could Fu Jinghen find fault with that?


    No, this wouldn¡¯t do.


    She didn¡¯t give Fu Jinghen a chance to speak further, raising her hand to interrupt him and trying to defend herself, "However, I can understand your concern, given that you¡¯re so much older than me. If you end up with osteoporosis, it might not just be about coping, but whether you can even lift a child at all."


    Today, after being repeatedly teased about his age, Fu Jinghen was truly at his limit.

 Chapter 186 - 184: Definitely Not Young

    Chapter 186: Chapter 184: Definitely Not YoungThese words undoubtedly hit below the belt on Fu Jinghen¡¯s masculine dignity as he lowered his eyes to the little woman waving her arms in front of him and clicked his tongue, "What¡¯s the matter with you today, acting out like this?"


    Seeing Fu Jinghen gradually advancing towards her, Wen Qiao¡¯s momentum weakened suddenly, and she couldn¡¯t help but step back, "I, I didn¡¯t do anything."


    Fu Jinghen followed her retreating steps forward until he cornered her against the wall and then halted his advancing footsteps.


    He raised his hand to lift her chin, forcing her to look directly at him, "Have I been spoiling you too much? Is that why you¡¯re so unrestrained?"


    Here it comes.


    The classic move of the overbearing CEO.


    The lighting in Xiao Xiang Pavilion was of the warm yellow type akin to sunset, naturally dim, and now Fu Jinghen, standing right in front of her, used his height advantage to block out the light completely.


    The dim environment, plus the closeness of the two, quietly gave rise to an ambiguous atmosphere.


    Wen Qiao felt her heartbeat quickening, yet there was no escape, she could only look into Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes.


    Just as her mind began to blank out, Wen Qiao suddenly caught onto something, then quickly realized.


    No.


    Wait a minute.


    "When did I ever say I wanted to have kids with you?"


    Still arguing about having sons or daughters? S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She must be crazy.


    With those words, Fu Jinghen¡¯s attention indeed shifted, though the situation didn¡¯t improve much.


    "Then who do you want to have them for?" he asked.


    The phrase "I don¡¯t want to have them for anyone" hadn¡¯t left her lips before Fu Jinghen preempted her: "Are you still thinking about Qi Ming?"


    ?


    "...Huh?"


    "Then you might as well wash up and go to sleep."


    ??


    Wen Qiao was stunned for a moment before she finally absorbed the implications of Fu Jinghen¡¯s words.


    She took a deep breath, intending to explain to Fu Jinghen: "I didn¡¯t¡ª"


    But Fu Jinghen released her chin, took a step back, let the light flood in again, Wen Qiao saw Fu Jinghen lower his head, adjust his left sleeve cuff, and without so much as a glance at her, he turned and walked away.


    The phrase "I don¡¯t want to listen" drifted into Wen Qiao¡¯s ears.


    ???


    Are you performing a Qiong Yao drama here?


    And all this "I don¡¯t want to listen" nonsense?


    The feeling of being suffocated was utterly unbearable.


    But watching the man walking away suavely, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t feel like explaining anymore.


    Let him think what he wants.


    If he won¡¯t listen to her explanation now, he¡¯d better never come crawling back to beg for one!


    Just as she was making a face at Fu Jinghen¡¯s retreating figure, the man, having already walked a few steps ahead, suddenly turned back, and Wen Qiao quickly adjusted her facial expression, accidentally biting her own tongue in the process.


    She sucked in a sharp breath from the pain.


    The lighting was a bit dim, and Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t notice her gesture but said, "You haven¡¯t finished answering my question."


    "What question?" Wen Qiao asked.


    Fu Jinghen repeated her earlier words, "You just said, ¡¯the person who designed this place has great taste.¡¯"


    Reminded by him, Wen Qiao then realized, although she didn¡¯t understand why he suddenly clung to this question, she still shared her thoughts, "This place gives off a very serene vibe, serene but not dull, clearly not something designed by younger folks."


    She paused, then self-assuredly concluded, "So, I think the designer of Xiao Xiang Pavilion must have a lot of life experience and definitely isn¡¯t young."


    "..."


    She wasn¡¯t sure if it was her imagination, but she felt like Fu Jinghen¡¯s face turned darker the moment she finished speaking.

 Chapter 187 - 185: Let Me Go

    Chapter 187: Chapter 185: Let Me GoWhat the fuck!


    What now?


    "The Xiao Xiang Pavilion was built only seven years ago."


    Wen Qiao was puzzled, "Hmm, so what?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s face turned even darker as he turned and strode away. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Are the moods of older men always this unpredictable?


    Wen Qiao took another deep breath, holding back the urge to throw her handbag at him.


    Ridiculous!


    If it weren¡¯t for her being alone here and needing to rely on Fu Jinghen to find her footing, she would have kicked this dumbass man to the curb long ago, according to her usual way of doing things!


    She wouldn¡¯t cater to him!


    The private room Fu Jinghen had booked at the Xiao Xiang Pavilion was in the innermost part, requiring a walk through winding corridors. There was no communication between Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen the whole way, each harboring their own schemes, until they finally reached the door of the private room. Wen Qiao was the first to break the oppressive silence.


    As the two were about to reach the door of the private room, Wen Qiao tugged at Fu Jinghen¡¯s sleeve, and when he looked her way, she quickly let go.


    Fu Jinghen noticed her little gesture and, without speaking, just looked at her, giving her a sign with his eyes.


    Perhaps used to being in high places and admired by all, Fu Jinghen could be quite intimidating when he was silent and lacked any facial expression.


    Wen Qiao started getting inexplicably nervous under his gaze, and subconsciously licking her lips, she said, "Gu Yi and the others don¡¯t know about my relationship with you, right?"


    Fu Jinghen had already guessed what she was about to say. Although his expression was the same as before, the aura around him had grown colder.


    "Hmm."


    Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t noticed the change yet, and she felt a weight lifted off her heart, "That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good."


    "What?" Fu Jinghen saw her relaxed demeanor and suddenly felt annoyed, "Are you ashamed to let others know you are my fianc¨¦e, Fu Jinghen?"


    "It¡¯s not about being ashamed or not," Wen Qiao looked at Fu Jinghen in bewilderment.


    Hadn¡¯t they agreed before that apart from the people who had come to their engagement, they would appear as strangers to everyone else? If they really had to define their relationship, it would be that of a boss and subordinate.


    He had agreed to it readily at the time, so why was he asking such questions now?


    And it wasn¡¯t the first time, either.


    Truly, don¡¯t bother guessing what¡¯s on a man¡¯s mind.


    "In case people from ES find out about my relationship with you and start being overly attentive, it would make me very uncomfortable."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen increasingly felt that not telling her sooner about his decision to have her be the spokesperson for ES was absolutely the right thing to do.


    Because right now, this girl was already so full of herself she couldn¡¯t see straight.


    "Anyways, once we enter the private room and meet the people from ES, let¡¯s just stick to the simple relationship of a boss and an artist," Wen Qiao emphasized again.


    Seeing that Fu Jinghen was ignoring her, she asked again, "Did you hear what I said?"


    Fu Jinghen then coolly glanced at her, "Have you ever seen an artist sleep in the same bed with their boss?"


    "..."


    "Have you ever seen a boss waiting three hours for an artist to finish their makeup?"


    "..."


    "And have you ever seen an artist talk to their boss like this?"


    "..."


    Fine.


    Impressive, impressive.


    You win, okay? Is that what you want?


    As Fu Jinghen spoke each sentence, Wen Qiao¡¯s face became increasingly expressionless, and finally, she raised her hand to stop Fu Jinghen¡¯s desire to continue, "Do as you please. Later on, you can describe our relationship however you like. My opinion doesn¡¯t matter; spare me."

 Chapter 188 - 186: From Now On, You Have Me

    Chapter 188: Chapter 186: From Now On, You Have MeFu Jinghen still looked at her with a cool gaze, "What other words are you holding back? Just say them all."


    As a professionally trained actor with solid skills, Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t the least bit flustered by the provocation from her boss and fianc¨¦. She furrowed her brows, ready to play the part, "What else could I be holding back? It¡¯s just some heartfelt words. I¡¯m just a poor little thing nobody loves or cares about, without support or influence, and so poor that I¡¯m at the mercy of others."


    "Hold on a minute." Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t help but interrupt, "Poor? So poor that you have nothing? Who was it that slept until afternoon in a bed that¡¯s three meters wide today?"


    "..."


    "Who bought that custom-made makeup table from Italy in the bedroom?"


    "..."


    "And who owns all the cosmetics piled on the makeup table? What about the clothes and bags in the walk-in wardrobe?"


    "..."


    Wen Qiao took a deep breath, preparing to admit everything was hers when she heard Fu Jinghen speak again, "Since no one claims them, they¡¯re just taking up space. Might as well donate them to charity."


    ???


    !!!


    Wen Qiao immediately widened her eyes at his words.


    Charity?


    Is this charity?


    This motherfucker¡¯s trying to kill her.


    Before she could say anything, Fu Jinghen turned and left as if he had no intention of saying another word to her.


    Seeing this, Wen Qiao immediately chased after him.


    "Wait for me, wait for me!"


    She spent more time on location than at home. What if one day when she wasn¡¯t around, Fu Jing really did donate her bags to charity?


    That would be absolutely unacceptable!


    Listening to the rapid pace of high heels and the anxious calls of the young girl behind him, Fu Jinghen¡¯s lips curled up, pondering when it would be best to turn around.


    The next second, a startled cry from behind made him instinctively turn around, and he caught the bundle hurling herself at him in his arms.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s hands clung to Fu Jinghen¡¯s shoulders, looking up at him with a pitiful expression, "Let¡¯s talk this out, don¡¯t touch my treasures."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms encircled her slender waist, his expression unflapped, "Are you throwing yourself into my arms for the sake of your treasures?"


    Wen Qiao became anxious, "Fu Jinghen!"


    She had been chasing him a little too eagerly and stumbled forward by accident!


    How did it turn into throwing herself at him in his version of the story?


    Was she that kind of person?


    "Hmm?"


    Okay.


    She could be.


    Wen Qiao deflated, "Does throwing myself at you work? If it doesn¡¯t, I¡¯ll just..."


    "What?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    "I¡¯ll throw myself at you again."


    Wen Qiao grinned, "After all, it¡¯s not against the law to hug one¡¯s own fianc¨¦."


    Fu Jinghen finally admitted defeat, sighing helplessly as he straightened her up. Wen Qiao was about to plead for her treasures again when Fu Jinghen spoke up. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    His tone was serious and slow, "Don¡¯t say those kinds of things again."


    Wen Qiao was a bit confused, "Hmm? What things?"


    "..."


    Seeing how she was, Fu Jinghen knew that the words she had uttered earlier were said offhand, not taken to heart.


    But still, he wanted to make her a promise.


    "From now on, you have me."


    -


    It wasn¡¯t until she entered the private room and sat down that Wen Qiao finally realized what Fu Jinghen¡¯s seemingly irrelevant comment meant.


    He was responding to the words she¡¯d said while pretending to be pitiful.

 Chapter 189 - 187: It might be because you are too beautiful

    Chapter 189: Chapter 187: It might be because you are too beautifulWhile feeling touched, there was also an indescribable emotion interwoven in Wen Qiao¡¯s heart, jostling messily within.


    The man beside her was scalding the cup with hot water, and Wen Qiao quietly observed his hands¡ªclearly defined joints, slender fingers, quite aesthetically pleasing.


    In the next second, that hand slowly moved toward her, and then a cup of water was placed in front of her.


    After completing a series of actions, Fu Jinghen went to scald a cup for himself.


    Wen Qiao opened her mouth, wanting to say something, yet didn¡¯t know where to start.


    A while later, Wen Qiao turned to her side, and just as she was about to say something, someone knocked on the private room¡¯s door.


    Fu Jinghen said, "Come in," and then the door opened, with Xiao Xiang Pavilion¡¯s waitress at the forefront.


    The waitress stood to the side, leaning against the door, making way for the people behind her.


    Shortly after, a man and a woman walked in.


    "Fu, sorry we¡¯re late."


    "It¡¯s fine, we¡¯ve just arrived too."


    "President Gu, hello," Wen Qiao extended her hand to Gu Yi, "I¡¯m sorry about yesterday."


    "It¡¯s fine, it was a trivial matter."


    Wen Qiao smiled faintly, with her gaze landing on Blanche. After receiving an unfriendly look from the other, Wen Qiao withdrew her hand, not bothering to greet her further.


    What¡¯s with her?


    It¡¯s not like I¡¯m beneath her.


    Showing off that sour face to whom?


    Wen Qiao sat back in her chair and whispered to the Fu Jinghen beside her, "Tell me, if the misunderstanding from yesterday was already cleared up, why is she still glaring at me?"


    Hearing this, Fu Jinghen picked up the cup from the table and took a sip, then glanced unobtrusively at Blanche across from him, indeed seeing Blanche looking back at his little fianc¨¦e with spiteful eyes.


    The animosity between women always seemed bafflingly unexpected, and Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t take it too seriously. He put the cup down and reassured in a low voice, "Maybe she thinks you¡¯re too beautiful."


    ?!


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes slightly widened, her gaze shifting to Fu Jinghen with a touch of alarm.


    "What¡¯s the matter?" asked Fu Jinghen, puzzled.


    "Are you still Fu Jinghen? Haven¡¯t you been possessed by something unclean?"


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    "Don¡¯t you like it when I compliment you?" he asked.


    "It¡¯s not that..." Wen Qiao was still in shock, "It just... feels a bit unbelievable."


    Sitting upright, Fu Jinghen said without looking away, "So, should I stop complimenting you in the future?"


    "No, no! Keep the compliments coming."


    A feeling known as embarrassment belatedly washed over her, and Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but curl the corners of her mouth.


    Blanche, seeing how harmoniously Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao got along, even with a touch of ambiguity, suddenly felt Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t handsome at all.


    Actually, Gu Yi hadn¡¯t planned on bringing Blanche to today¡¯s meal, but somehow she got wind of it and insisted on coming along. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Yi, worn out by her persistence, let her have her way.


    But he had other important matters this afternoon, so Blanche came over by herself in advance.


    Blanche had arrived just a little after Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao, and seeing the two, she hadn¡¯t come forward to greet them. Partly because they weren¡¯t close, and partly because, the thought of Wen Qiao and Gu Yi dining the night before in a romantic restaurant¡ªeven though there had been another person present¡ªmade her feel uncomfortable.


    She had not wanted to follow them, but upon seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand protectively around Wen Qiao, she had a bad feeling.


    Perhaps it was a woman¡¯s natural sensitivity to the feelings between men and women, but Blanche immediately sensed something was off and stealthily followed them.


    It didn¡¯t take long for her to see the two of them talking, then suddenly Fu Jinghen pushed Wen Qiao against the wall, the two of them pressing close together, leaving virtually no space in between.

 Chapter 190 - 188: She鈥檚 Thin-skinned and Easily Embarrassed

    Chapter 190: Chapter 188: She¡¯s Thin-skinned and Easily EmbarrassedThis was clearly an exchange of flirtation between a man and a woman.


    After President Gu ordered the dishes and closed the menu, he turned to Wen Qiao opposite him, "Fu, you really kept your word by choosing such a beautiful spokesperson for us."


    His gaze toward Wen Qiao was filled with admiration and fondness; he couldn¡¯t resist praising her again, "She really meets our requirements for the spokesperson in the Asia region. Fu, you have a good eye."


    Fu Jinghen first glanced at Wen Qiao sitting beside him before turning to President Gu, a faint smile on his lips, "Thank you."


    Wen Qiao had received compliments throughout her life, both straightforward and subtle ones, and she had long since grown accustomed to them. Normally, she could handle President Gu¡¯s praise with ease, but for some reason¡ª


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s simple "thank you" suddenly made her feel a bit uncomfortable.


    Why did it feel like his "thank you" was not in response to President Gu¡¯s comment on his good judgment but to the compliment given to her looks?


    "Miss Wen?"


    Seeing that she didn¡¯t speak, President Gu called out to her.


    "Huh?" Wen Qiao snapped back to reality, looking at President Gu with a touch of bewilderment, "What is it?"


    "Nothing much; I just noticed you weren¡¯t talking," President Gu inquired, "Is it because I¡¯ve been talking too much?"


    Wen Qiao hastily shook her head, "Not at all, not at all."


    Unwilling to drop it, President Gu persisted, "Then why aren¡¯t you speaking?"


    "..."


    She certainly couldn¡¯t admit she had just been lost in thought, pondering over what Fu Jinghen¡¯s "thank you" really meant.


    Subconsciously, her eyes sought out Fu Jinghen for help¡ª S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Get me out of this!


    Fu Jinghen, watching Wen Qiao¡¯s current state, couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing; this little girl would show her claws like a kitten in front of him but acted utterly tame in front of others.


    Fu Jinghen grabbed her hand that had been poking at his thigh under the table and kindly answered for her, "She¡¯s just shy."


    After saying that, he even rubbed the back of Wen Qiao¡¯s hand as if seeking confirmation.


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    What else could she say?


    She could only continue playing the role that Fu Jinghen had assigned to her.


    Wen Qiao smiled bashfully, "I¡¯m not very good with words; please forgive me, President Gu. You can just discuss any matters with President Fu."


    "What¡¯s that about?" Fu Jinghen asked, "Am I your agent?"


    As soon as he finished speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his palm.


    Tsk.


    The little kitten had started scratching.


    -


    In fact, President Gu¡¯s frank expressions hadn¡¯t felt abrupt or inappropriate to anyone, and his compliments didn¡¯t suggest any ulterior motives.


    It was as if he were appraising Wen Qiao as a work of art.


    But these praises didn¡¯t sound so pleasing to other listeners.


    Blanche, having seen President Gu¡¯s eyes practically glued to Wen Qiao from the moment he entered, felt her internal anger flaring up, and her gaze turned increasingly hostile toward Wen Qiao.


    Blanche fixated on Wen Qiao, then went online to search for her name.


    In recent times, there hadn¡¯t been much news about Wen Qiao online, as she had been filming on set all along, apart from the incident involving Luo Bin some time ago; the rest of the news about her was from much earlier.


    #WenQiaoRedMakeup


    #WenQiaoLuoBin


    #NightLightScript


    #WenQiaoQiMing


    #WenQiaoPubliclyProfessesLoveforQiMing


    ...


    Scanning through these search terms, Blanche was taken aback as she saw the words "Wen Qiao Publicly Professes Love for Qi Ming" and immediately clicked on it.


    After briefly perusing, Blanche got the gist of it.

 Chapter 191 - 189: Marriage Grave

    Chapter 191: Chapter 189: Marriage GraveWen Qiao really is something else, not only messing around with people from the entertainment industry but also having an ambiguous relationship with her own boss.


    And it seems like Fu Jinghen is quite fond of Wen Qiao, Blanche finds it somewhat disgusting.


    Who knows why he likes her.


    She had just put down her phone when she felt someone approach her.


    "You insisted on coming over, only to play on your phone the whole time?" Gu Yi¡¯s tone was unfriendly, "Do you know what respect is?"


    Blanche¡¯s anger shot straight to her crown.


    I haven¡¯t even settled the score with you for praising other women in front of me, and you¡¯re the one to speak up first?


    Blanche coldly dropped three words, "Don¡¯t know."


    Her voice was loud enough to attract the attention of Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao from across the way.


    Then, Wen Qiao received another dagger stare from Blanche.


    Damn it.


    Blanche is glaring at her again!


    "..."


    "Aren¡¯t you having a pleasant chat with Miss Wen? How could I be so rude as to interrupt," Blanche leaned back in her chair, fiddling with her nails, "Indeed, beauty knows no borders. Miss Wen is so pretty, there must be a lot of men around her as well, right?"


    Shit!


    I can¡¯t take this anymore.


    The hostility from the other side was inexplicable, and Wen Qiao, who was not exactly easygoing, was now also displeased. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Why should she put up with this, dammit!


    Her voice slightly chilly, "It seems like Miss Blanche harbors quite some animosity towards me."


    "Sorry, she doesn¡¯t speak very well," Gu Yi offered an apologetic smile to Wen Qiao, then turned to Blanche and whispered sternly, "If you can¡¯t say anything nice, don¡¯t say anything at all."


    "If I didn¡¯t know from the start that Blanche was President Gu¡¯s fianc¨¦e, I might have mistaken her for a circus performer¡ªdressed so flamboyantly and unprofessional, glued to her phone since she got here. You¡¯d think the phone could feed her."


    Hearing this, Blanche shrugged off Gu Yi¡¯s hand and pointed at Wen Qiao, "So, she can speak, can¡¯t she? Why don¡¯t you tell her to shut up?"


    Blanche¡¯s impolite gesture caused Fu Jinghen¡¯s expression to also grow cold. He was about to say something when the palm of his hand was scratched again.


    Afterward, Wen Qiao struggled out of Fu Jinghen¡¯s grip.


    Stupid man.


    Don¡¯t think about taking advantage of her while she¡¯s battling someone else!


    Wen Qiao, eyes downcast, fiddled with the candies on the table and said nonchalantly, "President Gu got engaged so young? What possessed him to step into the marriage grave so early?"


    Then, she recalled that when she got engaged to Fu Jinghen, she was also barely over twenty.


    Oops.


    That didn¡¯t come out right.


    Feeling the curious glances from those around her, Wen Qiao could only pretend to be nonchalant.


    "Stepping into the marriage grave early is still better than someone who eats from the bowl and looks into the pot," Blanche didn¡¯t back down.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s smile was full of mischief, although it didn¡¯t reach her eyes, "Miss Blanche, one should speak with evidence, you know, and I¡¯m certainly not someone who looks into the pot while eating from a bowl."


    Because both the bowl and the pot are mine.


    "Evidence?" Blanche pulled out her phone and pushed it towards Wen Qiao, "Here¡¯s your evidence."


    Wen Qiao looked down at the phone and immediately felt like rolling her eyes.


    Not this old drama again.


    "Miss Wen once publicly declared love for a pop idol, and now she¡¯s getting cozy with her own boss, what a rich and colorful personal life."

 Chapter 192 - 190: He is My Fianc茅

    Chapter 192: Chapter 190: He is My Fianc¨¦ Although Gu Yi felt that he should speak up to stop the somewhat chaotic situation, when he saw Fu Jinghen on the opposite side remaining silent, he closed his open mouth again. "Our ES has very strict requirements for spokespersons, artists with chaotic personal lives have been excluded from the start."


    Blanche looked arrogantly at Wen Qiao, actually curious to see what else she could say.


    Unexpectedly, Wen Qiao did not panic as she had imagined, and she didn¡¯t even turn off her phone, just let it lay bare in front of Fu Jinghen.


    "I thought you could come up with some new scandal about me, but it turns out it¡¯s still the same old stories. Besides, not only was I not excluded, but I was also chosen to be a spokesperson for your ES. By saying my private life is chaotic, aren¡¯t you just contradicting yourself?"


    Seeing her still maintaining a calm demeanor, Blanche became agitated, "I truly underestimated Miss Wen¡¯s shamelessness; evidence is right before your eyes, and yet you remain unfazed."


    "These so-called pieces of evidence you found are plentiful online." Wen Qiao shrugged indifferently. "If that evidence were genuine, would I have let it remain online for you to exploit? Since I haven¡¯t tampered with it, it proves my conscience is clear."


    Although Blanche despised Wen Qiao, she had to admit that her argument made some sense.


    However, she felt that if she gave up the argument, it would mean Wen Qiao had won.


    "What about you and him?"  S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blanche pointed at Fu Jinghen, "Are your relations with him so pure?"


    Wen Qiao, aware that there had been no inappropriate behavior between her and Fu Jinghen since she entered the room, wondered how Blanche came to suspect them?


    Did she see something or hear something?


    Wen Qiao remained calm, "Why do you suspect me and President Fu?"


    "Just wait."


    Blanche picked up the phone from the table and started searching through it.


    Wen Qiao raised her eyebrows, was this another attempt to find evidence against her?


    She began to consider whether she really needed to destroy some online messages; how Blanche had found evidence again and again.


    Previously, she didn¡¯t bother since she believed the true and false messages online were none of her business and didn¡¯t relate to her. Handling them would not only consume resources but would also give troublemakers something to talk about,


    Claiming she was acting guilty.


    But now, she was considering moving up her plan to eradicate the dark history left by her predecessor.


    Being constantly targeted for these past scandals was becoming untenable for someone who cared about their public image.


    Just as this thought crossed her mind, Blanche placed the phone in front of Wen Qiao, "See for yourself."


    Wen Qiao looked and felt a mixture of headache and slight embarrassment.


    Wow, were their poses at that time really that provocative?


    "Oh, since you¡¯ve seen it," Wen Qiao remained calm and openly grabbed Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand resting on her knee, "I won¡¯t hide it from you two any longer. Truth be told, he is my fianc¨¦."


    After Wen Qiao finished speaking, not only were the two people opposite stunned, but even Fu Jinghen was somewhat startled.


    It seemed he hadn¡¯t expected Wen Qiao to reveal their relationship to Gu Yi and Blanche so suddenly and openly,


    Especially since before entering this private room, she had repeatedly asked if the people from ES knew about their relationship.

 Chapter 193 - 191: Growing Tall but not Smart

    Chapter 193: Chapter 191: Growing Tall but not SmartSurprise and stupor were merely momentary, as Fu Jinghen quickly recovered. Under the shocked stares of the two across from him, he returned Wen Qiao¡¯s grip on his hand.


    "Mhm, I am her fianc¨¦."


    In fact, Wen Qiao too was coerced into a corner. If she didn¡¯t clarify her relationship with Fu Jinghen, she truly couldn¡¯t escape the label of having a chaotic personal life.


    Gu Yi muttered, "But why is there no news about it online?"


    Indeed, Gu Yi had already sensed something different about Fu Jinghen toward Wen Qiao yesterday, but he hadn¡¯t expected their relationship to be even closer than he had imagined.


    Fu Jinghen nonchalantly hummed, "She¡¯s shy."


    Shut up already!


    Don¡¯t keep pinning the word ¡¯shy¡¯ on me!


    Wen Qiao: "Yes, I¡¯m shy, so I didn¡¯t go public. Please keep this a secret, both of you."


    Blanche suddenly seemed to think of something, grabbing onto it as if she¡¯d caught Wen Qiao¡¯s weakness: "So you got our endorsement through this connection? That¡¯s unfair to everyone else. We at ES always value fairness and transparency. Plus, I heard that Jiang Wei from your company was also vying for this endorsement. Why did it end up being you?"


    Wen Qiao was truly annoyed by her relentless badgering to admit defeat. Clicking her tongue in irritation, she said, "When I wasn¡¯t even born yet, my mom promised me to him as a wife, so what can I do? According to what you¡¯re saying, my birth is unfair to others. Should I be reborn and start over to make it fair?"


    Blanche: "I¡ª"


    "You were born a CAIN princess, while others are born in slums. That¡¯s also unfair to others. When you swap places with those poor people and live like them for over twenty years, come talk to me about fairness." Wen Qiao didn¡¯t give Blanche a chance to speak, her lips parting like a machine gun as she fired off at Blanche: "Oh, and by the way, last night you were used by someone and you¡¯re still speaking for her. How have you lived for twenty-some years with growth only in height and not in brains?"


    Blanche fell silent.


    But Wen Qiao¡¯s fighting spirit had risen. Seeing Blanche quiet, she didn¡¯t think of letting her off. "Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Unwilling, aren¡¯t you? Indeed, everyone is selfish. What was that righteous rant earlier all about? Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?"


    If Blanche upon first meeting Wen Qiao was a hedgehog bristling with spikes, now she was like a defeated hen, unable to find words to refute Wen Qiao. She could only glare at her furiously and embarrassedly before sulking in her chair without a word.


    It was then that Fu Jinghen appropriately interjected, "Alright, don¡¯t go too far."


    Blanche was Gu Yi¡¯s fianc¨¦e, and although Wen Qiao observed that Gu Yi didn¡¯t seem to like her, he was still their business partner¡¯s father, so it really wasn¡¯t good to go overboard.


    Fu Jinghen had let himself vent for quite a while already, and Wen Qiao took this opportunity to step down.


    She smiled apologetically at Gu Yi: "I¡¯m sorry, President Gu, I got too emotional just now."


    "No, no problem."


    After all, it was Blanche who had provoked first, and Gu Yi didn¡¯t quite know what to say. But what he hadn¡¯t expected was that since their meeting, Wen Qiao had seemed very demure. He hadn¡¯t imagined her to be so fierce in battle.


    She had even managed to leave his usually troublesome fianc¨¦e speechless.


    The door of the private room was knocked, and waiters walked in one after another with plates, breaking the awkward atmosphere inside.


    Fu Jinghen gestured with his hand: "These are authentic dishes from Jiang City. Please, President Gu, have a taste." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Gu Yi nodded.


    As for the two women who had just ended their battle, they each fell into silence.

 Chapter 194 - 192: Do You Think Any Man Can Be a Pretty Boy?

    Chapter 194: Chapter 192: Do You Think Any Man Can Be a Pretty Boy?Blanche had been coddled since childhood, and Gu Yi was the first obstacle in her life, but today, she encountered the second¡ª


    Wen Qiao.


    She had instigated confrontation only to be rendered speechless by the retort, and her fianc¨¦ hadn¡¯t spoken up for her either. Blanche felt incredibly wronged.


    Extremely wronged.


    And quite embarrassed.


    These two emotions intertwined, leaving her meal tasting utterly bland.


    Toward the end, she went to the restroom.


    Meanwhile, Gu Yi was chatting away with Fu Jinghen about everything under the sun, not noticing Blanche¡¯s departure.


    Seeing this, Wen Qiao hooked Fu Jinghen¡¯s palm.


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t even glance at her but pinched her finger instead, "Go ahead."


    The restroom at Xiao Xiang Pavilion was also exquisitely decorated, with mens¡¯ and womens¡¯ restrooms separated by wooden saloon doors and curtains of simple and elegant design; a shared sink area was situated between them, topped with a marble counter lit by aromatic candles. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blanche stood at the sink, head bowed, facing a pile of shredded tissue, muttering to herself, "So embarrassing, Gu Yi that jerk didn¡¯t even help me..."


    "Do you even realize how embarrassing you are?"


    A cold female voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Blanche into a shriek; only when she saw who was behind her did her mouth, wide enough to fit a fist, slowly close.


    Blanche retorted disgruntledly, "What are you doing here? Here to laugh at me?"


    "I watched your comedy show back in the private room already, couldn¡¯t be bothered to watch it a second time."


    Blanche pointed a finger at her, "You!"


    "What about me?" Wen Qiao frowned and brushed Blanche¡¯s hand away. "Don¡¯t you know it¡¯s incredibly rude to point at someone like that?"


    "You don¡¯t control me!"


    "Fine, I won¡¯t." Wen Qiao drawled, "But I think President Gu probably doesn¡¯t like impolite women either."


    This remark clearly hit a nerve for Blanche, and she immediately lowered her hand, continuing to glare at Wen Qiao.


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more, letting her glare; after all, it wasn¡¯t her eyes that would get sore.


    However, she really wanted to rush into Jiang Wei¡¯s home and beat her up.


    It was all because of that hypocrite!


    Causing such a mess.


    Truly speechless.


    "The misunderstanding has been cleared up, it was Jiang Wei with ulterior motives, why are you still so hostile towards me? Moreover, I¡¯m curious, why were you taking pictures of me and my fianc¨¦? Or do you have some special fetish? Or did you fall for my fianc¨¦ because he is handsome?"


    "Who fell for someone else? Gu Yi is handsome too, not inferior to your fianc¨¦ at all! Your fianc¨¦ is not even my type." Blanche defended, while also sneakily dissing Fu Jinghen, "Plus, your fianc¨¦ is so skinny, seems so frail, and his skin is pale like some pretty boy kept by a woman."


    ?


    Talk is just talk, explanation is just explanation.


    Why drag my man into this?


    "So what if he¡¯s a pretty boy? Do you think any man can be one?" Wen Qiao¡¯s index finger twirled her hair, her tone leisurely, "Besides, my man is willing to be my pretty boy and let me take care of him, would President Gu be willing? I¡¯m afraid President Gu wouldn¡¯t want anything to do with you."


    Indeed, after this remark, she saw Blanche¡¯s complexion turn visibly paler, then she turned around and darted into a restroom stall, slamming the door shut with a "bang."

 Chapter 195 - 193: I Know Martial Arts

    Chapter 195: Chapter 193: I Know Martial ArtsThese words unquestionably stabbed Blanche straight in the heart. After Wen Qiao said them, she felt a twinge of regret, thinking she might have gone too far. However, the moment she remembered how Blanche had spoken about Fu Jinghen, she felt it didn¡¯t matter anymore.


    "Who told you to talk about my man?"


    But seeing Blanche¡¯s wilted appearance, lacking the energy she had during the battle at the dinner table, Wen Qiao started to feel irritated again.


    Her fingertips lightly tapped on the marble tabletop. After a minute, she took a few steps forward, lifted the small curtain above the wooden partition door, and peeked inside.


    Another half minute passed, and Wen Qiao pushed open the small partition door and walked in.


    When there¡¯s no one inside, the doors are usually left open. Wen Qiao looked around and finally stopped in front of a tightly closed partition door, raising her hand to knock.


    "Blanche, come out."


    No one responded.


    "I apologize to you, that sentence earlier was wrong of me. Don¡¯t take it to heart, sorry."


    Still, there was no answer.


    No.


    We should talk things out, solve the issues.


    What¡¯s the point of shutting yourself away at every turn?


    Since the soft approach didn¡¯t work, Wen Qiao could only resort to a tougher one. She knocked on the partition door: "I¡¯m going to count to three, and if you don¡¯t come out, I¡¯m going to kick the door down, okay? Don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you. I know Martial Arts, you know. If I don¡¯t control my strength and the door flies right into your face and ruins your looks, that won¡¯t be good, will it?"


    Inside, there was still no movement.


    "Men are all about visuals, what if your looks are ruined and you become even less attractive to Gu Yi?"


    "Thud"¡ªa sound of high heels hitting the floor came from inside.


    Wen Qiao pressed on: "Chinese Kung Fu, it¡¯s pretty impressive¡ª"


    As the last word dropped, the partition door was opened.


    Blanche was standing on a step, half a head taller than Wen Qiao, looking down at her with droopy eyelids: "Apologize to me one more time, and I¡¯ll forgive you."


    "I¡¯m sorry," Wen Qiao¡¯s expression was much more serious than before: "I shouldn¡¯t have said those words that hurt your feelings."


    Blanche seemed caught off guard by Wen Qiao¡¯s quick second apology, and her face became unnatural for a moment before she replied dryly, "It¡¯s alright."


    After speaking, she came down from the steps and walked towards the door.


    Seeing Blanche still looking listless, Wen Qiao realized her words really did pack a punch.


    It¡¯s only right to clean up the mess you¡¯ve made.


    "I can help you chase after Gu Yi."


    This abrupt statement made Blanche halt in her tracks: "What?"


    "I said, I can help you chase after Gu Yi."


    Wen Qiao, facing Blanche¡¯s puzzled gaze, walked over to her and repeated what she just said.


    "I can help you make Gu Yi fall for you."


    Blanche laughed as if she had heard a ridiculous joke: "Are you crazy?"


    "You¡¯re the crazy one," Wen Qiao glared at her: "I think it¡¯s quite pitiful you¡¯re pining over him alone, so I thought I¡¯d help you out. I wouldn¡¯t normally do such a thing for just anyone."


    After a pause, she added: "I¡¯m serious. I¡¯m not joking with you." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blanche still didn¡¯t believe it; she felt Wen Qiao must be out of her mind.


    Seeing that Blanche remained unconvinced, Wen Qiao decided to speak with facts: "Fu Jinghen and I were also brought together by a family-arranged marriage. We have a six-year age gap, and he hadn¡¯t even seen me before our engagement. Now look at him, see how good he is to me. At dinner, while Gu Yi kept talking to him, he didn¡¯t forget to serve me food. He would even refill my glass without me having to say a word."

 Chapter 196 - 194: The highest realm of pursuing someone is making them chase you

    Chapter 196: Chapter 194: The highest realm of pursuing someone is making them chase you"A while back when I was shooting on a film set and ran into some issues, he made up some lame excuse about discussing a collaboration just so he could come to see me... There¡¯s a lot more, I won¡¯t bore you with the details, I don¡¯t want to overwhelm you."


    As Wen Qiao spoke, she observed Blanche¡¯s reaction, "All this is the result of my persistence. Are you jealous? Does it make your heart flutter? I¡¯m not even charging you. I¡¯m teaching you how to make a man chase after you for free."


    Women are all about the details. As Wen Qiao mentioned those points, Blanche naturally noticed them too during their dinner, and compared to Fu Jinghen, Gu Yi¡¯s attitude towards her could only be described as extremely cold.


    "Didn¡¯t you just say you¡¯d help me chase Gu Yi? How come it¡¯s about making him chase me now?"


    Wen Qiao clicked her tongue, "When will you get it? The highest level of chasing someone is to make them chase you back. Understand?"


    Blanche shook her head blankly.


    "This really is a blockhead."


    "Never mind that," Wen Qiao waved her hand dismissively, "Just imagine, the person you¡¯ve been pursuing for a long time suddenly starts chasing you. Then you¡¯ll get to pay back all the grievances you suffered from him. Wouldn¡¯t that feel great?"


    Blanche imagined the scene, the usually indifferent Gu Yi suddenly pursuing her...


    The thought was too beautiful to entertain.


    She nodded, "That would be exhilarating."


    "That settles it then."


    Blanche was somewhat swayed. She pursed her lips and asked, "What makes me believe you?"


    Wen Qiao countered, "Why wouldn¡¯t you believe me? Could the outcome be any worse than what you have now?"


    Blanche was choked up.


    It seemed that indeed, things couldn¡¯t get any worse.


    "Do you have a particularly strong possessive desire? When any woman other than you appears around Gu Yi, do you drive them all away?"


    Blanche nodded. Since their engagement, she felt justified in legitimately driving away any female presence around him, even going as far as replacing his female secretaries with males which led to a big argument with him.


    Wen Qiao seemed enlightened, "You can¡¯t be like that. Men¡¯s pride is stronger than you can imagine, especially for people like Fu Jinghen and Gu Yi. They really dislike being confined. You need to give them ample freedom."


    Blanche opened her mouth, attempting to say something, but Wen Qiao raised her hand to interrupt, "I know what you¡¯re going to say. You¡¯re worried, what if Gu Yi falls for someone else?"


    Blanche nodded.


    "No need to worry. See, previously you would have swatted even a female mosquito near him. If you suddenly loosen up on him now, he¡¯ll definitely find it strange and will pay more attention to you."


    "When that happens, all you need to do is highlight your best qualities to attract him with your unique traits." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Blanche opened her mouth to speak again but got cut off once more by Wen Qiao, "Are you going to ask how to attract him?"


    With everything already explained by Wen Qiao, all Blanche could do was nod.


    "That¡¯s easy. Just show him another side of you that he hasn¡¯t seen, in simple terms, be with Gu Yi the way you are with others. You need to have a life of your own, and make it colorful and rich¡ªthat¡¯s what attracts people."


    "Love should never be everything in your life. Being overly love-focused is also the most annoying thing to men. Men are greedy; they want a beautiful woman, but they also want a woman with substance."

 Chapter 198 - 196: Must Die

    Chapter 198: Chapter 196: Must DieWen Qiao was so certain because her original self¡¯s affection for Qi Ming could be described as wholehearted and unswerving, shaking both heaven and earth, moving ghosts and deities.


    Such an alluring face and naturally stunning figure¡ªputting aside her personality and character¡ªnaturally attracted numerous men.


    But her original self was as calm as still water when facing other men, unflustered and indifferent, treating them as if they were nothing.


    Thus, the only rumors left online were about Wen Qiao and Qi Ming, the one and only man.


    And in the public¡¯s mind, it was almost taken for granted that aside from Qi Ming, Wen Qiao had no involvement with other men.


    Blanche was speechless; she had searched while eating, and it was indeed just as Wen Qiao had said¡ªthe internet had rumors of her only with Qi Ming and Luo Bin, an older man who could be her father, which were clarified not long after they emerged.


    Blanche snorted twice but said no more.


    "Do you have WeChat?"


    Blanche asked in confusion, "WeChat? No."


    "Then you better download it now."


    Blanche: "Why?"


    "So I can teach you how to train a man anytime, anywhere. I can¡¯t always text you or call overseas, can I? That would be too expensive." Wen Qiao urged impatiently, "Quick, download it now; I¡¯ll help you register and add me as your friend."


    Blanche muttered softly, "Then why don¡¯t you download Facebook..."


    Wen Qiao looked at Blanche with a face that said, "If you keep nagging, I¡¯ll show you what ¡¯you¡¯ll wish you were dead¡¯" and the latter somehow understood, then instantly fell silent.


    After some fiddling, they added each other on WeChat.


    Blanche looked at her WeChat profile picture and started hopping mad again: "Why did you change the profile picture of my social media to your photo!"


    "What¡¯s wrong with it? Isn¡¯t it pretty?" Wen Qiao asked blandly, as if she didn¡¯t sense anything amiss, "If you don¡¯t think this photo looks good, I have others; you can pick any you like."


    Blanche: "Is it about whether it looks good? The point is, why did you change my social media profile picture to your selfie!"


    Wen Qiao suddenly realized and said "Oh": "Don¡¯t you like selfies? I also have some he took of me and some artistic photos."


    Blanche: "..."


    Forget it.


    She gave up struggling.


    She would change it when she got back.


    No.


    Why wait until she got back.


    She would change it right now!


    Just as she was about to act, a sinister female voice rang in her ear: "If you dare to change the profile picture, you¡¯re on your own."


    Blanche shivered and silently put down the phone.


    Fine, don¡¯t change it.


    Who¡¯s afraid of whom?


    After all this commotion, Blanche didn¡¯t dislike Wen Qiao so much anymore; her hostility towards Wen Qiao stemmed from the preconceived notion that Jiang Wei liked Fu Jinghen, so she subconsciously labeled Fu Jinghen with Jiang Wei¡¯s tag.


    Seeing Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao so intimate later made her suspect their relationship, and Gu Yi¡¯s constant praises of Wen Qiao while ignoring her only added to her dislike for Wen Qiao. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But now that the misunderstanding was cleared, Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen were fianc¨¦s, and any intimacy between them was normal. Moreover, Wen Qiao had just earnestly shared some tips on how to make a man like her.


    She just felt a bit sorry for Jiang Wei; all her affection was about to go down the drain.


    But then she thought about her using herself¡ª


    Screw it.


    Not sorry at all.


    When they reached the private room door, Wen Qiao suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Blanche.

 Chapter 199 - 197: Knowingly Committing a Crime

    Chapter 199: Chapter 197: Knowingly Committing a CrimeBlanche hadn¡¯t expected her to stop suddenly; she nearly crashed into her and looked at her with some dissatisfaction, "What¡¯s the matter?"


    "Blanche, I don¡¯t care why you took pictures of me with Fu Jinghen, but you should be more careful in your dealings with others, don¡¯t be used by those with ulterior motives again."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s expression was extremely serious as she spoke, and Blanche involuntarily swallowed back her retort, "I wouldn¡¯t be used by anyone," nodding unconsciously, "Understood."


    Actually, she took that photo because she thought Wen Qiao was messing around, seeing what she believed to be incredible evidence. Her intention was to use it to slap Wen Qiao¡¯s face later. Unexpectedly, she got a dose of her own medicine.


    "Let¡¯s go inside, they must be getting anxious."


    The two of them pushed open the door of the private room and walked in.


    The two men inside looked their way; Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes lingered on Wen Qiao without straying, while Gu Yi moved his lips but ultimately chose to say nothing. Blanche pretended not to notice and sat back down in her seat, starting on the dessert that had just been served.


    She had barely eaten earlier and was now starving.


    After Wen Qiao sat down, Fu Jinghen asked quietly, "What took you so long?"


    With some helplessness, Wen Qiao replied, "I misspoke and upset her, so I had to spend some time soothing her."


    "You really know how to aggravate people," Fu Jinghen said with a smile looking at her, "Did you apologize?"


    "I did apologize!" Wen Qiao, unsatisfied, kicked Fu Jinghen with her high heel, "Do I look like someone who can¡¯t admit their mistakes?"


    "That¡¯s not what I meant."


    "You know better¡ª"


    Fu Jinghen leisurely completed his previously interrupted sentence, "You are someone who knowingly makes the same mistake."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Just start killing.


    Can¡¯t take it anymore.


    -


    The atmosphere at the dinner started off a bit odd, but by the end, it turned quite harmonious.


    As the four of them left Xiao Xiang Pavilion, a warm breeze blew by, dissipating the chill from having been in air conditioning for so long.


    As they said their goodbyes, Blanche wanted to say something but ended up just raising her phone at Wen Qiao and giving a nod to Fu Jinghen as a sign. Then she followed Gu Yi and left.


    The driver had run into an accident, causing some traffic congestion, so he was still on the road. Wen Qiao glanced at the time; it wasn¡¯t too late yet. Instead of just waiting at the door, she pulled out a mask from her bag and put it on, then turned to Fu Jinghen, "Shall we take a walk?"


    "As you wish."


    After getting a response, Wen Qiao raised her hand and linked her arm with Fu Jinghen¡¯s. Meeting his questioning gaze, she explained, "It¡¯s inconvenient for me to walk down the steps in high heels, so I¡¯m borrowing your arm for support, any problem with that?"


    "No."


    Fu Jinghen led her, step by step, down the stairs at a leisurely pace.


    Xiao Xiang Pavilion was located in the suburbs of Jiang City, far from the bustle of the city center. The roadside was lined with plane trees, and when the summer evening breeze blew through, the leaves rustled, interspersed with the occasional cicada¡¯s song, as if nature was playing a symphony in the night.


    After descending the steps, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t let go of Fu Jinghen¡¯s arm but continued to cling to it, her other hand holding her small purse.


    The two of them strolled along the nighttime streets, and for a moment, no one spoke, tacitly enjoying the quiet. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, Wen Qiao was the first to break the silence, "If we happen to be photographed, President Fu, you can handle it, right?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced sideways at her, and the words he was about to say changed upon meeting her sparkling eyes, turning into a simple "Mhm."

 Chapter 200 - 198: Pervert

    Chapter 200: Chapter 198: PervertWen Qiao was generous with her praise, "My fianc¨¦ is so awesome!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen: "..."


    The silence returned once more, and after a little while, it was broken again, only this time, it was Fu Jinghen who spoke first.


    "How could you be gone for so long, what were you talking about with Blanche?"


    "Not much." Wen Qiao looked at the street lit up by the streetlights in front of her, and her tone was somewhat absentminded: "Besides soothing her, I also taught her some methods to chase after a guy."


    Fu Jinghen suddenly chuckled, "Is that so?"


    "Yes, it is." Wen Qiao¡¯s thoughts were brought back by the person next to her, and she turned her head to look at Fu Jinghen: "What else could we talk about?"


    Fu Jinghen asked, "Are you so skilled at chasing after men?"


    "Well, that--" Wen Qiao had just started to speak when she realized something was off, so she abruptly changed course: "Of course not! Don¡¯t you know my love history? There¡¯s nothing to tell, just a blank slate. The methods I shared with her, I got those from a novel, making use of it on the fly, you know."


    Fu Jinghen looked at her meaningfully and after a few seconds, he shifted his gaze away: "A blank slate? You really can make stuff up."


    "Make what up!" Wen Qiao got angry when she saw the person in front of her didn¡¯t believe her, released the hand that was holding his arm, turned around to stand in front of him, blocking his way: "What I said was the truth, why don¡¯t you believe me? I just thought Blanche looked so pitiful liking Gu Yi so much, I wanted to help her out."


    Fu Jinghen watched the little calico cat in front of him showing her claws again and laughter spilled from his throat: "Help her with what, teaching men how to behave?"


    Wen Qiao was stunned and said subconsciously, "How did you know?"


    "You were eavesdropping on our conversation?"


    "You¡¯re a pervert, standing outside the women¡¯s restroom eavesdropping on our conversation!"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s expression turned cold: "Wen Qiao."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s questioning ceased as soon as Fu Jinghen called her name; her lips pouted, and her voice took on a whining tone: "Waaaa, you¡¯re so mean. It was you who eavesdropped on our conversation first, and now you¡¯re scolding me, why are you like this."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen: "I didn¡¯t."


    Wen Qiao: "You did, otherwise how could you repeat that phrase?"


    Fu Jinghen explained: "I was passing by."


    He had only gone to look for Wen Qiao because she had been away for so long and hadn¡¯t come back, and when he got near the restroom, he heard her voice. Upon getting closer, he heard her saying, "I can teach you how to train a man anytime, anywhere." He really hadn¡¯t intended to eavesdrop.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t believe him at all: "That¡¯s too far-fetched, which grown man specifically passes by the women¡¯s restroom, huh."


    Fu Jinghen felt somewhat headache: "Then what do you want?"


    "Nothing!" Wen Qiao was actually more embarrassed than truly angry, but now she was really annoyed by his indifferent demeanor: "Anyway, I¡¯m just mad you eavesdropped on my conversation!"


    Huffily turning around, she strode forward.


    "Slow down."


    Wen Qiao completely ignored whatever Fu Jinghen had said and continued to stride ahead.


    The gaps between the stones in the street, combined with the dim streetlights, made it very easy for Wen Qiao¡¯s thin high heels to get stuck.


    Annoyed, she wiggled her ankle, but it was to no avail.


    The next second, she felt her ankle warm up. Fu Jinghen was squatting in front of her, one hand holding her ankle, the other her high heel.


    Seeing someone come to her aid, Wen Qiao stopped struggling and let Fu Jinghen take care of it obediently.

 Chapter 201 - 199: Why Don鈥檛 You Train Me a Bit

    Chapter 201: Chapter 199: Why Don¡¯t You Train Me a BitThe warmth from the man¡¯s palm spread upward from her ankle, soon pervading her entire body.


    "Stand firm."


    Wen Qiao hummed twice, "Got it."


    The shoe was easily pulled out by the man, and Wen Qiao regained her freedom. She stomped her foot and muttered softly in complaint, "What a design, it¡¯s just restricting us ladies who wear high heels for nothing..."


    A laugh came from above her head, and Wen Qiao immediately looked up and glared, "What are you laughing at, what¡¯s there to¡ª"


    Her words were cut off as the man suddenly leaned in, and Wen Qiao, seeing the handsome face so close, stuttered, "What are you¡ªwhat are you doing?"


    "It¡¯s not that I meant to overhear you talking. Don¡¯t be angry, okay?"


    The man¡¯s hot breath on her face, mixed with the scent of fir and a hint of alcohol, was mesmerizing in the summer night.


    Wen Qiao felt her heartbeat gradually accelerate, her mind went blank, yet subconsciously, she felt the environment was unsafe for her.


    She leaned back, trying to avoid Fu Jinghen¡¯s approach.


    They say you don¡¯t fall in the same place twice, but Wen Qiao did.


    Her high heel had just gotten caught in the crack of the cobblestone, and without learning her lesson, she stepped back, and the heel got stuck again, causing her to fall backward uncontrollably.


    "Ah¡ª"


    She cried out in alarm, and then someone tightly wrapped their arms around her waist and pulled her forward into Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace.


    Fu Jinghen: "Watch where you¡¯re going."


    Wen Qiao again gave him a sharp look, "Whose fault is that?"


    "Blame me." Fu Jinghen admitted his mistake very obediently.


    Wen Qiao climbed up the banter, "So what do you suggest we do about it?"


    Fu Jinghen was silent for a moment, as if thinking of something, and the corners of his mouth lifted in a vaguely mischievous way.


    Wen Qiao felt a jump in her heart, having a bad feeling. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I don¡¯t know what to do either, how about you teach me?"


    "Practice makes perfect, this way you can give people more accurate instructions on how to handle men in the future, right?"


    His voice, soaked in alcohol, was lower than usual, and his eyes, usually full of calm wisdom, now had a misty layer over them.


    Good.


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t disappoint her after all.


    Before her heart could catch up, it sped up again, and her mind went blank without warning.


    Wen Qiao just stared blankly at Fu Jinghen as if she had lost her speech.


    It was as if time had paused, everything around them stood still, leaving only the fast beats of Wen Qiao¡¯s heart and the smiling face of the man before her.


    After an indeterminate amount of time, a car horn broke the ambiguous atmosphere between them.


    Wen Qiao suddenly snapped back to reality, looked to the side, recognized the car parked by the road as Fu Jinghen¡¯s, and immediately pushed him away to jump into the vehicle.


    The driver in the front seat, after receiving the ¡¯death glare¡¯ from his boss, became instantly alert, wishing he could go back one minute and chop off the hand that had carelessly honked the horn.


    When he had just arrived, he saw his boss holding a woman in his arms, and his curiosity was immediately piqued, but since he couldn¡¯t clearly see the woman¡¯s face, he subconsciously honked the horn.


    As a result, he got a clear look at the woman¡¯s face, but also a clear view of his boss¡¯s displeased expression.


    Soon after, he heard the back door open and then saw a fiery figure dart in.

 Chapter 202 - 200: You Think This is Inducing Labor?

    Chapter 202: Chapter 200: You Think This is Inducing Labor?Upon closer inspection, he noticed an extra person in the corner behind him.


    Wen Qiao hugged her small bag and shrank into the corner, questioning her life choices.


    Damn it.


    There was definitely something wrong with Fu Jinghen¡¯s persona.


    How the hell could he appear to be a man with no dating history, zero love affairs, and supposedly clueless about everything?


    He was way too skilled, okay!


    Just now at the dinner table, both Fu Jinghen and Gu Yi had some drinks, but Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t very clear on how much they actually had.


    However, judging by Fu Jinghen¡¯s behavior just now, she was more inclined to believe he had been drinking fake alcohol.


    The car door beside her opened, and a familiar scent wafted in first; Wen Qiao leaned further into the corner and then placed her bag in the dead center of the back seat.


    The Chu River Han Boundary was clearly defined.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the small, square bag in the middle of the seat; he wasn¡¯t annoyed. After sitting down in the car and closing the door, he picked up the small bag to take a look.


    Then he spoke in an indifferent tone, "Custom-made lambskin, to donate¡ª"


    Before he could finish, the bag was snatched from his hand.


    "Sorry, I placed it in the wrong spot."


    Wen Qiao hugged her bag tightly against her chest again, seething with silent rage.


    Then, she felt a tight grip on her wrist; the man beside her had pulled her bag-holding hand away, playing with it in his own hand.


    Whimper.


    This man was too wicked.


    It was bad enough he wanted to use her bag for charity, and now he wouldn¡¯t even let go of her hand!


    Villain!


    -


    Due to Fu Jinghen¡¯s unexpected transformation, Wen Qiao sat upright and silent throughout the entire car ride back.


    Fu Jinghen pretended to nap, resting with his eyes closed against the seat.


    As soon as the car stopped at the villa¡¯s entrance, Wen Qiao quickly withdrew her hand, hugged her bag, opened the car door, and ran out.


    The speed of her escape suggested someone was chasing after her.


    Fu Jinghen opened his eyes at the same moment Wen Qiao pulled her hand away, feeling the emptiness in his palm. He reflexively grabbed at the air, then pinched the bridge of his nose before opening his side of the car door and stepping out.


    Once Wen Qiao entered the house, she immediately headed into the bathroom, throwing rose petals into the bathtub and pouring in essential oils, as if she planned to soak indefinitely.


    A knock sounded at the bathroom door, and every muscle in Wen Qiao¡¯s body tensed. She asked, feigning calmness, "Is there something you need? I¡¯m about to take a bath."


    Just wait, for crying out loud!


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s unhurried voice responded from outside, "Nothing important, just wanted to ask if you remembered to bring sleepwear this time."


    "I did¡ª"


    She didn¡¯t bring jack squat.


    In her haste to avoid another encounter with Fu Jinghen, she had rushed straight to the second-floor bedroom as soon as she entered the house, darting into the bathroom without grabbing anything.


    Wen Qiao looked at her nude reflection and resignedly closed her eyes.


    After about a minute, Fu Jinghen saw the bathroom door slowly crack open, and an arm reached out.


    "Thank you, President Fu."


    After Fu Jinghen returned from taking his bath in the adjacent guest room, the bathroom door was still firmly shut.


    He paused, walked over to the bathroom door, and knocked, "Aren¡¯t you done yet?"


    Silence.


    Fu Jinghen knocked on the glass door of the bathroom again, his voice carrying a slight urgency this time, "Wen Qiao, if you¡¯re awake, make a sound."


    "What!"


    An impatient voice came from within, "Whatcha rushing me for? I¡¯m just taking a bath, rush, rush, rush, think you¡¯re delivering a baby?!" Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen: "..."

 Chapter 203 - 201: I鈥檓 Very Willing to Support You

    Chapter 203: Chapter 201: I¡¯m Very Willing to Support YouHe glanced at the time, "You¡¯ve been soaking for over an hour now. If you soak any longer, you¡¯ll start to plump up. Hurry up and get out."


    "..."


    No sound again.


    Fu Jinghen frowned, "Wen Qiao."


    "I know!"


    After a short while, the sound of water came from inside, and only then did Fu Jinghen turn around to lie down on the bed.


    A bit more time passed, the bathroom door opened, and Wen Qiao came out wearing a Mickey Mouse print pajama, pouting and reluctant.


    Fu Jinghen was half lying on the bed, heard the noise and lifted his eyelids to look at her, then closed them again.


    Why was he so unfazed?


    Wen Qiao suddenly felt irritated, walked around to the other side of the bed, and fiercely pulled back the covers, covering Fu Jinghen¡¯s face entirely.


    "..."


    As if she saw nothing, Wen Qiao sat down with a thump, then yanked the comforter over herself, leaving Fu Jinghen exposed. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen opened his eyes, looked at Wen Qiao, who had wrapped herself into a cocoon, and said, "What temper are you throwing now?"


    "Which eye of yours sees me throwing a temper!"


    "Both of my eyes see it."


    "..."


    Actually, Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t really throwing a temper. She just felt a bit awkward, but she didn¡¯t quite know what was making her awkward.


    The only thing she knew was that being in the same space as Fu Jinghen made her feel incredibly irritated.


    Fu Jinghen tapped the comforter on top of her and commanded, "Get up."


    Wen Qiao refused firmly, "I won¡¯t!"


    "One."


    "..."


    "Two."


    "..."


    With no backbone, Wen Qiao sat up in bed, her back to Fu Jinghen.


    "Turn around."


    As Wen Qiao was about to speak, she heard the man say, "Don¡¯t make me say it a second time."


    Damn it!


    Don¡¯t think you¡¯re some great overbearing CEO!


    Emotionally, Wen Qiao turned around, messing up the comforter on the bed in the process.


    The white ceiling lamp in the bedroom was off, leaving only a warm yellow bedside lamp on.


    The warm yellow light outlined the man¡¯s facial features with warm lines, his hair slightly disheveled from being blow-dried. He was now sitting at the side of the bed, holding a hairdryer and beckoning her over.


    Wen Qiao, as if bewitched, crawled over without even needing Fu Jinghen to say anything.


    She obediently sat at the edge of the bed, waiting for Fu Jinghen to dry her hair.


    The warm breeze was like Buddha whispering in her ear, and Wen Qiao comfortably narrowed her eyes.


    The inexplicable awkwardness in her heart also began to dissipate mysteriously.


    She openly looked at Fu Jinghen and, remembering Blanche¡¯s comment about "pretty boys," suddenly said, "Fu Jinghen, maybe you should get a tan!"


    Even Fu Jinghen, who had become accustomed to Wen Qiao¡¯s whims, couldn¡¯t keep up with her train of thought this time.


    "What has upset you now?"


    "It just feels like you¡¯re too pale." Wen Qiao said, and poked his cheek with her index finger, "You¡¯re almost as white as me."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes fell on her hair, and his movements were incredibly tender as he played with her hair, but what he said wasn¡¯t so gentle, "If you want to compliment your own fairness, just say so."


    "I really didn¡¯t mean it this time!" Wen Qiao immediately raised her hand to swear her loyalty, "But it is true that my skin is fair."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t be bothered with her anymore.


    After a while, Wen Qiao gave up on the idea, "Never mind, being pale is also pretty good. If one day you go bankrupt, I¡¯d be willing to keep you, let you be my pretty boy."

 Chapter 204 - 202: Mrs. Fu

    Chapter 204: Chapter 202: Mrs. FuWen Qiao was speaking as she casually scratched Fu Jinghen¡¯s chin with her fingers.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at her and said carelessly, "Alright, then thank you, Mrs. Fu."


    "Thump!"


    Wen Qiao heard a loud sound emanating from her chest very clearly.


    She looked at Fu Jinghen in shock. Compared to her astonishment, he seemed as calm as if he had just mentioned something trivial like "The weather is nice today."


    "Wha-, wha-, Fu, Fu..."


    That¡¯s it.


    Wen Qiao started to stutter again.


    Her hair was now completely dry, and Fu Jinghen turned off the hairdryer, meeting Wen Qiao¡¯s gaze directly, "Isn¡¯t what I said correct? You¡¯re going to become Mrs. Fu sooner or later."


    "..."


    One minute...


    Two minutes...


    ...


    Five minutes...


    Wen Qiao performed a 360-degree aerial turn, rolled up in her blanket to become a cocoon again, and lay back in her spot, tightly closing her eyes.


    "..."


    After losing her sense of sight, her hearing seemed several times magnified; she heard Fu Jinghen¡¯s footsteps moving away from the bed and then sounds from the direction of the bathroom. The footsteps resumed and came closer, finally stopping by the bed.


    The space beside her sank as he lay down, and then she felt his hand resting on her.


    Wen Qiao instinctively clutched the blanket, the familiar sound of a heartbeat reaching her ears again.


    Then, in the quiet room, his voice broke the silence.


    "Wen Qiao, share some blanket with me."


    "..."


    Wen Qiao released the half of the blanket that was his, and as if afraid that Fu Jinghen might say something else, she quickly uttered a "Good night" and blocked whatever he was about to say next.


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen turned off the bedside lamp, plunging the bedroom into darkness.


    -


    A dreamless night passed, and when Wen Qiao woke up, she stared at the ceiling a bit before recalling the events of the previous night.


    She adopted an expression of utter despair.


    The phrase "Mrs. Fu" uttered by Fu Jinghen had such an impact that she counted tens of thousands of sheep last night, imagining opening several farms in her mind, yet they still couldn¡¯t contain all those sheep.


    She sluggishly sat up, and as if sensing it, the bedroom door opened.


    She immediately looked toward the door, nervous.


    Sure enough, as the door opened, Fu Jinghen appeared.


    "Awake?"


    Wen Qiao nodded, "Awake."


    "Come down for breakfast."


    After saying that, Fu Jinghen turned and left without any reluctance.


    Wen Qiao: "???"


    He left? Just like that?


    So cold?


    Was this the same Fu Jinghen from last night who asked her to train him, gently dried her hair, and even called her Mrs. Fu?


    This cold, indifferent manner was just like a heartless jerk!


    Wen Qiao was certain now, the Fu Jinghen last night had drunk fake alcohol!


    The purely fake kind!


    - Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Compared to Wen Qiao¡¯s generally cheerful everyday life, Jiang Wei was not having such a great time.


    Looking at a man and a woman sitting opposite her, Jiang Wei¡¯s face couldn¡¯t have looked worse.


    Jiang¡¯s mother, seeing her upset today, had taken her out to lift her spirits, but unexpectedly, the lunch turned into a matchmaking banquet.


    Mrs. Zhang was all smiles as she looked at Jiang Wei, endlessly praising, "Weiwei is truly beautiful, even better looking than on TV, like a Heavenly Immortal."


    Jiang¡¯s mother laughed, "That¡¯s an exaggeration."


    Then, Jiang¡¯s mother nudged Jiang Wei under the table, signaling her to say something.


    Jiang Wei mustered a slightly forced smile, "Auntie, you flatter me."

 Chapter 205 - 203: Pretending What?

    Chapter 205: Chapter 203: Pretending What? Jiang Wei particularly disliked the feeling of being arranged, and the meal was tasteless. Halfway through the dinner, she used the excuse of going to the bathroom to escape from the private room. The sound of flowing water filled her ears as Jiang Wei looked at herself in the mirror, mockingly curling the corner of her mouth.


    Her phone on the washbasin kept vibrating. Jiang Wei glanced down at it.


    It was from Jiang¡¯s mother, probably urging her to return.


    Expressionlessly, she swiped up to hang up, pulled a piece of paper to dry her hands, and tossed the crumpled paper into the trash bin.


    As she walked out of the ladies¡¯ room, she saw a man smoking against the wall.


    Jiang Wei had heard a bit about Zhang Cheng¡¯s reputation in the rich second-generation circles. People could hardly keep up with his pace of changing women, faster than they could change clothes. To call him a playboy was putting it mildly; he had even gotten a minor internet celebrity pregnant before. Mrs. Zhang didn¡¯t approve, took the woman to the hospital for an abortion, and paid her off.


    Zhang Cheng had no objections to his mother¡¯s actions, as it was all just a game to him.


    Initially, Jiang Wei was indifferent to him since his playboy activities had never involved her, but now, with Jiang¡¯s mother pressuring her to meet such a scumbag, all that remained was disdain for Zhang Cheng.


    Jiang Wei didn¡¯t want to talk to him. She just wanted the dinner to end quickly so she could talk it over with Jiang¡¯s mother. But just as she stepped out, her wrist was grabbed.


    "What, pretending not to see me?"


    The strong smell of smoke sprayed onto her face, causing Jiang Wei¡¯s brows to instinctively furrow.


    "Stay away from me."


    Zhang Cheng, spoiled by women, felt a bit provoked by Jiang Wei¡¯s impatience. "You¡¯re already here, why keep up this act, playing hard to get?"


    While talking, he reached out to touch Jiang Wei¡¯s cheek.


    "I said, stay away from me. Can¡¯t you understand human language?" Jiang Wei swung a slap at the man¡¯s hand, but as she exerted force, her nails harshly scratched across his face, leaving a long, thin gash.


    Zhang Cheng¡¯s face turned aside from the hit, and then he felt a sharp pain. He touched his face, and seeing the blood, his anger flared up. He grabbed Jiang Wei¡¯s hair, slammed her against the wall, and roughly pulled at her clothes.


    "Damn bitch, how dare you hit me? You think you¡¯re some high and mighty superstar?"


    Zhang Cheng lost all sense of proportion when he got angry. Jiang Wei panicked and began to struggle vehemently.


    The private club had excellent soundproofing, with no main hall, only separate private rooms, and the washrooms were somewhat secluded, so nobody noticed the disturbance for a while.


    Suddenly, a ringing phone sliced through the tense atmosphere, and Zhang Cheng stopped, took out his phone, and asked harshly on the other end, "What is it?"


    Whatever was said on the other end, Zhang Cheng let go of Jiang Wei and strode away.


    Jiang Wei had narrowly escaped a disaster; she clutched her collar tightly, her hair disheveled, and red marks on her cheeks where he had gripped her.


    She slowly slid down the wall, buried her head in her knees, and began to sob softly.


    "Ma¡¯am? Are you alright?"


    A female voice sounded above her head, and Jiang Wei instinctively looked up, only to see the last person she wanted to encounter at that moment.


    When Wen Qiao saw Jiang Wei¡¯s face, she also didn¡¯t know what to say.


    All she wanted now was for time to rewind just a minute earlier; she definitely wouldn¡¯t have asked that question.


    No.


    She definitely wouldn¡¯t have come to this bathroom.


    S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 206 - 204: Termination of Contract

    Chapter 206: Chapter 204: Termination of ContractThe atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment, and Wen Qiao was unusually tongue-tied. After struggling for a while, she managed to say:


    "Well, just pretend you never saw me, and I never saw you."


    She had thought Jiang Wei would respond as before, making some polite, insincere small talk. But this time, Jiang Wei just hummed in acknowledgment and left.


    Wen Qiao watched her departing figure with a feeling of indescribable complexity.


    What kind of messy, inextricable fate did she share with Jiang Wei?


    She had planned to enjoy a lazy morning at home today, only to be woken up early by a call from Blanche, asking her to share her secrets for handling men.


    Being woken up early was one thing, since she had brought that upon herself, but then Blanche insisted on meeting in person, claiming face-to-face communication was better.


    After they met, Blanche had dragged her shopping until lunchtime, their bags covered in dazzling, assorted logos.


    Finally finding a restaurant for lunch, Wen Qiao decided to visit the restroom, only to run into Jiang Wei.


    Tch.


    Next time she went out, she definitely needed to check the almanac.


    But she had no intention of following up or looking after her, even though she noticed that Jiang Wei didn¡¯t seem to be feeling well.


    She and Jiang Wei simply disliked each other, and she didn¡¯t want unwarranted trouble from an excess of sympathy, especially since her sympathy varied from person to person.


    As for Jiang Wei...


    She was outside of her circle of concern.


    Jiang Wei did not return to the private room, but sent a WeChat message to Jiang¡¯s mother and then left the clubhouse by taxi.


    Once home, she went straight to the bathroom and took a hot shower to rid herself of the nauseating stench of Zhang Cheng.


    Lying on the bed with her eyes closed, Jiang Wei fell into a restless sleep.


    When she woke up in the afternoon, she reached for the phone that had been ringing for a while, thinking it was Jiang¡¯s mother. However, it turned out to be Li Qing.


    "Weiwei, Huasong wants to terminate your contract. The legal department has already drafted the contract today."


    There was a buzzing in Jiang Wei¡¯s mind, a momentary blank.


    Li Qing was also very anxious, "Weiwei, are you okay?"


    "Yeah... I¡¯m fine."


    She said, and then suddenly laughed.


    Fu Jinghen really cherished his fiancee intended to use her and the CEO of ES to stir up a scandal to displease Blanche and replace Wen Qiao as the endorser.


    Such tactics were not uncommon in the industry.


    Why did it fail just because it involved Wen Qiao?


    "Weiwei, what should we do now?"


    Li Qing had also involved herself in the plan to approach Blanche early, then invite Wen Qiao and Gu Yi out in Blanche¡¯s name, causing her to misunderstand their relationship and replace Wen Qiao as the endorser.


    If Fu Jinghen were to end the partnership with Jiang Wei, she surely couldn¡¯t stay with Huasong either.


    Moreover, Jiang Wei¡¯s smooth sailing in the entertainment industry over the years was partly due to Fu Jinghen¡¯s influence. Huasong Media was just a subsidiary media company under FS, managed by designated personnel, and Fu Jinghen usually did not invest much effort in Huasong.


    The business managers would regularly report to FS every month, and apart from making an appearance at the annual meeting, Fu Jinghen seldom visited Huasong Media.


    This loophole, coupled with Jiang Wei¡¯s deliberate arrangements and Li Qing¡¯s influence, led many at Huasong to believe there was something between Fu Jinghen and Jiang Wei.


    So any good resources would naturally be prioritized for Jiang Wei.


    S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 207 - 205: There鈥檚 Never Been Any Comparability

    Chapter 207: Chapter 205: There¡¯s Never Been Any ComparabilityJiang Wei was not a useless flower vase. With the resources at her disposal and her own efforts, she had clinched the award for Best Actress. But with Huasong Media backed by the towering FS in the entertainment industry, its position was naturally unshakeable.


    Now, with the sudden contract termination with Jiang Wei, the future resources were really uncertain.


    Jiang Wei realized this as well. She fell silent for a long while and suddenly stood up to leave, "I have other matters, hanging up now."


    Li Qing immediately said, "Weiwei, don¡¯t be impulsive!"


    "President Fu, the reception desk called to say that Miss Jiang has been waiting downstairs for nearly three hours."


    Feng Li reported the situation from the reception desk to Fu Jinghen as he came out of the meeting room.


    "If it¡¯s about the contract termination, tell her to go to Huasong." Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "It¡¯s not..." Feng Li leaned in closer and whispered into Fu Jinghen¡¯s ear, "She said, about the incident with the Boss Lady and Young Master Qi at the engagement banquet..."


    Feng Li seemed unsure how to phrase it, his sentence stumbling.


    Fu Jinghen paused in his stride, then continued as normal, "Let her come up."


    "Okay."


    Fu Jinghen closed the folder in his hand and handed it to Feng Li, striding toward his office.


    Jiang Wei felt the change the moment she stepped out of the elevator on the top floor.


    President Fu¡¯s office occupied half of the top floor, and right next to his office was the one belonging to his executive assistant, Feng Li. The other four secretaries were accommodated on the other half of the floor, directly opposite the elevator doors. Sitting in the position of the chief secretary, next to the assistant¡¯s office, was not the senior colleague Jiang Wei knew.


    It was another secretary.


    Seeing this, Jiang Wei couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips in self-derision.


    She walked out of the elevator, doing her best not to mind those glances directed at her, and made her way to the innermost office.


    She raised her hand to knock and waited until she heard "Come in" from inside before pushing the door open.


    "The door¡¯s open."


    The action of closing the door behind her came to an abrupt halt when the man inside spoke.


    Jiang Wei looked up at the man behind the desk, "Brother Jinghen..."


    Fu Jinghen interrupted her affectionate address, "If I¡¯m not mistaken, Miss Jiang, you¡¯re here regarding Qiaoqiao and Ah Ming."


    "If you came to reminisce, I believe there is nothing between us worth reminiscing about.


    Again, the cold and distant terms and tone.


    Jiang Wei clenched the strap of her handbag in her hand, fell silent for a while, and momentarily suppressed the surging emotions in her heart. She took out her phone, tapped it a few times, and extended it toward Fu Jinghen, "Brother Jinghen hasn¡¯t forgotten the attempt of Wen Qiao to drug Qi Ming at your engagement party with her, has he?"


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the photo on the screen.


    In the photo, a man and a woman were entangled in bed, the man pinned beneath the woman with his eyes tightly shut.


    The woman¡¯s hair was all swept to one side, and the half of her face exposed to the camera very clearly showed the adoration and infatuation in her eyes as she looked at the man.


    The man and woman in the photo were obviously Wen Qiao and Qi Ming, and Wen Qiao was dressed in the gown prepared for the engagement banquet.


    Yet, she was entangled with another man while wearing the dress meant for her engagement.


    This was undoubtedly the greatest irony.


    Expecting to see an enraged Fu Jinghen, Jiang Wei was surprised to see the man remain calm and collected after viewing the photo.


    Fu Jinghen lifted his eyelids, looking coldly at Jiang Wei across the desk, "If the purpose of showing me this photo is to threaten me into reversing Huasong¡¯s contract termination with you, I¡¯d advise you not to waste your time."

 Chapter 208 - 206: Why Not Give It a Try

    Chapter 208: Chapter 206: Why Not Give It a TryThe thoughts at the bottom of her heart had been exposed, and Jiang Wei¡¯s already flimsy smile couldn¡¯t hold up any longer. She sneered mockingly, "And here I thought you liked Wen Qiao so much that you replaced your own capable secretary for her and even terminated our contract. Now it seems it wasn¡¯t such a big deal after all."


    Fu Jinghen wasn¡¯t the least bit provoked by her words, and leaned back leisurely in his chair, his hands crossed in front of him. "This seems to have nothing to do with Miss Jiang, does it?"


    "So, what if I release these photos? You wouldn¡¯t react at all, would you, Brother Jinghen?" Jiang Wei picked up her phone, the sneer on her face growing wider and wider.


    "Miss Jiang might as well try," Fu Jinghen made an inviting gesture. "The PR and legal teams at FS aren¡¯t paid for nothing."


    Fu Jinghen spoke of FS and not Huasong.


    The PR and legal teams of FS Group are top-notch in the country, commanding exorbitantly high salaries every year, and their work capability goes without saying. They usually deal with business matters for FS, but now they seemed to be used against Jiang Wei.


    "Brother Jinghen really thinks highly of me."


    When he heard that Jiang Wei came to him concerning the incident involving Qi Ming and Wen Qiao at the engagement party, he had roughly guessed Jiang Wei¡¯s purpose in coming. He called her up just to confirm his suspicion and didn¡¯t want to waste words with her; however, the thought of that photo...


    "Since you have the photos, you must have been the one pushing things behind the scenes with the drugging, right?"


    "You used Wen Qiao¡¯s phone to send a message to Lin Ruochun, luring her out and causing her to fall into the water, didn¡¯t you?"


    Although these were questions, they were delivered with a tone of statement and certainty.


    Fu Jinghen looked at Jiang Wei with a scrutinizing gaze, as if looking at a criminal, his eyes sharp and icy cold.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s heart trembled, her composure suddenly turning into panic. "No, that¡¯s not it, Brother Jinghen¡ª"


    "Jiang Wei, I remember the kindness your uncle and aunt showed me, but that is no reason for you to do as you please with the people around me."


    The Jiang family lived next to the Fu Mansion. At that time, FS was on the rise, and Mr. Fu and Fu Qiang were rarely at home, so Mr. Jiang and Jiang¡¯s mother took good care of him.


    After Mr. Fu fell ill and passed away, Fu Qiang took Fu Jinghen and moved out of the mansion, but Jinghen always remembered the kindness shown to him by the Jiang family.


    "Moreover, your father has taken several big projects from FS in these years, and Huasong has helped you establish yourself in the entertainment industry. I believe I have repaid the debt of gratitude," Fu Jinghen continued in an extremely calm tone, as if the person in front of him wasn¡¯t worth any emotional fluctuation. "With your current status in the entertainment industry, terminating the contract with Huasong won¡¯t affect you much, you¡¯ll just lose some resources. I hope Miss Jiang can live well in the future. If there¡¯s a next time, it won¡¯t be as simple." S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Having said that, Fu Jinghen picked up a file from the side and began to browse through it, visibly signaling the end of the meeting.


    Feng Li had been waiting at the door since Jiang Wei entered the office and now entered as he heard Fu Jinghen start to dismiss her.


    "Miss Jiang, please."


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s stark warning still echoed in her ears, and seeing Feng Li come in so quickly only added to her embarrassment.


    The atmosphere in the office suddenly turned silent. Fu Jinghen thought Jiang Wei had left, but suddenly heard her say, "You can forgive Wen Qiao for the ridiculous things she did at your engagement party, but I¡¯m merely fighting for what I want and you want to terminate the contract with me, is that fair?"

 Chapter 209 - 207: You Were Never Comparable to Wen Qiao

    Chapter 209: Chapter 207: You Were Never Comparable to Wen Qiao"I think you might have misunderstood something," Fu Jinghen lifted his head from the mountain of documents, his gaze piercingly fixed on Jiang Wei as he shattered the last thread of fantasy in her heart, "In my eyes, you and Wen Qiao have never had any basis for comparison."


    Feng Li stood by, hardly containing his excitement.


    Wow, he never expected his boss to say something like that.


    He really regretted not recording it, or else he could have gone to the Boss Lady to earn some brownie points.


    With a long sigh in his heart, Feng Li felt it was such a pity.


    Before he even finished his sigh, he heard Jiang Wei persistently saying, "What about Wen Qiao then? Do you compare with Qi Ming in his eyes? Have you never thought about why she changed her attitude towards you? Do you really not care at all that your fianc¨¦e is fond of another man?"


    The scorn in Jiang Wei¡¯s voice echoed in the office, and Feng Li¡¯s heart skipped a beat, wishing he could find some tape to seal her mouth.


    She might feel good saying this now, but once she¡¯s gone, if President Fu is upset, they¡¯d all be in trouble.


    Just shut up already!


    But Jiang Wei¡¯s words seemed not to have caused any ripples in Fu Jinghen¡¯s heart, and this time he didn¡¯t even lift his head, "Our family matters need not trouble Miss Jiang. Feng Li, please see her out."


    "Miss Jiang, this way, please."


    As Feng Li tried to suppress his impatience while escorting Jiang Wei out, the screen of Fu Jinghen¡¯s phone on the desk lit up with a WeChat message from Wen Qiao¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Are you done with the meeting yet? I¡¯m already downstairs at your company. Puppy Dog Eyes.JPG.]


    - sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Down in the parking lot, Wen Qiao waited for someone sent by Fu Jinghen to pick her up, only to spot a familiar old friend not far from the elevator.


    She raised an eyebrow at the slightly dispirited figure.


    She guessed that Jiang Wei had definitely returned to look for Fu Jing, but what concerned her was that Fu Jing actually let her up.


    !


    Son of a bitch!


    Wen Qiao thought that if Fu Jing didn¡¯t give her a perfect explanation later, she¡¯d immediately use the necktie she bought for him to strangle him!


    Although, by the looks of it, Jiang Wei clearly didn¡¯t get what she wanted.


    Wen Qiao was not someone who enjoyed kicking someone when they were down, and she didn¡¯t want to create trouble for herself. She had planned to act like a stranger, unacquainted and silent.


    But it seemed the other party didn¡¯t think the same way.


    As they brushed past each other, Jiang Wei suddenly said, "Wen Qiao, are you feeling very proud?"


    Wen Qiao paused, turning her head and grinning brightly at her, "Yeah, I am quite proud, is there a problem with that?"


    Resentment surged in Jiang Wei¡¯s eyes, "Why are you always against me? Anything I want, you have to snatch away, whether it¡¯s Fu Jing or the ES endorsement."


    Wen Qiao laughed mockingly as if she had just heard a hilarious joke. She turned around, facing Jiang Wei squarely, "Fu Jing is a person, not just anything you can claim. He has his own mind, and besides, someone like him, if he doesn¡¯t want to, neither you nor I could do anything about it. If your own charm isn¡¯t enough, don¡¯t blame him for standing with someone else."


    With that, she took a step forward, closing in on Jiang Wei, "As for the ES endorsement, you may not know, but President Gu originally chose me as the endorser. Your underhanded tricks just make you look more like a clown. If you insist on saying that without Fu Jing¡¯s help, I¡¯d be nothing, then I won¡¯t argue with you."

 Chapter 210 - 208: These Are Far from Enough

    Chapter 210: Chapter 208: These Are Far from Enough"But he¡¯s my fianc¨¦, and I don¡¯t feel ashamed at all to ask for his help. In the end, the endorsement landed in my pocket, and all you got was to watch with envy."


    Wen Qiao put away the mockery on her face, looking a lot calmer, but her light tone was more like sarcasm, "As for what you said about me stealing from you, that¡¯s just not valid. Whether it¡¯s Fu Jinghen or the ES endorsement, which one was clearly marked with Jiang Wei¡¯s name? What¡¯s more, if I really wanted to compete with you for something, do you think with my ambition¡ª"


    "These, not nearly enough."


    "So, don¡¯t keep trying to flatter yourself. I never considered you my competition."


    She saw Jiang Wei¡¯s lips move, and cut her off before she could speak, "Are you about to say that I will eventually fall?"


    "...."


    "Then I¡¯d advise you to keep your eyes peeled to see if that day ever comes."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s smile diminished a bit, "But before that, it seems you¡¯ve already taken a tumble."


    Having said that, she didn¡¯t wait to see Jiang Wei¡¯s reaction, straightening her back and walking toward the elevator.


    Miaomiao.


    She hadn¡¯t intended to rub salt into her wounds, but she brought it on herself.


    Why can¡¯t people learn when to quit while they¡¯re ahead?


    While thinking this, a shadow loomed overhead, and Wen Qiao instinctively looked up.


    "Why have you come down?"


    Fu Jinghen took the bag from her hand very naturally, "Is it not good for me to come and pick you up personally?"


    "Is that so?" Wen Qiao scrutinized him with a probing gaze, "You¡¯re not trying to butter me up after doing something guilty, are you?"


    Fu Jinghen laughed as if he had heard a joke, "What guilty thing could I possibly do?"


    Tsk.


    This man.


    Why must he always wait for things to go south before he sees sense?


    Wen Qiao tilted her chin up, pointing behind her, "Like secretly meeting other women behind my back, perhaps?"


    "...."


    The timing was perfect; Fu Jinghen knew that Wen Qiao must have run into Jiang Wei. When he spoke with Jiang Wei, the office door was wide open; his actions were upright, so he had no reason to feel guilty. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He planned to tell Wen Qiao straight away if Jiang Wei asked her about it, but now, as the words reached his lips, they suddenly took a turn, "Indeed, I did."


    ?


    Wen Qiao clenched her fist and swung it.


    "Are you asking because you¡¯re jealous?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s swinging fist paused.


    Jealous?


    What¡¯s that?


    It doesn¡¯t exist, okay.


    But based on her current persona, it seemed wrong not to be jealous.


    "Yes, I am jealous!" Wen Qiao retorted righteously, "Can¡¯t I be jealous?"


    Fu Jinghen laughed and took her hand, leading her into the elevator.


    "You can, sure, be as jealous as you want. It¡¯s all yours."


    Wen Qiao huffed, then noticed that Fu Jinghen had pressed the button for the basement level, looking at him quizzically, "Are you off work already?"


    "I make my own hours."


    "...."


    Talk about showing off.


    Such an arrogant attitude.


    It must be really something to be the boss.


    The two of them jesting, they left the elevator, and Fu Jinghen¡¯s car was parked in the most conspicuous spot right next to it.


    Oh, right.


    The tens of millions of dollars worth of car parked in his private spot was quite eye-catching too.


    And that matching series of license plates, even more so.


    Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, "It must be nice to be rich."


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen opened the car door, pushing Wen Qiao¡¯s head down to shove her inside, "Buckle up."

 Chapter 211 - 209: A Relative Has Come, I鈥檒l Go Take a Look

    Chapter 211: Chapter 209: A Relative Has Come, I¡¯ll Go Take a LookWen Qiao discontentedly pushed away his large hand that was pressing on her head. "Ouch, be gentle."


    Wen Qiao grabbed the seatbelt and was about to buckle up when she suddenly felt an odd sensation surge right up to her head, followed by a warm flow coming from below, reminiscent of the trickling of a small river.


    Fu Jinghen saw Wen Qiao stop her movement and looked over suspiciously, "What¡¯s wrong?"


    Wen Qiao released the seatbelt and immediately scrambled out of the car, hurriedly pushing past Fu Jinghen and running toward the elevator.


    Her words still echoed in the empty parking lot¡ª


    "My ¡¯relative¡¯ has arrived, I¡¯m going to check on it."


    Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t help but feel helpless, "Slow down, don¡¯t fall."


    -


    "Luckily, I carry sanitary pads with me to prepare for the sudden visit of Aunt Flo, otherwise this white dress would¡¯ve been wasted."


    Wen Qiao muttered to herself as she opened the sanitary pad and put it in place.


    After washing her hands, she returned to the elevator and pressed the button for the basement level.


    When the elevator doors opened, Wen Qiao walked toward Fu Jinghen¡¯s car.


    Suddenly, a blinding light flashed, causing Wen Qiao to instinctively close her eyes and raise a hand to shield against the brightness.


    The piercing sound of brakes and the loud crash of a collision made Wen Qiao¡¯s heart tighten.


    As the darkness that clouded her vision dissipated, Wen Qiao blinked hard, trying to make out what had happened in front of her.


    The luxury sports car, worth millions, that she had just marveled at, was now sideways, right in front of her, with the side facing her completely intact, while the other side was caved in from the impact.


    Fu Jinghen got out of the car and looked towards Wen Qiao, "Are you okay?"


    Wen Qiao shook her head in a daze, "I¡¯m fine..."


    A few seconds passed before her brain, which had seized up, finally reconnected, "What just happened?"


    Instead of answering her question, Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze was dark and intense, looking at the car that had crashed into the passenger side. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao walked around him to get a better look and through the windshield saw Jiang Wei in the driver¡¯s seat. Her eyes widened, and a surge of anger instantly flared up within her, "Is she insane!"


    Then she slapped Fu Jinghen on the body, "Are you crazy too? Thank God she hit the passenger side. Otherwise, you¡¯d be dead by now, don¡¯t you realize that?"


    Fu Jinghen was in the middle of a phone call when the unexpected slap almost made him drop his phone. When he saw Wen Qiao¡¯s face, full of anxiety and concern, something softened inside him.


    "....."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s worry wasn¡¯t feigned. The moment she found out that Fu Jinghen had used his car to block Jiang Wei¡¯s attempt to drive at her, her heart felt as though it was hanging in the air, unable to find any grounded sensation. Only when she saw Fu Jinghen emerge unharmed from the car did her heart find relief.


    "Why would you block her if she¡¯s going to crash? Are you trying to end up mutually destroyed, making me a young widow? And what are you laughing for, in these circumstances, you can still laugh? Did the shock damage your brain?"


    Wen Qiao was frightened by Fu Jinghen¡¯s enigmatic smile, she raised her hand and waved it in front of him, "Do you recognize who I am?"


    Fu Jinghen firmly grasped the fingers she was wildly waving in front of his face, his tone was cold and harsh, unlike the smile on his face, "To the parking lot, hurry."


    After hanging up the call, his expression relaxed as he looked at Wen Qiao, "So I should just watch her drive into you? Do nothing? Then I¡¯d also end up young and without a wife, a

 Chapter 212 - 210: I Will Always Have Your Back

    Chapter 212: Chapter 210: I Will Always Have Your BackWen Qiao¡¯s brain, just recovering from the shock, was instantly dazed again by the man¡¯s nonchalant "wife."


    She moved her lips, and after a long while, she finally squeezed out a sentence, "I could have dodged, you know. I have quick reflexes."


    "Mhm, but I can¡¯t afford to gamble."


    "..."


    "Fu Jinghen, we¡¯re at a car accident scene right now, and I¡¯m not in the mood for flirting," Wen Qiao said expressionlessly, "Also, you¡¯re 27, which has absolutely nothing to do with being ¡¯young¡¯."


    "Got it," Fu Jinghen said with a laugh, nodding his head and opening his arms to her, "So, do you want a hug?"


    Wen Qiao was startled but then also opened her arms and plunged into Fu Jinghen¡¯s embrace.


    Breathing in the familiar scent of fir from the man, Wen Qiao¡¯s anxious and restless heart finally began to calm down.


    But the intense fear that followed was lingering, impossible to shake off. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her parents had died in a car accident too. That day¡¯s scene was just like today¡¯s; she had watched her father¡¯s car flipped over by a truck that suddenly emerged from another intersection.


    And it happened just an intersection away from her.


    The scene was too gruesome, and she had been so young at the time. Although the specific images had gradually faded with time, the heart-wrenching pain was something she could never forget.


    She was terrified that Fu Jinghen might leave her just like her parents did, even though she was now very certain that nothing had happened to Fu Jinghen.


    The man¡¯s hand was gently patting her back, his voice softened to comfort her, "It¡¯s okay now, don¡¯t be afraid."


    Burying herself in Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms, Wen Qiao took a deep breath and muttered softly, "Fu Jinghen, you must not get into any trouble. If something happened to you, who would I rely on for support? I¡¯m such a handful..."


    Wen Qiao felt the hand on her back pause, and with sensitivity, she lifted her head from his embrace, only to collide with the man¡¯s smiling eyes.


    "So you know you¡¯re a handful."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Perhaps sensing that if the teasing went on, the kitten in his arms would start to scratch, Fu Jinghen pressed the back of her head, bringing her back into his embrace.


    "Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll always have your back."


    When Feng Li stumbled out of the elevator, hurried and flustered, what he saw was his boss holding his delicate wife, with his "salty pig hand" still patting her back, incessantly speaking sweet nothings.


    Feng Li: "..."


    If he remembered correctly, two minutes ago President Fu had called him saying they¡¯d had a car accident in the parking lot, but looking at the situation now...


    Apart from those two cars in the hallway that were wrecked from the collision.


    Where the hell did it look like there had been a car accident?


    Ah?!


    But complaints aside, Feng Li didn¡¯t dare delay a moment, running to Fu Jinghen¡¯s side, "President Fu, I¡¯ve brought your car keys. You should take the Boss Lady home first. Leave this to me to handle."


    When Feng Li came out of the elevator, he saw Wen Qiao clinging to Fu Jinghen the whole time; she must have been quite frightened.


    As a competent CEO¡¯s assistant, of course, his job was to be there wherever needed.


    Regarding this, Feng Li felt he was the epitome of thoughtfulness.


    Fu Jinghen took the keys and pressed them; the lights of another car parked in the corner lit up. Fu Jinghen looked down at Wen Qiao, "Do you need me to carry you there?"


    Wen Qiao let go of her hold around Fu Jinghen¡¯s waist and glanced at Feng Li, lacking any enthusiasm, "No need, I can walk."

 Chapter 213 - 211: Overturn

    Chapter 213: Chapter 211: OverturnFeng Li was astounded inside, the Boss Lady had grown up, she actually refused President Fu¡¯s hug.


    Fu Jinghen led Wen Qiao to a corner, and when Wen Qiao saw the car parked there, her eyes lit up, "Is this new?"


    "No." Fu Jinghen opened the car door, one hand on the roof to prevent Wen Qiao from bumping her head, "Qin Xiang bought it."


    But Wen Qiao didn¡¯t immediately get in; instead, she grabbed Fu Jinghen¡¯s sleeve and demanded, "Then why is it here with you? When a weasel pays the hen a visit, it¡¯s either for mischief or theft. Don¡¯t get trapped by him."


    Fu Jinghen patiently replied, "He asked me to do a favor; this is my payment."


    As for being trapped...


    Fu Jinghen remembered how Qin Xiang had pleaded with him to inquire about the day he visited the set and Lin Ruochun called Wen Qiao her lifesaver. Considering the image of him prying the new car from Qin Xiang¡¯s hands, he felt like he was more of a weasel than Qin Xiang.


    However, these thoughts, Fu Jinghen decided not to share with the young girl in front of him. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After all, it might impact his own image.


    "Do you like it?" Fu Jinghen asked.


    Wen Qiao nodded frantically, lovingly caressing the red body of the car, "Mhm, I like it."


    "Then it¡¯s yours."


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t immediately grasp his words, "Huh?"


    Fu Jinghen shoved her into the car, "It¡¯s to calm you down."


    Originally, when he had leveraged the car from Qin Xiang, Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t plan to drive it himself. He remembered the video Qin Xiang showed him of Wen Qiao racing, so he decided to keep the car for Wen Qiao.


    He just hadn¡¯t found the right excuse to give it away.


    Now, that was settled.


    -


    Jiang Wei felt dizzy as the airbag deployed from the driver¡¯s seat, her vision whirling.


    Through the windshield, she saw a man and a woman leaving together, the man holding the woman tightly.


    From beginning to end, he didn¡¯t even glance back, not sparing her a single look.


    She smiled bitterly in her heart.


    In a daze, the suave man before her gradually turned into a boy in a white shirt. What remained unchanged was that all he left her was his back.


    She always remembered the day Fu Jinghen moved next door. Sitting in her second-floor bedroom, with the air conditioner blowing cold air out, she impatiently looked at the papers spread across the table, her gaze unintentionally drifting out the window where she saw Fu Jinghen standing by the roadside, the boy dressed simply but neatly, standing upright.


    The sun was intense that day, scorching the air, but he showed no sign of impatience, possessing a calmness and stability incongruent with his age.


    Later, her parents frequently invited him over for meals. She would stealthily watch him from across the dining table, but never initiated a conversation.


    Until the day she failed an exam and was being scolded by her father, which coincidentally, Fu Qiang and Fu Jinghen witnessed. The normally defiant Jiang Wei immediately felt a surge of intense shame, and tears streamed down her face.


    Fortuitously, Fu Qiang suggested that Fu Jinghen could tutor her.


    From then on, Jiang Wei looked forward to the study sessions every day after school.


    They attended the same school, and from some day onwards, they walked to and from school together. The boy¡¯s attitude was always lukewarm, treating her no differently than others.


    But Jiang Wei stubbornly believed that in Fu Jinghen¡¯s heart, she was different from everyone else; it was just his personality.

 Chapter 214 - 212: Are You Out of Your Mind?

    Chapter 214: Chapter 212: Are You Out of Your Mind?Later, Fu Qiang moved away with Fu Jinghen, and she lost contact with him. However, she knew that her family had always been doing business with the Fu Jinghen family, so the contact wasn¡¯t completely severed.


    After signing with Huasong, she was closer to him. After many years, the boy from the past had grown into a man capable of standing on his own, becoming taller and more imposing than the boy in her memories.


    The feelings she¡¯d been suppressing suddenly awakened. She began to spread ambiguous remarks, implicitly and explicitly, so that everyone around her believed her relationship with Fu Jinghen was special.


    But she never would have thought that one day, Fu Jinghen would get engaged to another woman. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She had known Fu Jinghen since she was a teenager, for over ten years. Why should a woman who appeared out of the blue snatch away the person she¡¯d been thinking of all along?


    But it seemed like she never really understood.


    Emotions do not abide by the order of arrival or the length of acquaintance. Some things, if they don¡¯t begin, will never happen.


    ---


    On the way back, Wen Qiao insisted on visiting the hospital to ensure that Fu Jinghen was thoroughly checked. Unable to dissuade her, he reluctantly detoured to the hospital.


    While waiting for the results, Fu Jinghen received a call from Qin Xiang.


    "Are you okay?"


    "Feng Li sure is quick with his words." Fu Jinghen glanced at Wen Qiao flipping through other test results and said, "I¡¯m fine."


    Qin Xiang snorted coldly, "Jiang Wei really has some nerve. Huasong has terminated her contract, haven¡¯t they?"


    Fu Jinghen hummed in acknowledgment.


    Hearing his friend say this, Qin Xiang felt relieved: "Well then, you don¡¯t need to worry about the rest. I¡¯ve taken over the matter with Jiang Wei."


    Fu Jinghen knew what Qin Xiang was planning to do and had no intention of stopping him, simply replying with "Understood" before hanging up.


    In fact, Fu Jinghen was also scared for a moment. If it weren¡¯t for his quick reaction, based on the speed Jiang Wei was driving, Wen Qiao might already be lying in a hospital bed.


    Half an hour before Jiang Wei drove her car at Wen Qiao, he had warned her, if she stopped troubling Wen Qiao, everyone could live in peace.


    However, she turned around and completely forgot, causing trouble on his turf.


    Fu Jinghen felt there was no need to spare her any dignity anymore.


    The doctor opened the door and called out, "Fu Jinghen."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s reaction was even quicker. She immediately jumped up from her chair: "Here, here, is the result out, Doctor? Is there any trouble? Is his brain okay?"


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    ---


    After learning that Jiang Wei was behind Lin Ruochun¡¯s fall into the water, Qin Xiang wanted to find an opportunity to deal with her. But since she was still with Huasong, he didn¡¯t want to cause trouble for Fu Jinghen, especially since Fu Jinghen had already cut off business with the Jiang family as a lesson for her.


    But the dissatisfaction had been stuck in his chest. When he heard that Huasong wanted to terminate the contract with Jiang Wei, Qin Xiang felt it was time.


    Today¡¯s incident solidified his belief; perhaps it was fate.


    Even the heavens didn¡¯t want him to let off Jiang Wei easily.


    He contacted a few influential Weibo bloggers, handed over all of Jiang Wei¡¯s scandalous information, and left the written content to them with only one condition¡ªthe post had to be published.


    Everyone in the entertainment industry has some dirt, it¡¯s just a matter of it not being exposed yet. Not to mention, Jiang Wei was once Huasong¡¯s top star and was rumored to have an ambiguous relationship with Fu Jinghen. Out of respect for Fu Jinghen, no one would reveal her secrets.

 Chapter 215 - 213: Pure Chat Under the Quilt

    Chapter 215: Chapter 213: Pure Chat Under the QuiltBut now, with Qin Xiang personally delivering the materials to them, how could they not expose it?


    That very night, Weibo exploded, and Jiang Wei¡¯s name stayed high in the top five trending searches.


    #JiangWei#


    #JiangWeiIntentionallyHitsPeople#


    #TheUnknownSideOfAGentleAndIntellectualWoman#


    #MaleModel#


    #RedMakeup#


    ....


    With just a refresh, posts about Jiang Wei could be seen everywhere.


    When Jiang Yao came across these posts, she immediately called Wen Qiao.


    "F*ck, f*ck, have you seen Weibo? Who suddenly became so righteous and decided to take justice into their own hands? I always said Jiang Wei wasn¡¯t spotless, hahaha, now she¡¯s crashed and burned, hasn¡¯t she?"


    Wen Qiao, sitting cross-legged on the couch with her phone on speaker, was scrolling on a tablet with one hand and popping strawberries into her mouth with the other, "I¡¯m looking at it."


    Just as she said this, she saw her own name in the comment section¡ª


    "I originally thought that among the ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ crew, Wen Qiao would be the first to make a scene. Turns out it¡¯s the seemingly reliable Jiang Wei, tsk tsk tsk, such an unforeseeable twist."


    "....."


    What does that mean?


    Does she seem unreliable to people?


    And another thing.


    It¡¯s Jiang Wei who messed up, why was she dragged into it?


    If not for gravity keeping Jiang Yao grounded, she would be ecstatic by now, "Did you see the video of Jiang Wei going to a hotel with a man?"


    "Really broadened my horizons, huh? Courting President Fu while she can¡¯t stand being lonely and sneaks off to a hotel with another man, yet posing online as this generous and intellectual persona, tsk tsk, she truly embodies the phrase ¡¯having it both ways¡¯ crystal clear."


    It wasn¡¯t just Jiang Yao whose eyes were opened, but also the netizens.


    Since Jiang Wei had won an award before, her visibility was quite high; even though it wasn¡¯t a weekend peak time, the netizens contributing to her traffic were numerous.


    "My god, my world has collapsed, is this the Jiang Wei I liked?"


    "Unfollowed. My greatest kindness is not stomping her down further."


    "The more proper people seem on the surface, the wilder they are behind closed doors."


    "Intentionally hitting someone with a car is punishable by law, right?"


    "Dear netizens up ahead, a huge wave of Jiang Wei¡¯s scandals is coming your way."


    "....."


    There were also some die-hard fans of Jiang Wei who refused to accept reality¡ª


    "So many marketing accounts posting at the same time, it¡¯s clearly someone who doesn¡¯t like Weiwei, paying to slander her."


    It wasn¡¯t long before this comment section was overrun.


    "No way, no way, it¡¯s 1202 and there are still people who think a man and a woman going to a hotel in the middle of the night and not leaving until dawn are just there under the quilt having a chat, right?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "No way, no way, with the solid evidence right in front of them, how can people still be so blind?"


    "It¡¯s okay to be blind, but being brainless is really the end."


    "Do they need a video of Jiang Wei doing something with a man in the room before her fans give up?"


    "...."


    Jiang Yao took screenshots of these comments and sent them to Wen Qiao, as a lesson for her, "See? This is what you have to avoid in the entertainment industry; here¡¯s the cautionary tale, an example of being despised by the whole internet."


    Wen Qiao, continuing to eat strawberries, absentmindedly responded, "Mhm, got it, got it."


    Just as she finished speaking, the bedroom door opened, and Fu Jinghen walked in.


    Seeing Wen Qiao with wet hair sitting on the sofa playing with her phone, he walked into the bathroom expressionlessly and plugged in the hairdryer.

 Chapter 216 - 214: Rewarding You with Strawberries

    Chapter 216: Chapter 214: Rewarding You with Strawberries"Come here."


    Wen Qiao turned her head and hurriedly said to her phone, "Can¡¯t talk anymore, I¡¯m hanging up. President Fu is going to blow-dry my hair."


    After that, she pressed the red button on the screen and the call was abruptly disconnected.


    Wen Qiao flipped over from the sofa to the bed and sat obediently at the edge, waiting for the man to blow-dry her hair.


    Massaging the girl¡¯s soft hair, Fu Jinghen chuckled lightly: "Your hair seems to have grown just for me."


    "Ugh, shut up," Wen Qiao lifted a strawberry to the man¡¯s lips, "Here¡¯s a strawberry as a reward."


    Fu Jinghen lowered his head and bit into the bright red strawberry, and, unintentionally or perhaps intentionally, his lips touched Wen Qiao¡¯s fingers.


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    The man swallowed the strawberry Wen Qiao fed him and commented lightly, "Not bad, quite sweet."


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    A woman¡¯s sixth sense told her.


    Something was off about what Fu Jinghen just said. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Yeah, over a hundred per pound, and fed by me personally, how could it not be sweet?"


    Fu Jinghen: "...."


    Wen Qiao had brought over two strawberries, feeding one to Fu Jinghen and of course, the other to herself.


    She sat on the edge of the bed, the warm breeze blowing through her hair; she comfortably squinted her eyes and then seemed to remember something. She tugged at the edge of Fu Jinghen¡¯s shirt and asked, "¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ has been filming for a month already; Jiang Wei definitely can¡¯t continue, has the replacement for Princess Xuanjia been decided?"


    Speaking of it, Wen Qiao sighed sorrowfully, "It¡¯s all money down the drain."


    Fu Jinghen was rather unaffected by this, "Director Zhang said he will decide on the person to replace Jiang Wei himself."


    This wasn¡¯t the first time Fu Jinghen was blow-drying Wen Qiao¡¯s hair; compared to the first hectic attempt, he was now becoming much more adept.


    "Actually, every role in ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ was decided by Director Zhang, I just give some suggestions. You, however, were someone I sneaked in through the back door."


    Wen Qiao shook his shirt corner and nudged him, "Alright, alright, I know you went through a lot of trouble to convince Director Zhang to let me be the lead actress. I will remember your kindness."


    Fu Jinghen laughed softly, concentrating on blow-drying her hair.


    The phone in her hand vibrated; Wen Qiao looked down to see a message from Lin Ruochun ¡ª


    [Ah Chun: Are you okay? Still alive?]


    ...


    Nonsense.


    She absolutely couldn¡¯t be living better.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s Not Full: If something really had happened to me, asking after everything has settled, it¡¯s already too late.]


    [Ah Chun: I just finished shooting and got my phone! Moreover, Director Li threw a huge fit this afternoon on set, everyone was on edge, not everyone enjoys the comfort of home like you. I even made time to call you amidst my busy schedule and you¡¯re not appreciative.]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s Not Full: Oh, thank you.]


    [Ah Chun: So, what exactly happened?]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s Not Full: Long story short, if Jiang Wei had driven a bit faster, or if Brother Jinghen had reacted a bit slower, I would be lying in a hospital right now, and the lead role in ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ would have been handed to someone else.]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s Not Full: Then, when Qin Laoer heard about this, he got really mad that Jiang Wei hurt his good friend, and he also found out from Fu Jinghen that your falling into water incident was related to Jiang Wei. With these two things adding up, Weibo¡¯s trending topics have all been about Jiang Wei.]

 Chapter 217 - 215: An Old Age, Not Amiable at All

    Chapter 217: Chapter 215: An Old Age, Not Amiable at All Ah Chun: ......Oh. Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: What¡¯s up, why are you suddenly giving me the cold shoulder? Is Qin Laoer your emotional switch or something?


    Ah Chun: ......So it really was him, huh? I thought his secretary was just pulling my leg.


    Ah Chun: So, should I send him a message or what do you think?


    Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: No, seriously, is that the main point here? Several hours have passed since I narrowly escaped death, and here you are sending belated greetings, but within no time, you¡¯ve steered the conversation towards some guy. Is there anyone more heartless than you?


    Wen Qiao¡¯s fingers were agilely tapping on the phone screen, her emotions intensifying with each character typed.


    Fu Jinghen noticed Wen Qiao, who had been relaxing and enjoying her blow-dry, slowly straightening up, and then she "whooshed" up from the bed. After that, her head bumped into the hair dryer he was holding. And then, he saw the restless woman who couldn¡¯t even sit still while getting her hair done get bounced back and even let out an animal-like "ao" cry.  S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen turned off the hair dryer, looking down at Wen Qiao holding her forehead: "Can you keep still for once? Can¡¯t even sit peacefully while getting your hair done."


    "I forgot, okay?" Wen Qiao rubbed her forehead and involuntarily pouted at Fu Jinghen: "Why so fierce?"


    "....."


    He really should have her witness him scolding Feng Li next time, so she could understand what being fierce really meant.


    But looking at Wen Qiao pouting at him, he sighed softly: "Talk if you¡¯re going to talk. You¡¯re grown up, stop acting cute."


    Wen Qiao retorted: "You¡¯re not getting any younger either, so why aren¡¯t you a bit nicer?"


    "...."


    Fu Jinghen decided not to argue with this woman who seemed to have the mental age of a fresh kindergarten graduate, replacing her hand on her forehead: "Does it hurt?"


    Caught off guard by the knock, she was just a bit startled and had rubbed her forehead subconsciously; in truth, it didn¡¯t hurt at all.


    But hearing Fu Jinghen ask, the words "It doesn¡¯t hurt" were about to spill from her mouth when Wen Qiao suddenly swallowed them back, instead she said: "It hurts, hurts like hell. I need President Fu to blow on it, kiss it for it to get better."


    "....."


    She felt the hand on her head pause for a moment, then the humming sound of the hair dryer started up again by her ear.


    Fine then.


    She got her answer from Fu Jinghen.


    Old men really can¡¯t resist a tease.


    She looked back at her phone, and all Lin Ruochun had sent was the two characters for "bye," then she was gone.


    ....


    Such a cad, prioritizing romance over friendship.


    -


    In fact, even without the drama that unfolded today, she couldn¡¯t have reprised the role of "Princess Xuanjia" after Huasong and Jiang Wei¡¯s contract termination.


    Since Wen Qiao¡¯s arrival, everything Lin Ruochun had tirelessly sought seemed so easily attainable for Wen Qiao, and in her view, it was all thanks to Fu Jinghen.


    Watching them hand in hand, sweetly emerging from the elevator, her jealousy peaked in an instant.


    She sat in her car, like a voyeur lurking in the shadows, watching Fu Jinghen open the car door for Wen Qiao, watching Wen Qiao sit in the passenger seat, then seeing her dart back towards the elevator, while Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze never left her for a second.


    When Wen Qiao reemerged from the elevator, she suddenly remembered everything Zhang Cheng did to her at the club the day before, how her wretched state was fully witnessed by Wen Qiao.

 Chapter 218 - 216: Good Fortune Cultivated Over Three Lifetimes

    Chapter 218: Chapter 216: Good Fortune Cultivated Over Three LifetimesHuasong Media¡¯s downfall and Wen Qiao¡¯s radiant success seemed to mock her blatantly.


    Jiang Wei, driven by jealousy and discontent, accelerated her car towards Wen Qiao.


    The entertainment industry is a place of rapid change, constantly infused with fresh blood.


    One moment a top star shines brilliantly, the next they could be a despised has-been, soon forgotten by everyone.


    Her acting career ended the moment she pressed the accelerator.


    -


    Jiang Wei¡¯s act of running someone over constituted intentional harm, and with Qin Xiang¡¯s instigation and Fu Jinghen¡¯s tacit approval, prison was unavoidable.


    Jiang¡¯s mother fainted upon hearing the news, while Mr. Jiang scrambled to address the termination of contracts between FS and the Qin Group with his own company.


    But every attempt to resolve the issue was met with a slammed door.


    The Jiang Family had been in decline for years; if Fu Jinghen hadn¡¯t remembered their past kindness allowing the Jiang Family to secure several major projects from FS, they would have already fallen.


    Humans are emotional creatures; they don¡¯t separate people or events rationally.


    Fu Jinghen would settle the score with Jiang Wei personally. His greatest kindness to Mr. and Mrs. Jiang was simply ignoring them. He wouldn¡¯t assist them any further, especially since the projects the Jiang Family had taken from FS over the years hadn¡¯t met Fu Jinghen¡¯s expectations. There was no need to bail them out any longer. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    However, Qin Xiang hadn¡¯t received any favors from the Jiang Family and had no obligations toward them. He already disliked Jiang Wei for spreading rumors about Lin Ruochun, and with these incidents, he was sure to exact vengeance on both Jiang Wei and the Jiang Family.


    Already teetering, the Jiang Family was clinging to survival; failing to secure FS¡¯s new city development project edged them towards the brink. After Qin Xiang¡¯s move, the Jiang Family declared bankruptcy within days.


    Jiang Wei¡¯s imprisonment and the Jiang Family¡¯s bankruptcy were hot topics in both the social elite and entertainment circles.


    Wen Qiao had little sympathy for Jiang Wei, believing she dug her own grave.


    She only sighed occasionally when she stumbled upon news about Jiang Wei online.


    A two-time award-winning actress with a bright future, even after leaving Huasong Media, she held a position in the industry.


    One misstep led to another; blinded by jealousy, she disappointed her fans and those around her.


    Reading comments from passersby and former fans of Jiang Wei, she realized that living in the entertainment industry was like walking on thin ice, one mistake and you¡¯re met with bone-chilling cold.


    Fortunately, every step she took now was successful, with Fu Jinghen continuously safeguarding her.


    This made Wen Qiao feel she should do something.


    Wen Qiao obediently sat in her chair, getting her makeup done. She reached out, grabbed her phone from the table, opened Fu Jinghen¡¯s chat, and sent him a message¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: President Fu, I¡¯ve just realized that meeting you is such a fortunate event, becoming your fianc¨¦e feels like a blessing from three past lives.]


    [Fu Jinghen: ?]


    [Fu Jinghen: If you want any resources, just talk to Feng Li, he¡¯ll handle it for you.]


    "..."


    Fuck this.


    She now felt that being Fu Jinghen¡¯s fiancee was like paying back all the hardships her ancestors hadn¡¯t finished enduring.

 Chapter 219 - 217: Wanton Destruction of Heaven鈥檚 Gifts

    Chapter 219: Chapter 217: Wanton Destruction of Heaven¡¯s GiftsThe makeup artist glanced at Wen Qiao in the mirror, put down their tools, and said, "Okay, your makeup is done. You can go change into your clothes now."


    "Thank you, Teacher." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao smiled and thanked them. She locked her phone screen and handed it to Jiang Yao, who was sitting on the sofa behind her.


    Ever since Jiang Wei messed with her phone the last time, Wen Qiao had become much more careful, no longer carelessly leaving her phone around.


    ES had diverse interests, its perfumes and jewelry being particularly outstanding, but with the changing trends of the past two years, many makeup brands had flooded the market. ES didn¡¯t want to fall behind, so it had invested much more effort in its makeup division in recent years.


    This time, it was about breaking into the Hua Country market through makeup. Today, Wen Qiao was shooting an ES makeup poster and promotional video.


    The clothing was provided by FS, a white hip-hugging spaghetti strap dress that perfectly showcased Wen Qiao¡¯s delicate collarbones and beautiful shoulder and neck lines for the camera.


    When Wen Qiao changed and came out from behind the curtain, both the makeup artist and Jiang Yao turned to look at her. They subconsciously held their breath and then, when she smiled, they were all stunned.


    As Wen Qiao walked out, they felt like they were seeing an angel fallen to earth, clad in a white dress, holy and aloof. But when she smiled, with her red lips slightly curved and captivating eyes twinkling, the untouchable angel instantly transformed into a sprite of the dark night, utterly mesmerizing.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s beauty was perfectly balanced ¡ª one iota more would have seemed vulgar, one iota less would have seemed bland. Her willow-leaf eyebrows, peach-blossom eyes, cherry lips, and melon-seed face ¡ª each feature strong enough to stand on its own ¡ª came together without any sense of crowding. Instead, they blended harmoniously, creating an unforgettable visage.


    Jiang Yao couldn¡¯t think of how to describe Wen Qiao¡¯s looks. All that kept coming to her mind were three words ¡ª


    Vixen.


    At that moment, the little vixen in front of her was leaning against the door frame, one hand on her hip, winking and laying on charm toward the only two women in the room, "How do I look? Pretty, right? Do I have that kind of breathtaking beauty?"


    The makeup artist was amused by her and nodded, giving her a thumbs-up, "Sweeping away a whole crowd might be a bit much, considering there¡¯s just the two of us here, but you definitely swept me off my feet."


    Wen Qiao stretched her mouth into a "hehe" laugh, and the makeup artist, seeing there was nothing left for her to do, packed up her things and left.


    Now alone with Jiang Yao in the makeup room, Wen Qiao, noticing that Jiang Yao hadn¡¯t responded to her question, plopped down next to her and nudged her with her shoulder, "Sister Yao, what do you think?"


    Jiang Yao was fiddling with her phone and without looking up, shifted her body to the left, avoiding Wen Qiao, "Quiet down, I¡¯m busy."


    Then she muttered under her breath, "I remember seeing some director wanting to shoot a TV series about a nine-tailed fox... I need to look that up..."


    "?"


    Wen Qiao was confused, "Why are you looking for that?"


    Jiang Yao glanced at her from top to toe and then returned to her phone searching, "I think if you don¡¯t take on the role of a vixen or some peerless beauty, it would be such a waste."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Sister Yao¡¯s compliments were always so uniquely crafted.


    Holding onto her dress at the waist, she looked left and right, nonchalantly saying, "Oh well, there¡¯s no need for all that trouble. Even if I don¡¯t take on such roles, it won¡¯t cover up the fact that I am a peerless beauty in real-life."

 Chapter 220 - 218: The Little Quail

    Chapter 220: Chapter 218: The Little QuailJiang Yao choked, slowly moving her gaze from the phone screen to Wen Qiao¡¯s face, "Do you even know how to spell ¡¯modesty¡¯?"


    "I don¡¯t know what modesty is, never seen it, never heard of it."


    Jiang Yao: "....."


    Sorry.


    She had forgotten.


    The one from her family was an artist with thick skin, who never had anything to do with these two words called modesty.


    Jiang Yao pursed her lips and changed the subject.


    She exited WeChat, opened the camera, and patted Wen Qiao¡¯s shoulder, "Get up, I¡¯ll take a few photos of you to put on Weibo." S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Normally, Wen Qiao would banter and joke around with Jiang Yao, but when it came to work, she was very obedient to Jiang Yao¡¯s orders, doing whatever Jiang Yao asked.


    Following Jiang Yao¡¯s directions, Wen Qiao struck a few casual poses for her to photograph.


    After the shoot, Wen Qiao glanced at the images and asked her to send them to her.


    She then forwarded the pictures to Fu Jinghen¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: How is it? Pretty?]


    After sending the message, Wen Qiao thought for a bit and sent the two photos to Lin Ruochun¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: I said I¡¯d clinch this endorsement to back you up, how about that, am I reliable or what?]


    It wasn¡¯t long before Lin Ruochun replied¡ª


    [Ah Chun: Dammit, why are you in Beicheng enjoying the air conditioning and looking glam, while I¡¯m in Hang City sweating buckets under the scorching sun?]


    [Ah Chun: Photo.]


    [Ah Chun: When are you coming back?]


    Wen Qiao opened the photo sent by Lin Ruochun. It was a selfie of Lin Ruochun, dressed in costume with elaborate headdress, holding a green handheld fan, blowing air at her face which was flushed red from the heat.


    Wen Qiao shook her head and clicked her tongue twice before slowly typing¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Don¡¯t fret, before long some children¡¯s clothing brand will seek you out, and you can come back to shoot commercials too.]


    [Ah Chun: It¡¯s called being youthful, understand? By the time you¡¯re in your forties or fifties, you¡¯ll be worn out and yellow-faced, while I will still look like an innocent eighteen-year-old.]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Oh, is that the legendary ageless childlike empress?]


    [Ah Chun: Shut up!]


    [Ah Chun: Would you mind being polite JPG.]


    Wen Qiao held her phone, bursting with laughter, drawing Jiang Yao¡¯s attention. Thinking she was chatting with Fu Jinghen, Jiang Yao rolled her eyes dramatically, "Get your lovey-dovey crap away from me; your happiness is blinding me."


    It took Wen Qiao a couple of seconds to realize Jiang Yao had misunderstood something, so she lifted her phone in front of her, "What are you talking about, it¡¯s not Fu Jinghen, it¡¯s Lin Ruochun."


    Jiang Yao leaned in to take a look, "I didn¡¯t expect you to be getting along with Lin Ruochun so well now."


    After hearing this, Wen Qiao put her phone down, hooked her arm around Jiang Yao¡¯s neck, and pulled her into an embrace, "Sister Yao, rest assured, even if I have three thousand beauties in my harem, you¡¯ll always be my Empress."


    The corners of Jiang Yao¡¯s mouth twitched, "Thanks a lot."


    Wen Qiao was quite generous, "You¡¯re welcome."


    The door to the makeup room was knocked on, and a staff member popped their head in, "The set is ready, we can start shooting now."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll be right there."


    Wen Qiao released her arm from around Jiang Yao, picked up her phone to check it,


    Fu Jinghen seemed to be busy and hadn¡¯t replied to her message yet.


    She didn¡¯t mind and answered the question Lin Ruochun had asked earlier¡ª


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Alright, I¡¯m off to shoot the ad now, coming back tonight, don¡¯t miss me too much.]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: See you tonight, little quail.]

 Chapter 221 - 219: A Call from a Stranger

    Chapter 221: Chapter 219: A Call from a StrangerAh Chun: ...nobody¡¯s missing you, don¡¯t flatter yourself.


    Ah Chun: And it¡¯s Ah Chun! Not a quail!


    Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Got it, quail.


    At this moment, Lin Ruochun, who was sitting under the tent, so hot she wished she could dive headfirst into a refrigerator, saw the word "quail" on the screen and was so angry her head could practically smoke.


    Damn your quail!


    -


    The advertisement photoshoot for ES was taking place inside Huasong¡¯s photography studio. The set wasn¡¯t very complicated; for such a big advertisement, special effects would certainly be added when it aired. Therefore, the scene was simply set up inside the studio with a white solid wood table and a chair, with several lipsticks on the table surrounded by reflector boards.


    Wen Qiao had received the advertisement script last night, and she had read it twice more while getting her makeup done just now. By now, she had some idea of how the advertisement would be filmed.


    Actually, shooting an advertisement offered more room for improvisation compared to shooting for TV or movies.


    Besides the necessary ad copy being fixed, and some movements being arranged by the instructor, the rest were up to the artist¡¯s interpretation.


    The director saw Wen Qiao approaching, stood up from the chair, and, gesturing with both hands, he told her about the next steps of the shoot, "We¡¯ll shoot the advertisement poster this morning, and the video in the afternoon. If we¡¯re fast, we could finish everything in the morning, which would be best."


    Wen Qiao had already memorized the shooting process by heart, but she listened very carefully as the director personally briefed her.


    "You have to go back to Hang City for filming tonight, right? Then let¡¯s aim to finish everything today to save you from running back and forth."


    "Okay," Wen Qiao nodded. "Thank you, Director."


    "Then, let¡¯s get started."


    Wen Qiao first sat down behind the table, selected a lipstick from those on the table to hold, another hand lightly resting against her chin, her wavy hair parted to one side, her lips curled into a bright, white-toothed smile.


    "Good, change to the next pose."


    The crew came up to remove the table and chair and replaced them with a full-length mirror, adjusted the position of the reflector boards, and then turned on the wind machine facing her.


    Wen Qiao positioned the lipstick at the corner of her mouth, her other hand supporting the elbow of the hand holding the lipstick. Her dark curls were lifted by the wind, waving lightly, her shoulders slightly shrugged, head tilted up a bit, lips parted, exuding hints of seduction.


    The camera operator quickly pressed the shutter at the sideline, afraid a slow hand might miss some stunning shot.


    Jiang Yao had ordered some coffee and milk tea on her phone and was finishing the payment when a strange call suddenly came through.


    Jiang Yao frowned and walked aside to answer the call.


    It wasn¡¯t long before her tightly knit brows suddenly relaxed, then her face was filled with smiles.


    After one set of photos was taken, Wen Qiao prepared to change into another outfit. She scanned around the studio and didn¡¯t see Jiang Yao anywhere.


    Confused, she frowned, barely taking two steps in her dress when she saw Jiang Yao squeezing out from a corner and wearing a somewhat restrained excited smile on her face.


    ???


    Did she just find some money or what?


    Jiang Yao quickened her steps towards Wen Qiao and grabbed her wrist with such force that Wen Qiao felt she must have found millions. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the makeup room, once Jiang Yao closed the door, she immediately spun around in place three times.


    With a somewhat speechless and very puzzled look, Wen Qiao eyed her own foolish agent: "Sister Yao, are you performing some kind of exorcism dance or what?"

 Chapter 222 - 220: Don鈥檛 be Unexpected

    Chapter 222: Chapter 220: Don¡¯t be Unexpected"What big shot are you pretending to be?" Jiang Yao stopped what she was doing, and very suavely adjusted her hair, "Do you know what I just went to do?"


    "Di¡ª"


    Before Wen Qiao could answer, Jiang Yao couldn¡¯t wait to blurt out, "I went to take a phone call."


    "Oh." Wen Qiao nodded, "Then what?"


    "Do you know who just called me?"


    "No¡ª"


    "It was the director from ¡¯Unexpected.¡¯"


    "...."


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a few seconds. Seeing that Jiang Yao was just excitedly staring at her without intending to speak, she opened her mouth, "It¡¯s for you¡ª"


    "Exactly, he wants you to go on a variety show!"


    Wen Qiao: "...."


    Suddenly, she didn¡¯t feel like talking anymore.


    Jiang Yao was still so caught up in her excitement she didn¡¯t notice Wen Qiao¡¯s darkened expression and her plaintive eyes.


    "Do you know who Director Li Mushun is? He¡¯s the one who made lots of hit variety shows, like the really popular ¡¯Actor, Please Come Up.¡¯ ¡¯Unexpected¡¯ has been in preparation since May. It is a reality show featuring celebrities, and many stars want to participate, but Director Li hasn¡¯t given out any concrete information."


    Jiang Yao paced back and forth in the room, holding a mobile phone in one hand and rhythmically tapping it against her other hand, "He just personally called me, asking if you are available to shoot for this variety show. It¡¯s like a huge pie fell from the sky, whatever you wish for, you receive. Probably because you¡¯ve been quite popular online recently, you caught his attention."


    "But this is also very much in Li Mushun¡¯s style. He likes to invite somewhat controversial celebrities and artists to participate in his shows. If things go well, not only can the artist gather fans and change their public image, but the program will also attract a lot of attention and viewership. It¡¯s a win-win situation."


    "Although ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯ is a big production, you can¡¯t just rely on a single series forever. After filming the ES endorsement, all that¡¯s left on your schedule is going back to continue filming."


    "In the entertainment industry, the usual path is to do a show and then appear on a variety show to increase your fame and popularity. I was just thinking about getting you a good variety show when Director Li came along. That¡¯s Li Mushun, who holds several hit variety shows in his hands. Appearing on his show will definitely secure your fame and exposure."


    Wen Qiao propped up her cheek, watching Jiang Yao pacing back and forth in front of her, feeling a bit dizzy. "You sit down first, don¡¯t get too excited."


    "How can I not be excited! With this variety show boost, even if you don¡¯t have President Fu¡¯s support later, you can still hold your own in the entertainment industry!"


    Upon hearing this, Wen Qiao was startled. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Could Jiang Yao have noticed something?


    She asked calmly, "What do you mean by not having President Fu¡¯s help? He won¡¯t care about his own fianc¨¦e anymore?"


    "Oh no, that¡¯s not what I meant. I mean, you can¡¯t rely on President Fu to provide you with resources all the time, right? You have to be diligent and ambitious. Even though you and he will become family sooner or later, wouldn¡¯t you feel a great sense of accomplishment if netizens talk about your path to fame as one you carved out step by step on your own?"


    "Is that so?" Wen Qiao curled a finger in her hair, tilting her head. "The path I¡¯m on now is also one I¡¯ve carved out step by step myself; no one¡¯s been carrying or dragging me along."


    "...."

 Chapter 223 - 221: Don鈥檛 Go

    Chapter 223: Chapter 221: Don¡¯t Go"Not at all, do you remember what you previously told me, asking me to actively guide you to the right path, to build a life with your own hands? How long has it been, have you already forgotten?"


    "I haven¡¯t forgotten." Wen Qiao spread his hands, his posture careless, "I did ask you to guide me, true, but whether I listen or not, that¡¯s another matter."


    ?


    Still?


    This little rascal.


    Jiang Yao slapped the back of her head, "Why are you always spouting nonsensical arguments? Were you a lever in your past life, always looking to argue?"


    "Why hit me!"


    "It¡¯s precisely you I¡¯m hitting!"


    Wen Qiao, with a slap to his face, sulked, "So, have you taken on this variety show?"


    "Not yet." Jiang Yao glanced at him, "You were filming a commercial at the time, and I thought I¡¯d wait until you were finished to discuss it with you. If you think it¡¯s okay, then I¡¯ll accept it. Otherwise, if I make the decision on my own and you end up not liking it, that would be counterproductive." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao slowly nodded, "Looks like you haven¡¯t been knocked senseless by a pie falling from the sky."


    "...."


    Jiang Yao swung back her hand for another slap, but Wen Qiao instinctively hugged his head and leaned to one side.


    Jiang Yao huffed twice and lowered her hand, "I¡¯ve sent you the information for ¡¯Unexpected.¡¯ Look it over, and if you think it¡¯s okay, I¡¯ll reply to Director Li later. Don¡¯t let someone else snatch the pie if you¡¯re too late."


    "Oh, got it, I¡¯ll look at it now."


    Wen Qiao opened the information Jiang Yao had sent for "Unexpected" and started reading.


    "Unexpected" is the latest celebrity reality show directed by Li Mushun this year, belonging to the travel experience variety show genre.


    In the past two years, the concept of "slow living" has gradually become desirable. In this era, where technology is rapidly advancing and the pace of time is tight, everyone seems to be pushed forward as if herded onto scaffolding, fearful that slowing down would mean falling behind. But, after the intense pace of life, comes the emptiness of the soul.


    Therefore, variety shows about "slow living" have emerged, but "Unexpected" is different from the recent trend of slow-living shows; this show does not have a clearly defined content. The script for each episode is written by Director Li Mushun based on the shoot of the previous episode.


    Furthermore, the filming location for each episode is chosen based on Director Li Mushun¡¯s mood or from options given by the production team, with the final decision made by a vote from the viewing audience.


    This variety show is full of uncertainties, living up to the name "Unexpected."


    The information Jiang Yao sent him was more an overview of the first episode¡¯s recording rather than details about "Unexpected."


    This type of variety show had never been seen before in the market, and the program setup was quite novel. After reading the content of the first episode, Wen Qiao became interested.


    "Go for it. I¡¯ve got nothing to lose, and this show seems pretty good."


    Hearing Wen Qiao say this, Jiang Yao breathed a sigh of relief, "Alright, then I¡¯ll give Director Li a call right now."


    Wen Qiao, as he spoke, revisited the program content and really couldn¡¯t find any information about the choice of guest participants.


    Tsks.


    Interesting.


    Wen Qiao tapped his fingertips against his cheek, looking at the "to be decided" section in the guest column, and started pondering.


    What kind of guests would Director Li invite to truly create an "Unexpected" feel?


    An image slowly formed in Wen Qiao¡¯s mind, and he sat up straight.


    Damn, no way.

 Chapter 224 - 222: I Choose to Be Alone Till Old Age

    Chapter 224: Chapter 222: I Choose to Be Alone Till Old Age[Fu Jinghen: Waiting for you in the parking lot.]


    After finishing her advertisement shoot in the afternoon, Wen Qiao finally saw the message Fu Jinghen had sent half an hour earlier.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: That¡¯s a wrap, coming down now. Kisses JPG.]


    Beside her, Jiang Yao, who was busy packing up, glanced at her artist smiling with a face bloomed like peach blossoms while holding her phone and rolled her eyes: "I mean, here I am, running around like a headless chicken, and you¡¯re there sweet-talking with President Fu on your phone, how do you have the nerve?"


    "Of course I have the nerve, isn¡¯t a manager just the artist¡¯s second mom?" Wen Qiao retorted confidently and then something crossed her mind. She placed the phone against her chest and asked, "How did you know I was chatting with Fu Jinghen?"


    "I¡¯m not blind. You¡¯re all smiling like spring is in the air, who else would you be chatting with if not President Fu?" Jiang Yao said as she swept her eyes around the room to see if anything had been left behind, "I don¡¯t think you have the guts to have an affair, and besides, anyone sane would stay devoted to President Fu."


    "No spring in the air... how could it be..." Wen Qiao muttered under her breath, touched her cheeks, then turned to look at herself in the mirror, her eyes and eyebrows smiling, indeed quite bewitching.


    And, it seemed like her familiar face in the mirror was slowly turning red...


    Weird.


    ...


    Wen Qiao was startled and before she could delve into this change, her brain preemptively issued a command¡ª


    Shift the focus.


    "So if you had to choose between Emperor Ye and Fu Jinghen, who would you pick? Answer quickly without thinking!"


    Jiang Yao glanced down at the phone held up like a microphone to her mouth: "Boring."


    Wen Qiao wouldn¡¯t let Jiang Yao off the hook: "You¡¯re avoiding the question."


    "I choose to stay single forever."


    Wen Qiao pressed further: "Why?"


    It seemed like nothing had been left behind.


    Zipping up her handbag, Jiang Yao weighed it in her hand and then suggested, "I think it¡¯s time to ask the company to assign you an assistant, I really can¡¯t attend to all your whims by myself."


    "Suit yourself," Wen Qiao¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t on the assistant matter at all: "Why?"


    Seeing Wen Qiao¡¯s curious baby-like demeanor, almost as if she wouldn¡¯t let Jiang Yao leave the room without a proper explanation, Jiang Yao strangely felt it familiar.


    It seemed not long ago, she had grilled Wen Qiao in a similar fashion...


    "Ye Shengnan is just a male celebrity I like, an idol. Do you understand the concept of an idol? It¡¯s like when he shines brightly on stage, and you can only wave your lightstick from the audience like all the other fans, feeling an overwhelming love for him, but he doesn¡¯t even know who you are, you can only look up to his existence."


    Wen Qiao appeared to semi-understand and played her words over in her mind. After a pause, she asked, "But you¡¯re also in the industry, not like other ordinary fans who don¡¯t have a chance to approach their idol."


    "What about it? Fans are equal, the nature of the job doesn¡¯t change anything, and besides..." Jiang Yao paused, her voice softer than before: "I would never want to date a male celebrity."


    "Why?" Wen Qiao still didn¡¯t understand: "Imagine your once-favorite idol becoming the person you see beside you every morning when you wake up, isn¡¯t that better?"


    S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 225 - 223: The Man Beicheng Women Most Want to Marry

    Chapter 225: Chapter 223: The Man Beicheng Women Most Want to Marry"Not good, the relationship between a fan and an idol should always be maintained where he shines on stage and I cheer for him from the audience. Fans dating idols? That only happens in dreams, oh right, and in idol dramas where it ends well."


    Jiang Yao looked at Wen Qiao with an expression reminiscent of a Xiao S indifferent face meme package: "Furthermore, think about it. If you date a male star with a huge ¡¯wife¡¯ fan group and girlfriend support club, seeing tens of millions of women calling your boyfriend ¡¯husband¡¯ every day, even if you know they mean no harm and are simply expressing their fondness and admiration for their idol, it¡¯s still uncomfortable. We live in a civilized society now; the days of having multiple wives and concubines are long gone..." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "After all, I am someone with a particularly strong sense of possession. Understanding the logic is one thing, but if I really one day saw other women calling my man ¡¯husband,¡¯ I¡¯m afraid I wouldn¡¯t be able to control myself from running to the kitchen to grab a kitchen knife."


    After listening to Jiang Yao¡¯s speech, Wen Qiao suddenly covered her chest with a look of horror: "What should I do? Although Fu Jinghen is not some big celebrity, he¡¯s still very popular in high society. Lin Ruochun told me that Fu Jinghen has been reigning as the champion of Jiang City¡¯s socialites¡¯ most desired husband for several terms now, and I¡¯m starting to feel a bit uneasy."


    "?"


    Jiang Yao blinked, "So, your high society circles are that idle?"


    "No, I¡¯m not part of the high society crowd." Wen Qiao clarified her identity: "I am a rising star of the entertainment industry."


    "...."


    "I can¡¯t help it, my career-mindedness has been ignited." Wen Qiao grabbed Jiang Yao¡¯s arm: "Get me more work to attract fans, preferably male fans, the handsome and wealthy kind. I also want to give Fu Jinghen a sense of crisis, so he doesn¡¯t always pigeonhole me with just the word dramatic."


    "Relax, with your thick skin and President Fu¡¯s gentlemanly demeanor, even if one day your status as Mrs. Fu really comes under threat, clinging onto President Fu and refusing to let go, he wouldn¡¯t ignore you."


    "Thank you."


    "You¡¯re welcome."


    Wen Qiao fell silent for a second or two, then suddenly remembered Jiang Yao had only answered one of her questions, there was another one.


    "So why didn¡¯t you choose Fu Jinghen? You just said that anyone with a sane mind would stick by his side loyally."


    Why does this little girl have so many questions every day?


    If she put this dogged determination to dig to the bottom of things into scientific research, China¡¯s Shenzhou 100 would have already been developed.


    "I heard that a collaborator once thought they were being clever by putting someone in President Fu¡¯s bed. When President Fu returned to his room and saw a woman lying on his bed, his face turned as black as Bao Gong¡¯s, and not only did he kick the woman out, but he also booked a return flight that very night. The deal went sour, and that company never appeared on the FS collaboration list again."


    "Holy shit?" Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes widened instantly: "Seriously? This is like dumping the lawn right on top of my head."


    "What are you doing? Get back here." Jiang Yao quickly grabbed Wen Qiao, who was about to bolt out the door: "This happened a long time ago, before you were even engaged to President Fu. Why the rush? And even if it did happen after your engagement to President Fu, the collaborator probably had no clue President Fu had a fianc¨¦e like you, especially when you¡¯re not even public about it."


    "Plus, I have a fear of domineering CEOs. Haven¡¯t you seen President Fu¡¯s solemn and unsmiling face?"

 Chapter 226 - 224: Striking Right into the Core Issue of the Soul

    Chapter 226: Chapter 224: Striking Right into the Core Issue of the Soul"He might be handsome, but with a blazing ¡¯no trespassing¡¯ sign written all over him, I¡¯m sane enough not to go looking for trouble."


    Qiao rolled her eyes and recalled Fu Jinghen in her memory, which didn¡¯t seem as terrifying as Jiang Yao described.


    "Really? I don¡¯t think so."


    "That¡¯s just what you think. According to the descriptions in those overbearing CEO novels, it¡¯s like¡ªall the gentleness Fu Jinghen has is probably given to you. That day when we came back, you were moving around in the car, and I just made a comment. The way President Fu looked at me then reminded me of the unforgettable glare of the class teacher spying through the glass window at the back door of the classroom when we were in school. Wait, why are you flashing that rippling smile again?"


    Jiang Yao described to Qiao, with an expressionless face, the day they returned to Beicheng and Fu Jinghen came to pick them up at the airport. Yet, as she spoke each word, she saw the grin on the other side growing bigger and by the end, Jiang Yao felt like Qiao¡¯s shining white teeth were almost flying out of her mouth.


    Qiao twisted her body and then, in a very pretentious manner, stamped her foot, "Oh, I¡¯m sorry, my fianc¨¦ is just too protective. I¡¯ve made you laugh."


    Jiang Yao chuckled coldly twice, "Yes, congratulations on finding such a protective fianc¨¦ who looks past the old grudges to shield and protect you."


    It had been nearly twenty minutes since Qiao replied to Fu Jinghen¡¯s message; seeing that she hadn¡¯t come down yet, he sent another one¡ª


    [Fu Jinghen: Not down yet?]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Coming, coming, what¡¯s the rush? Don¡¯t you know you should be patient when waiting for a girl?]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: This message of yours could spark a bomb, you know? If it were another woman, she might have already started feeling you are impatient, escalating to wondering if you don¡¯t love me anymore¡ªthat core issue striking deep into the soul.]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Luckily, it¡¯s me, understanding and considerate.]


    [Fu Jinghen: .....]


    [Fu Jinghen: Whatever suits you.]


    Only then did Qiao satisfyingly put away her phone, hooked Jiang Yao¡¯s wrist, and walked out, "Let¡¯s go, my fianc¨¦ has been waiting for us in the parking lot for almost an hour."


    "Did you save for him in your past life or something, for him to come to you this life to repay the favor?"


    Qiao¡¯s face revealed a full smile of love and affection, triggering Jiang Yao, who jabbed at her while walking out with, "Yeah, it really is rare to find men like President Fu maintaining such integrity nowadays. Not to mention he¡¯s wealthy and good-looking. Even if he just wanted to fool around, a wave of his finger would have a line of women toppling over each other to get to him. Yet, he only has eyes for you, the little tender grass." S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Jiang Yao casually marveled at her friend and colleague¡¯s damn good luck. Listening, Qiao¡¯s mouth corners that were lifted high nearly reaching her ears suddenly tightened a bit.


    "Because Fu Jinghen is just an old-fashioned man, commitment and responsibility are carved into his very bones. If it were you engaged to him now, he would treasure you just the same."


    As a worker pushed a trolley out from the corridor, Jiang Yao shielded Qiao as they moved to the side, not noticing the odd tone and expression on Qiao¡¯s face as she said these words, thinking she was just making a casual joke.


    "Wow, that kind of man is even rarer, a real antique."

 Chapter 227 - 225: Deadly Peril

    Chapter 227: Chapter 225: Deadly PerilWen Qiao hummed a laugh twice but didn¡¯t speak further, and so the topic ended there.


    The elevator reached the basement floor, and according to where Fu Jinghen had said he parked, Wen Qiao found the spot and opened the back door of the car, settling herself inside with a floomp.


    Fu Jinghen was looking at the financial report from last month on his iPad. Hearing the noise, he didn¡¯t even lift his head but gestured to a paper bag beside him.


    Wen Qiao got the hint, peeked inside the paper bag, and casually asked, "What¡¯s this?"


    Feng Li in the front seat preemptively replied, "Crab roe xiaolongbao, President Fu went out of his way to buy them for you when he arrived."


    Wen Qiao exclaimed in delight, "Ah," and took out the thermal container from the paper bag, opened the lid, and the aroma of the xiaolongbao instantly filled the air. "Why did you suddenly decide to buy these?"


    Fu Jinghen tapped the screen of the iPad, where a red circle had just appeared around an error he had discovered, and responded nonchalantly, "Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to eat them this morning?"


    At his words, Wen Qiao paused with her chopsticks in hand, seemingly surprised that the man had taken her offhand remark to heart.


    Her brief moment of surprise quickly faded, and she carefully bit a tiny piece from the edge of one xiaolongbao. The delicious taste of crab roe touched her taste buds, instantly arousing her cravings.


    With a similarly nonchalant tone, she asked, "Fu Jinghen, if the woman you were engaged to was someone else, would you also treat her this well just because she is your fianc¨¦e?"


    This question plunged the car¡¯s interior into a brief silence.


    Jiang Yao in the passenger seat moved her head slightly, seemingly wanting to turn and look at Wen Qiao, then realizing Fu Jinghen was also in the back and abruptly stopped herself. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Finally, her gaze collided with Feng Li¡¯s, who had been driving focused but had been piqued by curiosity because of his boss lady¡¯s question.


    In that second their eyes met, both sensed a whiff of gossip in each other¡¯s looks.


    Then, the man¡¯s deep, casual voice broke the silence, "Possibly."


    Wen Qiao widened her eyes and let out a hand to smack Fu Jinghen¡¯s thigh sharply, "Do you realize that such a straight man¡¯s response could get you into deep trouble?"


    The man clicked his tongue and deftly caught the small hand that hadn¡¯t yet retreated from his thigh, rubbed it twice in his palm, and drawled, "Can¡¯t even a meal keep your mouth and hands busy?"


    Seeing the man practically glued his eyes to the iPad and not sparing her any attention, Wen Qiao got irritated and pinched his palm, "President Fu, pardon my frankness, but your attitude is problematic. It¡¯s about time I asked that core question that strikes deep into the soul."


    Seemingly troubled by her persistence, Fu Jinghen lifted his head from the iPad to look at Wen Qiao, who was glaring at him with the thermal container in hand, "I never indulge in such pointless hypotheticals."


    "Just hypothetically consider it now."


    As the sun set, the evening sky was stained red, dimming the light inside the car. Yet Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes were bright, shimmering with a determination she might not have even recognized in herself.


    Seeing this, Fu Jinghen grew more serious than before, pondering the question Wen Qiao had just posed to him, even though he didn¡¯t understand why she was so fixed on this question and its answer.

 Chapter 228 - 226: Because You Are Cuter

    Chapter 228: Chapter 226: Because You Are CuterAfter a moment, Fu Jinghen replied, "I don¡¯t think so."


    The ears of the two people in front perked up involuntarily.


    "Why ¡¯I don¡¯t think so¡¯?" S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Because this is a hypothetical question, it¡¯s hard for me to give you a definite answer just based on imagination."


    "Alright," Wen Qiao conceded and started to dig deeper with her usual inquisitiveness, "Why not?"


    "... "


    Fu Jinghen quietly sighed and rubbed the soft hand splayed in his palm again, "Because you¡¯re cuter."


    ".... "


    Oh boy.


    Ahead, Jiang Yao and Feng Li exchanged glances again, this time finding a mixture of speechlessness and mutual sympathy for themselves and each other in their eyes.


    Help.


    What had they done to deserve such a blow in this life?


    Compared to the pitiable state of the two ahead, Wen Qiao, sitting at the back, was stunned for a moment before her lips crazily curled upward as she hummed playfully, "Pretty clever of you."


    "Can we just eat peacefully now?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s tone carried an imperceptible indulgence and compliance.


    "You¡¯re still holding my hand. How am I supposed to eat?"


    Wen Qiao, the typical example of someone who takes advantage of a situation and runs with it, quickly reverted to her usual spoiled demeanor.


    But Jiang Yao felt that Wen Qiao, who had a thick skin and was accustomed to such treatment, probably hadn¡¯t realized this yet.


    Fu Jinghen let go of his hand, and Wen Qiao swiftly withdrew her own, playfully scratching the palm of his hand with such speed and an innocent expression that if she claimed it was an accident, Fu Jinghen would have believed her.


    He curled his fingers, caressing the spot where Wen Qiao had just scratched.


    Tsk.


    -


    Because of Qi Ming¡¯s persistent pursuit, Wen Qiao¡¯s name had hung in the hot search for several days, although it was negative, she had indeed become extremely famous for a time. Later, because of Red Makeup and Luo Bin¡¯s incident, she had made it to the hot search twice, which had led her to keep a much lower profile since then.


    She didn¡¯t have much of a genuine reputation now and naturally couldn¡¯t compare to those top-tier actresses, but she definitely had style.


    Even without being a popular celebrity, she still strutted through the VIP channel at the airport.


    All thanks to having a wealthy and powerful husband.


    Wen Qiao walked forward, arm-in-arm with Fu Jinghen, head held high and chest puffed out.


    According to Jiang Yao, anyone who didn¡¯t know any better would think Wen Qiao had just finished military training.


    While Jiang Yao and Feng Li were handling the check-in, Fu Jinghen and Wen Qiao sat in the VIP lounge, casually chatting now and then.


    There were only two of them in the lounge. Without any reservation, they sat side by side, Wen Qiao scrolling through her phone with one hand while Fu Jinghen played with her other hand.


    "Should I find you an assistant?"


    Fu Jinghen suddenly blurted out.


    "Huh?" Wen Qiao paused for a second before nodding, "Yes, Sister Yao told me today to ask the company to arrange an assistant for me. She said she can¡¯t handle me all by herself."


    Fu Jinghen tugged at the corner of his lips, "That¡¯s true."


    Then, his arm was pinched by a certain little woman, flustered and infuriated.


    Wen Qiao lifted her head from her phone, leaning it against the man¡¯s shoulder, looking up at him, "I forgot to tell you, Sister Yao got me a variety show. Li Mushun is the director. He actually contacted Sister Yao himself, you know. I got this opportunity all on my own charm."

 Chapter 229 - 227: Conspiracy Theory

    Chapter 229: Chapter 227: Conspiracy TheoryThe little girl¡¯s face bore a too-obvious expression seeking praise. Fu Jinghen smiled, "Not bad."


    Wen Qiao muttered softly, "It feels like a teacher grading homework..."


    "....."


    The buzz around Jiang Wei hadn¡¯t completely died down yet. On Weibo, some marketing accounts were still sharing their opinions on the matter.


    Although Wen Qiao didn¡¯t like Jiang Wei, she disliked the way these marketing accounts leeched off hot topics even more.


    Not to mention, one of these accounts had posted something related to her¡ª


    @EntertainmentVanguard: Heard from a friend that Jiang Wei had been vying for an endorsement from a major international brand, but it ended up going to a recently trending actress instead, creating a clash over resources. In the end, it was Jiang Wei who came off worse. This shows just how deep the other actress¡¯s connections are. Hint: both actresses were in the same drama series.


    From one perspective, the marketing account was not wrong, and it cleverly latched onto the popularity of both Wen Qiao and Jiang Wei, adding to that a hint of conspiracy which made it even more sensational. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Before long, the names of Jiang Wei and Wen Qiao topped the trending search together.


    "Wen Qiao: You might as well have named me directly."


    "The blogger really went out of their way with this roundabout post."


    "The blogger talking about how deep the actress¡¯s connections are yet daring to post this, I¡¯m truly impressed by their audacity."


    "Tsk tsk tsk, the blogger seems a bit jealous. Let me remind them that one with nothing to hide doesn¡¯t fear their shadow falling aslant. If Jiang Wei is entirely innocent, why would someone throw this dirty water on her even if the actress has deep connections?"


    "The person above, please drop the anonymity and speak up on your main account."


    "I¡¯ve been wanting to say this, Wen Qiao¡¯s reputation was so foul before, how did she suddenly become the Female Lead of ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯? If you say there¡¯s nothing behind it, I¡¯m the first not to believe it."


    "......."


    Comments like these were in abundance; though the words didn¡¯t anger Wen Qiao, they certainly stirred ripples in her heart.


    Quite bothersome.


    But in the entertainment industry, a place rife with controversy and debate, finding a sanctuary was almost impossible, and as a public figure, taking criticism¡ªboth good and bad¡ªwas unavoidable.


    Wen Qiao sighed and said, "If Jiang Wei were a bit less ambitious, I think she¡ª"


    She cut herself off, closing her mouth midway.


    Whether it was being the Female Lead of ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯, endorsing ES, or even having Fu Jinghen sitting beside her now, even without weaving Jiang Wei into the narrative as the antagonist, these were all things Wen Qiao had secured for herself.


    Now, anything she said wouldn¡¯t sound authentic, even to herself; it felt like playing the victim after having won everything, like a white lotus trying to garner sympathy.


    Fu Jinghen saw through Wen Qiao¡¯s turmoil instantly and patted her head, saying, "Don¡¯t overthink it, it has nothing to do with you; she brought it upon herself."


    Remembering the day Jiang Wei recklessly drove her car towards Wen Qiao, a coldness flashed across Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes.


    Wen Qiao, staring at her phone, missed the change in Fu Jinghen¡¯s expression. Yet, hearing his assertive words cheered her up. She sighed again and gently bumped her head against Fu Jinghen¡¯s shoulder, showing her appreciation for what he¡¯d just said.


    After a while, she raised her head again, "Why would Jiang Wei even like you?"


    "I don¡¯t know."

 Chapter 230 - 228: When you鈥檙e a bit older, let鈥檚 get married

    Chapter 230: Chapter 228: When you¡¯re a bit older, let¡¯s get marriedWen Qiao got up from Fu Jinghen¡¯s body and turned to look at him, "How could you not know? You must have done something to make her misunderstand, that¡¯s why she fell for you!"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s tone was very definitive. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen felt that the hat she was trying to put on his head was utterly baffling, "I haven¡¯t done anything."


    He looked at Wen Qiao¡¯s obviously distrustful expression and frowned, explaining, "I met Jiang Wei because when I moved, I moved next to her place. We were neighbors for a few years, and then after Dad passed away, my sister took me away."


    "Just pure neighbors?" Wen Qiao queried.


    Fu Jinghen dredged up more distant memories and thought for a moment, "I happened to tutor her for a while."


    "See!" Wen Qiao was excited, as if she had caught Fu Jinghen¡¯s Achilles¡¯ heel, "Young men and women tutoring together are the most likely to develop special feelings!"


    "That was my sister who asked me to tutor her." Fu Jinghen patiently explained, "At that time, Jiang Wei¡¯s parents took good care of me, so my sister mentioned it, and I was just purely tutoring her."


    "Don¡¯t believe me?" With that, Fu Jinghen pulled out his phone, "I¡¯ll have my sister explain it to you."


    "No need, no need!" Wen Qiao quickly stopped him and held down his eagerly moving hand, "I believe what you say."


    "..."


    Fu Jinghen stared at Wen Qiao¡¯s face for a while, caught a hint of reluctance, and didn¡¯t say anything else, but he still put away his phone.


    They had arrived at the airport just in time, and after a while, there was an announcement to board the flight.


    Wen Qiao flicked her hand out of Fu Jinghen¡¯s grasp and stood up from the couch, "I¡¯m leaving now, don¡¯t miss me too much, President Fu."


    She had expected Fu Jinghen to either ignore her comment like all the other times they¡¯d parted or to come back with a retort that would shut her up. Unexpectedly, just as she stood up, her wrist was grasped from behind again.


    "?"


    Wen Qiao looked back in confusion.


    She saw Fu Jinghen standing up from the couch as well, watched him raise his hand to rub her head, and then his hand slid to touch her ear, "Focus on your filming, don¡¯t get distracted with thoughts, and when you¡¯re a bit older, let¡¯s get married."


    Wen Qiao felt a "thud" in her chest, so loud she wondered if thunder had just struck next to her ear.


    "Wha-, what." Wen Qiao was incoherent, "Mar-, marriage, marry?"


    Compared to Wen Qiao, who was so nervous that she could hardly speak articulately, Fu Jinghen was much more composed as he pinched her gradually reddening ear, "So you won¡¯t have to ask me random questions next time. I¡¯m giving you something to steady your nerves and secure your position as Mrs. Fu."


    A knock on the door sounded, and the next second Jiang Yao poked her head in, "Uh... although I hate to interrupt you two, but it¡¯s time to board."


    After speaking, she quickly retracted her head.


    The door was closed again, and it was just the two of them left in the waiting room.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s mind went blank, her eyes fixed on the man¡¯s handsome face, and her ears filled with the thundering sound of her own heartbeat.


    Damn, damn, damn.


    Should she say something now?


    But she couldn¡¯t say anything.


    Damn it.


    If she didn¡¯t take any action, the little deer prancing in her heart was going to crash and die.


    Fu Jinghen could see Wen Qiao¡¯s anxiety and realized that his words might have scared her. A trace of hardly noticeable chagrin flickered through his eyes.

 Chapter 231 - 229: Unspeakable Matters

    Chapter 231: Chapter 229: Unspeakable MattersHe tucked the stray lock of Wen Qiao¡¯s hair behind her ear, "You don¡¯t need to be nervous or feel burdened, I will go with whatever you decide."


    -


    The plane had already entered a stable flight mode, and the air conditioning was somewhat chilly. Jiang Yao asked a flight attendant for a blanket, then glanced at Wen Qiao, "Do you want one, too?"


    "....."


    After waiting for quite some time without a response, Jiang Yao turned her head back to Wen Qiao, only to find the once lively and vivacious kid beside her now appeared as if her soul had left her body. She waved her hand in front of Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes, "Space cadet, snap out of it."


    "Hmm?" Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Thanks to Jiang Yao¡¯s constant hand-waving, Wen Qiao finally focused her gaze. She blinked her eyes slowly and then shifted her line of sight to the side, "What¡¯s up?"


    "....."


    Jiang Yao then turned to the flight attendant and smiled politely, "Two blankets, please. Thank you."


    "Alright."


    The waiting flight attendant nodded and then turned to leave.


    Jiang Yao turned back to Wen Qiao, "It should be what¡¯s up with you? Ever since we got on the plane¡ªno,"


    She squinted her eyes in recollection, "It started after we left the waiting area. You¡¯ve been acting off since then."


    Jiang Yao nudged Wen Qiao¡¯s arm, moving closer with a scrutinizing look in her eyes, "What¡¯s wrong? There were only you and President Fu in the waiting area just now. What did you do?"


    Wen Qiao looked at the face that suddenly loomed large in front of her. Her brain, which had been frozen, started to slowly regain functionality. When she caught the disguised excitement in Jiang Yao¡¯s scrutinizing gaze¡ªwhich was not well concealed at all¡ªshe turned her head away expressionlessly and, raising her hand, pushed against Jiang Yao¡¯s forehead, pushing her away from herself.


    "Even if there were only the two of us in the waiting area, there are still cameras, so nothing could have happened; and even without surveillance, nothing would happen. Please dial back that perverted gossip gleam twinkling in your eyes."


    "Also, don¡¯t get so close to me. I have zero interest in your face, and getting too close makes it look enormous."


    She paused, then added, "So large that it seems boundless."


    "....."


    Jiang Yao stared at Wen Qiao¡¯s feigned cool side profile for two seconds, then stood up straight. Instead of getting angry at Wen Qiao¡¯s sharp words, she became even more excited, "I¡¯m now even more certain something happened in the waiting room with President Fu; otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t turn into this mean, almost tear-worthy sourpuss without any reason."


    "Wow, with your top-tier deductive skills, being an agent is such a waste. You should go to the criminal investigation department of the police force to help the cops solve crimes. If you lived a few centuries ago, you would certainly be Bao Zheng¡¯s right hand," Wen Qiao sarcastically and indifferently praised Jiang Yao.


    "So¡ª" Jiang Yao pressed on, "what unspeakable thing actually happened?"


    "If you¡¯re already describing it as ¡¯unspeakable,¡¯ why should I tell you?" Wen Qiao turned her head to face her, still keeping an expressionless demeanor, the sharp remarks continuing, "Or are you admitting you¡¯re not human?"


    "You know, even though you¡¯re the talent I cherish and nurture, if you keep on this path to self-destruction, I could just throw you out of the window and find another talent," Jiang Yao said as she pointed towards the cabin¡¯s window.


    Wen Qiao followed the direction of her finger and glanced outside. At ten thousand meters high, the night sky was heavy, resembling the inscrutable eyes of the man who had caused her brain to malfunction.

 Chapter 232 - 230: President Fu is a Good Man

    Chapter 232: Chapter 230: President Fu is a Good Man Ah! It¡¯s over.


    Wen Qiao slowly exhaled, completely unconcerned about Jiang Yao¡¯s threat, "You know, I¡¯m not just an artist you manage, but I¡¯m also your Boss Lady, holding the key to your financial happiness."


    "....."


    "Oh, great."


    Jiang Yao was irked by Wen Qiao¡¯s words and ended up with the same expressionless face. Just then, the flight attendant came over with a blanket, which she unfolded and draped over her legs before leaning heavily back into her seat.


    She turned her back to Wen Qiao, deciding to give her the cold shoulder and secretly vowing in her heart that from now to the time they got off the plane, she wouldn¡¯t speak another word to Wen Qiao.  sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Yet, before even a minute had passed, the infuriating brat beside her spoke up again and threw a bombshell at her¡ª


    "Actually, it¡¯s nothing secret. Fu Jinghen proposed to me."


    ???


    !!!


    Jiang Yao bolted upright, her eyes wide as she stared at Wen Qiao, "If you¡¯re lying, you¡¯re a dog."


    Wen Qiao raised three fingers solemnly, "If I lie, may I instantly age ten years, break out in acne, have pus flowing from my feet and sores on my backside, loathed by everyone, ignored by dogs."


    Tsk.


    Such a vicious oath, it must be true.


    The bombshell Wen Qiao dropped had completely devastated the metaphorical cell Jiang Yao had put her in. She immediately forgot her vow from a minute ago about not speaking another word to Wen Qiao; excitement crawled back into her eyes, her grip on Wen Qiao¡¯s arm tight, "Spill the beans, leave no detail out, tell me every single word."


    Wen Qiao looked at Jiang Yao helplessly and under her eager gaze, she recounted everything that had just happened in the waiting room.


    "Wow," Jiang Yao gasped, her hand over her mouth in surprise, "So domineering, so assertive, he went straight to the point to stop you from having wild thoughts."


    She concluded, "President Fu is a good man."


    Wen Qiao tugged at the corner of her mouth, "With such good reading comprehension, you must have scored well on your Chinese language exams."


    "They were okay, but that¡¯s not the point," Jiang Yao leaned in once more, unconcerned whether her face was too close for Wen Qiao to see its limits, "What do you think?"


    "I don¡¯t know," Wen Qiao said honestly, pushing Jiang Yao away again, "Tsk, I told you not to get so close, you¡¯re affecting my fresh air intake."


    "It¡¯s not that complicated. It¡¯s a simple yes or no answer, no more than two words," Jiang Yao bent down to pick up the blanket that had slipped to the floor due to her excitement. She shook it out and re-covered her legs, "Besides, you¡¯re already engaged. You can¡¯t just back out last minute and call off the engagement..."


    Mid-sentence, Jiang Yao paused, turning sharply to Wen Qiao, "You¡¯re not seriously considering calling off the engagement, are you? Tell me the truth, are you still hung up on Qi Ming?"


    Jiang Yao¡¯s voice was hushed, as if afraid of being overheard.


    Though there weren¡¯t many passengers in first class and the seats were spaced out, their conversation had been quiet from the outset.


    "Who would still be hung up on that narcissist? Compared to Fu Jinghen, Qi Ming isn¡¯t even as good as his toenails," Wen Qiao replied with evident disdain for Qi Ming, shaking her arm as she spoke. Then, seeming to recall something else, she added, "No, that¡¯s not right. I never actually cared about him."

 Chapter 233 - 231: Not Knowing One鈥檚 Blessings While Living in Happiness

    Chapter 233: Chapter 231: Not Knowing One¡¯s Blessings While Living in Happiness"That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good."


    Hearing her say this, Jiang Yao finally felt relieved.


    As for Wen Qiao¡¯s claim that she "never cared about Qi Ming," Jiang Yao took it as her being stubborn and defending her past foolish actions rather than wanting to bring them up again.


    "Well, since that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing else you don¡¯t know." Jiang Yao relaxed completely and began to count Fu Jinghen¡¯s virtues on her fingers to Wen Qiao: "Just think, who is President Fu? The man every woman in Jiang City wants to marry, rich and handsome."


    "His mother passed away early so you won¡¯t have to deal with the world¡¯s most headache-inducing mother-in-law, and his father also passed away a few years ago due to poor health. He only has one sister, and your marriage to him was even arranged by his sister, who also gets along well with your mother. Marrying President Fu is like gaining another family."


    "He¡¯s six years older than you, mature and charming, knows how to take care of people, and is tolerant of your moods; his sense of responsibility is also very strong. As for physical health... we¡¯ll put that aside for now. As long as you don¡¯t commit murder, arson, or break the law, you can do whatever you want in the entertainment industry. Each of these conditions, if taken separately, is hard to come by."


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t deny what Jiang Yao said, especially the part about "having a strong sense of responsibility."


    Even though her original self was known for her infatuation with Qi Ming to the point of death or life, once he was engaged to her, he completely treated her as his fianc¨¦e, protecting and caring for her in every aspect.


    But, that didn¡¯t seem to be what Wen Qiao wanted.


    However, she couldn¡¯t articulate exactly what it was she did want.


    So, when Fu Jinghen brought up marriage, Wen Qiao could only utter "I need to board my flight" and hurriedly escaped.


    Once she was on the plane and her heartbeat had calmed down, she began to feel overwhelmed with confusion.


    Something flitted through her mind, but Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t grasp it, and could only stare blankly into space.


    Feeling agitated, Wen Qiao let out a groan and curled up under the blanket over her head.


    Jiang Yao watched Wen Qiao turn into a turtle at the drop of a hat and shook her head, saying, "You don¡¯t know how good you have it."


    At that moment, Wen Qiao really wanted to say,


    You can have this good fortune if you want it, do you?


    -


    Fu Jinghen had just gotten into the car when his phone rang. It was a call from Qin Xiang.


    Loud noises in the background were accompanied by Qin Xiang¡¯s carefree voice: "Old Fu, come over to Green Manor and hang out¡ªhey, Cheng Jue, what are you doing!"


    Fu Jinghen frowned in irritation at being shouted at, desiring reducing the volume that was assaulting his ears, and moved the phone slightly away.


    "Brother Fu! Come over and play! If you don¡¯t come over, I can come to your place too!"


    That was Cheng Jue¡¯s voice.


    "...."


    After muttering a "Got it," Fu Jinghen hung up the phone.


    The noisy ruckus vanished; peace returned to his surroundings, and the atmosphere inside the car calmed down once again.


    Feng Li, sensing acutely that something was off with his boss after coming out from the airport, maintained a focused and cautious demeanor throughout the ride, always keeping an eye on Fu Jinghen¡¯s state.


    When Qin Xiang¡¯s loud voice came through during the phone call, adding to the already extreme quietness of the car¡¯s interior, Feng Li heard their conversation. After Fu Jinghen hung up, he asked, "President Fu, are we going to Green Manor?" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Mm."


    Feng Li steered the car in a new direction, resuming the state where he wouldn¡¯t dare to breathe too loudly.


    All the while in his mind, he was guessing¡ª


    What had the boss and Boss Lady done in the waiting room?

 Chapter 234 - 232: I鈥檓 Allergic to You

    Chapter 234: Chapter 232: I¡¯m Allergic to YouCould it be that the Boss Lady did something to the Boss?


    How come the Boss, after leaving the airport, looks so... distracted?


    !


    Feng Li was startled by the phrase "lost soul" that he conjured up in his mind; although he found it hard to believe, he couldn¡¯t think of any other idiom that better described the current state of his boss.


    Feng Li¡¯s eyes flitted about stealthily as he sneaked a glance at Fu Jinghen in the rearview mirror.


    The man¡¯s handsome and resolute features were obscured in shadows, his eyes slightly closed, his brow furrowed subtly as if troubled by something.


    Eh!


    The more Feng Li looked, the more he thought that his boss, right now, bore an uncanny resemblance to those romance drama heroes who get rejected in their confessions, dejected in love.


    It seemed like the time had come to discuss the matter with Jiang Yao, the ally by the Boss Lady¡¯s side.


    As soon as this thought surfaced, he saw Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyelids twitch; Feng Li hurriedly averted his gaze before those eyes opened, and focused wholeheartedly on driving.


    Fu Jinghen opened his eyes, gazing at the neon lights flickering outside the window, the image of Wen Qiao fleeing in a panic involuntarily surfacing in his mind.


    And the fleeting resistance in her eyes when he brought up marriage.


    Subconscious reactions are the most truthful, yet Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t understand where her resistance stemmed from.


    He felt an inexplicable irritation in his heart and, lifting his hand, loosened his tie, rolled down the window, and exhaled a deep breath.


    Seeing this, Feng Li, driving up front, grew even more apprehensive.


    It appeared the Boss was in quite a foul mood.


    -


    Green Manor was located in the costly downtown area, an exclusive leisure club known for high-end consumption, and a prime choice for gatherings among Beicheng¡¯s elite.


    Feng Li pulled the car up smoothly to the entrance of Green Manor and was about to unbuckle his seatbelt and get out of the car to open the door for his boss when he touched the seatbelt, he heard his boss speak. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Go on back first, I¡¯ll have Qin Xiang drive me later."


    "Oh, alright," Feng Li instinctively nodded in response; it wasn¡¯t until he heard the sound of the car door opening and closing, and the vehicle shook slightly, that Feng Li snapped back to reality.


    He lowered the window and leaned out halfway, shouting toward Fu Jinghen¡¯s retreating figure, "President Fu, don¡¯t drink too much, nothing¡¯s more important than your health!"


    Fu Jinghen, tall with long legs, had already covered considerable distance in such a short while; Feng Li cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled out his caution, drawing measuring glances from the servants at the entrance of Green Manor.


    "....."


    He saw Fu Jinghen¡¯s figure definitely paused for a moment before continuing to walk forward, though it seemed as if he hastened his pace slightly?


    Feng Li silently sighed.


    The Boss really did lack care and concern from those around him; just a casual reminder from him made the Boss feel awkward.


    Thinking of how President Fu was managing such a vast company all by himself, at the pinnacle of his solitude, he must be incredibly lonely.


    With this thought, Feng Li, considering himself to be the most understanding and considerate assistant in the world, wiped at the non-existent tears at the corner of his eyes and pulled out his phone to send a message to his ally at Gossip Camp¡ª


    [Sharp Feng Li: Whenever you get a chance, try to encourage the Boss Lady to be kinder to the Boss.]


    -


    Only one chandelier was lit in the top-floor private room of Green Manor, its soft yellow light clearly but gently illuminating every corner of the room. A faint smoke wafted in the air, and a group of people sat around the sofa, a few of them holding cigarettes, prattling away about all and sundry.

 Chapter 235 - 233: This is my respect for Brother Fu

    Chapter 235: Chapter 233: This is my respect for Brother FuThere weren¡¯t many people in the private room. Jinghen glanced around briefly, recognizing some faces but couldn¡¯t recall their names; probably had seen them at some banquet before.


    Cheng Jue had returned to the country a month ago. They hadn¡¯t managed to find a suitable time to gather everyone until today, when Qin Xiang took the opportunity to invite more people for a lively gathering.


    In the center of the room was a mahjong table, where Qin Xiang and Cheng Jue, along with two others, were deeply involved in a game.


    The person sitting on the outermost side heard the noise at the entrance of the private room and turned his head, smiling and waving.


    "President Fu is here."


    Seeing this, the others also greeted Jinghen, while Cheng Jue, who was sitting furthest inside, reacted as if he had seen a lifesaver, "Brother Fu! Come quick! Help me out! I¡¯ve lost several rounds already."


    Qin Xiang mockingly chided him in a casual tone, "Inviting outside help for a game of cards? If you can¡¯t handle it, just leave."


    Cheng Jue retorted, "Shut your mouth, Qin Laoer."


    Jinghen took off his suit jacket and hung it on the coat rack by the door, then walked over to Cheng Jue, glanced at his hand of cards, moved his finger, and discarded a card.


    Qin Xiang immediately discarded a card as well.


    Seeing this, Cheng Jue laughed, "All in one suit, matched pair!"


    With a slap, he pushed down his cards, shamelessly extending his hand, "Pay up, pay up."


    Qin Xiang, barely able to mask his irritation, looked at him and cursed, "Shameless."


    Cheng Jue finally won a round, and, feeling exuberant as if overturning his servile status, he ignored whatever Qin Xiang said. Gathering the chips to his side, he saw Jinghen walking away, immediately called someone to take his place, and scampered toward where Jinghen was sitting.


    "Brother Fu, I¡¯ve missed you so much!"


    Cheng Jue spread his arms and lunged toward Jinghen like a spreading eagle, but he abruptly stopped just a step away because¡ª


    He saw the expressionless, almost cold face of Jinghen.


    Having drunk a bit and gotten bold, Cheng Jue instantly became sober, coughed lightly, touched his nose, and obediently sat down next to him.


    Qin Xiang, still at the table, laughed upon seeing this, "Cheng Jue, you still can¡¯t change your habit of cowering like a little chick in front of Jinghen. What¡¯s he going to do, eat you?"


    Cheng Jue replied indignantly, "You know nothing, this isn¡¯t cowering; it¡¯s respect for Brother Fu."


    Qin Xiang chuckled disdainfully at his sycophantic behavior.


    Cheng Jue and Qin Xiang had grown up with Jinghen. When the three of them were together in their childhood, they often got into mischief. Jinghen, being slightly older, already displayed a meticulous mind and often was the core strategist behind their escapades.


    One difference between Qin Xiang and Cheng Jue was that Qin Xiang¡¯s relationship with Jinghen was nearly equal; he would heed Jinghen¡¯s words, just as Jinghen would listen to Qin Xiang.


    In contrast, Cheng Jue was like a little fanboy to Jinghen, his admiration clearly written all over his face.


    Jinghen poured himself a drink, and casually filled one for Cheng Jue as well, asking nonchalantly, "When did you get back?"


    After high school, Cheng Jue had been sent overseas by his father under the pretense of gold plating his academic credentials, which, albeit mediocre, would sound better when mentioned. He had just returned to the country this year.


    S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 236 - 234: Woman Moved by Emotion

    Chapter 236: Chapter 234: Woman Moved by EmotionFu Jinghen thought for a moment. He did indeed receive such a WeChat message a month ago, but he was busy working at the time, glanced at it, and set it aside.


    He said indifferently, "I forgot."


    Cheng Jue felt even more aggrieved upon hearing this, but soon he perked up, "Brother Fu, I heard you got engaged? Who¡¯s the sister-in-law? When will you take me to meet her? Sooner rather than later, how about now?"


    "Her flight to Hang City was at nine-thirty, so unless something unusual happened, she¡¯s still flying in the sky. If you insist on meeting her now, I won¡¯t stop you," Fu Jinghen picked up his wine glass and took a sip. His voice, softened by the alcohol, sounded slightly clearer, "However, my abilities are limited. I can¡¯t send you up to the sky. You¡¯ll have to figure that out yourself."


    ".....Actually, it¡¯s not that urgent. Let¡¯s reschedule."


    Cheng Jue smacked his lips. After several years, his Brother Fu was still the same¡ª


    Eloquent.


    "Hey, Brother Fu, I have to tell you, I met my True Destiny Girl recently." Cheng Jue shared his experiences with Fu Jinghen as if he were revealing a treasure, his excited flailing attracting the attention of others sitting on the couch.


    "Wow, hasn¡¯t Young Master Cheng been back in the country for only a short time and he¡¯s already had a romantic encounter?"


    "True Destiny Girl? What about that Brazilian model who appeared in your Moments before?"


    "And the Western movie star before her?"


    "Hahaha, counting like this, Young Master Cheng could form a team with all his girlfriends."


    "Get lost." Cheng Jue picked up an orange from the table and threw it at the man, ignoring their teasing, and kept chatting with Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen listened quietly, and during this, pulled out his phone to send a message to Wen Qiao¡ª


    [Fu Jinghen: Message me when you get off the plane.]


    After a pause, he sent another¡ª


    [Fu Jinghen: Let me know when you get to the hotel.]


    Seeing this, Cheng Jue looked surprised and kept clicking his tongue. After Fu Jinghen sent the messages, he glared at him, "Clicking your tongue for what? Think your tongue is redundant?"


    Cheng Jue immediately covered his mouth, his face changing from surprise to fear, his eyes frantically blinking at Fu Jinghen.


    Fu Jinghen scoffed and said, "Go on, tell me about you and your twenty-eighth True Destiny Girl."


    The surrounding people burst into laughter again.


    Cheng Jue darkened his face, "What twenty-eighth! I¡¯m serious this time! I really met my True¡ª"


    He seemed to feel that the term "True Destiny Girl" was ridiculed too many times and changed his words mid-sentence, "I met a woman who truly moved my heart."


    "Listen to him farting," Qin Xiang came over from the card table and sat down next to Fu Jinghen, "Just you whistling at someone else¡¯s car on the main road and challenging them, do you think that matches the serious talk? Go on." Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Cheng Jue glanced at Fu Jinghen nervously, fearing he would scold him, then glared fiercely at Qin Xiang.


    Hearing this, Fu Jinghen, who had been lounging on the couch, straightened up slightly and looked at Cheng Jue, asking calmly, "When did this happen?"


    "Just the other day." Qin Xiang thought for a moment, "The day before you came back from your business trip to Lin City."


    He remembered this timing very clearly because that day Cheng Jue specifically called him to share this "good news." However, what was more important was that day he went to pick up a perfume for Lin Ruochun and sent her a photo, which finally ended their week-long cold war.

 Chapter 237 - 235: You Really Know How to Feel

    Chapter 237: Chapter 235: You Really Know How to FeelFu Jinghen raised an eyebrow, and his gaze toward Cheng Jue became more meaningful.


    He slowly stood up, filled Cheng Jue¡¯s glass with wine, and pushed it over, "Have a drink to moisten your throat."


    Cheng Jue¡¯s previously tense body relaxed, he picked up the glass and took a big gulp, then heard Fu Jinghen ask with interest, "And then?"


    Qin Xiang quickly took over, "Then the girl chewed him out, called him a bumpkin, said even primary schoolers are smoother at hitting on girls than him, rejected him clean and clear."


    It was one thing for Cheng Jue to share this with Qin Xiang privately, but now that Qin Xiang was airing it out in front of so many people, he felt somewhat embarrassed and retorted loudly, "Qin Laoer, if your mouth can¡¯t say anything nice, donate it to someone in need."


    Then he explained to Fu Jinghen, "Brother Fu, don¡¯t listen to his nonsense. I think the girl was just shy, but I won¡¯t lie, she really had quite the personality. Next time I see her, I¡¯ll definitely get her contact information."


    Fu Jinghen laughed ambiguously, "You sure seem confident."


    Cheng Jue, completely oblivious to anything amiss in Fu Jinghen¡¯s demeanor, continued proudly, "It¡¯s nothing, I just have a knack for guessing women¡¯s thoughts."


    "Talking so much, aren¡¯t you thirsty?" Fu Jinghen tapped his glass, "Moisten your throat."


    Cheng Jue took it as a sign of Fu Jinghen¡¯s concern, so he picked up the glass and finished the remaining half.


    Fu Jinghen filled his glass again.


    When these people gathered, they didn¡¯t discuss business, just casually shooting the breeze. Later, some found drinking plain boring, so they suggested a dice game. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Usually, Fu Jinghen was too lazy to participate in such segments, but today, for some reason, he was in the mood.


    After a couple of rounds, Fu Jinghen always had the highest points, and Cheng Jue always had the lowest. Although today¡¯s gathering was supposed to be a welcome party for Cheng Jue, his luck worsened with each round.


    With Fu Jinghen finding ways to ply him with alcohol, by the end of the party, Cheng Jue was passed out on the couch.


    After everyone else left, only Cheng Jue, Qin Xiang, and Fu Jinghen remained in the private room.


    Qin Xiang and Fu Jinghen had also been drinking and were now slouching on the couch, not sitting straight.


    Qin Xiang gave Cheng Jue¡¯s foot a nudge, and seeing no response, looked at Fu Jinghen, "Why were you constantly pouring drinks for this kid today?"


    "Was I?"


    Fu Jinghen had been drinking and his eyes were not as clear as usual, his tie had been removed and tossed aside, the top button of his shirt undone, revealing a snippet of collarbone, his chest rising and falling with his breath.


    "Didn¡¯t you?" Qin Xiang retorted.


    Fu Jinghen said indifferently, "Isn¡¯t today his welcome party?"


    The implication was, I¡¯m here to welcome him, so if I don¡¯t give him drinks, who should I give them to?


    Qin Xiang didn¡¯t think much about it, "That¡¯s also true."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at the deeply sleeping Cheng Jue and snorted in his heart.


    Little brat, no respect for elders, daring to provoke everyone.


    -


    By the time Wen Qiao got off the airplane, collected the luggage, and arrived at the hotel, it was already past eleven at night.


    Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao tidied up briefly, took a bath, and went to bed.


    After a tiring day, when the alarm sounded the next morning, Wen Qiao, who had a hard time waking up, rolled around in bed with the covers for quite some time before Jiang Yao yanked her up by the ear.


    Brushing teeth and washing face, she donned two pieces of clothing and yawningly opened the door to walk out.

 Chapter 238 - 236: I鈥檓 Allergic to You

    Chapter 238: Chapter 236: I¡¯m Allergic to YouAs Lin Ruochun happened to be passing by Wen Qiao¡¯s door, she heard the sound of the door opening and instinctively turned her head. The next second, she frowned in distaste: "Ew, after landing the international brand ES, how come you look even more disheveled?"


    "Even when I¡¯m barefaced, I¡¯m pretty tough," Wen Qiao leaned against the doorframe with her arms crossed, looking as relaxed as if her bones had melted and half-closing her eyes as she watched Lin Ruochun, who was still dressed immaculately. "Plus, there¡¯s a makeup artist to style me later, so why bother fussing now? And, I¡¯m afraid if I dress up too nicely, I might steal your thunder." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun chuckled coldly, "Heh heh, your skin is indeed thick enough to take a beating, being so unabashed."


    "That¡¯s confidence in my looks," Wen Qiao replied.


    Wen Qiao straightened up and took a step forward, taking advantage of her height, which was half a head taller than Lin Ruochun. She looped an arm around Lin Ruochun¡¯s neck and let half her body weight rest on her: "Let¡¯s go, off to shoot."


    "Hey, keep your distance from me!" Lin Ruochun expressed her strong dissatisfaction as Wen Qiao slung an arm around her. "Don¡¯t hook your arm around my neck. Let go, let go, I¡¯m allergic to you¡ª ugh¡ª"


    Before Lin Ruochun could finish speaking, Wen Qiao covered her mouth with a backward hand.


    "What¡¯s all the shouting about? How come you have so much energy this early in the morning?" Wen Qiao raised her other hand and shook a fist in front of Lin Ruochun, "Keep it up, and I¡¯ll thump you."


    "....."


    Hearing this, Lin Ruochun silently released the hand that Wen Qiao had placed over her mouth. As Wen Qiao nodded her head in satisfaction and smiled a "that¡¯s right" message, Lin Ruochun¡¯s hand quietly reached behind Wen Qiao and tugged her hair.


    Wen Qiao hissed in pain, instinctively tilting her head back as she released her grip on Lin Ruochun.


    Feeling the person in her arms slip away like a slippery eel, Wen Qiao played with her hair, "Quail, are you asking for a beating?"


    Lin Ruochun, who had already run off, turned back and made a ghost face at Wen Qiao before continuing to run away unabated.


    Wen Qiao stood still, watching Lin Ruochun¡¯s defiant retreating figure, and let out a sneer.


    Idiot.


    When she gets to the set, she will still be caught by me.


    -


    By the time Wen Qiao arrived at the set, Lin Ruochun had already sat down under her own tent to have breakfast.


    Song Qian had asked when Wen Qiao would return. Upon learning that she had arrived in Hang City the previous night, he included her portion when he bought breakfast for the entire crew today.


    Song Qian was distributing breakfast to the crew members and was just about to put Wen Qiao¡¯s breakfast on the small table inside her tent when she arrived.


    "Hey, you¡¯ve arrived just in time. Here¡¯s your breakfast."


    Wen Qiao thanked him, took the breakfast and placed it on the table, and then proceeded to take down the curtains that were hanging around her tent.


    Upon seeing this, Song Qian curiously asked, "Why are you taking down all the curtains?"


    Although Song Qian had seen her rescue Lin Ruochun from the water that night, he didn¡¯t know the specifics of the situation. Since Jiang Wei had already received her deserved punishment, and Wen Qiao had no plans to bring the matter up again, she changed the topic.


    "My agent said I was being pretentious. Everyone else¡¯s tents aren¡¯t surrounded by curtains, and with mine covered all around, there¡¯s fear that people will spin stories about me seeking special treatment. So, I was told to take them down."


    Song Qian nodded in understanding: "That¡¯s the helplessness of being a public figure. Every move you make is magnified infinitely, and you end up being criticized by those who don¡¯t know the facts of the

 Chapter 239 - 237: The Birth of a New Generation of Emojis

    Chapter 239: Chapter 237: The Birth of a New Generation of Emojis"You can¡¯t enjoy the glamour of the stage without people judging and gossiping about you, there¡¯s no such perfect scenario," Wen Qiao looked much more composed than Song Qian. She shrugged indifferently, "No one can please everyone, but as long as you do your best within your abilities and have a clear conscience, that¡¯s good enough."


    In the end, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Wen Qiao added, "Plus, we make quite a bit of money. Let them talk if they want to."


    "I feel comforted," Deliveryman Song nodded in agreement before something occurred to him, "How about we go for a late-night snack tonight? I promised to treat you and Princess Lin."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up, "No problem!"


    "Then you go tell her, and I¡¯ll go deliver breakfast to the others first."


    "Sure, thanks for the hard work, Deliveryman Song."


    Song Qian gave her a helpless look and left with bags containing several breakfasts.


    Once the curtain was removed, the morning sun beamed in, bright and almost blinding.


    Wen Qiao raised a hand to shield her eyes, turned around, and saw Lin Ruochun comfortably enjoying porridge in the shade. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she headed straight for her tent, grabbed Lin Ruochun by the back of the neck, lifted her from her exclusive stool, and quickly sat down in her place.


    Lin Ruochun stood next to Wen Qiao, holding a paper bowl of porridge, bewildered, with a grain of rice hanging on her mouth, totally clueless about what had just happened.


    It wasn¡¯t until she heard a contented sigh from beside her that she turned her head with a spoon in her mouth, staring wide-eyed at Wen Qiao, who had occupied her territory and was happily sipping porridge, "What are you doing!"


    "Eating," Wen Qiao tapped on her porridge bowl, "Don¡¯t play dumb, are you blind or something?"


    "Why can¡¯t you eat at your own place! Why come here, how am I supposed to eat?" Lin Ruochun plucked the spoon from her mouth and took a step to stand right in front of Wen Qiao, looking down at her, trying to intimidate her.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t even lift her head, just pulled Lin Ruochun¡¯s arm to the side, satisfyingly saying, "Hey, that¡¯s right, just stand there, you¡¯ll block the sun for me."


    Lin Ruochun was so annoyed she could barely breathe, "....." S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After a while, Wen Qiao lazily lifted her head to glance at Lin Ruochun overhead, then lowered her gaze leisurely to take another sip of porridge, "Stop huffing and puffing, you¡¯ll flare your nostrils. With so many paparazzi around the film city, if they take a photo and post it online, netizens might Photoshop smoke clouds on your nostrils, and a new meme will be born."


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s breathing immediately steadied, then, still feeling indignant, she kicked Wen Qiao¡¯s foot. Watching her leg slide and the arm resting on her knee fall, almost spilling the porridge in her hands, she gave a slightly satisfied "hmph" and moved to the other side of the small table. She pulled out a folding stool from underneath and sat down opposite Wen Qiao.


    Wen Qiao clicked her tongue in disappointment, "There goes my human sunshade."


    Lin Ruochun pretended not to hear her remark and continued to drink her vegetable porridge.


    A little while later, Wen Qiao prompted, "Hey, Song Qian suggested going for barbecue tonight."


    "Yeah, great," Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes sparkled, then she remembered something, and her expression quickly fell. She hung her head, stirring the porridge in her bowl, "But that¡¯ll make me gain weight, my agent definitely won¡¯t let me eat it."

 Chapter 240 - 238: The New Second Female Lead

    Chapter 240: Chapter 238: The New Second Female LeadWen Qiao lifted her eyelids to take a glance across the table and saw Lin Ruochun¡¯s pitiful little face, her brows sullen and drooping. Reaching out, she scratched under Ruochun¡¯s chin, "Hey, just eat a little less, and then get up early tomorrow morning to go for a run. No need to deprive your poor mouth."


    "Running?" Lin Ruochun perked up a bit and asked, "Will you accompany me?"


    "I¡¯d rather not." Wen Qiao quickly withdrew her hand upon hearing this and continued to slurp her porridge quietly.


    "Hey!" Lin Ruochun glared at her, "Don¡¯t you need to exercise to burn calories?"


    "No need," Wen Qiao chuckled proudly, "I don¡¯t get fat."


    Lin Ruochun took a deep breath, stretched out a hand, and pointed in a random direction, "Get out of my trailer, now, immediately, at once!"


    "Don¡¯t get so fired up first thing in the morning."


    Compared to Lin Ruochun¡¯s explosive temper, Wen Qiao was much more composed. She rolled an egg around the table with her slender, dexterous fingers, and in no time she had peeled the shell. She handed the smooth egg to Lin Ruochun, "Here, peeled it for you."


    "....."


    Lin Ruochun looked at the egg in front of her and then at Wen Qiao¡¯s grinning face, reluctantly accepting it, "I¡¯m magnanimous. I won¡¯t hold it against you."


    "Okay," Wen Qiao started peeling another egg, "As long as you¡¯re happy."


    All of a sudden, Lin Ruochun said, "I heard that our new female lead will be joining us today."


    Wen Qiao raised her eyebrows in slight surprise, "Really? Director Zhang found someone so quickly?"


    "It seems it wasn¡¯t Director Zhang who found her, but that she happened to be free and approached us on her own."


    After finishing the last spoonful of porridge, Lin Ruochun patted her stomach and belched, continuing under Wen Qiao¡¯s disgusted gaze, "She¡¯s apparently from Huasong, and wasn¡¯t there news of a car accident a while back?"


    Wen Qiao set the egg yolk aside, crushed the egg white in her porridge, and stirred it lazily before saying, "With all these ¡¯seems¡¯ and ¡¯apparently,¡¯ how credible is this news?"


    "It¡¯s credible!" Lin Ruochun got upset again at being doubted, "My information is always reliable, alright? You can question the paparazzi¡¯s sources, but not mine."


    Wen Qiao let out a scoff, about to retort when she stopped stirring her porridge.


    Wait a minute.


    Huasong?


    Car accident? Could it be such a coincidence? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    She suddenly lifted her head from her bowl of porridge, looking at Lin Ruochun, "Do you know the name of the new female lead?"


    "Why are you asking me if you think I¡¯m unreliable?" Lin Ruochun turned her head away haughtily, but before Wen Qiao could press further, she couldn¡¯t hold back, "Never mind, I¡¯ll tell you. After all, I¡¯m generous. It¡¯s something Wen¡ªhuh? Wen what was it¡ª"


    "Ladies and gentlemen."


    Before Lin Ruochun could recall the new actress¡¯s name, Director Zhang walked in from outside the set, a woman following behind him.


    Hearing Director Zhang¡¯s voice, everyone on set turned to look.


    "Due to some incidents that happened before, we¡¯ve had to change our female lead," Director Zhang said while stepping to the side to gesture towards the woman standing next to him, "This is Wen Shu, who previously starred in ¡¯Ju Lian¡¯, and she will be playing the role of Princess Xuanjia from now on."


    "Ah! Right! Her name is Wen Shu."


    Prompted by the director¡¯s "hint," Lin Ruochun finally remembered the new female lead¡¯s name.

 Chapter 241 - 239: The Ideal Living State for Modern Women

    Chapter 241: Chapter 239: The Ideal Living State for Modern WomenIn the midst of the lively welcome for the newcomer, only one person seemed out of place, but fortunately, no one noticed her discomfort.


    Wen Qiao sat on a small stool, a headache causing her to cover her forehead as she heaved a sigh.


    Oh dear Lord.


    -


    When reading the script, Wen Qiao¡¯s feelings towards Wen Shu, the female lead, were neither fond nor disliking, simply filled with some astonishment. The Mary Sue protagonist of the novel indeed had limitless charm, climbing to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry through her own efforts, winning both the male lead¡¯s heart and the admiration of the powerful male supporting character¡ª


    Namely, her handsome and wealthy fianc¨¦ with an antique personality, Fu Jinghen, who remained infatuated with her.


    Victorious in both love and career, she truly lived out the life every modern woman dreams of, exceptional and self-actualized.


    However, it was because of her that Wen Qiao¡¯s former identity had met an unfortunate end, though a large part of it was due to her predecessor¡¯s own foolish behavior. Thus, upon seeing the real Wen Shu, Wen Qiao felt an indescribably subtle emotion stir within her.


    Since the role of Princess Xuanjia in "Red Makeup" was that of the second female lead, and because of Jiang Wei¡¯s circumstances, all scenes involving the second female had to be reshot. Moreover, Ye Shengnan had taken leave to attend to prior engagements out of town and would not return for two days. Plus, the filming process for Wen Qiao and Ye Shengnan, the leads, had been going smoothly with ample time. Hence, the entire morning had been spent catching up on the scenes for Princess Xuanjia.


    Ever since she had taken over Lin Ruochun¡¯s territory in the morning, Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t left the spot, realizing that Lin Ruochun¡¯s area wasn¡¯t touched by the sun throughout the day¡ªan enormous geographical advantage. Despite Lin Ruochun¡¯s disdain and sky-high rolling of her eyes, Wen Qiao moved all her belongings over to her spot.


    At this moment, Wen Qiao was leisurely seated on Lin Ruochun¡¯s small stool, with milk tea Wen Shu¡¯s agent had just bought placed on the table¡ªunder the pretense of Wen Shu being new and treating everyone to milk tea.


    Although female stars usually kept their distance from high-sugar drinks like milk tea, they accepted the gesture graciously. Besides, Wen Shu¡¯s arrival undoubtedly solved a major problem for the entire crew. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Not long ago, due to Jiang Wei¡¯s incident, Director Zhang had been gloomy, but now the clouds seemed to break, brightening the atmosphere on set considerably.


    So, at present, the crew¡¯s impression of Wen Shu was rather good.


    The other crew members had gone to watch Wen Shu¡¯s filming, leaving only Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun at the shed.


    Wen Qiao held the script in one hand and a highlighter in the other, marking it up.


    Lin Ruochun also held a script but kept glancing towards Wen Shu, who was filming in the distance.


    "If you want to watch so badly, why not go over?" Wen Qiao put down the highlighter and switched to a black pen, annotating her own interpretation next to her lines in the script.


    Lin Ruochun redirected her gaze to her own script and feigned interest, "No, I don¡¯t have the leisure to watch others film."


    Eventually, she muttered under her breath, "If I went, would I leave you here all by yourself? That¡¯s not my style."


    Wen Qiao, catching the comment with sharp ears, smiled and placed her script on the table, standing up, "I¡¯m going to the restroom."


    Lin Ruochun looked up at her and continued to grumble, "Go if you want to go, why bother telling me?"

 Chapter 242 - 240: Unappealing Without Wen Shu

    Chapter 242: Chapter 240: Unappealing Without Wen ShuWen Qiao said helplessly, "I was asking if you wanted to go together."


    Lin Ruochun glanced at the script and phone spread out on the table and shook her head, "Why are you acting like a child, needing someone to accompany you even to the bathroom? I¡¯m not going."


    "....."


    Two hours earlier, Jiang Yao had received a call from Director Li Mushun to discuss some details of the contract. Since Wen Qiao had only just returned last night, it wouldn¡¯t be good for her to leave again, so Jiang Yao rushed back alone.


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s agent also went to discuss other collaborations for her, and her assistant had fallen sick with a fever. Lin Ruochun had given her the day off to rest well in the hotel.


    Thus, before the two agents left, they entrusted Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun to each other, asking them to supervise one another, not to cause any trouble, and to behave themselves.


    Now that it was just the two of them, Wen Qiao knew she wanted to keep an eye on their things, to prevent a repeat of the last incident, and she didn¡¯t mind the mocking tone in her words.


    It was only that as she walked past her, she ruffled her hair roughly, "Such a contrary little kid."


    Then she strode away quickly.


    Lin Ruochun, her hair tousled into a nest, watched Wen Qiao¡¯s departing figure and called out, "Who are you calling a kid? You¡¯re the kid!"


    -


    If there¡¯s a place in the world that¡¯s the best for listening to gossip and secrets, it has to be the women¡¯s bathroom.


    Right now, Wen Qiao was sitting on the toilet in a stall, listening to people outside discussing the new second female lead of the drama crew ¡ª


    Wen Shu. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two outside had come in shortly after she had entered.


    "Wen Shu is really so gentle. Just now, during the break, I saw fans coming to ask her for autographs and photos, and she agreed to all of them, without rejecting a single one."


    "I saw that too. She only had a few minutes of rest time, yet she didn¡¯t turn down the fans¡¯ requests."


    "She also spoke in such a soft and gentle voice."


    The voices outside faded, and Wen Qiao stood up from the toilet, buttoning her pants when she heard voices outside again, but this time the discussion wasn¡¯t just about Wen Shu alone; it included another person.


    "Hey, don¡¯t you think Wen Shu and Wen Qiao look a bit alike, around the eyes and brows?"


    "Now that you mention it, they do, and the overall feeling is similar, but I think Wen Shu is a bit prettier."


    "Haha, I think so, too. Wen Qiao just looks too aggressive, too seductive, doesn¡¯t have the same likeability as Wen Shu."


    "And thinking about those things she¡¯s been involved with in the past... tsk tsk tsk..."


    "I heard that Qi Ming seems to be pursuing Wen Shu. Did you watch his interview the other day? When the host asked him if he had any plans for a relationship recently, he said he did."


    "Yeah, I saw it, I saw it. The host also asked if it was someone from within the industry, and he said yes. Then look at his Weibo; he only followed one girl, Wen Shu, and also their previous Weibo interactions. Isn¡¯t it obvious?"


    "One is the woman he once pursued, and the other is the woman he wants to pursue now, both in the same drama crew. What a chaotic scene."


    Hearing this, Wen Qiao sneered disdainfully.


    This is what you call a chaotic scene?


    Add on the condition of her own fianc¨¦ and his nephew both liking the same woman, now that would truly be a chaotic scene.


    She raised her hand to press the flush button and walked out of the stall.


    The two women outside clearly hadn¡¯t expected someone else to be in the restroom, let alone one of the subjects they had just been discussing. Now caught red-handed by the very person, both showed varying degrees of embarrassment on their faces.


    Neither staying nor leaving felt right.

 Chapter 243 - 241: My Sexual Orientation is Very Normal

    Chapter 243: Chapter 241: My Sexual Orientation is Very NormalWen Qiao acted as if she hadn¡¯t seen the two petrified people, rinsed the foam off her hands at the sink, and dried them with a paper towel. She casually glanced at the mirror, catching a glimpse of the two, then slowly began, "You guys don¡¯t know that the women¡¯s restroom is widely recognized as the best place to spread secrets? If I were you, I¡¯d communicate in Morse code."


    After speaking, Wen Qiao gave them a friendly smile, then precisely threw the crumpled towel into the trash can and exited the restroom.


    She hadn¡¯t gone far when she spotted a man and woman approaching together on the opposite side. She genuinely wanted to check the lunar calendar on her phone to see if it advised against going out today.


    Qi Ming knew that today was Wen Shu¡¯s day to join the cast and specifically came to visit the set. He had also ordered lunch for the entire crew. Just as it was delivered, Wen Shu said she was going to the restroom, so Qi Ming accompanied her.


    The man was dressed casually and was tall while the woman, slim and looking unencumbered even in her costume, approached against the light. They indeed made a good-looking pair.


    At the sight of Wen Qiao, Qi Ming tensed and instinctively shifted his body to shield Wen Shu beside him.


    Seeing this, Wen Qiao¡¯s eyebrows arched slightly in mischief. If she hadn¡¯t wanted to avoid further entanglement with Qi Ming, she would really have given him a massive eye roll.


    What was that move about? sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Afraid she might hit Wen Shu?


    How amusing.


    Did he think they were in some melodramatic soap opera, and she was the evil supporting actress?


    However, Wen Shu seemed to misunderstand her gesture, thinking Wen Qiao¡¯s raised eyebrow was teasing, and awkwardly smiled back at her.


    Considering the circumstances, and since they were now in the same crew with scenes together, Wen Qiao nodded at Wen Shu in acknowledgement.


    Qi Ming looked down tenderly at Wen Shu and said, "Go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here for you."


    Wen Shu glanced at Wen Qiao and then nodded, "Okay."


    Wen Qiao, having been glanced at, thought, "?"


    What are you looking at me for?


    She thought this encounter would conclude perfectly there, but evidently, Qi Ming, possibly flawed in his thinking, literally blocked her way and said, "I have something to tell you."


    "..."


    After a second of shock, Wen Qiao returned to her expressionless face, "But I don¡¯t want to listen."


    Yet Qi Ming, as if he hadn¡¯t heard her at all, grasped her wrist and without asking, dragged her to a corner, "Let me be upfront, now that Xiao Shu is in your crew, I¡¯m warning you to behave yourself. Don¡¯t harbor any inappropriate thoughts about her, because even if little uncle backs you up, I won¡¯t let you off."


    "..."


    Heh.


    Wen Qiao folded her arms and looked leisurely up at Qi Ming, towering over her by a head¡¯s height, "What do you mean by inappropriate thoughts? Like coveting her beauty and trying to trick her into bed? Well, you can rest easy, my sexual orientation is quite normal."


    Qi Ming seemed taken aback by Wen Qiao¡¯s words, struggling to keep up with her train of thought. His lips opened and closed, and it took him a while to choke out, "Are you even a woman, saying things like that?"


    "What¡¯s wrong with what I said, did it pollute your ears?" Wen Qiao hooked her lips in a smirk, her eyes devoid of any humor, "Sorry about that, but my mouth is my own and I¡¯ll say whatever I like. If you don¡¯t want to hear it, you might consider cutting off your own ears."

 Chapter 244 - 242: Wrecking the House When You Go Crazy

    Chapter 244: Chapter 242: Wrecking the House When You Go CrazyPerhaps it was the indifference in Wen Qiao¡¯s tone that daunted Qi Ming. His eyes widened, and he even raised his hand as if he wanted to cover his ears.


    Seeing this, the indifference in Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes faded slightly, and she relaxed a bit, "You don¡¯t still think I like you and would do something to your Xiao Shu out of jealousy, do you?"


    Although Wen Qiao didn¡¯t say it outright, her facial expression clearly screamed, "You¡¯re really full of yourself."


    Qi Ming, not often embarrassed, still stubbornly retorted, "Isn¡¯t that so?"


    "First, let me clarify that I am a law-abiding citizen and would not engage in illegal activities," Wen Qiao said, "Second, why would I love you, a brat who can compete with a husky in silliness, when I could love your handsome little uncle? What would I gain from that?"


    Qi Ming: "..."


    Wen Qiao looked at Qi Ming with amusement, as though observing a young one making an unreasonable fuss, "Are you saying because you can go crazy and tear up the house?"


    After she said this, she saw that Qi Ming¡¯s expression had clearly turned indignant. She snorted with laughter and pushed past him, "Take heart and keep your worries to yourself; I have no designs on you, nor on her."


    Taking a couple of steps away, Wen Qiao remembered something, turned back, and added, "As for whether I am a woman or not, your little uncle is very clear on that¡ªyou can ask him about it."


    Having said that, Wen Qiao left without looking back.


    When Wen Shu came out, she happened upon the sight of Wen Qiao walking away, while Qi Ming watched the retreating figure with a thoughtful gaze.


    She approached Qi Ming, patting his shoulder, "What are you looking at so intently?"


    Qi Ming snapped back to reality, "Nothing."


    "Then let¡¯s go; let¡¯s have lunch and taste the feast you¡¯ve generously ordered."


    Qi Ming grinned, "Okay, I guarantee you¡¯ll be pleased."


    -


    This afternoon, they were still mainly shooting Princess Xuanjia¡¯s scenes, so Director Zhang let the actors without parts to film arrange their time freely. Even if they stayed on set, there was nothing to do¡ªit was better to go out and relax.


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t want to suffer under the scorching sun, so after lunch, she thought about taking a nap and headed back to her hotel room.


    Fu Jinghen sent a message just as Wen Qiao entered her room and put her hair up. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao snapped a picture of the box lunch on the table and sent it to him, answering his "What are you doing?" message.


    The next second, Fu Jinghen¡¯s video call request popped up.


    Wen Qiao answered, "What¡¯s with you and launching video calls without preamble? What if someone else saw it? That wouldn¡¯t be good."


    "It¡¯s fine; you¡¯re in your room."


    It was a statement, not a question.


    Wen Qiao replied with surprise, "How do you know?"


    Fu Jinghen peered at Wen Qiao¡¯s curious little face and felt a ticklish urge, "I recognize the table in your room."


    "Wow, is President Fu always so attentive?"


    Fu Jinghen chuckled at Wen Qiao¡¯s flattering tone and asked casually, "Did Director Zhang improve the food for you guys?"


    "No," Wen Qiao said, picking out strips of ginger from her food as she spoke, "It was your husky-like nephew who upgraded our meal."


    Fu Jinghen asked, "Ah Ming?"


    Wen Qiao: "Who else would your nephew be?"


    "What¡¯s he doing at the set?" Fu Jinghen straightened up a bit, his gaze on Wen Qiao shifting.


    "Director Zhang cast Wen Shu as the new second female lead." Wen Qiao said, lifting her head from the box lunch, and leisurely met Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze on the screen.

 Chapter 245 - 243: Beating Up the Woman You Like on the Ground

    Chapter 245: Chapter 243: Beating Up the Woman You Like on the GroundFu Jinghen heard Wen Qiao say that, and the tension that had inexplicably tightened in his heart just then inexplicably relaxed. He asked as if casually, "Did you see each other?"


    Even though Fu Jinghen was good at hiding his feelings, Wen Qiao still caught a trace of nervousness in his eyes.


    What?


    Another person afraid that she would do something to Wen Shu?


    Truly, like uncle, like nephew¡ªthey all worried about the same person, and even those they feared might harm the ones they were concerned about were the same.


    Wen Qiao suddenly grew irritated, suppressing her impatience, "Do you think the set is as big as the Imperial Palace or the Great Wall? How could we not run into each other unless I¡¯m blind?"


    Fu Jinghen uttered an "Mhm" before asking, "And then?"


    ?


    And then what?


    And then your mom.


    "You want to ask what I did after seeing them?" Wen Qiao put down her chopsticks and looked unwaveringly at the Fu Jinghen on the screen, her voice unconsciously growing colder, "I beat up the woman you like on the ground because I was jealous. Happy now?"


    Fu Jinghen frowned, "What did you say?"


    "What did I say, are you deaf or what, I don¡¯t want to repeat myself. If you didn¡¯t hear clearly, go find the replay."


    After lashing out in a flurry of words, Wen Qiao hung up the phone.


    The room went back to being quiet, and Wen Qiao, looking at the appetizing meal in front of her, lost her appetite. She covered the dishes and sent a message to Lin Ruochun¡ª Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: I¡¯m going to sleep for a while, come wake me up at three.]


    [Ah Chun: Why, can¡¯t you set an alarm? Why do you need me to come wake you up?]


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: I lost my phone.]


    [Ah Chun: ???]


    [Ah Chun: Then who is sending me messages now?]


    Wen Qiao didn¡¯t reply to Lin Ruochun¡¯s message. After hanging up on Fu Jinghen¡¯s call again, she muted her phone, flipped over on her bed, rolled up until the blanket completely enveloped her, and then closed her eyes to sleep.


    Damn men.


    All go to hell.


    -


    Fu Jinghen, hearing the mechanical voice on the other end of the line saying "I¡¯m sorry, the user you have dialed is currently unavailable, please try again later," his expression grew extremely dark.


    His mind replayed Wen Qiao¡¯s words "I beat up the woman you like on the ground because I was jealous. Happy now?" over and over.


    What was he happy about?


    Was he happy that she beat someone up or that she was jealous because Qi Ming was too good to Wen Shu?


    The door of the office was knocked, and Fu Jinghen spoke in a deep voice, "Come in."


    Feng Li, carrying a stack of documents in need of Fu Jinghen¡¯s signature, stepped in and instantly sensed that something was off in the office atmosphere.


    After seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s not so sunny face, his heart skipped a beat.


    How could President Fu¡¯s mood have taken such a dive in just an hour?


    Feng Li placed the documents on the table, glanced at Fu Jinghen in a hurry, and quickly said, "President Fu, these are the documents that require your signature. If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯ll head out now."


    Fu Jinghen lifted his gaze to look at him, "Why, is your mouth on loan and you¡¯re in a rush to return it?"


    Feng Li instantly broke out in a cold sweat, "No, not at all."


    "Get out."


    "Alright."


    As Feng Li reached the door, Fu Jinghen suddenly called out to him again.


    Feng Li immediately stood straight, "President Fu, do you have any further instructions?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s fingertips tapped on the desk, making a "tap tap" sound. He pondered for a while, then said, "Did Wen Qiao¡¯s agent say anything to you today?"

 Chapter 246 - 244: You鈥檙e Worthy?

    Chapter 246: Chapter 244: You¡¯re Worthy? Feng Li was struck by a moment of realization; it turned out that President Fu was in a foul mood today because of the Boss Lady. Knowing the cause of the problem meant he could find the right remedy. "I mentioned it, I mentioned it, Jiang Yao said she¡¯s going back to Beicheng today to talk with Director Li Mushun about the Boss Lady¡¯s first variety show project."


    "....."


    This useless piece of news was no different from asking nothing at all.


    Fu Jinghen waved his hand to signal Feng Li to leave.


    With a sense of grievance, Feng Li let out an "oh" and opened the office door to leave.


    He had already informed President Fu about the Boss Lady, so why did President Fu seem to dislike him even more?


    He took out his phone and sent a message to Jiang Yao¡ª


    [Sharp Feng Li: President Fu¡¯s mood is very unpleasant today. What did the Boss Lady do to him?]


    [Yao a Yao: What did she do? I don¡¯t know, let me ask.]


    In no time, Jiang Yao¡¯s message came back¡ª


    [Yao a Yao: I think regardless of who¡¯s at fault, as a man, you should bow your head first and try to cajole the woman.]


    ?


    From that perspective, was it President Fu who did something wrong?


    [Sharp Feng Li: How do you cajole?]


    [Yao a Yao: Spend money on her.]  S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    [Sharp Feng Li: ....]


    -


    Wen Qiao woke up after a little over an hour of sleep, having had several dreams intermittently, yet the scenes in those dreams were all strikingly similar.


    That was of her pinning Fu Jinghen to the ground and giving him a good thrashing.


    She hugged her quilt and stared at the ceiling for a while before lazily sitting up, crawling to the desk, and grabbing her phone.


    First, she sent a message to Lin Ruochun telling her she was up and that there was no need to come wake her. Only then did she exit and open Fu Jinghen¡¯s chat.


    The message was sent half an hour earlier¡ª


    [Fu Jinghen: Where¡¯s my meal?]


    Wen Qiao huffed.


    He bothered her and still wanted to eat?


    Thinking such a beautiful thought, as if he was dreaming?


    [Qiaoqiao¡¯s not full: Eat? Do you think you¡¯re worthy?]


    With an air of satisfaction, Wen Qiao sent the message, then she got up barefoot from the bed and drifted into the bathroom.


    She and Lin Ruochun had agreed to check out the set in the afternoon and then take a stroll around afterwards.


    After washing up, she opened the door, and at the same moment, the door next to hers also opened. Lin Ruochun was surprised to see Wen Qiao, "What¡¯s going on, why are you wearing makeup? Are you okay?"


    Wen Qiao lifted her chin: "I¡¯m in a good mood. Can¡¯t I put on makeup to look pretty?"


    The two closed their doors and walked out side by side. Wen Qiao remembered what she heard in the bathroom that morning and nudged Lin Ruochun¡¯s arm, asking her, "Do you think I look like Wen Shu?"


    "Wen Shu? Who¡¯s that?"


    "...."


    Lin Ruochun was baffled for a moment before she realized the person Wen Qiao was referring to, the new female lead in their crew, "Who thinks so? Where do you look alike? She looks like a decent housewife, and then there¡¯s you."


    "What about me?" Wen Qiao arched her eyebrows, her face screaming "You¡¯d better speak nicely, or I¡¯m going to hit you"


    However, Lin Ruochun seemed oblivious to that tacit warning, pressed the elevator button, and said, "You look like a seductive fairy, no comparison with her."


    "...."


    Okay, then.


    Although the beginning of that sentence sounded odd, the final part, "no comparison with her," did manage to please Wen Qiao.


    Entering the elevator, Wen Qiao answered Lin Ruochun¡¯s initial question, "Someone in our crew said I look like Wen Shu."


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes widened, "Who? Who said that? Tell me, I¡¯ll take her to the eye doctor for free. Getting her vision fixed would be good for our crew."

 Chapter 247 - 245: Courting Favor

    Chapter 247: Chapter 245: Courting FavorWen Qiao affectionately patted Lin Ruochun¡¯s head with an especially gentle tone, "Don¡¯t worry about it, no need to waste money on insignificant people."


    "Don¡¯t touch my head!" Lin Ruochun vehemently swatted Wen Qiao¡¯s hand away, "Every time you pat my head, I feel like you¡¯re treating me like a dog."


    "Your feeling is wrong."


    Wen Qiao, without any explanation, placed her hand back on Lin Ruochun¡¯s head.


    Lin Ruochun watched her reflection in the elevator doors, looking totally at the mercy of someone else...


    And then there was Wen Qiao, who had just been denying it, but her face clearly broadcasted, "Surprisingly, your feelings are quite sharp, you¡¯re not wrong, I do indeed see you like a little dog."


    Forget it.


    Struggling was pointless.


    -


    As soon as they arrived on set, Song Qian, who was sitting under Lin Ruochun¡¯s tent, noticed the two of them right away.


    "You two have such perfect timing. Our crew just started handing out perks, and I was thinking about whether to bring them over to you."


    Lin Ruochun asked, "What perks?"


    Song Qian replied with a smile, "Does afternoon tea from Qifang Fragrance count as a perk?"


    Qifang Fragrance is a renowned feature of Hang City, visible in every corner, but nowhere to be seen outside the city; it¡¯s a local chain of dessert stores that doesn¡¯t accept any delivery orders. On holidays, it¡¯s packed with customers, and yet now they were providing delivery services to their set, which was indeed surprising.


    Wen Qiao exclaimed in surprise, "Did our crew strike it rich?"


    "It¡¯s more like the God of Wealth has visited our crew." Song Qian then mysteriously brought out the portion that belonged to the two of them and handed it over, "Here, I saved this especially for you two." S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun accepted it, and Lin Ruochun was the first to open the packaging. Inside the brown paper box were all sorts of colorful desserts, a sight that immediately cheered you up.


    At that moment, someone had to spoil the mood with a "Tsk, tsk, tsk, think about how many pounds you¡¯ll gain from one bite."


    Lin Ruochun, who had just reached for a custard tart, froze mid-motion, looking at Wen Qiao with mournful eyes, "Will you die if you don¡¯t speak?"


    "I¡¯m just giving you a friendly reminder." Wen Qiao smoothed down Lin Ruochun¡¯s ruffled hair and then turned to Song Qian, "You haven¡¯t told us, who is this God of Wealth?"


    "It¡¯s President Fu, who else could it be?"


    "...."


    Wen Qiao looked at the colorful desserts in her hand and suddenly felt her mood wasn¡¯t that perfect after all.


    What¡¯s going on?


    The nephew ordered a luxurious lunch to impress his sweetheart at noon, and in the afternoon, the uncle went to the trouble of ordering afternoon tea to compete for favor; it really was quite the spectacle.


    Did they really think they were in a romance drama?


    If she weren¡¯t the fianc¨¦e of one of these two gentlemen, watching this sort of splurge for a woman¡¯s smile would probably have her clapping her hands in delight.


    Should she remind Fu Jinghen that their engagement hadn¡¯t been called off yet?


    Don¡¯t be so eager to court other women.


    Wen Qiao stuffed her box of desserts into Lin Ruochun¡¯s hands, "Here, take them all."


    Lin Ruochun, puzzled, made a sound, "Are you trying to fatten me to death?"


    "Yeah, I¡¯m also trying to stuff you to death."


    Lin Ruochun saw Wen Qiao looking at the two boxes of desserts in her arms with a strange gleam in her eyes, as if she wanted to stare holes in them.


    What on earth?


    She glanced at Song Qian and saw that he was engrossed in playing video games, so she placed the desserts on the table, edged closer to Wen Qiao with tiny steps, and whispered, "What¡¯s wrong? Had a fight with Brother Jinghen?"

 Chapter 248 - 246: The Situation Seems Quite Serious

    Chapter 248: Chapter 246: The Situation Seems Quite SeriousAs soon as Lin Ruochun finished speaking, Wen Qiao scoffed coldly and dismissively, "Argue with him? What¡¯s the cause? Because there¡¯s a six-year gap between us, he was about to pack his bags for first grade while I wasn¡¯t even born yet? So because I mentioned the great weather in Hang City today, he decided to have an academic discussion about global warming with me?"


    "....."


    After Wen Qiao¡¯s words, the curious expression Lin Ruochun had about the gossip had disappeared, replaced by a poker face. Finally, she nodded, "Although I don¡¯t quite understand what you¡¯re saying, judging from your tone and expression, my guess just now seems correct, and it seems like your situation is pretty serious."


    Actually, Wen Qiao herself didn¡¯t even know what she was saying, but what she knew was that her mood wasn¡¯t good, and that was enough.


    How to put it, it felt weird.


    Her chest felt stuffy, as if there was a clump of air trapped and unable to escape.


    As for the specific reason, Wen Qiao was too lazy to think about it.


    So Lin Ruochun saw Wen Qiao¡¯s previously sullen face, looking as if someone owed her money, suddenly brighten up.


    "Let¡¯s go shopping."


    After all, if she didn¡¯t spend the money, Fu Jinghen would just end up spending it on someone else. She might as well spend more, as she was soon to be Mrs. Fu anyway. It makes sense to spend his money, rather than leaving it to hurt him by staying in his wallet.


    Wen Qiao hooked Lin Ruochun¡¯s neck, swinging her arm grandly in a carefree and unrestrained manner.


    Lin Ruochun inexplicably felt her status had risen, from being Wen Qiao¡¯s little puppy to her little lover.


    Hearing this, Song Qian didn¡¯t even lift his head as he shooed them to leave, "Go ahead, it¡¯s boring to stay here anyway. If you end up shopping late, we¡¯ll just meet at the barbecue stall."


    "Is Little Director Song coming with us?" Wen Qiao asked him.


    After getting the ¡¯first blood¡¯ in the game, Song Qian was controlling his character to heal back in town. It gave him a moment to look up at the two women, his eyes woeful, "Are you doing this on purpose? You know I can¡¯t leave and yet ask me to go out? Plus, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know your real plan, thinking of getting me to carry bags? Let me tell you, no way! Song Qian¡¯s hands are meant for handling cameras and moving props, I absolutely won¡¯t carry bags for women!"


    Lin Ruochun exclaimed, "Why are you so opposed to carrying a woman¡¯s bag? What will you do if you have a girlfriend in the future? Make her carry her own? You¡¯ll end up all alone if you do that."


    Song Qian¡¯s mind unconsciously pictured the times when his mom went crazy shopping, and he and his dad ended up carrying bags branded with different logos.


    With his game character fully healed, Song Qian bent his head back down, muttering, "If having a girlfriend means I absolutely have to carry her bags, I¡¯d rather be alone forever."


    Lin Ruochun tugged at the hand Wen Qiao had hanging in front of her, looking up at her, "Can you believe he¡¯d rather not have a girlfriend just to avoid carrying bags? What kind of extreme straight male cancer is this?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s tone was light, "No worries, when that time comes, just get a boyfriend and then there¡¯s no need to carry any bags."


    The screen went black; Song Qian saw his character¡¯s "corpse" lying in the bushes.


    "Ah, Little Lu Ban is dead," Wen Qiao stretched her neck for a peek, clicking her tongue in pity, "Did he die because his shorter legs couldn¡¯t run past Di Renjie?"


    S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 249 - 247: Are You Even a Woman?

    Chapter 249: Chapter 247: Are You Even a Woman?Song Qian lifted his eyelids to look at Wen Qiao again, exuding an air thick with grievance.


    Lin Ruochun spoke up at just the right moment: "He¡¯s getting anxious."


    "Then let¡¯s hurry up and go."


    Wen Qiao hooked Lin Ruochun¡¯s shoulder and led her around a corner, heading towards the exit.


    At this point, Song Qian had ten seconds until his "respawn." He heard Wen Qiao¡¯s voice drift into his ears¡ª


    "Why worry, Little Lu Ban? Can¡¯t even outrun enemies, let alone get a girlfriend. Isn¡¯t that just dragging down the girl¡¯s gene pool?"


    "Wen Qiao!" Song Qian shot up from his chair, "I heard that!" S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    He received nothing but a nonchalant wave from the retreating figures and an exceedingly insincere¡ª


    "Oh, then I¡¯ll keep it down."


    "......"


    Song Qian lowered his head to look at his legs, then, realizing that he was actually affected by Wen Qiao¡¯s words, he abruptly looked up again.


    I¡¯m 183 centimeters tall; how could my legs possibly be short.


    That¡¯s ridiculous.


    -


    Celebrities film daily in the film and television city, greatly stimulating consumption there. Next to it, there¡¯s a large shopping mall¡ªthe first and second floors sell sports brands and other reasonably priced labels, while the third to fifth floors feature high-end luxury shops. The top two floors above the fifth are dining areas.


    After entering, Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun headed straight for the third floor.


    Lin Ruochun thought she shopped crazily until she realized today what ¡¯There¡¯s always someone better¡¯ really meant.


    In less than an hour, both their hands were almost full, with items belonging to both her and Wen Qiao, but mostly Wen Qiao¡¯s.


    Once inside a store, Wen Qiao didn¡¯t even bother trying things on. She simply told the salesperson her size, had the items bagged, and swiped her card¡ªthe entire series of actions took less than ten minutes.


    The way she threw money around, treating it like dirt, left Lin Ruochun staring agape.


    When Wen Qiao picked up a dress that was almost identical to a red velvet one she bought twenty minutes ago, Lin Ruochun stopped her.


    Wen Qiao looked at her, puzzled: "What¡¯s up? You like it? I¡¯ll give it to you."


    "It¡¯s not that, I don¡¯t like it." Lin Ruochun looked at her and said seriously, "Calm down a bit. You¡¯re not short on clothes. Are you really going to wear all these clothes you¡¯re buying all at once? Moreover, the dress you¡¯re holding now is practically the same design as the one you bought from the shop next to the next shop twenty minutes ago."


    After saying that, even Lin Ruochun herself was startled for a moment. Before today, if anyone had told Lin Ruochun that one day she would utter the words "Calm down, you won¡¯t finish wearing all these clothes," she would have thought that person was crazy.


    Women don¡¯t buy clothes because they need them.


    Indeed, after she said that, the look Wen Qiao gave her seemed to read "Are you even a woman?"


    Lin Ruochun: "......"


    "I don¡¯t buy clothes because I need them, it¡¯s because my wardrobe needs them, you understand? And how can you say these two dresses are nearly the same? One has a high slit V-neck design, the other a high-low square neck design¡ªthey are very different, okay?"


    Wen Qiao brushed off Lin Ruochun¡¯s gripping hand, and then glanced at her: "Go back and look at the closet full of jeans you have, the flared pants of the same style you bought two of, just in different colors. How can you have the cheek to talk about me?"


    Lin Ruochun: "......"

 Chapter 250 - 248: It鈥檚 Fine, Let Her Buy

    Chapter 250: Chapter 248: It¡¯s Fine, Let Her BuyRuochun took a step back and made a "please" gesture.


    After seeing Wen Qiao¡¯s satisfied smile, she quickly retreated to a nearby sofa, freed her hands, and then took out her phone to message Fu Jinghen¡ª


    [Ah Chun: Bro!!!]


    [Ah Chun: Ah!!!]


    [Ah Chun: You need to come out here!!!]


    Each of these three messages was followed by three exclamation points, accurately expressing Ruochun¡¯s excitement at the moment.


    [Fu Jinghen: Speak.]


    [Ah Chun: What¡¯s going on with you and Wen Qiao! She¡¯s going crazy in the mall right now, and I¡¯m constantly worried about the safety of my hands and whether her card will max out.]


    The card Wen Qiao was using was a supplementary card that Fu Jinghen had given her before; every time she swiped the card, he received a notification.


    Within about an hour, Fu Jinghen¡¯s text notifications hardly stopped.


    At that moment, looking at the pile of paper bags on the sofa that Ruochun had sent him, he actually felt a sigh of relief.


    Still using his card, that means she had calmed down, right?


    [Fu Jinghen: It¡¯s fine, let her shop. If money runs out, just tell me.]


    When Ruochun saw this message from Fu Jinghen, she felt extremely conflicted.


    It was one thing to accompany her shopping and carry bags, but also to endure this mental torment.


    But the next second, another message from Fu Jinghen instantly healed her.


    [Fu Jinghen: Accompany her more, let me know whatever you fancy, and I¡¯ll reimburse you.]


    [Ah Chun: Okay!]


    Shopping, eh.


    She loved that most.


    So when Wen Qiao came out of the dressing room, she saw Ruochun who just a moment ago had been advising her to take it easy, had completely changed her tune and joined her shopping squad.


    The salesperson who had been following them since they entered the store was smiling so hard his eyes were nearly closed, quickly swiping the card and signing the receipt as if afraid the two rich patrons would run away.


    While handing over the receipt, Salesperson A curiously asked, "Are you guys shooting ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯?"


    Wen Qiao nodded, "Yes."


    Salesperson A carefully asked again, "Can I take a photo with you? I¡¯m a fan of your beauty."


    Wen Qiao, feeling great after spending money and being asked for a photo op for the first time, naturally wouldn¡¯t refuse.


    Ruochun helped take the photo. After it was done, Wen Qiao leaned over to check it and complained, "Quail, what kind of photography skills are these? My tall height of 1.7 meters looks like it¡¯s 1.5 meters here. What¡¯s this, do the photo services come with a free amputation?"


    Ruochun immediately bristled, "How many times have I said, I¡¯m not a quail, you are!"


    Wen Qiao, with her hand against Ruochun¡¯s forehead pushing her away, ignoring her frantic gesticulations, said to the sales lady, "If you post it on social media, help me cover up my dark circles, yeah?" S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Salesperson A nodded like a pecking chicken, "I will."


    She looked at Ruochun then at Wen Qiao and said with a smile, "I didn¡¯t expect that you two get along so well off-screen."


    Ruochun immediately retorted, "Who says we get along!"


    Wen Qiao coldly exposed her, "Really? Then why did you message me during those three days I was back in Beicheng, asking when I would return."


    "I was just showing concern for a team member; don¡¯t overthink it."


    "Oh, then did you have to ask every day?"


    Seeing the sales lady smiling so hard her eyes were curved, Ruochun felt everything was somehow off. She grabbed the bags from the sofa, took big strides towards the exit, and as she passed by Wen Qiao, she dropped the words: "Goodbye!"

 Chapter 251 - 249: Love Between Men and Women

    Chapter 251: Chapter 249: Love Between Men and WomenSong Qian had just finished work when he received their call.


    Since he was only interning at the film set, he had some free time in the evenings. Besides, since joining the crew, Song Qian had been tirelessly involved daily without ever skipping work. Director Zhang liked him quite a bit, so an occasional absence in the evening wasn¡¯t a big deal.


    After hanging up the call, he drove to the mall to pick up Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun.


    When he arrived at the entrance of the mall and saw the piles of shopping bags at their feet, he finally understood why Wen Qiao had specifically instructed him to come by car.


    He also mentally thanked his past self for not tagging along.


    Otherwise, his hands would have been ruined.


    Looking at the trunk filled with shopping bags, Song Qian couldn¡¯t help but sincerely respect the two ladies, "Impressive, you two have single-handedly boosted the economy of the Film City."


    Wen Qiao casually dismissed it with a wave of her hand, "You flatter us."


    Lin Ruochun mimicked her gesture, "It¡¯s just alright, I guess."


    Song Qian: "...."


    For some reason, he felt a bit panicked.


    "You two aren¡¯t planning to sweep through the barbecue restaurant in the same manner, are you? I don¡¯t make much as an intern!"


    Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun looked at each other and chorused, "We¡¯ll hold back a little."


    Song Qian: "...."


    He felt like he had entered a den of wolves.


    -


    Celebrities were a common sight every day in the Film City and, to an outsider¡¯s fascination, these stars appeared no different from ordinary people here.


    The riverside barbecue offered both stalls and restaurants. The trio, believing that barbecue was best enjoyed outdoors, chose to sit outside.


    Last time, Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t had a chance to enjoy the barbecue here while trying to rescue Lin Ruochun, who also hadn¡¯t eaten here before, so they let Song Qian place the order. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao took a couple of napkins and wiped down the table, casually asking, "How did this afternoon¡¯s shooting go?"


    "Pretty good," Song Qian said as he marked the menu with a pencil, "Wen Shu¡¯s acting was quite on point, she barely NG¡¯d, and Director Zhang was a lot happier."


    Wen Qiao gave a nonchalant "oh" and took a sip of water, "That¡¯s good to hear."


    After Song Qian finished picking the barbecue skewers, he got up, handed the menu to the boss, and specifically asked for the chili powder to be served separately before he folded back.


    "By the way, you and Wen Shu have a scene together tomorrow. Don¡¯t oversleep and be late."


    Wen Qiao responded with another indifferent "oh."


    Her attitude seemed a bit odd, and Song Qian, thinking she was just tired from shopping, didn¡¯t think much of it.


    Men were less detailed-oriented in these matters, but women noticed more; Lin Ruochun also glanced at Wen Qiao, feeling inexplicably that she didn¡¯t seem to like Wen Shu much.


    She opened her mouth to ask something but then closed it.


    Because she suddenly remembered, Wen Qiao¡¯s past with Qi Ming...


    And now Qi Ming¡¯s interest in Wen Shu...


    And then, the fact that Wen Qiao and Wen Shu were now in the same film crew...


    Goodness gracious, how had she only just realized this?


    But then, Wen Qiao and Fu Jinghen seemed to be on good terms...


    Oh dear.


    Love between men and women was so complicated.


    "What are you shaking your head about?"


    "Huh?" Lin Ruochun snapped back to reality, only to see Wen Qiao looking at her as if she was an idiot, "It¡¯s nothing."


    Wen Qiao looked at Lin Ruochun suspiciously, feeling that the girl was definitely hiding something from her.


    Just as she was about to ask further, someone interrupted them.

 Chapter 252 - 250: The Aloof Fairy-like Girl Persona

    Chapter 252: Chapter 250: The Aloof Fairy-like Girl Persona"Hello, is this Lin Ruochun?"


    A faint female voice rang out beside them, Wen Qiao and her two companions looked up to see a girl wearing a fisherman¡¯s hat and overalls.


    The girl waited for Lin Ruochun to turn around, her face brightening even more with surprise, "It really is you! I thought I might have been mistaken."


    Lin Ruochun nodded, "It¡¯s me."


    "Could you give me an autograph? I¡¯m a huge fan of yours."


    Lin Ruochun nodded again, "Of course."


    The girl fumbled around for her notebook, and in the process, her phone slipped from her grasp. Lin Ruochun quickly caught it before it could hit the ground.


    The girl repeatedly thanked her, while Lin Ruochun still kept a straight face, "You¡¯re welcome."


    Wen Qiao, standing by, couldn¡¯t help but let out a snort of laughter. Lin Ruochun turned to her, "What are you laughing at?"


    "Nothing," Wen Qiao turned to the girl, who had finally found her notebook and pen, and suggested, "Just an autograph, no photo together?"


    "Ah?" The girl seemed confused yet hopeful, "Is that possible?"


    Wen Qiao said, "Why wouldn¡¯t it be? Give me your phone, I¡¯ll take a picture for you."


    Lin Ruochun stared at Wen Qiao, squinting her eyes.


    She sensed that it was not as simple as it seemed.


    Seeing Lin Ruochun silent, the girl thought she was unwilling, "If it¡¯s inconvenient, then never mind."


    Lin Ruochun looked away, took the pen and paper from the girl, and signed her name, adding the phrase "Be happy every day," before saying, "It¡¯s fine, let¡¯s take the photo."


    Wen Qiao took the phone, snapping a flurry of photos of the two.


    After reviewing the photos, Lin Ruochun knew it; she just knew Wen Qiao had been up to no good.


    While taking the photos, Wen Qiao had tilted the camera slightly, making Lin Ruochun¡¯s face appear larger in the pictures.


    Meeting Lin Ruochun¡¯s gaze, Wen Qiao raised her eyebrows smugly, silently conveying,


    "You made me look so short in the photo, now we¡¯re even."


    Lin Ruochun rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore this vengeful woman.


    The girl, satisfied, put away her phone. She glanced at Wen Qiao and then at Song Qian, who was helping them set the table, and asked, "Are you guys..."


    She then realized she might be overstepping and fell silent.


    Wen Qiao, seeing her curiosity, explained, "Don¡¯t misunderstand, he¡¯s an intern director for our crew; we¡¯re just out for a late-night snack together."


    The girl nodded, "Oh, I see. Well, I won¡¯t bother you anymore, goodbye."


    Lin Ruochun stopped her, "It¡¯s so late, are you here by yourself?"


    "No, no," the girl seemed flattered, "My boyfriend is waiting for me ahead."


    "Oh," Lin Ruochun let go, "Then take care."


    "Will do, will do."


    Only after watching the girl meet up with her boyfriend did Lin Ruochun look away, to find Wen Qiao with a face that was... indescribable, grinning at her. She shifted to the side cautiously, "What are you doing?"


    "You express so much emotion in private; how come you put on such a lifeless face in front of your own fans?"


    "What do you know," Lin Ruochun straightened her collar and sat up tall, "I¡¯ve built the image of a cool and lofty fairy."


    At this, not only Wen Qiao but also Song Qian broke into laughter.


    Lin Ruochun looked at them both morosely, "What¡¯s so funny? Is it really that amusing?"


    S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 253 - 251: Sarcastic Remarks

    Chapter 253: Chapter 251: Sarcastic RemarksWen Qiao giggled nonstop, "Do you even recognize the word ¡¯aloof¡¯? And here you are, acting like you¡¯re all buddy-buddy with people."


    Song Qian laughed too, asking, "Is this the persona your agent set for you?"


    Lin Ruochun muttered a subdued "Hmm," "She said that my temperament fits this image quite well."


    Wen Qiao suddenly laughed even louder, and Lin Ruochun, feeling annoyed, reached out to poke the soft flesh at her waist, "What are you laughing at?"


    Wen Qiao jumped at the poke, yelping, "Ow!" "Why so irritated?"


    Lin Ruochun thought for a moment, trying to defend herself, "Actually, at first I was pretty..." She was about to say "aloof," but seeing how the two opposite her were laughing so heartily, she thought it best not to say it, "Pretty... you know, it¡¯s just that after I joined this crew and met you two, especially you, Wen Qiao, it was you who led me astray."


    Lin Ruochun shamelessly shifted the blame onto Wen Qiao and Song Qian, clearing herself of any fault.


    Wen Qiao caught her breath, trying to calm down, "Pah, it¡¯s more like I liberated your true nature. Instead of thanking me, you¡¯re blaming me¡ªlike a dog biting Lu Dongbin."


    "Exactly, I¡¯m blaming you."


    "You asking for a beating?"


    "Hey, skewers are ready. Let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat."


    -


    As the three of them sat under the streetlights, enjoying the evening breeze of Hang City, eating barbecue and chatting, the internet also had a small tremor of activity.


    It began with a personal account posting a photo of a night view of the film and TV city on social media; by chance, Wen Qiao and her companions were captured in the shot and were recognized by some sharp-eyed netizens. Then, in the afternoon, a staff member from the mall saw the post and commented, "Today, Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun came to our mall to shop, and we even took a photo together."


    Curious, netizens clicked on the commenter¡¯s page and saw a post with a photo taken with Wen Qiao. The caption read¡ª


    "Even prettier in person than in photos, ahhhh, and so humorous, truly beautiful and wealthy, and her relationship with Lin Ruochun is super close. Princess Rong Huan and Princess Qinglian from the drama have stepped into real life, ahhhhhhhh!"


    The series of "ahhhhhs" could almost convey the poster¡¯s excitement through the screen.


    Then, keywords like "Wen Qiao Lin Ruochun," "Wen Qiao Lin Ruochun barbecue date," and "Red Makeup" surfaced again on the trending searches.


    Some netizens noticed there was a man with Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun at the late-night snack and posted some snide remarks¡ª


    "Tigers don¡¯t change their stripes, even without Qi Ming there will always be other men."


    "Am I the only one who noticed the sales associate¡¯s name tag in the photo with Wen Qiao? Out of curiosity, I looked up the brand, and wow, stars really are moneymakers, just one dress could equal an ordinary person¡¯s yearly salary."


    "Can¡¯t Wen Qiao live without a man? Always needs to sit right next to one." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Jiang Wei just had an incident recently, and they¡¯re still in the mood to go out for barbecue. Doesn¡¯t anyone in the same crew care at all?"


    "People are so cold-hearted. In the entertainment circle, it¡¯s not a new thing to see who¡¯s hot and who¡¯s not. And with Lin Ruochun¡¯s strong background, Wen Qiao has to cozy up fast."


    "Lin Ruochun always portrays herself as aloof in public, but privately, she¡¯s laughing so freely, such a two-faced act."

 Chapter 254 - 252: Spending His Money to Have Late-Night Snacks with Another Man

    Chapter 254: Chapter 252: Spending His Money to Have Late-Night Snacks with Another ManOf course, there were also some positive comments¡ª


    "The man in the photo is the nephew of the assistant director of ¡¯Red Makeup¡¯, named Song Qian, a senior student in the directing department. Stop making wild guesses."


    "What¡¯s with this comment section, can¡¯t you go a day without being sour? What¡¯s wrong with friends having a meal together? It¡¯s a square table, and there were only three of them. How else could they sit?"


    "If Lin Ruochun was the one sitting in the middle next to Song Qian, would you then say Wen Qiao was scheming, positioning Lin Ruochun next to another man to distance herself?"


    "In fact, aside from being a bit overzealous in her pursuit of Qi Ming, Wen Qiao hasn¡¯t done anything else so outrageous, has she? Why keep harping on her? It¡¯s fine for a guy to chase the person he likes, but when a girl does it, it becomes clingy? Isn¡¯t that a bit of a double standard?"


    "To be honest, I really like Wen Qiao¡¯s looks. The entertainment industry has been full of pale, thin, and youthful looks for the last few years, which is aesthetically tiring. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen a star as vivid as Wen Qiao."


    "...."


    There were all sorts of comments, and the people involved were still completely unaware, but in Beicheng, a thousand miles away, someone got restless after seeing these trending searches.


    The first to get restless was Qin Xiang.


    Lights blazed on the top floor of the FS Building. Fu Jinghen was distractedly glancing between his computer and his phone, afraid of missing any news.


    As a result, his phone, which had been buzzing with texts all afternoon, had suddenly fallen silent more than an hour earlier, without any new messages coming in.


    After a while, a "ding-dong" chime sounded, and Fu Jinghen picked up his phone immediately.


    Upon seeing the caller ID, he made a disapproving "tsk" sound.


    But he answered anyway, "What¡¯s up?"


    Qin Xiang blustered on the other end, "Big news! Some punk is trying to run off with our Ah Chun."


    ".....Oh." Fu Jinghen responded coolly, "And that¡¯s my problem because?"


    "Inviting someone out for late-night snacks so late at night is suspicious."


    The feelings between people are not always mutual. To Qin Xiang¡¯s anxious rants, Fu Jinghen felt nothing, "What¡¯s so wrong about having late-night snacks? She¡¯s grown up; can¡¯t she have her own circle of friends?" sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "....." Qin Xiang choked up, then suddenly asked, "You haven¡¯t checked Weibo yet, have you?"


    "No time."


    "Oh, well, I¡¯d kindly inform you that your little fianc¨¦e was also there for the late-night snacks." Qin Xiang added darkly, "And just to remind you, that guy who went to eat with them is the nephew of your crew¡¯s Deputy Director Song."


    The next second, Qin Xiang could only hear an icy "beep beep" from the phone.


    After hanging up, Fu Jinghen immediately called Wen Qiao, but the call rang through leaving only the cold, mechanical voice of the voicemail to greet him.


    He then opened Weibo and saw a clearer picture of the trio eating late-night snacks in the Film and TV City, centered around them.


    Wen Qiao in the photo was smiling very happily, Lin Ruochun beside her also wore a faint smile, and the only male, Song Qian, was turned towards the camera, showing just his back, his expression indiscernible.


    "....."


    Good.


    Very good.


    Extremely good.


    It was he who was angry, yet somehow she managed to be even angrier out of nowhere and wasn¡¯t answering his calls, leaving him famished all afternoon.


    Now she was out spending his money on late-night snacks with another man.


    He truly had spoiled her too much.

 Chapter 255 - 253: With her small frame, what can鈥檛 I do?

    Chapter 255: Chapter 253: With her small frame, what can¡¯t I do?Because of Lin Ruochun, the three of them didn¡¯t stay long for the late-night meal.


    Wen Qiao propped a hand on her cheek, fiddled with the empty beer bottle in front of her, and then glanced at Lin Ruochun, who had collapsed on the table, unconscious. She was a bit shocked.


    Her alcohol tolerance was ridiculously low.


    It was only slightly better than being a one-cup wonder; Lin Ruochun was out after two bottles.


    The incident started like this.


    Not long after the skewers arrived, Wen Qiao felt something was missing. After looking around, she realized they hadn¡¯t ordered the perfect BBQ companion¡ªcold beer.


    Obviously, cold beer was the ideal match for a summer night barbecue, so when Wen Qiao asked the Boss to bring over a case of beer, there were nine bottles in total. Three bottles per person seemed about right, and since beer usually doesn¡¯t get you drunk, it shouldn¡¯t affect filming the next day.


    However, what Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t anticipated was that Lin Ruochun¡¯s face turned red not long after her first glass. After two bottles, she was sprawled on the table.


    In hindsight, there was a detail Wen Qiao realized she had overlooked.


    When the beer was brought over, she vaguely saw excitement in Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes. She teased her at the time, asking, "Why do you look like a cat that¡¯s spotted a mouse? Have you never drunk before?"


    Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t respond at that time.


    But now, she had answered that question with her actions.


    Considering the situation, Lin Ruochun was 99.9% likely to have never touched alcohol before.


    Wen Qiao stretched out her index finger and poked Lin Ruochun¡¯s arm tentatively, waited a couple of seconds, and seeing no response, poked her a few more times.


    Upon returning from settling the bill, Song Qian saw this and chuckled, "What are you doing?"


    "I¡¯m checking if she¡¯s faking it," Wen Qiao looked up at him and sincerely suggested, "What do you think, if I slap her, do you think she¡¯ll wake up?"


    Song Qian: "......"


    The air was silent for two seconds, and then Song Qian took a step back, speaking seriously and sternly, "If you slap her awake and she goes crazy on you, I¡¯m not helping."


    "......"


    Wen Qiao smacked her lips, "I was just saying. I wouldn¡¯t really slap her, right?" S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Recalling the love-hate dynamic between Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun in the crew since filming started, Song Qian nodded, "You would."


    "......."


    Song Qian pretended not to see the brewing murder in Wen Qiao¡¯s narrowed eyes and nonchalantly pointed to Lin Ruochun, "Let¡¯s get her back to the hotel quickly, we have filming tomorrow. If we delay the schedule, Director Zhang is going to blow a gasket again. His hormones have been off-kilter lately, making him particularly prone to outrage."


    Just thinking about Director Zhang, who had a face like the king of hell reminiscent of her high school disciplinary teacher, Wen Qiao shivered and was immediately distracted. She sighed, got up to help Lin Ruochun, muttering under her breath, "Had I known she couldn¡¯t hold her liquor, I wouldn¡¯t have let her drink. I got her drunk, and before her parents come after me, Director Zhang won¡¯t let me off the hook."


    Song Qian also helped lift the other half of Lin Ruochun¡¯s body, saying, "I¡¯ll carry her back. She can¡¯t walk on her own in this state."


    Wen Qiao thought for a moment, then shook her head, "Better let me carry her. If we get photographed, it won¡¯t look good for either of you two."


    Song Qian thought about it and felt she made sense but sized up Wen Qiao, "Can you?"


    Wen Qiao felt her abilities were being questioned and "heh"ed, "With her tiny build, what couldn¡¯t I do?"

 Chapter 256 - 254: Take Over for Me

    Chapter 256: Chapter 254: Take Over for MeWen Qiao had Song Qian secure Lin Ruochun, then she turned half around in front of Lin Ruochun and squatted down low, after which she instructed Song Qian to place Lin Ruochun on her back.


    Drunk people tend to weigh more than usual, so when Lin Ruochun¡¯s body was fully resting on Wen Qiao, Wen Qiao was pressed downward in a sudden dip.


    Song Qian promptly steadied her from the side, his brow furrowed with concern, "Or maybe I should carry her."


    "No need."


    Wen Qiao paused for a bit, slowly straightening up and firmly wrapping her arms around Lin Ruochun¡¯s thighs, gave her a little bounce upward, and then headed towards the hotel.


    Because the riverside area was like a small night market with no place to park, when Song Qian had driven to pick them up, he first made a trip back to the hotel, transported the spoils of both women to their room, and they had walked to the riverside. So now, they could only walk back. Moreover, all three of them had been drinking and couldn¡¯t drive.


    Seeing this, Song Qian picked up the bags left on the chairs and followed them.


    Wen Qiao felt the person on her back starting to slide down again, stopped in her tracks, propped up Lin Ruochun¡¯s behind to bounce her upwards, and then let out a heavy sigh.


    "This little girl must¡¯ve been sneaking snacks while I was away these past few days, how come she¡¯s so heavy? I¡¯ll have to have a serious talk with her agent when we get back, make sure she¡¯s dieting properly."


    Compared to Wen Qiao¡¯s "weighted march," Song Qian was much more at ease, dangling their two handbags as he followed beside Wen Qiao, keeping a not-too-close yet not-too-distant gap, ready to provide swift assistance during any unexpected situation.


    At this moment, hearing Wen Qiao complain, Song Qian chuckled, "Her agent would go crazy if they found out we lured her out in the middle of the night for a barbeque and got her drunk."


    Wen Qiao paused, twisting her neck with difficulty to glower at Song Qian, "So this matter should only be known by you, me, heaven, earth... oh, and also by this one on my back."


    Song Qian was about to nod when he then heard Wen Qiao say, "Hey, that¡¯s not right, it¡¯s obviously you who lured us out in the middle of the night for supper. I¡¯m a victim too; you¡¯re the sole instigator."


    "..." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Song Qian cursed with a chuckle, "Heartless. I¡¯m spending money and still get scolded."


    Wen Qiao felt no remorse at all, "As a man, you should stand in front of us weaker women."


    Song Qian smiled helplessly and shook his head; when it came to wit, probably no one in the entire production crew could out-talk Wen Qiao, her devilishly clever logic was indeed hard to counter.


    A faint ringtone began to sound, and Song Qian raised his hand to bring their backpacks to the front, meanwhile saying to the person beside him, "One of your phones seems to be ringing."


    "The white bag is mine and the yellow one is Lin Ruochun¡¯s. Check which one it¡¯s coming from?"


    Song Qian, holding a bag in each hand, listened closely, "Yours."


    "Then leave it."


    She was currently using both hands to support Lin Ruochun¡¯s behind, barely able to muster enough range to pat Lin Ruochun¡¯s butt with her hand; she didn¡¯t have a hand free to deal with the phone.


    The phone went unanswered and automatically hung up, but after a short while, it began to ring again.


    Song Qian suggested, "Why not take a break, answer the phone. They¡¯ve called twice already, what if it¡¯s something urgent?"


    "We¡¯re almost at the hotel," Wen Qiao thought for a moment and then said, "You answer it for me."

 Chapter 257 - 255: Beicheng鈥檚 Top Leg

    Chapter 257: Chapter 255: Beicheng¡¯s Top LegSong Qian paused upon hearing the suggestion, a look of hesitation crossing his face, "Answer it for you? Is that really okay?"


    "No worries, the only person who would call me at this time, as if chasing a deadline, is Sister Yao. If she asks why you are answering my phone, just say..."


    Wen Qiao pondered for a moment, recalling her own manager had also been controlling her diet recently. If Sister Yao learned that not only did she eat barbecue today but also drank beer, the day Jiang Yao returned would probably be her doom. She made up an excuse: "You just say that Director Zhang changed the schedule at the last minute and asked me to shoot a night scene tonight."


    "Lying, huh?" Song Qian pulled out Wen Qiao¡¯s phone and said, "Is that really okay?"


    "You¡¯re here pretending to be some innocent good boy with gray-blue hair, yet you dragged me to play video games, and the next day you showed up on set with dark circles under your eyes. When the assistant director asked what you did last night, you didn¡¯t even blink an eye before saying you were studying the script, pshh."


    Caught out by Wen Qiao, Song Qian touched his nose awkwardly, "How do you still remember such an old thing..."


    "Answer the phone quick! If something gets delayed, I¡¯ll report you to the assistant director."


    Having said this, Wen Qiao seemed to gain a surge of strength within her, striding ahead with Lin Ruochun on her back.


    Song Qian followed swiftly, looking down at Wen Qiao¡¯s phone. He saw a note displayed at the top of the screen¡ªJiang City¡¯s No. 1 Most Eligible.


    "......"


    What a bizarre remark.


    He swiped to answer the call. Without waiting for the person on the other end to speak, he took the initiative, "Sister Yao? Director Zhang suddenly added a scene for Qiaoqiao today, she is currently filming. I¡¯ll have her call you back once she¡¯s done." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "......"


    The silence on the other end of the phone was exceptionally quiet, so quiet that one could hardly hear any breathing.


    Just then a breeze blew, making Song Qian shiver, and soon after, all he could hear was the busy tone.


    The caller had hung up.


    Wen Qiao, hearing no more voices, laboriously twisted her neck to look at Song Qian, "What happened?"


    Song Qian looked thoughtful and slightly serious as he replied, "Things are not looking good. After I finished speaking, Sister Yao was unusually silent, didn¡¯t say a word, and then hung up."


    "......"


    Wen Qiao turned her head back emotionlessly, "Then it seems the situation is quite serious."


    The phone in his hand vibrated slightly. Subconsciously, Song Qian looked down; the locked screen lit up, displaying a Weibo notification with a familiar name¡ª


    Netizens spot Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun in Film City, accompanied by a male, the three...


    Song Qian couldn¡¯t see the rest of the content.


    His heart skipped a beat, and he hastily pulled out his own phone, opening Weibo.


    Sure enough, near the bottom of the Weibo trending searches, he saw "Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun spotted dining in Film City with boyfriends."


    He swallowed unconsciously. "That..."


    "What now?"


    Wen Qiao, facing forward, felt her hand carrying Ruochun¡¯s buttocks growing numb and achy. She thought that once Ruochun woke up tomorrow, she would make sure to get a proper thank you for the grueling effort of carrying her back to the hotel like a hefty pig.


    "Just... that..."


    "Why are you hemming and hawing like a girl?" Wen Qiao complained about Song Qian while thinking of how to have Ruochun thank her.


    Song Qian gave Wen Qiao a glare, though she didn¡¯t see it. He said, "It¡¯s just that we were caught by netizens eating barbecue by the river today, and it ended up on the trending search."

 Chapter 258 - 256: Do You Like Me?

    Chapter 258: Chapter 256: Do You Like Me?"And I reckon Sister Yao must have seen that trending topic, and she¡¯s well aware that I was just bluffing her just now, which is why she was so mad that she didn¡¯t speak and eventually hung up the phone."


    Wen Qiao¡¯s originally expressionless face became even more expressionless upon hearing this, and she managed to squeeze out an "Oh" after a long pause.


    After a while, she strained out another sentence, "Why am I trending every day recently? Am I becoming famous or something?"


    Song Qian: "...."


    -


    "I¡¯ll take her back, you don¡¯t need to come in."


    "Okay."


    Song Qian found Lin Ruochun¡¯s room card in her purse, swiped it to open the door, stepped aside, and watched Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun enter and close the door before turning to leave.


    Finally having managed to get Lin Ruochun back to her room, Wen Qiao could now make her graceful exit.


    She stood beside the bed, leaned back a bit, and with a grab of Lin Ruochun¡¯s arm, she tossed her onto the bed.


    Wen Qiao clapped her hands, took one step forward, then suddenly stopped, turned her head to look at Lin Ruochun, who was lying with her hands above her head and sleeping in a pose that had nothing to do with "beauty," let out a sigh, bent over to take off her shoes, and after a moment¡¯s thought, went to the bathroom to find makeup remover to clean her face, then soaked a towel to wipe her down.


    In the end, seeing Lin Ruochun wearing somewhat tight clothes, she decided to be thoroughly kind and changed her clothes for her.


    Lin Ruochun was wearing a little shirt today, which was quite easy to take off. Wen Qiao¡¯s hand had just touched the first button of the shirt when Lin Ruochun suddenly opened her eyes, staring straight at her, her hands clutching tightly onto hers, "What are you doing!"


    "I¡¯m changing your clothes so you can sleep more comfortably," Wen Qiao was caught off guard by her sudden awakening, and after a moment of being stunned, she responded, "Why are you speaking with a tone like you¡¯ve been violated? We¡¯re both women, what could I possibly do to you? Let go of my hand, or change your own clothes."


    Lin Ruochun blinked, probably recognizing who was in front of her, then let out an "Oh" and released her hands, allowing Wen Qiao to continue changing her clothes.


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    So she really was going to be serving her until the end?


    After unbuttoning the shirt and changing into the pajamas, Wen Qiao was about to start removing her pants when she barely touched the edge of her trousers, Lin Ruochun, who had already closed her eyes, suddenly opened them again and grasped her hand tightly.


    "What now?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun glanced at her, then looked past her slightly raised belly at her own trousers and uttered softly, "I¡¯ll change myself."


    "..... Then why didn¡¯t you change your shirt yourself just now?" Wen Qiao looked at her expressionlessly.


    Lin Ruochun pulled the blanket over herself and, after a rustling under it, took off her shorts and passed them to Wen Qiao.


    "What¡¯s this for? Do I look like a recycling bin?"


    Despite her words, Wen Qiao still took them and then passed over her sleeping pants.


    After throwing her dirty clothes into the washing machine, Wen Qiao poured a glass of water for her and placed it on the nightstand.


    "I¡¯m leaving now."


    Just as she was about to turn and leave, her wrist was suddenly grabbed. She looked down to meet Lin Ruochun¡¯s wide-open eyes: "What is it?"


    "Do you like me?"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyebrows twitched, "I don¡¯t like you. I¡¯m straight and only like guys."


    But Lin Ruochun only caught the first three words, her lips pouted, and she started whimpering pitifully, "Don¡¯t like... You don¡¯t like me, Qin Xiang doesn¡¯t like me, none of you like me, and netizens even say I¡¯m pretentious, wah¡ª"

 Chapter 259 - 257: Adding Scenes at the Riverside Barbecue Stall

    Chapter 259: Chapter 257: Adding Scenes at the Riverside Barbecue StallBy the end, Lin Ruochun had just opened her throat and burst into tears.


    Wen Qiao was caught off guard by this sudden occurrence, so she tried to explain, "No, I¡¯m not saying I don¡¯t like¡ª"


    "Wah¡ª"


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    If time could be rewound, she definitely wouldn¡¯t let Lin Ruochun touch even a drop of alcohol.


    Wen Qiao wasn¡¯t good at comforting people. All she could do was silently wait for Lin Ruochun to stop crying and shut up, then hand her a tissue and casually ask, "Have you cried enough?"


    Seeing that she was gasping for air and nobody was paying attention to her, Lin Ruochun gradually became more composed, crawled up from the bed shakily, and staggered.


    Wen Qiao quickly went over to support her, "What are you doing?"


    Lin Ruochun wiped her face, "Going to wash up, it¡¯s sticky and uncomfortable."


    After saying that, she smeared the hand she had just wiped her own face with onto Wen Qiao¡¯s clothes.


    "......"


    Wen Qiao glanced at Lin Ruochun¡¯s face, smeared with mascara and eyeliner due to tears, then looked down at her white T-shirt with a big black handprint on it. Her temples throbbed.


    Don¡¯t get angry, don¡¯t get angry.


    She¡¯s just a bratty drunk, I shouldn¡¯t take it to heart.


    But damn, it¡¯s so annoying!


    Wen Qiao took a couple of deep breaths trying to suppress the raging fire in her chest.


    When she opened her eyes again, she saw Lin Ruochun tilting her head, blinking at her, "What¡¯s wrong with you?"


    Wen Qiao huffed coldly without expression, straightened her head and said, "I¡¯m a woman. Even if you try to act cute to me, I won¡¯t forget what happened tonight and I won¡¯t hold you accountable when you sober up tomorrow. You get that?"


    "......."


    Not knowing if Lin Ruochun understood, Wen Qiao spoke. But Lin Ruochun was still staring at her.


    "Understand?" Wen Qiao asked.


    Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t answer, crawled down from the bed, and muttered, "I need to wash my face."


    Wen Qiao: "....."


    What more could she say?


    What else could she do?


    Resigned, Wen Qiao supported Lin Ruochun - this little gal - off the bed while using her foot to hook over the slippers she had just tripped over.


    "Ugh¡ª" Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s eyelid twitched, and immediately a thought popped into her head¡ª


    It¡¯s over.


    She quickly lifted her head, "Hold it in! Don¡¯t vomit! Get to the bathroom!"


    But speaking those words to a drunk person was completely futile.


    As a shadow loomed above, accompanied by the sound "Ugh," the next second, Wen Qiao smelled the sour stench of vomit.


    "......"


    The only thing she felt fortunate about was that Lin Ruochun hadn¡¯t forgotten to turn her head to the side at the last second, sparing her face from disaster.


    She swore!


    If Lin Ruochun didn¡¯t get on her knees to thank her tomorrow!


    She would never forgive her for tonight¡¯s antics!


    -


    The night sky was pitch black, sporadically adorned with stars, and the nearby lake shimmered under the glow of the street lights.


    A man stood by the window, his silhouette mirrored on the glass. His black shirt was tucked into his trousers, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The top button was undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, adding a touch of austerity.


    But the man¡¯s expression seemed off.


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s lips were tightly pursed, as the content of the recent phone call replayed in his ear.


    And ad-libbing too.


    Heh.


    Ad-libbing right to a riverside barbecue stall?


    He didn¡¯t know that the historical drama "Red Makeup" included a scene of wearing shorts and T-shirts while eating barbecue?


    "How did the questioning go?"

 Chapter 260 - 258: Sleeping in One Bed Under One Blanket

    Chapter 260: Chapter 258: Sleeping in One Bed Under One BlanketQin Xiang¡¯s voice, slightly anxious, had emerged from behind him. He drove to Fu Jinghen¡¯s company after seeing the trending search and later, using sadness as an excuse, hitched a ride in Fu Jinghen¡¯s car back to his house. He then started to eagerly urge Fu Jinghen to call Wen Qiao to ask about the situation. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Because the calls he had made to Lin Ruochun kept going unanswered.


    "How did it go?"


    "Not well."


    Fu Jinghen responded calmly, "Wen Qiao said to let Ruochun call you back later."


    "Really?"


    That¡¯s impossible.


    He couldn¡¯t lose face.


    "Oh."


    Qin Xiang sighed deeply, flopping bonelessly onto the sofa, mumbling bitterly like a resentful wife, "Kids grow up and you just can¡¯t control them anymore, they even go out to dine with men."


    As he spoke, he kicked his legs and rolled around on the sofa, glaring at Fu Jinghen with grievance, "It¡¯s all because of your fianc¨¦e, Wen Qiao must have led Ruochun astray."


    Fu Jinghen turned around, slightly bent over to toss his phone onto the coffee table with a "smack," his gaze coolly sweeping over Qin Xiang, "If you can¡¯t control your own people, don¡¯t blame others."


    "You¡¯re actually taking Wen Qiao¡¯s side!"


    "Should I take your side instead?"


    Qin Xiang, deeply hurt, exclaimed, "We were brothers who grew up wearing the same pants!"


    "Oh," Fu Jinghen said while walking towards the kitchen, "Wen Qiao and I are still a couple, sleeping in the same bed under the same cover."


    Qin Xiang: "......"


    Thanks.


    I feel crushed.


    He turned his head staring at Fu Jinghen, trying to attack him with a gaze that would make him feel guilty, and when he saw Fu Jinghen take out a canned Coke from the fridge, he sat up slightly straighter, "Get me one too."


    After speaking, he lay back down.


    Fu Jinghen grabbed another Coke, walked over, and tossed it to Qin Xiang, "When are you leaving?"


    Qin Xiang¡¯s eyes widened, "Are you kicking me out?"


    Fu Jinghen looked down at him, "I¡¯m going to sleep."


    Qin Xiang stared at him, and after two seconds, began rolling on the sofa again, crying and wailing, "How miserable my life is, my beloved little sister goes out to eat with another man and doesn¡¯t answer my calls, and now even my childhood brother wants to drive me away, I can¡¯t live like this."


    "......"


    Fu Jinghen quietly watched Qin Xiang¡¯s tantrum for a while, finished the last of his Coke, crushed the can and tossed it into the trash can, then turned to head upstairs, pausing to throw back one last remark, "Find your own place to sleep."


    Qin Xiang instantly stopped making a fuss and collapsed back on the sofa, despairingly sipping his Coke.


    After a while, Fu Jinghen, having returned, reappeared at the staircase. It was somewhat dim at the stair entrance because the light was off, casting a dark silhouette that startled Qin Xiang.


    "What are you doing?"


    The shadow spoke, "I am going to Hang City tomorrow."


    Qin Xiang immediately understood, raising his hand, "Count me in! Book me a ticket too."


    The shadow nodded, prepared to turn back upstairs when suddenly he heard a man¡¯s confused voice behind him, "I¡¯m not even rushing to Hang City; what are you going to Hang City for? To catch someone? Didn¡¯t you say it was no problem? Seems like you can¡¯t control your own people either."


    The words at the end carried a hint of schadenfreude.


    Fu Jinghen paused, his lips coldly curving up, half of his face hidden in shadows which made him appear somewhat sinister.


    "Say another word, and you¡¯ll be out."

 Chapter 261 - 259: Anger Born of Embarrassment

    Chapter 261: Chapter 259: Anger Born of EmbarrassmentQin Xiang: "...."


    He was just talking casually, why did he get angry?


    Annoyed out of embarrassment?


    Did he really guess right?


    So Fu Jinghen couldn¡¯t keep his woman after all...


    This realization made Qin Xiang extraordinarily cheerful, and after guzzling down a bottle of cola, he hummed a tuneless tune and went upstairs.


    - S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The next day, when Lin Ruochun woke up, she only felt a splitting headache. She rubbed her forehead, propped up her upper body from the bed, and squinted as she fumbled around the bed for her phone.


    When her hand hit something soft and squishy, her mind was momentarily blank, then she continued to control her hand to pat on that softness.


    Before she could react, the soft and squishy thing moved on its own, and she turned her head to look at the same time.


    She saw a familiar yet somewhat unbelievable face in front of her; the person looked impatient, gave her a slit-eyed glance, then closed his eyes and opened his lips slightly, "It¡¯s early in the morning; why aren¡¯t you sleeping instead of fussing around, and also, move your salty pig hand off my chest."


    Like being electrocuted, Lin Ruochun quickly withdrew her hand, took a deep breath, and was just about to scream when Wen Qiao, with eyes closed, seemed to sense something and weakly pointed at her, "If you scream, it¡¯s going to be very bad for you when I sober up."


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s scream was stuck in her throat, her face turning somewhat red as she just stared dumbly at Wen Qiao for a while. Eventually, she couldn¡¯t hold it back and asked, "Why are you in my room, on my bed? And who changed my clothes?"


    Wen Qiao had already been awakened by Lin Ruochun¡¯s patting and was just resting with eyes closed, now showing no impatience at her questions.


    "You should ask yourself that; after getting dead drunk on one bottle of beer, I had to haul you back here. Inside the room, you suddenly went crazy, clung to me, and wouldn¡¯t let me leave; you even hugged me while crying, asking why I didn¡¯t like you."


    "And about your last question, it¡¯s kind of dumb. Is there even a third living person in this room apart from you and me? Who else could have changed your clothes but me?"


    With each word from Wen Qiao, Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes widened even more¡ªby the time Wen Qiao finished his last sentence, Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes were nearly popping out of their sockets.


    "I don¡¯t believe it; you¡¯re lying. Where¡¯s the proof?"


    Wen Qiao opened one eye and tilted his head to look at the feignedly calm Lin Ruochun, sighed slightly pityingly, then reached out, fetched his phone, unlocked it, and tapped the screen.


    Eventually, he added, "What you¡¯re about to hear might be hard for you to accept, but it¡¯s okay; everyone stumbles a few times in life. Just shake off the dirt, get up, and keep going."


    Lin Ruochun suddenly felt a strong and unpleasant premonition.


    Sure enough, she saw Wen Qiao tap his finger on her phone screen, and then it was as if Pandora¡¯s Box had been opened¡ªthe room filled with her wailing¡ª


    "Why are they talking about me, am I just a bit prettier, a tad wealthier, a bit better in acting, why do netizens have to say that about me, wah¡ª"


    "Why doesn¡¯t Qin Xiang like me, he¡¯d rather chase other women than woo me, isn¡¯t there a saying about keeping the good stuff within the field, wah¡ª"

 Chapter 262 - 260: I Really Envy You

    Chapter 262: Chapter 260: I Really Envy You"Wen Qiao, you know, I¡¯m so jealous of you." Lin Ruochun¡¯s voice choked up in the recording and she continued, "I spent the afternoon with you at the mall, and Brother Jinghen said you could buy whatever you wanted and that I should accompany you. He even offered to reimburse me. Why don¡¯t I have such a great fianc¨¦, wah¡ª"


    "Also, you scared me before and even snapped at me on set. I felt so wronged, wah¡ª"


    "You don¡¯t even¡ª"


    Before the recording could finish playing, Lin Ruochun, who had been petrified from the first sentence, finally broke free and pounced like a tiger seizing its prey, snatching Wen Qiao¡¯s phone. Wen Qiao didn¡¯t even think of dodging; it was grabbed from her in an instant.


    Lin Ruochun frantically pressed the pause button, then deleted the recording, and finally, locked the screen and stuffed the phone under her buttocks, her whole face red as a cooked shrimp.


    "And you recorded it! How despicable!"


    Wen Qiao, leisurely and comfortably, propped her hands behind her head as a pillow, swaying her feet while speaking, "I have something even more despicable. For instance, I made a backup of that recording. Even if you delete it, it¡¯s still there."


    Catching her breath heavily, Lin Ruochun¡¯s hands slowly formed a circle as she reached toward Wen Qiao, "I¡¯m going to kill you¡ª"


    Wen Qiao flipped off the bed and ran down, standing by the bed and provocatively curling a finger at Lin Ruochun, "Try me, kid."


    Lin Ruochun also got up from the bed and even grabbed a pillow, chasing after Wen Qiao to hit her.


    As Wen Qiao ran toward the door, she didn¡¯t forget to continue taunting Lin Ruochun.


    Engrossed in their antics, neither noticed the door being pushed open from the outside. Wen Qiao, turning her head to look at Lin Ruochun while running forward, collided with someone by accident. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Ouch."


    "D*mn..."


    Due to the law of equal and opposite reactions, Wen Qiao and the person she bumped into both staggered backward.


    Lin Ruochun instinctively caught Wen Qiao as she fell toward her; once they stabilized, they both looked up toward the doorway.


    The two people they saw at the door mirrored their own situation: the one supporting was Wen Qiao¡¯s agent, and the one bumped into was Lin Ruochun¡¯s agent.


    "......"


    Eyes met, and the room went instantly silent.


    About five minutes later, Jiang Yao and Wen Qiao walked out of Lin Ruochun¡¯s room one after the other, though their demeanor was noticeably different.


    One marched solemnly with head high, the other walked with a bowed head, hunched back, and careful steps.


    Back in Wen Qiao¡¯s own room, Jiang Yao walked straight to the couch, while Wen Qiao dutifully closed the door and tiptoed to where Jiang Yao was sitting, standing obediently in front of her.


    Jiang Yao, arms crossed and legs crossed, sat upright like a disciplinarian looking at Wen Qiao, "Tell me, what happened."


    "It was... Song Qian invited us for a barbecue yesterday. Lin Ruochun got drunk, clung to me, and wouldn¡¯t let me leave, so I stayed in her room to take care of her overnight, and then you guys came back."


    Jiang Yao snorted coldly, about to say something, but Wen Qiao immediately started apologizing, "I was wrong, Sister Yao. I shouldn¡¯t have gone out late at night for barbecue without controlling my diet, ignoring your advice. There will never be a next time. Although I have a metabolism that doesn¡¯t easily gain weight, you said that once I start gaining, it¡¯ll be too late. As a female star, I need to stay aware and keep my figure in check at all times."

 Chapter 263 - 261

    Chapter 263: 261Jiang Yao gave another cold snort, "So fluent? Had you prepared a draft earlier?"


    "....." Wen Qiao raised her eyes cautiously for a glance, and after meeting Jiang Yao¡¯s gaze, quickly lowered her head, "I¡¯m sorry, Sister Yao. After a whole night, I¡¯ve come to deeply realize my mistakes. I won¡¯t lie to you again in the future."


    "Your attitude seems pretty sincere," Jiang Yao said, somewhat satisfied as she nodded, then caught on to what Wen Qiao had said last, knitting her brows again, "Lie to me? What do you mean?"


    "It means, yesterday I shouldn¡¯t have had Song Qian tell you I was filming when you called me¡ªwait a minute? What do you mean? Aren¡¯t you mad about this?"


    Wen Qiao suddenly realized mid-sentence something was amiss, and she looked up at Jiang Yao, who was also looking at her. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Wow, you still lied to me? If it weren¡¯t for a netizen capturing the scene leading to you guys trending, were you planning on getting away with it?" Jiang Yao also realized what happened, suddenly slapped the table, startling Wen Qiao so much that she flinched, "No wonder you seemed so earnest in apologizing, it¡¯s because of this incident, huh?"


    Confronted with Jiang Yao¡¯s seething anger, Wen Qiao temporarily had no mood to pay attention as she pulled out her phone, clicked open her call log, and after seeing that the last call last night came from "Jiang City¡¯s Number One Celebrity," she shivered again.


    When Jiang Yao, wanting to impose a thorough re-education for Wen Qiao¡¯s transgression while she was playing with her phone right in front of her, moved to grab Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, Wen Qiao clutched the phone at her chest, her little face scrunched in a pitiful look at Jiang Yao.


    Jiang Yao asked subconsciously, "What happened?"


    "Sister Yao, that last call was from Fu Jinghen," Wen Qiao said slowing down every word as if that would absolve her of her sin, "I thought it was you calling, and at that time, I was carrying Lin Ruochun, so I had no hands free. I had Song Qian answer the call, and then he lied, saying I was filming through the night."


    Jiang Yao slowly lowered her hand that had reached Wen Qiao¡¯s ear, and when she spoke again, her tone was a bit harsh, "Then prepare yourself for what¡¯s coming next."


    Wen Qiao: "......."


    -


    With a heart full of anxiety, Wen Qiao showered, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. After completing these routines, she "drifted" to the set with the same anxious heart.


    When she settled onto a small stool, she suddenly came to her senses.


    What for?


    Why should she feel guilty?


    Fu Jinghen, that bastard, in front of her, had spent a fortune on buying afternoon tea for another woman. All she did was have a meal with another man and it wasn¡¯t even one-on-one. In comparison, it was Fu Jinghen who should be feeling guilty, right?


    Once she realized this, Wen Qiao regained her fighting spirit. The thought she had just seconds ago about asking for leave to return to Jiang City vanished.


    After a while, Lin Ruochun came over with an expression of profound dejection.


    Wen Qiao passed her an egg and asked, "What happened? Did Sister Chu scold you?"


    "No," Lin Ruochun took the egg, nudged Wen Qiao with her hip, pushing her away and took possession of the small stool under Wen Qiao¡¯s bottom. Seeing her dispirited appearance, Wen Qiao generously decided not to quarrel over it and sat on another chair, "Then why do you look like you¡¯ve been through the wringer?"

 Chapter 264 - 262: Fellow Sufferers at the Ends of the Earth

    Chapter 264: Chapter 262: Fellow Sufferers at the Ends of the EarthLin Ruochun thought about Wen Qiao and Jiang Yao¡¯s departure, and Zhao Chu¡¯s demeanor afterwards, and let out a long sigh, speaking slowly, "Spiritual attack, you wouldn¡¯t understand."


    "....."


    "Sister Chu would do nothing, just look at me with that scrutinizing gaze until I couldn¡¯t withstand it anymore and confessed on my own; then she punished me by making me eat grass for a month."


    "......"


    Upon hearing this, Wen Qiao took a bite of her egg to calm her nerves.


    She suspected that these two agents had conspired together, as their methods to deal with them were identical, even the duration of eating grass was the same!


    But those who do wrong don¡¯t have the right to negotiate terms.


    Wen Qiao raised the egg she had already bitten into and gestured to Lin Ruochun, "Fellow sufferers."


    Lin Ruochu also lifted her just-peeled egg and touched it to Wen Qiao¡¯s, "Here¡¯s to our upcoming month of eating grass."


    As Lin Ruochu was about to put the egg in her mouth, she suddenly stopped and scrutinized her own egg, "You didn¡¯t get your saliva on it, right?"


    Wen Qiao said expressionlessly, "I did, I¡¯ve licked all over my egg just now."


    "......"


    -


    Though she had come to terms with having nothing to feel guilty about, a woman¡¯s innate sixth sense told her that since that phone call, Fu Jinghen had gone quiet, certainly planning some grand scheme.


    As expected, by noon, the film crew was buzzing with activity once again.


    They thought it was the sponsor¡¯s father visiting again.


    Coincidentally, Qi Ming also arrived around the same time.


    At this moment, Wen Qiao was filming a scene with Wen Shu, and they were just about to wrap it up.


    When they saw Fu Jinghen arrive, it caused a minor stir on set, considering Jiang Wei¡¯s situation had not resolved long ago, and there were fans on set who shipped their characters as a couple.


    After Jiang Wei¡¯s incident broke out, the fans felt their world collapsing, and now seeing Fu Jinghen appearing on set as if nothing happened, they soberly realized that shipping couples was all just fantasy.


    Wen Qiao and Wen Shu were both talented actors, making their scenes together exciting. Director Zhang didn¡¯t get distracted by Fu Jinghen¡¯s arrival, focusing intently on the monitor. Only after yelling "Cut" at the end of a take did he turn to look at Fu Jinghen and say, displeased, "Next time you come, could you not pick when we¡¯re shooting? It holds up the works."


    Fu Jinghen nodded, accepting the reprimand, "I¡¯ll pay attention next time."


    Wen Qiao hadn¡¯t noticed Fu Jinghen¡¯s arrival yet. She lifted her skirt, lowering her head and walking slowly. It had rained late last night and the bridge was a bit slippery; if she wasn¡¯t careful, a fall into splits on the bridge would be embarrassing.


    "Wen Qiao." Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hearing her name, Wen Qiao stopped and turned to see it was Wen Shu calling her. She felt a faint aversion welling up inside, yet her face showed nothing, "What is it?"


    Wen Shu also lifted her skirt and walked beside her, "About the scene we just did¡ªI feel like my emotions weren¡¯t quite full enough. If you don¡¯t mind, could we do another take?"


    "Sure, I don¡¯t mind."


    Wen Qiao held herself to high standards in acting, so of course, she had no objections to the request.


    "I feel like you¡¯re not like the rumors say, you¡¯re so beautiful and so nice."


    Wen Shu¡¯s compliment sounded sincere, and Wen Qiao pushed down the resistance she felt inside, "You just said it, those are rumors, and of course, they can¡¯t be trusted."

 Chapter 265 - 263: What Are the Implications?

    Chapter 265: Chapter 263: What Are the Implications?Wen Shu nodded. "True."


    Walking together, they were about to cross the bridge when an accident occurred.


    The reason was that after Qi Ming arrived on set, he glanced around, and seeing that no filming was in progress, called out to Wen Shu.


    Wen Shu instinctively looked up, unwittingly stepped on a cobblestone, slipped, and hit the low decorative railing of the bridge, tumbling toward the water pool beside.


    "Ah¡ª"


    Wen Qiao, who was nearest to her, also instinctively reached out to grab her upon hearing the shout, but Wen Shu¡¯s force was too great, pulling her along as well.


    The sound of two heavy objects plunging into the water, "plop, plop," drew the attention of the film crew staff, who were about to wrap up for the day. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Xiao Shu!"


    Qi Ming was the closest. He rushed over to grab Wen Shu as she fell into the water but ultimately wasn¡¯t as close as Wen Qiao, grabbing at thin air.


    The pool was artificially constructed for filming and was not very deep. When Wen Qiao stood up, the water barely reached her thighs. But the pool¡¯s bottom was covered with stones of various sizes, and when Wen Qiao fell, her knees hit the protruding rocks first, scraping them and causing her to choke on some water.


    Her face scrunched up like a bun as she grimaced, standing up from the water and dragging Wen Shu up with her.


    "Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough."


    Wen Shu landed on her back. When she fell into the water, Wen Qiao¡¯s hand shielded the back of her head and back, so aside from swallowing some water, she was fine.


    "Are you alright?" Wen Qiao shook her hands. Her response had been completely instinctual, protecting the back of Wen Shu¡¯s head from injury by the rocks at the pool¡¯s bottom without a thought for her own hands.


    Fortunately, the cobblestones at the bottom of the pool were rather smooth, so the impact was painful but did not break the skin.


    Wen Shu patted her chest and shook her head. "I¡¯m okay, thank you."


    The two had fallen near the edge of the pool, and the crew members gathered around. Qi Ming, with a towel in one hand and extending the other towards Wen Shu, pulled her out, quickly wrapped the towel around her, and while walking her away from the crowd, glanced back at Wen Qiao still in the water.


    After Qi Ming and Wen Shu left, most of the people at the poolside followed suit.


    To be precise, they were sent away by Director Zhang.


    Wen Qiao noticed the look that Qi Ming had given her.


    ...


    What the hell does that mean?


    Surely that moron Qi Ming doesn¡¯t think I pushed his sweetheart into the water?


    But...


    Watching their retreating figures, Wen Qiao, still in the water, had the leisure to lament the benefits of being popular and pursued.


    Seeing her still standing in the pool, Lin Ruochun called out to her. "Wen Qiao, what are you doing still standing in the water? Planning to take root and sprout? Come on up."


    "Oh, oh," Wen Qiao snapped out of it and waved at Song Qian. "Give me a hand."


    Having spent some time together, Song Qian felt that aside from looking like a woman, Wen Qiao had almost no feminine traits whatsoever.


    For instance¡ª


    Once Lin Ruochun wanted to eat some canned fruit, but the glass jar was very well-sealed. Song Qian had just found a screwdriver to pry it open when he returned with it, Lin Ruochun had already started eating.


    He asked how she managed to open it.

 Chapter 266 - 264: You young people, always getting bored

    Chapter 266: Chapter 264: You young people, always getting boredLin Ruochun, holding her fork, pointed towards Wen Qiao who was playing video games and said, "She opened it with her hands."


    Song Qian: "..."


    Another example¡ª


    There was a water dispenser brought under Director Zhang¡¯s tent, and anyone in the cast who needed to steep something would go over to scrounge some hot water.


    Once the water bottle was empty, Song Qian thought he¡¯d return the ladder and then come back to replace the water. But when he returned, he saw Wen Qiao with her hair in a bun, carrying a large water bottle and putting it on top of the water dispenser.


    Song Qian: "..."


    Yet another example¡ª


    Yesterday when they went out for barbecue, the boss forgot to bring over a bottle opener. Song Qian hurried off to get it, but by the time he returned, Wen Qiao and Lin Ruochun had already started drinking.


    Song Qian asked again, "How did you open it?"


    Lin Ruochun, while munching on lamb skewers, pointed towards Wen Qiao, who was too busy gnawing on chicken feet to speak, "She used her teeth."


    Song Qian: "......"


    Above all, Song Qian had already mentally relegated Wen Qiao to the brother zone and even changed her nickname from "Qiaoqiao" to "Brother Qiao" this morning.


    Now, faced with Wen Qiao¡¯s proposal to help her up, Song Qian sneered verbally, "You can¡¯t get up yourself? How did you manage to get into the water and suddenly become so ladylike?"


    But his body was honest and reached out his hand.


    Wen Qiao stretched out her hand, about to latch onto Song Qian¡¯s arm, when suddenly someone appeared beside him, grabbed her wrist and effortlessly pulled her up.


    The speed was so swift; Wen Qiao only managed to notice that the hand pulling her up wore a wristwatch that seemed somewhat familiar to her.


    Then she fell into an even more familiar embrace.


    A bath towel was wrapped warmly around her by Fu Jinghen.


    Upon recognizing the person, Wen Qiao¡¯s eyes lit up, and before she could ask "How did you get here?" she found herself being carried horizontally.


    Wen Qiao let out a small exclamation, her hands instinctively hooking around Fu Jinghen¡¯s neck.


    From her angle, she could see the man¡¯s smooth jawline and resolute profile, and also his somewhat gloomy complexion.


    All of a sudden, Wen Qiao remembered she was still mad at him, and considering they were on set, she thought it improper to start an argument right now, so she dropped the idea and settled honestly into Fu Jinghen¡¯s arms.


    However, she quietly withdrew her hands that were circled around Fu Jinghen¡¯s neck. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen, sensing her action, furrowed his already knitted brows even more and said in a deep voice, "Who told you to let go of your hands?"


    It was a chilly and dark question, and even though it was phrased as an inquiry, Wen Qiao heard a deeper meaning within it: "I advise you to be smart and wrap your paws back around me quickly, or I¡¯ll let go and you¡¯ll fall flat on your ass."


    The thought had barely crossed her mind before Wen Qiao felt her buttocks begin to ache.


    She silently put her hands back, and to show her sincerity, she even tightened her embrace a little.


    Although she felt threatened, she still remembered she was angry, and with great dignity, she turned her head away, presenting Fu Jinghen with a stubborn profile.


    After Fu Jinghen carried Wen Qiao away, among those left by the poolside¡ªapart from Lin Ruochun, Qin Xiang, Director Zhang, and Deputy Director Song, who were in the know¡ªthe rest had faces all bearing two huge words: "shocked."

 Chapter 267 - 265: The Difference Between Men and Women

    Chapter 267: Chapter 265: The Difference Between Men and WomenDirector Zhang is all about health preservation and never leaves his thermos behind even in summer. Upon seeing this, he opened the lid, blew on the steam, and after a sip of goji berry tea, he leisurely said, "You young people are really cloying."


    "You young people are really cloying."


    After Director Zhang said this, he took another sip of tea, then shook his head pretending not to notice, hands clasped behind his back, and left like an old man walking his bird in the park.


    Deputy Director Song quickly followed behind. As he left, he was muttering under his breath, "I thought the food would get better today with President Fu here, but then this happens... sigh..."


    Someone bumped into Song Qian¡¯s shoulder, and he, who had been in a daze, finally snapped out of it. He instinctively grabbed Lin Ruochun¡¯s wrist that was beside him, eyes still intently staring at the fading silhouette... actually, two silhouettes, and asked, "Please tell me, what¡¯s going on now?"


    Lin Ruochun followed Song Qian¡¯s gaze and glanced at the two figures before turning to look at Song Qian, unsure of what to say, "This¡ª"


    "Little brat, let go of your hand from me."


    Lin Ruochun hadn¡¯t finished speaking when a sudden, commanding male voice cut through, startling both of them. Song Qian also let go of Lin Ruochun¡¯s wrist he was holding.


    Qin Xiang, holding an ice cream cone in one hand, energetically rushed over and, not having a free hand, nudged Song Qian away from Lin Ruochun¡¯s side with his bottom, squeezing himself between the two.


    Song Qian staggered slightly from the nudge, turning slowly to look at the spot beside him. There, he saw Qin Xiang with a subservient, ingratiating smile handing over the ice cream cone in his hand to Lin Ruochun, saying, "Is it hot? Have some ice cream first, I¡¯ll take you for some good food in a bit."


    Lin Ruochun took a lick of the ice cream and then asked him, "How come you¡¯re here?"


    Qin Xiang smiled goofily, "I missed you, so I came to see you."


    The first time Lin Ruochun heard these words, her heart would leap with joy, her face flushed and heart racing. But having heard them too many times, her immunity had built up like a vaccination, calmly licking her ice cream, she hummed an "Oh" nonchalantly to brush off Qin Xiang.


    Watching Lin Ruochun¡¯s delicate tongue darting in and out, Qin Xiang felt an itch in his heart, coughed lightly to avert his eyes, and, realizing a gaze was fixed on him, turned his head to meet Song Qian¡¯s stare. The fawning demeanor from moments ago disappeared without a trace, replaced by a serious and earnest expression, with a look of scrutiny and a strong hostility towards outsiders infringing on his territory.


    Qin Xiang had always adopted a carefree attitude, running his little company with the protection of his elder brother, and compared to Fu Jinghen, who was tempered in the turbulent business world, he definitely lacked a bit in oppressive aura. However, the natural pride in his bones and the experience from being a few years older than Song Qian were still enough to daunt Song Qian, a university student who hadn¡¯t quite graduated yet.


    Song Qian, of course, recognized Qin Xiang and knew about his close relationship with Lin Ruochun. So, at the moment their gazes met, he immediately stepped back, putting a wide distance between himself and the couple. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing this, Qin Xiang¡¯s displeasure subsided a little.


    So, the kid does know his place.


    He glanced sideways at Lin Ruochun enjoying her ice cream next to him, then turned to Song Qian and said, "Men and women are different. Be more mindful of your actions in the future."

 Chapter 268 - 266: Why Don鈥檛 You Like Her

    Chapter 268: Chapter 266: Why Don¡¯t You Like Her"...." Song Qian felt that Qin Xiang might have misunderstood something, "Don¡¯t worry, President Qin, I¡¯m not planning on dating at the moment, and I don¡¯t fancy Ruochun. We¡¯re just good friends."


    Upon hearing this, Qin Xiang didn¡¯t become happy. Instead, he narrowed his eyes, "What do you mean you¡¯re not planning on dating ¡¯at the moment¡¯? And, our Ruochun is so great, why on earth wouldn¡¯t you like her?"


    Song Qian: "....."


    "No, that¡¯s not the kind of like I was talking about¡ª"


    Qin Xiang interrupted him, "I don¡¯t care what kind of like it is, you better snuff it out quickly."


    Song Qian: "....."


    He felt that whatever he said would just be countered by Qin Xiang. He looked towards Lin Ruochun for help, hoping she would rescue him from this predicament.


    Lin Ruochun raised her hand and gave him an "ok" gesture. She hurriedly swallowed her last bite of ice cream, her cheeks puffing up rapidly as she chewed up the crispy shell and gulped it down. Then she pulled Qin Xiang behind her and spoke to Song Qian, "I¡¯m sorry, he probably left his brain at home when he went out, don¡¯t take it to heart."


    As soon as Qin Xiang heard Lin Ruochun belittle him in front of someone else, he was immediately irked, "Who are you saying¡ª"


    "It¡¯s you I¡¯m talking about, now shut your mouth." Lin Ruochun turned her head to cut off Qin Xiang, gave him a glare, then turned back around, "I¡¯m leaving now. You don¡¯t need to send me lunch. See you this afternoon, and this towel, you can deal with it yourself."


    After saying that, she tossed the towel she had prepared for Wen Qiao but had not used to Song Qian and dragged Qin Xiang out with her.


    Song Qian also wanted to reply with "See you this afternoon," but then he caught a glimpse of Qin Xiang standing behind Lin Ruochun, staring at him with a sinister look, and he forcefully held back his words.


    Watching the two of them leave, he could still hear Qin Xiang¡¯s questioning voice, "What do you mean ¡¯See you this afternoon¡¯? Let me tell you, you can¡¯t date. How old are you? You should focus on your career¡ª"


    Ruochun retorted, "We are in the same crew, what¡¯s wrong with ¡¯see you this afternoon¡¯? Besides, I¡¯m already 21, what¡¯s wrong with dating?"


    "Then don¡¯t act in this play anymore. This afternoon I¡¯ll talk to Old Fu about replacing you. You can go home and rest for a while. I can even take you out traveling."


    "If you dare ask Brother Jinghen to replace me, I¡¯ll run away from home. Hey, can you stop nagging, it¡¯s so annoying, even parrots don¡¯t talk as much as you."


    "You¡¯re threatening me now? Your nerve¡ª"


    "....."


    Song Qian pursed his lips, feeling speechless as he listened to their tit-for-tat and childish bickering. The two of them combined were almost fifty years old, yet they were still so immature.


    As he was preparing to go back and pack up the props with the towel in hand, something suddenly flashed through his mind, and he stopped dead in his tracks.


    That phone call he received the night before, marked as "Jiang City¡¯s First Leg," couldn¡¯t have been from President Fu, could it?


    But then again, it seemed unlikely. He had never heard of Wen Qiao being supported by anyone.


    However, besides President Fu, who else could match the title of "Jiang City¡¯s First Leg"? S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.


    This was bad, this was really bad.


    After President Fu and the others left, he would have to thoroughly question Wen Qiao.


    Ask her exactly when she had managed to cling onto such a powerful supporter.


    -


    On the other side, Fu Jinghen carried Wen Qiao to the door of her room and lifted his chin to signal, "Open the door."


    Wen Qiao responded with an "Oh," and subconsciously let go to search her pocket for the room key. Only after touching the damp, gauzy costume she was still wearing did she realize that she wasn¡¯t wearing her regular clothes.


    "I don¡¯t have the room card on me."

 Chapter 269 - 267: First Kiss

    Chapter 269: Chapter 267: First KissWen Qiao had just finished speaking when the room door was opened from the inside, and Jiang Yao walked out, speaking crisply, "President Fu, the hot water is ready, and the first aid kit is prepared. If you need anything, just have Qiaoqiao call me. I¡¯ll be leaving now."


    Fu Jinghen slightly nodded, and Jiang Yao stepped aside to let him into the room. After Fu Jinghen carried Wen Qiao inside, Jiang closed the door behind them.


    Fu Jinghen set Wen Qiao down on the sofa and began pulling at her clothes without saying a word.


    Wen Qiao, startled by his sudden move, grabbed her neckline and quickly retreated, "What the hell, Fu Jinghen? What are you playing at in broad daylight?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s hand remained halfway in the air. At her words, he lowered his hand and nodded, his expression still grim, "Fine, then go take a shower in those wet clothes."


    Wen Qiao, releasing her grip on her neckline but seeing Fu Jinghen¡¯s stern face and hearing his tone, immediately got angry, "Why are you being so harsh? I saw Wen Shu about to fall and grabbed her. Even though I didn¡¯t manage to hold her and got dragged down too, at least I blocked her for a moment, saving both your cousin and her beloved. If you¡¯re not thankful, that¡¯s one thing, but to glare and snap at me? What¡¯s this? Bullying me¡ª"


    Wen Qiao¡¯s non-stop questioning abruptly ended as her eyes widened, unable to focus on the face in front of her due to the closeness.


    A warm and soft sensation came from her lips.


    A touch and then a separation.


    Fu Jinghen stepped back slightly, his gaze locked on her, his index finger and thumb pinching her chin, "If I were bullying you, it wouldn¡¯t be in this manner."


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    If there were a mirror in front of her right now, she could clearly see the entire process of an "apple turning from green to bright red."


    And moreover, the actor¡ªwas herself.


    "Then bring it on."


    It turned out that the human brain, when zoned out, was not suitable for interaction. Wen Qiao, because of Fu Jinghen suddenly kissing her, had her brain effectively crash, making both her words and actions subconscious responses.


    Although it was just a brief touch that would barely count as child¡¯s play, it was her first kiss, and its significance was beyond words.


    Facing Wen Qiao¡¯s reckless, even provocative behavior, Fu Jinghen glanced at her chin, straightened up, and said, "I¡¯m not interested in someone who just fell into a dirty pond. So, now, strip and take a shower."


    Wen Qiao pushed herself up from the sofa, knowing her cheeks were probably as red as hot chili peppers, but still maintained an air of nonchalance, "I¡¯ll take them off inside, step aside."


    Fu Jinghen stood still, instead, lifting her in his arms again.


    With no outsiders present, Wen Qiao struggled freely, "Put me down, I have legs, I can walk on my own!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Fu Jinghen ignored her, her feeble strength appeared to him no different from a chick¡¯s feeble flailing. He securely carried her to the bathroom, carefully placed her on the floor, checked the water temperature, stood up, and asked Wen Qiao, "Can you wash yourself?"


    "Of course!" Wen Qiao immediately sounded the alarm, "Otherwise, do you need to help me?"

 Chapter 270 - 268: Don鈥檛 you know what I want to do?

    Chapter 270: Chapter 268: Don¡¯t you know what I want to do?After saying that, Wen Qiao saw a clear message on Fu Jinghen¡¯s face¡ª


    "I don¡¯t mind helping if you need it."


    Damn it!


    She minded!


    Since she had been able to bathe herself, no one had seen her perfect body!


    Not even her own mother!


    Considering Wen Qiao was wearing wet clothes, and even though it was summer, one couldn¡¯t be careless, Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t want to argue with her, instead, he reminded her, "Hurry up and bathe, call me if you need anything."


    With that, he went out.


    As Wen Qiao watched Fu Jinghen leave and saw him close the bathroom door, leaving her alone in the bathroom, she immediately crouched down with her hands covering her face, curling up into a ball.


    Had Fu Jinghen just kissed her?


    Probably?


    Although it was just a light touch, similar to children playing house, they were both well past the age of playing house. Plus, Fu Jinghen was almost in his thirties, an old man who surely wouldn¡¯t joke like that.


    Boo-hoo-hoo.


    There went her first kiss.


    By the time Wen Qiao composed herself, stood up, and took off her wet clothes ready to step into the bathtub, the water had already gone cold.


    She drained the water and turned on the shower. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The moment the hot water cascaded over her, Wen Qiao suddenly realized something¡ª


    Why did Fu Jinghen kiss her?


    Between the two of them, she was supposed to be the leader! She hadn¡¯t even initiated anything yet. How dared Fu Jinghen attack first?


    How could she have become so passive?


    This won¡¯t do.


    By the time Wen Qiao had sorted out her feelings and finished her bath, more than an hour had passed. She had just opened the bathroom door and stepped out when her body suddenly lightened, and she was lifted into the air.


    Wen Qiao was startled again, looking at Fu Jinghen, "You haven¡¯t been standing outside the bathroom the whole time, have you?"


    "Yes."


    Wen Qiao slapped Fu Jinghen hard, "You¡¯re a pervert, Fu Jinghen, standing at the doorway of the women¡¯s bathroom. What were you trying to do?"


    Fu Jinghen looked at her, "Don¡¯t you know what I wanted to do?"


    "....."


    Wen Qiao was quiet for a while, then suddenly asked, "Is it a full moon tonight?"


    Fu Jinghen was momentarily lost, "What full moon night?"


    "Why else would you suddenly transform?"


    "...."


    They just couldn¡¯t understand Wen Qiao with normal thinking.


    While Wen Qiao had been bathing, Fu Jinghen had called the customer service to clean up the wet sofa.


    He placed Wen Qiao back on the couch again, sat next to her, lifted her legs onto his lap, and lifted the edge of her bathrobe. Wen Qiao flinched a little at first, but then relaxed.


    Fu Jinghen glanced at her, and Wen Qiao fiercely retorted, "What are you looking at?" which made him lower his head to look at her knees.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s skin was fair, and any bumps or bruises stood out remarkably. Her knees, not very fleshy, showed a bluish-purple bruise from a recent bump, with a few wounds from sharp little stones on the floor of the water pool, looking quite shocking.


    Fu Jinghen felt a twinge in his heart and carefully dabbed her wounds with alcohol.


    Wen Qiao was particularly afraid of pain, and, putting on a show for Fu Jinghen, she couldn¡¯t stop whimpering as the alcohol touched her wounds.


    Fu Jinghen asked, "Does it hurt a lot?"


    "It hurts to death." Wen Qiao blinked, tears forced into the corners of her eyes, pitifully looking at Fu Jinghen, "Maybe it would feel better if you blow on it."

 Chapter 271 - 269: Because You鈥檙e Stupid

    Chapter 271: Chapter 269: Because You¡¯re StupidShe had just finished speaking when she felt a gentle breeze blow across her knee.


    Fu Jinghen was blowing air softly as he wiped her knee more and more delicately.


    Wen Qiao felt satisfied immediately, resting her chin on the knee of her other leg, tilting her head as she looked at Fu Jinghen.


    After a while, she suddenly asked, "Fu Jinghen, are you being so nice to me because I helped Wen Shu this time? Ouch¡ª are you trying to murder me!"


    A sudden pain shot through her injured knee, hurting so much that Wen Qiao immediately grimaced.


    "What are you doing!"


    "Because you¡¯re talking nonsense, I¡¯m trying to snap you out of it."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t even look up as he took some gauze from the medicine box and began to wrap it around Wen Qiao¡¯s knee, round and round.


    "Isn¡¯t that the case?" Wen Qiao whimpered with a wronged little hum, "I cooked for you and got hurt before, but you didn¡¯t blow on it for me, how come you¡¯re so easy to talk to now?"


    Fu Jinghen cut the gauze with scissors, tied the ends in a butterfly knot, and then finally looked up at her, "Because you look more pitiful now than you did back then."


    As soon as he finished speaking, he successfully received a slap from Wen Qiao.


    "Why did you get angry just now?" Wen Qiao asked again, then raised her hand with three fingers together, "Let¡¯s get it straight first, I didn¡¯t push Wen Shu down. Don¡¯t slander me like your nephew."


    Fu Jinghen pressed down the three fingers Wen Qiao held up in a swearing gesture, "When did I say Wen Shu fell because you pushed her?"


    Wen Qiao raised her voice and asked again, "Then why were you so angry just now?"


    Fu Jinghen was brief and to the point, "Because you¡¯re foolish."


    Then, he got slapped by Wen Qiao for the third time.


    Only this time, Wen Qiao couldn¡¯t pull her hand back as Fu Jinghen held it tightly in his, after a couple of tugs without success, she gave up. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Talk properly, what¡¯s with the personal attacks? Was I wrong to try to save her? Are you reasonable at all?"


    Fu Jinghen held Wen Qiao¡¯s soft little hand while saying, "Did you manage to hold onto her?"


    "....No."


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t let it slide, "You didn¡¯t save her, and you ended up dragging yourself down."


    Wen Qiao defended herself, "....I couldn¡¯t just stand by and watch her drown."


    "Keep your idioms to yourself, the pool was so shallow, it didn¡¯t need your ¡¯stand by and watch her drown¡¯", Fu Jinghen¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t as dark as before, but it still felt pressing, "Besides, wasn¡¯t Qi Ming there, did you need to?"


    Wen Qiao frowned upon hearing this, and then relaxed, but Fu Jinghen¡¯s gaze was moving back and forth between Wen Qiao¡¯s fair legs and her soft hand and missed this movement.


    "So, were you angry yesterday all because of Qi Ming?" Wen Qiao asked him.


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s motion of pinching Wen Qiao¡¯s hand paused for a moment, he muttered "Hmm" and then resumed as usual.


    The previously gloomy mood also dissipated with Wen Qiao¡¯s question, becoming cheerful.


    The little girl finally realized this point.


    But Wen Qiao¡¯s thoughts were clearly the opposite of his.


    Fu Jinghen was indeed angry because Qi Ming had come to the set to visit Wen Shu.


    But that was normal, even if Fu Jinghen¡¯s current fianc¨¦e was her, he still liked Wen Shu, and a sense of responsibility couldn¡¯t suppress his feelings for someone.


    It¡¯s just that she was feeling rather annoyed.


    Wen Qiao might not even be aware that her gaze towards Fu Jinghen carried some complex meaning as she moved her lips, "Are you now¡ª"

 Chapter 272 - 270: The Damned Possessiveness of Men

    Chapter 272: Chapter 270: The Damned Possessiveness of Men"Ding-dong," the doorbell rang, interrupting Wen Qiao just as she was about to ask, "Do you still like Wen Shu now?"


    Fu Jinghen looked up at her, "What did you say?"


    Some words, once interrupted, become too difficult to utter again. Wen Qiao shook her head, "Nothing, I just wanted to ask if you¡¯re hungry now. You go answer the door first."


    Fu Jinghen, not suspecting anything amiss, gently held Wen Qiao¡¯s ankle and placed her leg on the couch before getting up to head toward the door.


    He only opened the door after checking through the peephole to see who it was.


    "What do you want?"


    Lin Ruochun craned her neck to look past Fu Jinghen into the room, "How¡¯s Wen Qiao doing? Can she still walk? Is her leg crippled?"


    As soon as she finished speaking, Fu Jinghen tapped her on the head.


    Qin Xiang, who had been leaning on the door frame, stood up straight and glowered at Fu Jinghen, "Old Fu, why are you still hitting people?"


    Fu Jinghen didn¡¯t even glance at Qin Xiang, completely dismissing his words as nonsense. He told Lin Ruochun, "Speak properly."


    "Got it, got it, you superstitious old man," Lin Ruochun muttered, pulling at Fu Jinghen, "I¡¯ll go in and see for myself."


    Fu Jinghen stepped aside to let her in, but he stopped Qin Xiang, who was also planning to follow inside.


    "Old Fu, what are you doing blocking me? Won¡¯t let me in?"


    Fu Jinghen grunted in response, leaving Qin Xiang outside with a terse "It¡¯s inconvenient," then closed the door on him, ignoring whatever commotion he made outside.


    Wen Qiao, hearing the noise, looked over, "Why did you leave Qin Laoer outside?"


    Lin Ruochun concurred, "Yeah, why did you leave Qin Xiang outside?"


    Fu Jinghen¡¯s voice was slightly cold, "Do you want to put on a free bathrobe show for someone?"


    Wen Qiao: "..."


    Embarassed.


    She had forgotten she was still wearing a bathrobe.


    Fu Jinghen then looked at Lin Ruochun, "Either you go out and keep him company or you leave him out there. Choose for yourself."


    After saying that, he turned and walked toward the bedroom.


    Lin Ruochun, without a moment of hesitation, "I think Brother Jinghen, your decision to keep him out is just brilliant."


    Saying so, she even gave a thumbs-up to Fu Jinghen¡¯s retreating back.


    Lin Ruochun poked Wen Qiao frantically with her finger, excitedly saying, "Did you see that? The damn possessiveness of a man."


    Wen Qiao "Oh"ed nonchalantly, clearly unimpressed, "You said it, it¡¯s damn." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun: "..."


    -


    Fu Jinghen walked into the bedroom and adeptly picked out clothes for Wen Qiao from the closet before coming back out and handing them to her, "Put these on, I¡¯m taking you out for dinner."


    Lin Ruochun immediately raised her hand, "Count me in! I¡¯m coming for the free meal!"


    Wen Qiao was getting up with the clothes in hand when she heard this and glanced down at her, "What? Qin Xiang isn¡¯t feeding you enough? Do you have to disturb our alone time?"


    Wen Qiao swore her words were innocently meant and her tone truly innocent, but Lin Ruochun¡¯s cheeks suddenly flushed red as her thoughts uncontrollably plunged into the Mariana Trench.


    "W-what... I mean... he..." Lin Ruochun stuttered incoherently until frustration got the better of her, and she pushed Wen Qiao¡¯s waist irritably, "You¡¯re so crude when you talk."


    Wen Qiao: "?"


    "I speak crudely?" She looked up at Fu Jinghen, pointing to herself with puzzled fingers and an innocent gaze, "She¡¯s slandering me!"


    "....."


    Fu Jinghen waved his hand indifferently, "Alright, hurry up and change your clothes."


    Wen Qiao automatically interpreted his gesture to mean¡ª


    "Hurry up and change, stop dawdling. Isn¡¯t it enough that you keep causing me concern day in and day out?"

 Chapter 273 - 271: Why Should I Let You Into My Woman鈥檚 Room

    Chapter 273: Chapter 271: Why Should I Let You Into My Woman¡¯s RoomShe huffed loudly, cursed "jerk," turned her head, hugged her clothes, and stomped into the bathroom, then shut the door with a bang.


    Fu Jinghen: "....."


    The little ancestor is going crazy again.


    Lin Ruochun glanced at the tightly closed bathroom door, then twisted her body to look at a somewhat helpless Fu Jinghen.


    She asked earnestly, "Brother, do you often get scolded for no reason?"


    Fu Jinghen considered the question seriously and started to answer, "Not really¡ª"


    Lin Ruochun clearly wasn¡¯t expecting his response and merely asked as a formality, cutting him off as he began to speak, "Then you¡¯re really miserable, spending money to make your wife happy only to get scolded by her. Your status in the family seems rather concerning."


    Fu Jinghen looked at her expressionlessly, "Why are you so talkative now?" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Lin Ruochun pondered for a while, then threw the question back at him, "Haven¡¯t you noticed that you¡¯re also talking more now?"


    Both suddenly fell silent, then simultaneously realized something, and finally, both looked in the direction of the bathroom.


    The culprit behind their chattiness¡ª


    Was inside.


    -


    The bedroom door was opened, and Qin Xiang, who had originally been leaning on the door, stumbled forward as it opened. Instinctively bracing himself with his hands, one landed on the door frame, while the other¡ª


    Ended up on Fu Jinghen¡¯s chest.


    Fu Jinghen, without looking sideways and with an indifferent expression, was about to say something when Wen Qiao peeked her head out from behind him, saw the scene, and immediately smacked Qin Xiang¡¯s hand away.


    "Get your salty pig hand off my man¡¯s pecs, I haven¡¯t even touched them and you¡¯re groping around!"


    "Taken off, taken off, you think I wanted to touch them, really, what¡¯s all the fuss about," Qin Xiang said with a disgusted face as he retracted his hand. Then he looked at Fu Jinghen with a sorrowful expression, "Why did you lock me out just now? Our years of friendship almost got ruined by your actions, my soul has been deeply wounded, I don¡¯t care, you have to take responsibility for me."


    Fu Jinghen glanced at him, "Why should I let you into my woman¡¯s room?"


    Qin Xiang: "...."


    Although what you said is true, the fact that you sound so justified is one thing, but what¡¯s with that unexplainable pride?


    Wen Qiao was getting impatient and started pushing Fu Jinghen forward, "Move it, I¡¯m starving to death and you two still have the leisure to chat."


    As she passed by Qin Xiang, Wen Qiao rolled her eyes at him, "Why should my fianc¨¦ be responsible for you? He¡¯s only responsible for me."


    Qin Xiang: "Hey, you¡ª"


    Wen Qiao, no longer wanting to listen, continued to push Fu Jinghen forward with force.


    Lin Ruochun, trailing at the end, came out last, and when Qin Xiang saw her, he lifted the hand that had just been slapped by Wen Qiao to garner sympathy, "Chunchun, look at my hand, that woman Wen Qiao is too rough, she even reddened your brother¡¯s hand."


    Lin Ruochun obligingly glanced at his hand, and then with a swift slap, smacked it, "You¡¯re a grown man, stop being such a crybaby."


    Having said that, she strode forward.


    Qin Xiang paused for a moment then quickly followed by her side, saying in anguish, "How did you become like this? You weren¡¯t like this before, Chunchun, you used to care about me a lot. Has Wen Qiao led you astray? I¡¯m going to confront her!"


    Lin Ruochun elbowed him, "Shut up, don¡¯t spout nonsense."

 Chapter 274 - 272: There is a Counter for Everything

    Chapter 274: Chapter 272: There is a Counter for EverythingQin Xiang reluctantly shut his mouth.


    After a pause, Lin Ruochun gave him a sidelong glance and said, "You¡¯re surrounded by so many admirers, with a bevy of girls at your fingertips, do you really need my concern too?"


    "They just can¡¯t compare to you," Qin Xiang said with a grin.


    Just then, a hotel cleaning staff was pushing a cart toward them. Qin Xiang hooked her shoulder and pulled her inside a bit, swapping places with her, ensuring that Lin Ruochun stood on the inside.


    However, Lin Ruochun wasn¡¯t pleased with Qin Xiang¡¯s response.


    Because Qin Xiang hadn¡¯t denied the first part of what she said.


    Lin Ruochun¡¯s eyes lowered, hiding the disappointment there, and when she looked up again, her face had returned to its usual impassivity. She opened her hand towards Qin Xiang, "Since my concern is so special to you, I¡¯ll start charging for it from now, one thousand per time, strictly no credit."


    "Deal," Qin Xiang slapped her palm and then draped his arm over her shoulder, laughing carelessly, "I¡¯ll transfer the money to you in a bit."


    The unique scent of a man enveloped Lin Ruochun, causing the temperature on her face to rise involuntarily and her heartbeat to quicken. Fearing that Qin Xiang would notice, she spoke with extreme disdain in her tone, "Stay away from me, it¡¯s so hot, even if you¡¯re not feeling it, I am."


    Qin Xiang uttered an "oh" and quickly dropped his hand, stepping back to create some distance between them. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Seeing this, Lin Ruochun breathed a sigh of relief but felt another wave of disappointment welling up inside her.


    Stupid Qin Xiang.


    Men are all idiots.


    Idiots, idiots, idiots.


    Wen Qiao had been all ears to the commotion behind her but hadn¡¯t quite made out what they were saying. After pondering for a moment, she quickly turned her head to sneak a peek, and just as quickly turned back around.


    Fu Jinghen, seeing her thief-like actions, couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, "You really can¡¯t sit still for a moment."


    "You don¡¯t understand!" Wen Qiao lifted her chin proudly, "Observing the to and fro of these men and women is the most interesting."


    Fu Jinghen followed up on her phrase, asking, "So what have you observed?"


    Wen Qiao pondered for a moment before saying, "There is a lid for every pot."


    As they spoke, they arrived at the elevator. Fu Jinghen pressed the button and looked down at her, "Hmm, not bad observation."


    The man seemed to be in a great mood, with a light smile in his eyes. When his eyebrows and eyes relaxed, his facial lines softened substantially, less of the decisive ruthlessness seen in the business world, and more of an uncommon tenderness.


    Wen Qiao looked up into his eyes and suddenly forgot what she was going to say next.


    She vaguely felt there was more to Fu Jinghen¡¯s words.


    Wen Qiao¡¯s gaze flitted away, and somehow, it ended up resting on Fu Jinghen¡¯s lips.


    His lips were well-shaped, not too thick nor too thin, and¡ª


    They looked soft.


    Wen Qiao thought of the unexpected kiss in the room just now and suddenly felt her mouth go dry.


    She licked her lips subconsciously, and as she looked up, her gaze collided with Fu Jinghen¡¯s eyes, which had become somewhat profound.


    "You two¡ªtch, I mean, this is a public place, can you act appropriately?"


    Qin Xiang¡¯s annoying voice came from behind. Wen Qiao blinked, came back to her senses, and turned her head away.


    Damn.


    That was close.


    She almost fell for the so-called "his damned tende