《Seventeen Again: The Sweet Life with My Family》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re not bad-looking.¡± In the prison, a tattooed female boss pinched Wen Nian¡¯s chin and carefully appraised her delicate-looking face. ¡°As a famous female celebrity, you must be very skilled at serving people. Some people outside have asked me to take good care of you in here. If you can serve me well, I will spoil you in the future!¡± The female boss traced Wen Nian¡¯s chin with her hand and then reached into her cor, making Wen Nian feel extremely disgusted. ¡°Get your dirty hands off me.¡± ¡°Oh, this little girl has quite a temper. I like it.¡± The female boss wrapped her arms around Wen Nian¡¯s waist and was about to kiss her. Wen Nian raised her hand and pped the female boss. The female boss wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and regarded Wen Nian with a glint of interest in her eyes. ¡°Little girl, I¡¯m trying to do you a favor here, but you don¡¯t seem to want it, do you? Beat her up. If she dies, I¡¯ll take responsibility.¡± Wen Nian could never forget the scene from her first day in that ce. From then on, every time she was beaten, she fought back with all her might, even if the odds were one against ten. If victory wasn¡¯t possible, she fought as if her life depended on it. As long as she was merciless, no one dared to bully her. She wasn¡¯t afraid of pain, but she was afraid of slowly losing that sense of self and eventually forgetting her grudges. Gradually, Wen Nian¡¯s reputation spread throughout the entire female prison like a gue. No prisoner dared to approach her anymore, but her days were still difficult because the people who bullied her had changed from fellow inmates to the prison staff. Wen Nian still harbored fears when dealing with the prison staff. If she were to die, nobody would care about her cheap life. But if she died, she would never be able to take revenge. She silently swore in her heart that she would drag all the people who had framed her to hell one by one so that they would never reincarnate. Ten years of brutal training had stripped Wen Nian of her humanity. Revenge was the only thing that kept her going. Wen Nian counted down the days every day. In just three more days, she would finally be released from prison. At night, Wen Nian suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and began rolling on her bed. The disciplinary officer impatiently knocked on the door that stood between Wen Nian and her freedom. ¡°Why are you wailing in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°My¡­ my heart¡­ it¡­ it¡­ hurts.¡± Wen Nian cried. ¡°It¡¯s already a miracle that your insigificant life was kept alive until now. Don¡¯t even think about going to the hospital. Just bear with it.¡± Before Wen Nianpletely lost consciousness, she heard a familiar voice. ¡°Miss Huang, the matter you ordered has been settled. That b*tch won¡¯t live past tonight. You can rest assured.¡± The hands of time spun backwards rapidly, warping the present back to that sweltering summer day. When Wen Nian met Wei Xiao, it happened to be on her 17th birthday. That day, Wei Xiao fulfilled all of Wen Nian¡¯s romantic fantasies. At the school gate, with the eyes of thousands upon them, he presented her with a custom-made gown. Even her closest friend, Huang Yue, looked on with envy. From then on, Wen Nian fell in love. She had no regard for her studies and abandoned any sense of sympathy. In order to gain Wei Xiao¡¯s favor, she ignored her parents¡¯ objections and heeded the advice of her best friend, Huang Yue, to be a signed female celebrity. She thought that a happy life wasing, but the day before she married Wei Xiao, she was pped with awsuit. Wei Xiao had used Wen Nian of deceiving her into marriage and was demanding a 100 million yuan repayment. Despite being a popr female celebrity, the amount of 100 million yuan was an astronomical figure for Wen Nian, leaving her perplexed by the sudden change in Wei Xiao¡¯s behavior. She naively believed that Wei Xiao had something difficult to say and chose to sue her as ast resort. To pay off her debt of 100 million to Wei Xiao, Wen Nian was introduced to many types of ¡°investors¡± through the rmendation of her best friend. Despite her A-list celebrity status, she was secretly working in the sex industry to earn money. Wen Nian¡¯s parents were unable to bear seeing their daughter living a seemingly happy life while burdened with such immense debt. They resorted to selling bento boxes at construction sites during the day and cleaning hotels at night to earn enough money to pay off the debt. Tragically, fate seemed to have a cruel sense of humor. One day, while selling bento boxes at the construction site, arge rock fell from above and struck both of Wen Nian¡¯s parents. They were rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, they had already passed away. Wen Nian¡¯s brother, Wen Yu, had left his high-end job and be a debt collector to help his sister repay her debts. Tragically, he was attacked and stabbed ten times while on a debt collection job. Before he died, he managed to call Wen Nian. However, at that very moment, she was in bed with an investor rmended by Huang Yue, still hoping to return Wei Xiao¡¯s side. In the end, Wen Nian, who had yet to repay her debt, was jailed. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t die this time, we will inform the court to increase her sentence. Miss Huang, don¡¯t worry. This b*tch¡¯s face will never dirty your eyes again.¡± So that was the case. Wen Nian knew that they would not let her off easily. Shey on the cold concrete floor of the prison. Her heart seemed to have stopped beating as she slowly closed her eyes. Thest thing she saw was the uniform leather shoes of the prison guards. When she woke up again, she was in the house that Wen Nian had lived in for 17 years. Looking at the familiar ceiling and gray-and-white checkered nket, Wen Nian was in a daze. She should be in prison and should be dead. She stood up and walked to the mirror, gazing at the reflection of the seventeen-year-old girl staring back at her. The image appeared both familiar and unfamiliar. At 17 years old, Wen Nian hadn¡¯t started wearing heavy makeup, nor had she undergone any medical or stic surgeries. Her face was bare and filled with youthful energy. Wen Nian touched the softness of her cheeks. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. ¡°Nian Nian,e out and eat.¡± She saw birthday noodles on the dining table, her mother wearing an apron while cooking, her father sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, and her sharp-tongued brother. Yes, that¡¯s right. This was the day of Wen Nian¡¯s 17th birthday and the first time she saw Wei Xiao. Since God showed her mercy, she will make sure that those who framed her and those who hurt her family pay with their blood. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 After breakfast, Wen Nian carried her bag and arrived in her former high school. ¡°Wen Nian, happy birthday. Here, this is a gift I prepared.¡± Huang Yue was Wen Nian¡¯s best friend. It was Wen Nian¡¯s best friend who ultimately married Wei Xiao, but she also coerced Wen Nian into working as a hostess, tricked her into human trafficking, secretly took nude photos of Wen Nian, and sold them to an illegal website. As a result, Wen Nian was eventually incarcerated, and it¡¯s possible that even the abuse and torment she endured in prison were a result of Huang Yue¡¯s actions. This gift was very dirty. Wen Nian disregarded the gift, afraid that if she took another look at it, she would feel repulsed. The day went by in a sh, but Wen Nian treasured every moment of it. She took diligent notes and listened attentively to each lesson. After being reborn, she realized how crucial studying was. It was the only thing she could focus on at the moment and the best opportunity to bring down Wei Xiao. She didn¡¯t dare waste a single second. After school, there was a limited edition Rolls-Royce parked at the entrance of Xinyu High School. It was very eye-catching. As Wen Nian exited the school gate, Wei Xiao stepped out of his car and approached her with the pre-prepared gift box in hand.. Within a dozen steps, the students from school stopped in their tracks. The surrounding students waited to watch themotion. Who was this handsome man looking for? What was he going to do? Was this girl some kind of hero who had saved the gxy? ¡°Nian Nian, happy birthday. This is a gift for you. It¡¯s an evening gown I had specially customized for you. I hope you could be my dance partner at the ball tonight.¡± Indeed, this well-mannered man was Wei Xiao, a beast in a gorgeous coat. ¡°I¡¯m not free tonight.¡± With that, Wen Nian walked away without looking back, her expression turning into a frown. Her love for this man in the past life was just as much as her hatred for this man in this life. Wei Xiao, who had been rejected, calmly sat back in the car. ¡°Little b*tch, you actually dare to reject me? Hmph, I was doing you a favor.¡± To Wei Xiao, Wen Nian was nothing more than an ant, but he felt obligated to act affectionate towards her. Huang Yue witnessed everything and a thought urred to her. This was the chance she had been waiting for. Huang Yue knocked politely on Wei Xiao¡¯s car window, and when he rolled it down, she put on a sweet smile. ¡°Hi there, I¡¯m Wen Nian¡¯s good friend, Huang Yue. She¡¯s not in a great mood today. Let me deliver the gift for you.¡± Wei Xiao handed the gown to Huang Yue politely, without disying any signs of displeasure. Upon returning home, Wen Nian threw herself onto the bed, burying herself in the nkets. Since she couldn¡¯t defeat Wei Xiao at the moment, she decided to keep her distance from him. Her first priority was to break off the engagement and move to a neighboring provincial district. At present, there was nothing more important than studying. Only by attending a good university could she gain ess to excellent resources and opportunities to rid herself of Wei Xiao. If I don¡¯t take revenge on Wei Xiao, then I, Wen Nian, swear that I won¡¯t be human. Wen Niany on her bed, tilting her body and narrowing her eyes as she felt the rays of the setting sun shining through the window. She immersed herself in the fresh air, enjoying the feeling of freedom that now surrounded her. The quiet atmosphere did notst long before the doorbell rang. Wen Nian got up to open the door and upon seeing Huang Yue, she frowned slightly. Huang Yue¡¯s heart skipped a beat as she noticed the expression on Wen Nian¡¯s face. She had been sensing that something was off with Wen Nian all day. As Wen Nian¡¯s only good friend, Huang Yue was confident that Wen Nian would never normally dare to show an attitude! Though surprised by Wen Nian¡¯s initial expression, Huang Yue was skilled at hiding her true feelings. The smile on her face didn¡¯t falter as she raised the high-end gift box in her hand and spoke gently to Wen Nian, ¡°Wen Nian, the person who came to look for you today is the eldest young master of the Wei family, right? I saw him at the banquet previously. Are you very familiar with him? He recognized me just now and asked me to pass this box to you after knowing that we were ssmates. I thought that it was a birthday gift after all, so I brought it back for you.¡± Compared to Wei Xiao, Wen Nian harbored more hatred towards Huang Yue. She had never suspected her best friend, someone she considered a sister! Huang Yue was the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family. Wen Nian knew that she was not strong enough to take her down at the moment. So, she decided to wait for the right opportunity to strike. It was more important for her to study. For Wen Nian, education was the foundation of her life and the only way she can survive! Wen Nian nced down at the gift box and sneered. ¡°You still gave it to me even when you saw that I had rejected it.¡± Huang Yue was used to Wen Nian being obedient and respectful towards her. So when she saw Wen Nian criticizing her mercilessly, it made her very ufortable. Despite feeling angry, Huang Yue maintained her usual good temper and asked with concern, ¡°Wen Nian, is there something bothering you? You seem unhappy.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s lips curled slightly at the corners, exuding a subtle coldness in her eyes. Her pure and alluring featuresbined with her aloofness, giving her a valiant and appealing look. Wen Nian regarded Huang Yue¡¯s pretentious attitude with coldness and reached out to open the gift box. Indeed! Wen Nian gazed at the dress in the gift box and immediately recognized it as the same dress Huang Yue had persuaded her to wear to the banquet in her previous life. However, the difference was that in her previous life, her eyes had gleamed with excitement at the sight of Wei Xiao. She eagerly epted the gift box, promising to attend the event on time. She had even unted the dress at the school gate, feeling proud of herself. After Wei Xiao left, Huang Yue started to manipte Wen Nian¡¯s choices by convincing her that men preferred women to dress in a more seductive manner. Eventually, Wen Nian gave up on the elegant long dress she had nned to wear to the banquet and followed Huang Yue¡¯s lead to shop for revealing and shy one-piece dresses in the underground mall. Huang Yue even applied heavy makeup on Wen Nian toplete the transformation. Despite being the one who had tagged along, Huang Yue effortlessly made herself look like the daughter of a wealthy family as Wen Nian, who was beside Huang Yue, looked like the uninvited socialite who had just tagged along. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Wen Nian came from an ordinary family and had never been to a high-ss banquet before. When she walked in and noticed everyone¡¯s stares, her initial instinct was to turn to Huang Yue for help. Unfortunately, she fell for Huang Yue¡¯s ploy once again, foolishly believing that the stares were due to her own beauty and unfamiliarity with the social circle. After Wen Nian embarrassed herself at the banquet, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t utter a word. But after this incident, he was able to make his grandfather, Wei Feng, feel remorseful for forcing this engagement and causing Wei Xiao to feel aggrieved. As a result, Wei Feng put in more energy into nurturing Wei Xiao. This was why Wei Xiao sought out Huang Yue to deal with Wen Nian. In this life, Huang Yue was even more brazen. When Wen Nian rejected the gift, Huang Yue immediately went out and bought the exact same dress that had appeared in her previous life, and then swapped it with the dress in the gift box without hesitation. Wen Nian¡¯s lips curved into a sneer as she gave Huang Yue a pointed look. She slowly opened her mouth and said, ¡°This dress doesn¡¯t seem to match the gift box, no matter how I look at it. Are you telling me that you swapped it?¡± Huang Yue¡¯s expression stiffened a little. ¡°What are you talking about? Why would I switch your clothes for no reason? It¡¯s normal for men to like seeing women in sexy and beautiful clothes. It¡¯s natural to give such clothes as gifts.¡± Wen Nian smiled faintly and looked enlightened. ¡°I see. I¡¯ll give it to you then. I think it suits you more than me.¡± Huang Yue showed her usual innocent smile. ¡°This is for you. How can I take it?¡± Then, Huang Yue put on a loyal expression and said, ¡°I understand that you might be worried about embarrassing yourself at the banquet. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll go with you and wear the most ordinary dress. That way, you¡¯ll stand out even more and look beautiful!¡± Wen Nian nced at the time on her watch. Thinking that her family should be getting off work soon, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to feign civility with Huang Yue anymore. ¡°If you want to get to know Wei Xiao, go yourself. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Wen Nian thought that if Huang Yue and Wei Xiao formed a rtionship so quickly, it would be easier for her to bring them down together in th future! Huang Yue had always presented a gentle, pleasant, and reserved image to others. However, when Wen Nian urately guessed her intentions, Huang Yue was infuriated by the humiliation. ¡°Wen Nian! I have never considered a person¡¯s family background when befriending them. I simply thought that it would be nice for me toe by since someone gave you a gift.¡± Huang Yue looked very aggrieved. ¡°I¡¯ve always considered you as my closest friend, but you seem to doubt my intentions. I don¡¯t see the point in continuing this friendship if you can¡¯t trust me. Maybe it¡¯s best if we just end things here.¡± This could be considered Huang Yue¡¯s ultimate weapon against Wen Nian. It wasn¡¯t easy for Wen Nian, a solitary person with a vtile temper, to befriend Huang Yue. Therefore, whenever Wen Nian refused to back down, Huang Yue would y her trump card, causing Wen Nian to quickly give in. Huang Yue used this tactic very smoothly and naturally. Wen Nian raised her eyebrows. This should be the best gift she had received today. She smiled and replied, ¡°Alright, forget it then.¡± Huang Yue raised her head slightly. When she heard this, she looked at Wen Nian in disbelief. ¡°Wen Nian, remember what you¡¯re saying now!¡± Huang Yue turned around angrily and went downstairs. She made up her mind that if she did not make Wen Nian pay a price this time, she would not agree to reconcile with her easily! Seeing this, Wen Nian¡¯s smile became even brighter. She hummed a tune and went into the kitchen to cook. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing went home after buying groceries. They saw Wen Nian washing rice in the kitchen. ¡°Nian Nian, hurry up and do your homework. It¡¯s your birthday today. You don¡¯t have to do any housework.¡± Wen Nian turned around and saw her parents still alive. A satisfied smile appeared on her face. ¡°This is also the day my mom suffered. I¡¯m just cooking.¡± When the couple heard their daughter¡¯s words, they looked at each other. Ever since they objected to Wen Nian and Wei Xiao getting married, Wen Nian had started to be a little rebellious. Now, this scene made them feel like they had returned to the days before the Wei family came looking for them. The three of them busied themselves in the kitchen. Dinner was quickly prepared. Just as dishes were ced on the table, Wen Yu entered with a cake. The family of four could sit at the dining table again. Wen Nian was filled with gratitude. She raised her cup and thanked her family for preparing her birthday. Then, she said what her parents wanted to hear the most. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ve decided to break off the engagement with Wei Xiao!¡± His parents looked pleasantly surprised. Wen Yu also smiled, but his mouth was still unforgiving. ¡°Congrattions!When did you regain your eyesight?¡± Wen Nian smiled. ¡°The heavens might have given me extra luck on my birthday, making my eyes sharper and mind clearer.¡± Wen Yu was a year older than Wen Nian. The two of them had quarreled since they were young, but as they quarreled, their brother-sister rtionship grew stronger. It was rare for Wen Yu to see Wen Nian speak to him with such a gentle attitude. And so, he didn¡¯t take pleasure in mocking her anymore. After dinner, he took out the birthday cake and started singing. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Wen Yu urged excitedly, ¡°Hurry up and make a wish! Pray that your brother can sessfully get into the best university in the country!¡± Wen Nian pressed her palms together and closed her eyes with a smile. She silently made a simple wish that the entire family would be safe. She shouldn¡¯t waste her precious wish on revenge. Seeing Wen Nian blow out the candles, everyone took out their gifts. Wen Yu gave her a bracelet that he was able to afford after working part-time for two months. Her parents gave her a pair of running shoes that cost more than 600 yuan. These were the branded sports shoes that Wen Nian had been thinking about for a year in her previous life. It wasn¡¯t the style that she fancied. She valued the brand. The other students in ss would more or less have one or two branded shoes or clothes while Wen Nian had always been wearing cheap goods bought from the mall or the night market. The rebelliousness of her adolescence and the inferiorityplex brought about by her ordinary family background made Wen Nian yearn to enter the upper-ss society. When she started high school, she slowly turned into a vain person. Wen Nian put on the bracelet, but she didn¡¯t touch the shoes. She smiled at her parents and said, ¡°Thank you, Dad and Mom. You can return this pair of shoes. Because I wanted topete with the others, I mentioned these shoes on a whim.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s realisation that she had inadvertently picked up this terrible habit surprised Wen Xing and Zhou Mei. They felt as though their daughter had suddenly grown up. Zhou Mei reached out and touched the top of her daughter¡¯s head. Her expression was glowing with adoration. ¡°Since Dad and Mom had bought it, you can wear it. It¡¯s good that you understand this principle. Dad and Mom can still afford a pair of shoes, but vanity will make people lose their sense of self. Let¡¯s keep our feet on the ground and do everything well. Internal wealth is considerably more valuable than trying to beautify ourselves with material possessions we cannot afford.¡± After hearing her mother¡¯s honest remarks, Wen Nian realized how many life lessons she had missed in her previous life. She actually believed Huang Yue¡¯s nonsense. Wen Xing also looked at Wen Nian in relief. Although Wen Nian said that, his daughter had wanted to buy shoes for a long time after all. Wen Xing had the same thoughts as his wife. ¡°Our Nian Nian has really be sensible this year. We¡¯ve already bought these shoes. We won¡¯t return them.¡± A pair of shoes could cover half a month¡¯s food expenses at home. In order to subsidize the family, her brother would work part-time on the weekends. At the end of the day, Wen Nian was the only freeloader in the family. After her rebirth, she did not want to spend her money on such meaningless bragging. Wen Nian said firmly again, ¡°Dad, Mom, I really don¡¯t like these shoes. You can buy shoes with the style I like for a few dozen yuan. I said I liked these shoes because these were branded shoes.¡± After uttering those words, Wen Nian rested her head on Zhou Mei¡¯s shoulder. Observing the family sitting around the dining table orderly, she felt contented. With a smile, she proposed, ¡°I have a great n. Tomorrow is Saturday, why don¡¯t we return the shoes together and visit the underground street of Ming Fang to pick a pair that I like? Sounds good, right?¡± Wen Yu became excited upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since our family went out together. Mom, Dad, can you see if you can ask your supervisor to extend your holiday until tomorrow.¡± Wen Xing and Zhou Mei felt tempted. Wen Xing was a construction worker and Zhou Mei worked in a restaurant. They didn¡¯t have a fixed holiday and they often had to work overtime on their days off to earn more money. They quickly discussed and made the decision to call their direct superiors and request a break for the next day. Baisheng Mall. Wen Xing said worriedly in the elevator, ¡°I wonder if they will give us a refund.¡± Their family had never bought anything in such a big mall. The couple¡¯s current clothes were not as expensive as this pair of shoes. They could not help but feel a little nervous. Wen Nian looked calm. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try first. If it really doesn¡¯t work, let¡¯s see if they will ept the return on a 10% discount.¡± Even if it was a 10% discount, they could still get about 600 yuan. The four members of the Wen family came to the shoe shop to discuss with the store manager. As it was not a problem with the quality of the goods, the store manager did not want to refund at first, but he was persuaded by Wen Nian¡¯s suggestion of a 10% discount. After the shoes were returned, she would not have to return it to the warehouse. She could ce them on the shoe rack and sell them at the original price, pocketing the 10% discount. In the end, both parties agreed to refund ording to this method. ¡°Yo, you¡¯re really poor. You bought it yesterday and returned it today. If you don¡¯t have money, why are you here to spend money? If you have the time to waste, you might as well hurry up and move two more bricks to earn some money.¡± Wen Nian turned around and saw a young girl who was as beautiful as the sun standing at the side and looking at her with disdain. This was Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate, Jiang Ning. Beside Jiang Ning was Huang Yue, who was wearing a white dress. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Wen Nian had gotten first ce in the entrance exam when she enrolled in the Hai City No. 1 High School. Due to her good looks, she was quickly voted as the school¡¯s most beautiful girl on the online school forum. This made Jiang Ning, who had previously held the title, feel threatened and she began to bully Wen Nian. Jiang Ning was the youngest daughter of the wealthy Jiang Family Real Estate, and was often doted on by her parents due to being the youngest. Huang Yue¡¯s biological father, Huang Jian, was a supplier of construction materials to the Jiang Family. In the Huang Family, there were six illegitimate children, and in order for Huang Yue to be valued and live well, she had to prove her usefulness. However, as the daughter of a legitimate wife, Jiang Ning held a deep prejudice against illegitimate children. Therefore, she usually treated Huang Yue with contempt and ignored her existence. Huang Yue couldn¡¯t believe her luck when she was given the opportunity to shop with Jiang Ning. Wen Nian nced at Jiang Ning, taking note of her expensive outfit: a Berifida watch, an LV handbag, and a diamond hair clip that held her curly hair in ce. Jiang Ning¡¯s delicate face was slightly raised, giving off an air of arrogance. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but think that in her past life, Jiang Ning was likely a rich and brainless cannon fodder. With that in mind, Wen Nian decided not to waste her time arguing with her. Wen Nian showed a different attitude this time, unlike before when she hid and felt inferior. She admitted openly, ¡°I am poor. Is it a crime to be poor? You may not be poor, but every cent of the money you spent was not earned by you. You are quite righteous when you talk about others.¡± Jiang Ning was left speechless. She opened her mouth to reply but found herself at a loss for words. It was clear to her that Wen Nian was telling the truth. Observing the situation, Huang Yue perceived it as an opportunity to unt herself once more. Without dy, she moved a few steps forward and furrowed her brow. Speaking in a slightly reproachful tone, she remarked, ¡°Jiang Ning may be forthright, but honest words are not always well-received. Wen Nian, I understand your family¡¯s circumstances. How can you impose upon Uncle and Auntie for your own vanity?¡± Upon hearing this, the shop staff regarded Wen Nian with subtle contempt. Despite her family¡¯s financial struggles, she seemed oblivious to their situation. Was she pressuring her parents to buy her branded goods? Was she trying to force her parents to pay for her vanity? Regardless of Wen Nian¡¯s situation, Wen Xing and his wife¡¯s initial instinct as parents was to protect their child. They hastened to rify, ¡°Nian Nian is not a thoughtless child. Her heart aches for us. She came to return today¡­¡± Upon hearing that Wen Xing and his wife intended to defend Wen Nian, Huang Yue interjected. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, you indulge Wen Nian excessively. She disregards the difficulty of earning money and demands things beyond your means. You shouldn¡¯t have agreed. Now, your hearts are pained by the money you spent, and you have returned seeking a refund. How embarrassing it that? This isn¡¯t good for Wen Nian either.¡± Wen Yu had met Huang Yue twice before and only knew that his sister had a good rtionship with her. However, today he noticed that she appeared to be sympathetic towards his parents and was supposedly advising Wen Nian. In reality, she was exacerbating the situation in public. If her intention was to truly persuade his parents, why would she put them in an ufortable position? With just a nce, Wen Yu could see Huang Yue¡¯s true character. Just as he was about to scold her, he saw Wen Nian standing in front of him. Wen Nian looked at Huang Yue calmly and smiled faintly. ¡°I also feel that I was too insensible in the past, so I¡¯ve changed now. I specially asked my parents to return today.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It was this youngdy who insisted on returning the shoes just now.¡± ¡°Then she¡¯s a good girl who knows her mistake and can change.¡± Thements took a turn, shifting the dynamic of the situation. Huang Yue was caught off guard by Wen Nian¡¯s actions. She believed that she had yed a role in fostering Wen Nian¡¯s vanity, but couldn¡¯t understand why Wen Nian had suddenly given up after attaining her objective. Huang Yue felt as if she had punched a piece of cotton, feeling no resistance or impact. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Another voice interrupted, its clear and pleasant tone cutting through the conversation. Everyone but Wen Nian turned to the door, curious to see who had arrived. Wen Nian pressed her hand to her forehead. She didn¡¯t need to look to know who had spoken; she would recognize his voice even if he had turned to dust. But she didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with him now. Wen Nian wasn¡¯t eager to retaliate against these people, but it seemed God was ying a prank on her. It was a good weekend, but these people were lining up to cause her trouble. A look of surprise shed across Huang Yue¡¯s eyes. Jiang Ning behaved in a more extroverted manner. She took a few steps forward and greeted warmly, ¡°Wei Xiao, are you here to do some shopping as well?¡± Wei Xiao was wearing a white shirt and suit pants, exuding a clean and sunny aura as he smiled. ¡°I¡¯m here to inspect the shops today.¡± Only then did everyone realize that there were a few men and women in business attire standing behind Wei Xiao. This time, Wei Xiao looked at Wen Nian and asked about what had happened. His behavior was as disgustingly hypocritical as it had been in her previous life. Wen Nian had initially considered ignoring Wei Xiao, but upon second thought, it was rare for them to meet and she wouldn¡¯t have to find another opportunity to meet him again. Without acknowledging his question, she said inly, ¡°Since we¡¯ve run into each other, let¡¯s call off our engagement. Ordinary people like us are unable to reach your family¡¯s high standards.¡± Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Wei Xiao was also a little happy, but when he realized that Wen Nian had rejected him in front of so many people, his expression turned ugly. He felt that the Wen family was being shameless. Some time ago, Wei Xiao¡¯s grandfather had discovered that the Wen family were descendants of his saviors and had suggested that Wei Xiao marry Wen Nian as a way to repay the Wen family. However, Father and Mother Wen had rejected the proposal on the spot. It was only after Wen Nian expressed her desire to marry him that they agreed to the marriage. Although he was not present at the time, he knew it would have been futile to express his indignation. Grandpa despised being refuted the most, so even though Wei Xiao was displeased, he epted Wei Feng¡¯s arrangement with a smile. Yesterday, he even took the initiative to inform Wei Feng that he wanted to personally present the banquet gown to Wen Nian. Wei Feng was indeed pleased with this action. Although Wei Xiao had epted the Wen family¡¯s rejection at that time, he still harbored a grudge, feeling that the family was ying a double game and being very scheming. The Wen family had never seen Wei Xiao before. Only after hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words did they know that he was the eldest young master of the Wei family. Wei Xiao did not believe that these poor people would give up the wealth that was within their grasp. He only felt that Wen Nian had ulterior motives. He was already considering how to end this marriage. Since the opportunity had presented itself, he would obviously seize it. However, if anyone were to call off the engagement, it had to be him. Wei Xiao immediately looked sad. He took out his phone and tapped on it a few times before raising it in front of him. ¡°Wen Nian, did you take the initiative to cancel the marriage because you were with these indecent people outside? I really didn¡¯t expect you to be such a person. Did you always want to break off the engagement? After all, your family is my grandfather¡¯s savior. I¡¯ll spare you some dignity.¡± The photos quickly cycled through, each one showing Wen Nian in a bar with a group of rough-looking youths with dyed hair and tattoos. Due to the angle that the photos were taken, the images were suggestive, making it seem like Wen Nian was involved in inappropriate activities. Even if Wei Xiao wanted to cancel the marriage, he had to upy the moral high ground. As expected of Wei Xiao¡¯s usual method. Wen Nian sneered internally. It was obvious that these photos were given by Huang Yue. It seemed that without her, the Wei Xiao and Huang Yue would have hooked up like in her previous life. Wen Nian knew how to act! She looked at Wei Xiao in confusion and responded, ¡°Aren¡¯t these the rich young masters in the same circle as you? Huang Yue said that she would bring me to meet some friends, but I left not long after entering. Who gave you these photos? They¡¯re ruining my reputation. I¡¯m going to sue her! The more Wen Nian spoke, the more her anger grew, and she furrowed her brow with a serious expression. Last month, Huang Yue had used the excuse of Wen Nian¡¯s uing entry into high society to bring her to meet some young aristocratic masters to expand her connections. But how could a straightforward person like Wen Nian understand the twists and turns of such social games? She had felt grateful to Huang Yue, but upon arriving there, she realized that the other party was making unwanted advances towards her. She had thrown a tantrum and left in anger. Otherwise, she might have been dragged away by those men to be vited that night. After that, Huang Yue only used the excuse that the man was drunk to be a little unruly. She also mentioned that offending these people would affect the Wei family¡¯s business. Wen Nian believed her and kept worrying that she had caused trouble for Wei Xiao. Who knew that these people were street hooligans who couldn¡¯t even enter the Wei Corporation? When Huang Yue saw that Wen Nian had gotten her involved, she was a little flustered. She was afraid that she would leave a bad impression on Wei Xiao, but it felt even more inappropriate for her to be present now. She thought for a moment and slowly moved to the back of the crowd. How could Wen Yu tolerate this situation? He was about to snatch Wei Xiao¡¯s phone, but before he could take action, Wei Xiao quickly took a few steps back and signaled someone to stop him. Wen Yu had been taking photos in the studio for some time and could immediately spot the problem with the photos. His expression turned grim. ¡°These photos were clearly taken at an angle. Young Master Wei was born into a wealthy family. Is it possible that he can¡¯t see through such maniptive tactics? Since you don¡¯t want to go through with this marriage, let¡¯s speak openly with Old Master Wei. There¡¯s no need to resort to such vile methods to deal with a young girl like my sister, who has no experience in society.¡± Wen Yu had entered society at an early age to work part-time and did whatever it took to earn money. He had witnessed the darker side of society long ago. He couldn¡¯t imagine what would have happened if Wen Nian had not left in time. Wei Xiao didn¡¯t dare to cause trouble for his grandfather. If he had the courage, he wouldn¡¯t have resorted to this tactic of striking first and creating the impression that he was the one being hurt. He had already made ns to study abroad. When he left, he intended to go overseas to recuperate and establish a positive image for himself. This way, when he returned, he could take over the Wei Corporation in the future. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Therefore, even if his intentions were revealed, Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t confess to them. He spoke with a cold expression, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about her behavior for now. I cannot agree to be with a high school student who doesn¡¯t focus on their studies and goes to bars to drink.¡± Wen Nian clenched her fists. She knew that she had made a mistake, but the person who had the least right to judge her was the hypocritical Wei Xiao standing before her. ¡°Wei Xiao, please stop being so unreasonable. Who doesn¡¯t have curiosity? I¡¯ve never been to a bar before. What¡¯s wrong with being curious? Does going to a bar make me a bad person? We don¡¯t want to discuss this matter with you any further. Let¡¯s call off the engagement today!¡± Wei Xiao looked at Wen Nian, who avoided him like a disease and wanted to keep her distance. He felt suffocated. A tall young man approached Wei Xiao and spoke softly, ¡°Young Master, Old Master wants you to bring the Wen family back to the old residence.¡± Wei Xiao frowned and realized that this was bad. He had forgotten about the existence of those secret guards. His grandfather must have known about the situation because he had nted those secrets guards to protect him, and they must have reported the matter to him. The fact that he was being monitored 24 hours a day disgusted him, but he knew he had to ept it because this was a test that the future heir had to pass. At the Wei family¡¯s old residence. The Wen family greeted Wei Feng politely, ¡°Old Mr. Wei.¡± Wei Feng pretended not to know about the argument that had taken ce at the mall. He spoke with a smile, ¡°This is the first time we have everyone here together. Old Li, please hurry and prepare a pot of tea using my collection of Xinyang hair tips.¡± The first time Wei Feng saw the Wen family, he had already made up his mind about arranging a marriage between the Wen Family and the next generation of the Wei Family. After all, Wen Xiang had saved his life in the past. It could be said that without Wen Xiang, he would not have been alived to build up his current family business. Hence, after learning the whereabouts of the Wen family and seeing that Wen Nian was of a suitable age and appearance, he had the intention of arranging a marriage. In particr, the Wen family¡¯s sensible rejection had left a positive impression on him. Although Wen Nian had caused a smallmotion due to her parents¡¯ rejection, which made him a little unhappy, he couldn¡¯t retort to what he had just said. He could only think of teaching her well in the future. When Wei Feng noticed that Wen Nian had changed the way she addressed him to a more distant term, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a little perplexed. He asked in a yful manner, ¡°Why do you sound so distant? Has something happened?¡± Wen Nian had no intention of falling out with the Wei family. She understood that their family and the Wei family were like ants and elephants. Her family had to act in a humble manner while they were still growing stronger. Wen Nian¡¯s expression revealed disappointment as she spoke. ¡°I don¡¯t know where Young Master Wei found the photo of me going to the bar out of curiosity. He insisted that I had an ambiguous rtionship with someone else, and showed the photo in public without any exnation. What he did directly convicted me. How am I supposed to be perceived as a person in the future? Moreover, his actions have made his attitude towards this marriage quite clear.¡± ¡°I may be poor, but I still have my pride. I am not the kind of person who will pester you. Since Young Master Wei has no intention of marrying me, such a marriage would not be happy. I am willing to respect Young Master Wei¡¯s wish and hope that the old man will agree to my request.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s eyebrows twitched. If he didn¡¯t know that Wen Nian had only met his grandfather once, he would have guessed that the other party was intentionally targeting him. Every word hit the point that Wei Feng cared about the most. Wei Feng¡¯s smile remained unchanged as he reached out his hand to Wei Xiao. Wei Xiao swallowed nervously and opened the photo album to hand over his phone. Wei Feng checked the phone and ced it aside. Then, he looked at his favorite grandson with a faint smile. He hated it the most when othersplied with him on the surface but went against him on the inside! This photo was obviously a pose, and Wei Feng didn¡¯t believe that Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t tell. He was clearly unwilling, but he pretended to be obedient in front of him. Yesterday, he even said that he wanted to take the initiative to get close to Wen Nian to cultivate their rtionship. In reality, he was secretly looking for evidence to force the Wen family to break off the engagement and wash his hands of everything. Unfortunately for Wei Xiao, he encountered the Wen Family, who stubbornly insisted on asking for an exnation. Wei Xiao felt Wei Feng¡¯s gaze and sweat broke out on his head. Ignoring the strange atmosphere, Wen Yu stepped forward and said, ¡°Mr. Wei, your son has ndered my sister¡¯s reputation. I hope he can apologize properly.¡± Wen Nian secretly gave Wen Yu an approving look. Then, she mustered her courage and said timidly, ¡°He also said that my family is not upright! I want to ask what¡¯s wrong with my family?!¡± Wei Feng shot Wen Yu a sharp look. Wen Yu stood with his back straight without flinching. Father and Mother Wen also made this request. This made Wei Feng a little unhappy. No matter what, Wei Xiao was still the eldest grandson of the Wei family! The Wen family were just ordinary people! However, when he thought of Wen Xiang¡¯s life, his chest didn¡¯t feel as heavy anymore. He only started to dislike the Wen family. He looked at Wei Xiao and said in a low voice, ¡°Apologize, Wei Xiao.¡± Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Wei Xiao widened his eyes and looked at Wei Feng. Didn¡¯t his grandfather care about his reputation the most? How could he allow him, the eldest grandson of the Wei family and the future sessor of the corporation, to lower his head and apologize to a group of poor people? Seeing that Wei Xiao didn¡¯tply, Wei Feng red at him. Wei Xiao was so frightened that he immediately bowed 90 degrees and apologized sincerely. He didn¡¯t dare to be perfunctory anymore. The situation had escted to a point where the engagement could not continue. If they were to force themselves to stay together, they would be a resentful couple. Wei Feng sighed. ¡°You can¡¯t force a melon to be sweet. Since these two youngsters are not fated, we cannot force them to be together anymore. Let¡¯s cancel the engagement. If you encounter any difficulties in the future,e to me. Even if I¡¯m gone, the head of the Wei family will acknowledge my words.¡± When Wei Xiao heard this, he heaved a sigh of relief. Although he had angered his grandfather, at least he had seeded in canceling the marriage. How could his wife be such a useless vase and even bring along a burden from her family? As for what his grandfather said about the future¡­ Heh¡­ When he takes control of thepany, he will do things his own way. Wen Nian had achieved her most important goal today. There was no need to stay any longer. After the Wen family bade farewell and left, Wei Feng looked at Wei Xiao with a dark expression and remained silent for a long time. Wei Xiao felt uneasy, but he knew that arguing would only make things worse. After enduring the difort for a few minutes, he heard Wei Feng say, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone handle the necessary procedures right away. Pack your things and leave for America in a few days.¡± Wei Xiao widened his eyes and looked at Wei Feng. ¡°Grandpa, didn¡¯t we agree to go overseas after high school graduation? I just took over the Baisheng Corporation and still have a lot to learn.¡± Wei Feng looked at Wei Xiao and said, ¡°I won¡¯t repeat my decision.¡± Wei Feng¡¯s eldest daughter-inw had passed away early, and his eldest son was useless. He only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun all day, so Wei Xiao had been raised by Wei Feng since he was young. After all, Wei Feng had been the one who raised Wei Xiao. Compared to his other grandchildren, Wei Feng couldn¡¯t help but dote on him. Wei Xiao was also hardworking. He always ranked within the top three in his grade. He knew when to push and when to pull back. He was level-headed and had a strategic mind. Compared to his other two grandsons, Wei Feng was undoubtedly the most content with Wei Xiao and considered him as his sessor. However, now, if Wei Xiao were scheming against him, that would not be okay! Wei Feng stood up and looked down at Wei Xiao. ¡°Also, don¡¯t attempt to use your schemes on me. I think I¡¯m still young enough and wouldn¡¯t have any problem grooming another sessor.¡± There was a hint of ruthlessness in Wei Feng¡¯s voice. With that, he turned around and went upstairs, leaving Wei Xiao, whose back was covered in cold sweat. On the other side, the Wen family¡¯s mood was not affected by the small interlude in the morning. The family happily went to the underground street to buy shoes for Wen Nian. Hai City No. 1 High School was a key public high school in the city. Wen Yu was in her second year of high school, while Wen Nian was in his third year. The teaching building for the third year of high school was located at the back of the school. To ensure that the third-year students had enough time to study and stay on campus, they were only allowed to go home on weekends, except for special circumstances. Other than on weekends, the only other day without evening self-study was Friday. As a result, apart from Monday morning and Friday afternoon, Wen Nian had to travel to and from school by herself for the rest of the week. To save money, her family had only bought a bicycle for both of them to share. After Wen Yu dropped off Wen Nian at the Year Two school building, he went to the parking shed to park the car. Meanwhile, Wen Nian rushed up to the third-floor ssroom in two to three steps. It was still early, so there were only a few students in the ss. Everyone was a little surprised to see that Wen Nian had not beente for the past two days. After Wen Nian got into No.1 High School as the first ce in the entrance exam, she only managed to get first ce in the first half of the first semester of the first year of high school. In the subsequent examinations, her grades had gotten worse and worse. Now, she had even fallen to the middle level of the grade. There were 623 people in the entire grade, and everyone guessed that Wen Nian would definitely fall beyond the 400th ce after the first semester of the second year of high school. Wen Nian didn¡¯t care about everyone¡¯s gazes.She just smiled and greeted, ¡°Morning.¡± The students were stunned for a moment. By the time they reacted, Wen Nian had already sat down. She retracted her attention and continued reading her book. Wen Nian had reflected on herself in the past few days since her rebirth. She realized that her personality was the main reason why she was not close to her ssmates. In addition, ever since Wen Nian met Huang Yue in high school, she always acted as if Wen Nian was bullying her. For example, if Huang Yue identally knocked a cup over, she would mention Wen Nian and insist that Wen Nian had nothing to do with the cup falling off the desk. Outsiders would only think that Huang Yue was trying to help Wen Nian and attemping to cover up Wen Nian¡¯s mistake. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 After seeing that everyone was bing even more convinced that she was involved, Wen Nian became even angrier. However, she still didn¡¯t understand Huang Yue¡¯s maniptions. She felt like they were targeting her and wouldn¡¯t stop asking her to exin herself. With Huang Yue¡¯s intentional guidance, those around them came to believe that Wen Nian had a bad temper and was quick to me others for her own mistakes. Coupled with the fact that Huang Yue had deliberately instilled those immoral thoughts and Wen Nian listened to her every word, her path became narrower and narrower. This made it even more difficult for the other students to be on good terms with her. There were 55 students in ss Two, but no one wanted to sit with Wen Nian. Huang Yue, on the other hand, imed that she had to sit in the middle of the ssroom due to her short height, which was only 2 cm shorter than Wen Nian. Unfortunately, Wen Nian didn¡¯t question this excuse and believed it to be true. The more Wen Nian thought about it, the more she realized how blinded she had been in her previous life. She had done everything Huang Yue told her to do just because Huang Yue was willing to be her friend. Wen Nian shook her head to clear her mind of distracting thoughts. It was not yet time for morning reading, so she took out her English textbook and began memorizing vocabry words. Huang Yue usually arrived at the ssroom 20 minutes early. When she saw Wen Nian reading intently in her seat, her eyes widened slightly. As was her habit, she wanted to go over and talk to her, but she suddenly remembered Wen Nian¡¯s attitude towards her on Friday. And what happened on Saturday! Wen Nian had left with Wei Xiao without even saying goodbye, causing Huang Yue to miss another chance to talk to Wei Xiao. She had no idea what they had discussed when they returned to the Wei family¡¯s old residence. Huang Yue walked back to her seat. This time, she wanted Wen Nian to have a taste of being isted by everyone! After the morning reading, there was a 15-minute break before the first ss, which was math taught by the head teacher. Li Fang, a female teacher in her forties, was known for her solemn expression and was nicknamed ¡°Big Voice Li¡± due to her ability to scold people loud enough to be heard from two floors up. Despite her infamous bad temper, she was especially serious and responsible when it came to her students. Li Fang was a special teacher in the province, and many affluent families sought to enroll their children in her ss due to her high sess rate in getting her students admitted to top universities. When Li Fang entered the ssroom, she brought a new face with her to the podium. After ncing around the room and being pleased with the quiet atmosphere, she introduced the new student, saying, ¡°We have a new student in our ss this semester. Student Shen, pleasee up and briefly introduce yourself.¡± Everyone¡¯s attention was immediately drawn to the new transfer student. He had deep and exquisite facial features that were a little overly beautiful, but perfectly matched his handsome, sword-like eyebrows. He did not look feminine at all. His ck hair hung softly on his forehead, and his dark eyes were like agate, sharp and piercing. His cold temperament gave him an almost ethereal appearance. The girls were captivated by his handsome appearance, while the boys felt uneasy in his presence. Despite wearing the same school uniform as everyone else, the transfer student looked like he was dressed in high-end fashion, giving off an air of luxury. However, his sharp and piercing eyes hinted that he was not someone to be messed with, causing the other students to keep a low profile around him. Moreover, there was still Big Voice Li. If she found out that someone in the ss was causing trouble, this matter would not be resolved. Shen Jun introduced himself in a serious manner. ¡°My name is Shen Jun.¡± Then, it was followed by a few seconds of silence, Li Fang realized that Shen Jun was really just giving a simple introduction. The corners of her mouth twitched. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s apud and wee the new ssmate.¡± The girl¡¯s apuse was especially loud. As there was only an empty seat beside Wen Nian, and Shen Jun was not short, he was naturally arranged to be Wen Nian¡¯s deskmate. Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun beside him and greeted him softly with a smile. ¡°Hello, my name is Wen Nian.¡± Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian and replied softly, ¡°Hello.¡± The two of them greeted each other briefly and did notmunicate anymore. Wen Nian stole a few nces at the transfer student from the corner of her eye and was a little puzzled. Did this happen in her previous life? After thinking for a while, Wen Nian remembered why she had no impression of him at all. In Wen Nian¡¯s previous life, she brought Huang Yue to the Wei family¡¯s banquet. Later, Huang Yue urged her to drop out of school and be a celebrity in the entertainment industry over the weekend. The reason for this was Wei Xiao. Huang Yue imed that after bing a celebrity, Wen Nian could get to know many wealthy individuals. Only by socializing with people from the upper-ss society could she be a good wife for Wei Xiao. Otherwise, how could a girl from an ordinary working familypete with those affluent socialites? In reality, there were indeed many female celebrities who did note from privileged backgrounds but used their status as celebrities to enter wealthy families. In her previous life, when Wen Nian saw these sessful cases and Huang Yue¡¯s enthusiastic suggestions, she didn¡¯t hesitate to skip ss for the interview that day. In the end, she sessfully auditioned for the entertainmentpany, Huaye Shengshi. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 After that, Wen Nian went home and made a fuss about dropping out of school. After that, she never came to school again. On the surface, Wen Nian appeared to have neglected her studies for only a year, but in reality, it felt like more than a decade had passed. Looking back now, it was almost like deciphering a heavenly book. Learning was extremely difficult. She could manage with liberal arts subjects, but when it came to science subjects, Wen Nian would scratch her head until she was almost bald. Wen Nian had not built a good foundation in her first year of high school. Furthermore, to catch up, the school had allotted ample time for college entrance exam training and revision in their third year. As a result, the progress made in the first semester of the second year had already covered the content for the next semester. Wen Nian could only try her best to understand the new content in ss. After ss, she would use all her free time to relearn the school materials starting from the first year of high school. The morning passed by quickly, and when the bell rang for the fourth period, Wen Nian rushed to the school canteen with her lunch box. Since she started hanging out with Huang Yue, the two of them would go out of school for lunch almost every day.. The school canteen was known for serving cheap but poorly-tasting food, earning it the reputation of being moner¡¯s food¡±. Students with better financial conditions usually opted to eat at restaurants near the school instead. However, after going out to eat with Huang Yue a few times, Wen Nian learned to enjoy life and convinced her parents to increase their living expenses so they could eat outside of the school. The present Wen Nian was no longer a picky eater when it came to food. To maximize her study time and catch up on her studies, she had no ns of returning to the dormitory to rest in the afternoon. Hence, the school canteen became the best option for her. Despite the mediocre taste, it saved her time and money. ¡°After the bell rang, half a minute passed and Huang Yue looked back casually to see if Wen Nian was struggling to express her goodwill to her. However, she noticed that the back row was empty. She realized that no one else would apany her for dinner, so she calmed down.¡± Half an hourter, Huang Yue saw Wen Nian walking in with a lunch box. She suppressed her temper and asked, ¡°Wen Nian, did you go to get food?¡± Wen Nian looked very good-tempered and replied with a smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve finished eating.¡± With that, she walked past Huang Yue¡¯s seat without stopping. Huang Yue opened her mouth slightly. She was so angry that she wanted to curse. However, when she thought of Wei Xiao¡¯s n, she endured it and suppressed her anger. Seeing Wen Nian take out a ss of water and take a few sips before starting to read again, Huang Yue felt that Wen Nian had be a little strange. Huang Yue thought that she had finally seeded in ruining her, so why was Wen Nian starting to improve again? This scene made Huang Yue frown. However, it did not matter. Her vanity could not be cured anytime soon. Huang Yue did not believe that money could not attract her attention. Then, she recalled the day of the banquet. After Huang Yue sneaked in and found Wei Xiao, she pretended to unintentionally reveal many photos of Wen Nian at the bar to him. Wei Xiao¡¯s reaction at that time made her extremely satisfied. She knew it ¡ªHow could a country bumpkin whose family still rented a house in Hai City be worthy of the future heir of the Wei Corporation? Huang Yue had long been nning on using the matter of helping Wei Xiao take down Wen Nian as a way to get closer to him. She believed that if she seeded, she would be able to solidify her position in the rtionship and ultimately take him down. After the annulment of Wei Xiao¡¯s marriage to Wen Nian, no one in the Huang family would dare to underestimate her. After Huang Yue adjusted her mood, she walked to the back of Wen Nian¡¯s desk with her usual smile. Her voice was gentle, but her volume was not soft at all. ¡°Wen Nian, look at your temper. You¡¯re still so explosive. Your anger from Friday hasn¡¯t subsided yet? You didn¡¯t even call me for dinner.¡± Huang Yue said that on purpose after noticing Shen Jun eating a sandwich in the back row. Although he was wearing a school uniform like everyone else, his demeanor was too refined to be from an ordinary family. He muste from a wealthy and influential family, perhaps simr to the Wei family. Although Huang Yue wasn¡¯t sure about Shen Jun¡¯s family background, it didn¡¯t stop her from wanting to tarnish Wen Nian¡¯s image in everyone¡¯s eyes. Wen Nian looked up at Huang Yue and said innocently, ¡°You were the one who suggested cutting ties with me that day. I rejected other people¡¯s gifts because I didn¡¯t feel deserving of them. When you saw that I rejected them, you even went ahead to ept them. It would make others think that I was unable to resist the temptation of money. You are usually so smart, so why don¡¯t you understand this logic? You made a mistake when you saw expensive gifts. You can¡¯t be so vain. I am angry mostly because I am worried for you.¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Wen Nian had been too straightforward. Now, she had learned how to fight fire with fire. Wen Nian¡¯s voice was not soft either. With Shen Jun sitting beside her, it was difficult not to hear what she said. Huang Yue hurriedly retorted, ¡°I¡¯m not vain. I thought you were embarrassed when you rejected the gift. Besides, he¡¯s you¡­¡± At the thought of Wei Xiao¡¯s identity, Huang Yue immediately shut her mouth. She didn¡¯t want Wei Xiao to have anything to do with Wen Nian, this vige girl. If others knew that Wen Nian had a fianc¨¦ with such a good family background, Shen Jun might even misunderstand how exceptional Wen Nian was! Then, she would bepletely reduced to a supporting role. After all, she only had the advantage over Wen Nian in terms of learning and social skills. However, if she did not exin clearly, the new ssmate might agree with Wen Nian. Wen Nian obviously knew Huang Yue¡¯s concerns and didn¡¯t give her time to weigh the pros and cons. She deliberately interrupted and said, ¡°Although he¡¯s my¡­¡± Huang Yue felt that Wen Nian was simply shameless. As expected, she wanted to spread the news about the rich. She did not care about her image and hurriedly interrupted her loudly. ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about those unpleasant things. Wen Nian,e out with me for a while. I have something important to tell you.¡± Wen Nian blinked a few times. ¡°Then tell me about it here. I still have to read.¡± Huang Yue nced at Shen Jun. It was not a good thing to ask someone to drop out of school. The others were not as easy to fool as Wen Nian. She said to Wen Nian, ¡°This matter is very private and very important.¡± Of course, Wen Nian knew what Huang Yue wanted to do. She deliberately dyed for a few more moments. When she saw that Huang Yue was about to lose her temper and leave, she held back herughter and agreed. After all, even if Huang Yue had left in anger now, she would still bother her with this matterter. It was better to settle it as soon as possible, and today was a good day that she had specially chosen. Huang Yue wanted to pull Wen Nian to the school field to talk, but Wen Nian insisted on staying in the corridor outside the ssroom. Huang Yue had no choice. Seeing that there was no one else in the corridor, she started to pretend to be mysterious and said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to live the life of a rich person before? Now you have a chance! My father knows a manager friend. Given your beauty, I thought that it would be a pity if you didn¡¯t be an artist. And so I gave your photo to that manager.¡± ¡°Originally, she was already managing a few celebrities and didn¡¯t have much energy for more. However, out of consideration for my father, she decided to give you a chance. Wen Nian, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to convince her. When you be sessful and earn a lot of money to drive a luxury car, don¡¯t forget about me.¡± Wen Nian leaned against the railing of the corridor and listened to Huang Yue spinning a grandiose story for her with boredom. Even the lines were simr to those from her previous life. At that time, she had nevere into contact with society, so how would she know that thepetition in this world was only limited to A- and B-list celebrities who earned a lot of money and were seen as glorious and dignified. She fell into the beautiful dream created by Huang Yue, and her family couldn¡¯t dissuade her from pursuing it. However, in reality, there were hundreds of thousands of university students who studied acting, singing, and dancing in the country every year. This did not include many non-professionals who were constantly entering this industry. She had no education or talent, so how could shepare to them? Furthermore, the entertainment industry had a low threshold. Anyone could enter and make a living, and it was unlikely that there would be even one top celebrity out of 10,000 people. Many university graduates could only barely survive in this industry. However, at this moment, Wen Nian still cooperated with Huang Yue and revealed a surprised expression. ¡°That¡¯s awesome!¡± Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, Huang Yue felt relieved. She thought to herself, ¡°I knew it. Why did Wen Nian suddenly be so smart? It¡¯s probably because of what happened at home two days ago.¡± She decided to continue coaxing her. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve been nagging my father to strongly rmend you! Otherwise, do you think this opportunity would havee to you? Hurry up and go back to discuss with your parents about dropping out.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s gaze wavered for a moment as she looked at Huang Yue, and then she said hesitantly, ¡°But I¡¯m not even 18 years old yet. Can they hire childborers? Besides, my parents definitely won¡¯t agree. After all, I¡¯m still a student. I have to at least finish university before I can work.¡± Huang Yue secretly scolded Wen Nian for being a country bumpkin. ¡°Even if you¡¯ve never seen a pig run before, you¡¯ve eaten pork. Think about those child celebrities. If they¡¯re considered childborers, which is illegal, can television dramas be released? That¡¯s what¡¯s special about the entertainment industry. Thew allows it. Besides, if your parents don¡¯t agree to you dropping out of school, are you going to give up your chance at a happy life of earning big money?¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 Huang Yue continued to persuade Wen Nian. ¡°Don¡¯t you want to wear beautiful clothes and live in a luxurious house? Have you forgotten what you said about wanting to live a better life? So what if you¡¯re in university? You¡¯ll still have to work when you graduate. And now, the question is whether you should start work early orte. By entering the entertainment industry, you can start earning money earlier than our peers.¡± Huang Yue kept nagging at Wen Nian, attempting to persuade Wen Nian. When she saw that Wen Nian was hesitating and not saying anything, she persuaded even more vigorously. ¡°Huang Yue! Bullsh*t! How dare you encourage your ssmates to drop out of school and work? What are you thinking?!¡± Li Fang¡¯s voice suddenly sounded from behind Huang Yue. Her anger could be heard from several floors above, scaring Huang Yue so much that she jumped up. Although Wen Nian was already prepared, she was still frightened by Li Fang¡¯s loud voice. Li Fang walked up to the two of them and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Turning to Wen Nian, she said, ¡°You better not have any crooked thoughts. It¡¯s not easy to survive in the entertainment industry! If you don¡¯t study well, you might not even be able to understand the script. A good script has high demands on the actor¡¯s writing foundation, character analysis, and understanding. If you want to be a celebrity and an actor, study hard and get into a good university to learn acting.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know anything and you don¡¯t have any experience. You can¡¯t even seize the opportunity!¡± Li Fang was still able to suppress her anger as she patiently persuade Wen Nian, but when it came to Huang Yue, she was not so patient. She was so angry that she immediately shouted, ¡°Huang Yue, do you know that you¡¯re ruining someone¡¯s future? And your parents are actually involved! Called your parents to school! How dare they conjure such ill thoughts on my student!¡± When Wen Nian heard Li Fang¡¯s words, her eyes turned slightly red. In her previous life, she did note to settle the withdrawal procedures, but when her parents came to settle it, Teacher Li specially asked them to pass these words to her. She even said that if she thought it through and changed her mind within a month, she could still plead with the principal. Unfortunately, Wen Nian had long been brainwashed by Huang Yue.She deeply beleved that those who were determined not to let her enter the entertainment industry were all jealous of her beauty and wanted to stop her from making money. Li Fang¡¯s warnings proved to be true one by one. In Wen Nian¡¯s previous life, she had been in the entertainment industry for only six months when a famous director noticed her looks and thought she resembled the ideal second female lead for his uing patriotic movie. However, due to her poor academic record and limited life experience, she struggled to understand the characters¡¯ emotions in the script. Eventually, she had to watch as the role slipped from her grasp. Later on, Wen Nian became popr not because of her skills, but because negative news about her kept surfacing in the media. In order to get a role, she had to sleep with an investor. Due to herck of acting skills, she was involved in producing many terrible TV shows. The audience went to watch her movies just to find ws and criticize her, leaving messages on Weibo and other social media tforms, hoping to get her out of the entertainment industry. Despite Wen Nian¡¯s efforts to improve her acting skills and earn the approval of a skilled director, her negative reputation still caused the audience to criticize her. Even the director who praised her was used to have given a different remark because he had slept with her. When Huang Yue heard that her head teacher was going to call her parents, she was so terrified that her liver trembled. The Huang family had no shortage of children. With her good grades, she had ess to the wealthy and powerful students in a key school. Thus, she was doing well in the Huang family¡¯s eyes. If her father found out that she had caused trouble at school, she would be in big trouble. There were always a few students in each ss who would not rest in the afternoon and would stay in the ssroom to study. Previously, when Li Fang shouted, the students from the other sses stuck their heads out to take a look. Li Fang realized that this was not a good ce to resolve the matter. She coughed lightly and said in a low voice, ¡°Wen Nian, you can go back first. Huang Yue,e with me to the office to wait for your parents.¡± Wen Nian agreed obediently and turned to step back into the ssroom. Li Fang saw the students in the corridor and said loudly. ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. Hurry up into the ssroom and start reading. I¡¯m on duty in the teacher¡¯s office at noon today. If you have any math problems, look for me.¡± After informing them, Li Fang left with Huang Yue. Seeing that everything was going ording to n, Wen Nian sat back in her seat in a good mood and started doing the practice questions. Although Shen Jun was eating, he had been practicing martial arts since he was young. He had not only practiced various Western fighting techniques andbat but also inner family boxing, which gave him sharper eyes and ears than other people from a young age. Although Wen Nian and Huang Yue did not speak loudly, the corridor was less than 10 meters away from their seats. The environment was quiet enough for him to hear their voices clearly. From the corner of his eye, Shen Jun saw Wen Nian sitting down. His lips curled up slightly, as if he realized that going to high school wouldn¡¯t be as boring as he had thought. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Shen Jun was not ustomed to living with others, and his grandfather did not grant him any special privileges to have a dorm room all to himself. Therefore, he had no choice but to sleep on his stomach in the ssroom. Fortunately, the ssroom was quiet enough. There were only two people in ss Two at noon that day. After reading for a while, Wen Nian saw Shen Jun lying on the desk and sleeping. Although she was a little curious, she did not pry into other people¡¯s business. The atmosphere between the two of them was very peaceful. The lunch breaksted two and a half hours. After the first afternoon period, Huang Yue returned to her seat with red eyes, but didn¡¯t look for Wen Nian for the rest of the afternoon. She didn¡¯t even eat dinner and just sat in her seat with a nk expression. However, Wen Nian didn¡¯t pay any attention to her as she was on a tight schedule. Li Fang entered the ssroom during the evening reading session and cast a nce at the students who were reciting ancient Chinese poems. She gently knocked on the ckboard with her index finger joint, prompting the students to stop reciting and direct their attention to the podium. Li Fang said with a straight face, ¡°I don¡¯t know what some people are thinking, but they are causing their ssmates to drop out of school. If I catch anyone doing this again, it won¡¯t be as simple as calling their parents! You¡¯ve studied hard for over a decade. In less than two years, you¡¯ll see the fruits of yourbor. Whether you¡¯re aiming to be rich or famous, put those thoughts away for now! When you get to university and see more of the world, then you can make an informed decision. You only have one life, so don¡¯t make any choices that you¡¯ll regret for the rest of your life.¡± After saying such harsh words, Li Fang decided tofort the students. Her expression softened, and her tone became much gentler. She even looked specifically at Wen Nian. ¡°Lastly, if there¡¯s anything,municate more with your parents and teachers. It¡¯s inevitable to make a biased judgment alone. No matter what, listening to the advice of your elders might bring you new ideas. Alright, let¡¯s continue studying.¡± After Li Fang left, the ss immediately began to discuss animatedly. They were very curious about who Li Fang was referring to when she mentioned someone who made people drop out of school. However, since there were only three people in the ss during lunchtime, Wen Nian smiled meaningfully and didn¡¯t say anything. Shen Jun also kept quiet. Even after several guesses, they still couldn¡¯t figure out who it was, and so they stopped talking about it. Huang Yue was so scared that her back went numb. Wen Nian knew Li Fang¡¯s good intentions, but no matter what she said, it was better to express her attitude with actions. She calmed down and continued to read English. Shen Jun had alreadypleted self-studying the high school curriculum in advance, so he spent his time in ss reading books that he was interested in. The ss teacher had been informed in advance and was aware of his capabilities, so he turned a blind eye to hisck of engagement in ss work. Wen Nian paused to take a sip of water when she saw Shen Jun engrossed in reading an English book on his desk. The two desks were close to each other, and Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but see Shen Jun¡¯s book. She took a few nces and saw all sorts of unfamiliar words. She was dumbfounded, but she could already vaguely feel that there might be a genius sitting beside her! Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s focused expression, Wen Nian felt too embarrassed to disturb him. She retracted her attention and continued with her own studying n. When the bell rang for the end of the evening self-study ss, Wen Nian packed her things and went downstairs to get her car without looking back. Shepletely ignored the resentful gaze that Huang Yue threw at her from the chair. Noticing that it was difficult to control Wen Nian, Huang Yue started to panic. She didn¡¯t know what had gone wrong, but she decided to give Wen Nian the cold shoulder for a couple of days and try to sort things out on her own. Huang Yue packed her bag wearily. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t have to ask both of her parents toe today. In the end, it was her mother who came. The incident today had embarrassed her, and she knew she would definitely be scolded when she returned home. As Huang Yue didn¡¯t cause any trouble, Wen Nian had a few days of peace. On the other side, Wei Xiao was also on a ne to America. ¡°You¡¯re a student, right? Aiyo, children these days are so lucky. You can go overseas to see the world at such a young age.¡± Wei Xiao nced at the man who was trying to start a conversation with him. The man was wearing a red hat with the words ¡°Oriental Travel Agency¡± on it, and a cheap yellow T-shirt. Seeing this, Wei Xiao was no longer in the mood to talk.. ¡°I saved up some money to travel. I¡¯m 26 years old, but this is my first time flying. I¡¯m a little nervous. What about you? How many times have you flown?¡± When Wei Xiao heard the man¡¯s words, he let out a sigh and felt quite unlucky. He realized he had to sit next to a person he deemed a ¡°country bumpkin.¡± He took out an eye mask from his backpack and put it on, hoping that his action would convey his disinterest in continuing the conversation. When the man saw Wei Xiao looking down on him, he rolled his eyes angrily. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 At that moment, Wei Xiao was trying his best to contain his frustration. He had been ustomed to traveling first-ss since he was young, but now he was stuck in the cramped economy ss. He also had a feeling that his grandfather was going to teach him a lesson, and he couldn¡¯t help but worry about his future life abroad for the next few years. Huang Yue only found out on Friday that Wei Xiao had already gone overseas from the other rich second-generation heirs. She was burning with anxiety. She hadn¡¯t hooked up with Wei Xiao and didn¡¯t even know his phone number. Why did he go overseas?! Huang Yue couldn¡¯t sit still anymore and started looking for Wen Nian again. Wen Nian was already used to rushing out of the ssroom the moment the teacher dismissed the ss. Huang Yue was unable to stop her at all. Because Huang Yue didn¡¯t want to be in a crowd of people in the cafeteria, she had to wait in the ssroom on an empty stomach for half an hour. Seeing Wen Nian enter the ssroom after her meal, Huang Yue hurriedly stopped her. ¡°Wen Nian.¡± Wen Nian looked at Huang Yue with the same smile she showed previously. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Huang Yue?¡± Huang Yue looked at Wen Nian, who was smiling foolishly. She felt a bit shaken by the thought of suspecting that Wen Nian had deliberately set her up to be caught by Big Voice Li. She restrained her emotions and smiled, ¡°Wen Nian, why have you been ignoring me recently? Are you still angry that I helped you collect your birthday gift?¡± Wen Nian shook her head and said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not that petty. I just want to focus on my studies. I think Teacher Li is right. That night, I went back and told my parents that you suggested I drop out of school to work and they almost beat me to death!¡± After saying that, she looked at Huang Yue with a helpless expression and continued, ¡°By the way, you¡¯d better note to my house. If my parents see you, they might even beat you up. They believe that ever since I became friends with you in high school, I lost my interest in studying and won¡¯t let me hang out with you. So, I need to focus on my studies first and catch up with my results before I can hang out with you. That way, my parents won¡¯t be able to say that you¡¯re affecting my studies.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s words revealed two pieces of information. Huang Yue had asked her to drop out of school and work. Her declining grades also had something to do with Huang Yue. It was the weekend break tomorrow, and they would be able to go home after ss in the afternoon. They didn¡¯t have to stay in school for evening self-study, so more students would stay in the ssroom to study on Fridays. Some students with sharp ears heard their conversation and were reminded of what had happened during evening self-study session. They asked in surprise, ¡°Huang Yue, the person Teacher Li was talking about that night was you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, Huang Yue actually encouraged her ssmate to drop out of school.¡± ¡°I guess Wen Nian is interested too. Otherwise, why would Huang Yue give her such ideas?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t say that. Although Wen Nian¡¯s grades have indeed declined, the fact that she was able to get first ce means that her learning ability is not bad. Before I was assigned to the same ss as her in Year One, she was quite diligent in the first two months. Her grades plummeted after she started hanging out with Huang Yue.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all ssmates. Maybe Huang Yue had good intentions. Who doesn¡¯t know Wen Nian¡¯s temper? She hasn¡¯t been very likeable, and Huang Yue was able to tolerate her because she was gentle enough.¡± ¡°I find it strange. We¡¯re both having fun, but not only did Huang Yue¡¯s results not decline, she even made it into the top 100 of the cohort in thest exam.¡± When Huang Yue heard everyone¡¯s whispers, she became afraid that the persona she had painstakingly built would copse. She was also a little anxious. She secretly red at Wen Nian and quickly thought of how to salvage her image. ¡°Wen Nian, I only thought of a way for you because you wanted a good life. You even owe my father a favor. Once you enter the entertainment industry, you¡¯ll be a celebrity. You won¡¯t be working. What nonsense are you spouting?¡± Wen Nian frowned and said innocently, ¡°Of course. Who doesn¡¯t want to live a good life? Is it wrong to want to live a good life?¡± After saying that, she repeated what Li Fang had taught her that day. ¡°I think Teacher Li is quite right. My parents also think so. We can do whatever we want at our age, but we¡¯re still at the age of learning. Even if we have a future as celebrities, we don¡¯t necessarily have to drop out of school now. I n to attend university and learn the necessary skills to bring good works to the audience.¡± Some students who were studying after their meal entered the ss one after another. They learned the entire story from the students who had been observing the situation. There were more than 50 students in the ss, and a few of them had already seen through Huang Yue¡¯s hypocritical behavior. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 A bespectacled female ssmate adjusted her sses and rolled her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t celebrities have bosses?If they are employed by someone, they are working for someone? If you think that industry is that good, why don¡¯t you drop out of school?¡± ¡°There are so many child stars. I¡¯ve only heard of them working and studying part-time. Wen Nian hasn¡¯t even stepped into the industry yet, and you¡¯re already cutting off any path of retreat. That¡¯s despicable.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s eyes reddened when she saw that thements were taking Wen Nian¡¯s side. ¡°I just wanted Wen Nian to focus on one thing so that she would have a better chance of making a name for herself. Now I understand. it¡¯s stupid of me for trying to be a kind person! I always want to treat other people¡¯s matters as my own. I won¡¯t meddle anymore in the future!¡± The more Huang Yue spoke, the more agitated she became. After saying that, she ran out of the ssroom. Wen Nian clicked her tongue secretly. If she had such acting skills when she first entered the industry, she would definitely be able to be famous with her ability. Seeing that Wen Nian did not intend to chase after her, the ssmates who were watching themotion teased, ¡°Wen Nian, Huang Yue suffered because of you. Aren¡¯t you going tofort her?¡± Wen Nian scratched her forehead and replied with a troubled expression, ¡°Actually, Huang Yue said that she wanted to cut ties with me. It won¡¯t be good if I chase after her now and make her even angrier.¡± With that, she returned to her seat with a troubled expression. ¡°Wen Nian deliberately blurred the sequence of events, causing everyone to think that Huang Yue¡¯s suggestion for her to drop out of school happened first, followed by the decision to cut ties.¡± Moreover, most of the students were not stupid. They didn¡¯t believe that Huang Yue¡¯s suggestion was really for Wen Nian¡¯s benefit. Otherwise, she could have given the same suggestion as what a ssmate earlier had suggested, which was to work and study part-time. After all, there were not many child stars who did not continue their education in order to enter the entertainment industry. Since the main character of the incident had left, no one paid attention to this matter anymore. Thest ss on Friday afternoon was Mathematics. Li Fang had just started ss when she was called to the principal¡¯s office. She could only ask everyone read the textbook and do their own questions. When Wen Nian was working on the unit exercise book, she encountered a challenging question that got her stuck. Even after looking at the reference answers, she still didn¡¯t know how to answer it. She spent ten minutes studying it, but it was useless even if she wrote and calcted. In the end, she propped half of her face with one hand, frowned, and sighed heavily. Shen Jun nned to rx during the second half of ss. He took out his phone and started ying games, as he was able to easily multitask when doing simple things. He noticed that the girl sitting next to him had been struggling with a math question for a while. Shen Jun took a quick nce at the problem but didn¡¯t say anything. He was amused by the various expressions on Wen Nian¡¯s face and decided to keep observing. When the bell rang, Wen Nian still had not finished the question. Shen Jun picked up a pencil from the table and drew two lines on her notebook. ¡°Try this method.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice sounded cold and aloof. Wen Nian was stunned for a moment. This was the second sentence they exchanged after they became deskmates. ¡°Oh.¡± When Wen Nian came back to her senses and looked at the question again, her eyes lit up. Half a minuteter, she understood Shen Jun¡¯s solution. This was much easier than the solution given by the answer! Wen Nian wanted to thank Shen Jun after solving the question, but she realized that he was long gone. She began to pack the books and papers she wanted to read this weekend into her bag and bring them home. After ss, Wen Yu took out his car and waited in front of the teaching building. After waiting for more than ten minutes, he still did not see Wen Nian. He started to worry and thought about going forward to look for her. However, he then saw Wen Nian arrivete with a big school bag. His worried expression quickly turned into disdain. ¡°Tsk, I thought I was going to have to pick you up with a wheelchair. Everyone in school is almost gone.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at Wen Yu and went forward to hug his arm. She threatened, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If my leg is broken, I¡¯ll order you around every day. You won¡¯t get a break at all.¡± Wen Yu reached out and rubbed the top of Wen Nian¡¯s head. After making Wen Nian¡¯s hair stand on end as usual, he smiled and got on the bike. ¡°Get in quickly.¡± Wen Nian looked at her brother¡¯s broad back and smiled. She muttered softly, ¡°If this couldst forever, that would be good.¡± Wen Yu saw the shadow cast on the ground by the sun. Just as Wen Nian was about to get on the bike, he suddenly kicked forward a few times and stopped a meter away. He looked back and said with a helpless expression, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you getting on the bike?¡± This was Wen Yu¡¯s favorite way of teasing Wen Nian. This was to mock Wen Nian for being timid and not daring to jump into the back seat when the bicycle was moving. When Wen Nian saw this long-lost joke, she shook her head and yed along twice. But when it happened for the fifth time, she took a deep breath and pressed the tip of her tongue against the back of her teeth. She narrowed her eyes and looked at Wen Yu. ¡°If you dare to do it again, I¡¯ll tear the autographed poster in your room when we get hometer!¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Wen Yu¡¯s expression stiffened and he silently found an excuse for himself. ¡°I¡¯m a good man and I don¡¯t fight with women.¡± Wen Nian finally sat on the back seat of the bicycle. Wen Yu started stepping on the pedals and riding home excitedly. ¡°Your Highness, sit tight! Let¡¯s go back to the pce!¡± There were many small food shops on both sides of the school gate. Shen Jun had just finished eating and walked out of a noodle shop when he saw a young girl tugging at the hem of a boy¡¯s clothes. The girl was sitting in the back seat with her face raised against the cool summer evening breeze, her face full of happiness. Shen Jun took a nce and walked towards a high-end neighborhood next to the school. Xifeng Court was a high-end building developed by the Shen Corporation in Hai City, located adjacent to the No.1 Middle School. Property in this building was considered a ¡®double school district,¡¯ which meant that it was located in the catchment areas of two highly regarded schools. The surrounding living facilities wereplete, and there were even high-end office buildings and shopping malls nearby. The building was also next to the main river of Hai City. It was an ideal ce to find peace amidst the chaos. For each of the three consecutive generations, the Shen Family have had only one child. Shen Jun, being the only heir, did not receive any special treatment from the current head of the family, Old Master Shen. On the contrary, his grandfather demanded even more from him. For his studies, Shen Jun was sent away from the capital city to learn how to live independently. Although a ce to live was arranged for him in advance, everything else was based on the standard of living of an ordinary high school student. However, Shen Jun¡¯s mother still had concerns. Knowing that her brother was now the deputy secretary of the mayor of Hai City, she argued with her father-inw for a long time and finally arranged for Shen Jun to live in Hai City so that she could take care of him. The Zhao family had three children. Zhao Jiao was the middle child. Zhao¡¯s parents had Zhao Wu when they were old. And so, he was only eight years older than Shen Jun, so the two of them had always interacted as peers. The Zhao family had a political background, and two of their sons followed in their father¡¯s footsteps. Zhao Wen and Zhao Wu pursued a career in politics, while Zhao Jiao was a rebel who wanted to enter the business world. When she started her own business, she met her husband, Shen Lin, who married into the Shen family. Shen Jun had just reached home when he received a call from his uncle. Zhao Wu¡¯s clear voice came from the receiver. ¡°Niuniu, you don¡¯t have ns for the weekend, right? Uncle will take you out for fun!¡± Niuniu was Shen Jun¡¯s nickname. Due to the fact that he was born prematurely, his body had been weak since he was young. There had always been a saying among the people that it was easier to raise someone with a cheap-sounding name. The name also expressed his family¡¯s wish that Shen Jun to be as strong as a cow. That was why he started practicing martial arts at the age of three to strengthen his body. Shen Jun had no ns so he allowed Zhao Wu to make arrangements. At ten o¡¯clock on Saturday morning, Zhao Wu drove over to pick him up. Shen Jun left the house in casual sportswear. Shen Jun opened the car door and got into the car. Only then did he realize that there was a girl he had never seen before sitting in the back seat. She had her head slightly lowered and looked a little timid. He was a little speechless. His uncle was good at everything, but he changed girlfriends quite frequently. ¡°Uncle.¡± Zhao Wu had a pair of seductive-looking eyes, which appeared very affectionate when he looked at someone. He reached out and patted his nephew¡¯s shoulder as a greeting. ¡°Old Lin and Old Yuan know that you¡¯reing over, so they came to Hai City this weekend.¡± Lin Shen, Yuan Tao, and Zhao Wu grew up together and were like brothers. They all belonged to the second and third generations of political officials. Ever since Shen Jun started studying, he would be sent back to his grandparents¡¯ house every summer break to take care of them. Shen Jun was not only good-looking but also skilled in martial arts. Zhao Wu liked to bring him out to show off, and the older children would bring the younger ones along. After a while, everyone became familiar with each other. Shen Jun saw that the car seemed to be heading towards the suburbs and asked curiously, ¡°Where are we going?¡± Zhao Wu whistled and replied, ¡°Since we are in Hai City, we have to go to the sea!¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t do anything for the past two days during the weekend. She spent all her time studying in Year One. When the Wen family saw Wen Nian¡¯s transformation, they realized that their once sensible and obedient daughter had really returned. In order to show their support, the family tiptoed around the house, afraid that the loud noise would affect Wen Nian¡¯s studies. During the day, Wen Yu had to work part-time for five hours. And so, Wen Nian noted down all the concepts she didn¡¯t understand during the day and decided to ask Wen Yu all the questions at night. Wen Yu had just finished exining a question when he frowned slightly and asked in confusion, ¡°This is knowledge from the third year of junior high school. You should be very familiar with it. It¡¯s only been a little over a year since youst studied it properly. Why does it feel like your brain hasn¡¯t been used for more than ten years?¡± Feeling guilty, Wen Nian touched the tip of her nose. She then pretended to be reasonable and retorted loudly, ¡°Even if you haven¡¯t used your brain for a year, you can forget a lot of information! You have never experienced it before so how would you know!¡± Zhou Mei carried the fruits into Wen Nian¡¯s bedroom. ¡°Wen Yu, teach her well. You have no patience at all! If you continue with this attitude, we will cancel buying your birthday present this year.¡± Wen Yu pointed at himself in disbelief. What did he say that showed a bad attitude? He opened his mouth and wanted to argue, but after thinking about it, he decided not to. After all, this was his mother and sister. He only dared to let out a barely audible ¡°hmph¡± to express his unyielding attitude. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 After the warning, Zhou Mei instructed both of them. ¡°You will get hungry quickly if you use a lot of your brain. You can eat while studying. Let me know if you¡¯re hungry. I¡¯ll cook noodles for you.¡± Wen Nianughed secretly. Thankfully, she had gotten away with it by making an usation. This time, her brohter definitely won¡¯t think too much about it. Soon, Monday arrived. After a few rounds of studying together, Wen Nian¡¯s progress was evident, and Huang Yue could sense a real change in her. Though she wasn¡¯t quite sure why, considering she had lost to Wen Nian previously, she didn¡¯t feel the need to start any trouble. Besides, Wei Xiao had gone overseas and Huang Yue heard that his engagement with Wen Nian had been broken off. She felt conflicted, wondering whether to continue trying to contact Wei Xiao or find a new target. The work at the hotel and the construction site followed a work schedule where workers work three shifts in a day. Furthermore, food was provided during working hours. Hence, Zhou Mei could only make breakfast for Wen Nian when she did not work at night. Usually, everyone would settle food on their own. The school had a canteen and a convenience store. The canteen sold mostly buns, noodles, and so on. The number of windows at the canteen was even less than the number of students. Wen Nian rushed to the school¡¯s only convenience store. The drinks were all in the fridge. When Wen Nian was getting the milk, she saw the soda that Shen Jun often drank and took a bottle. Since Shen Jun had reminded Wen Nian thest time, she had the intention to befriend him. After all, with her current academic standards, it would be troublesome to ask the teacher if there was no one she could turn to for help at any time. There were only 10 minutes between sses, and she might encounter other students with problems. Sometimes, it was not her turn yet, and the next ss was about to start, so she couldn¡¯t even go to the toilet. Since Shen Jun had reminded Wen Nian thest time, she had the intention to befriend him. After all, with her current academic standards, it would be troublesome to ask the teacher if there was no one she could turn to for help at any time. There were only 10 minutes between sses, and she might encounter other students with problems. Sometimes, it was not her turn yet, and the next ss was about to start, so she couldn¡¯t even go to the toilet. On the other hand, Shen Jun was different. Wen Nian had observed him closely and found that he was the only one in the ss who had scored full marks in the weekly science quizst week. It was definitely worthwhile to build a good rtionship with such an all-rounded genius. The most important thing was that Shen Jun always stayed in the ssroom during lunchtime, and all that time added up was not insignificant. Shen Jun arrived at the ssroom five minutes before the morning reading as usual and looked at the soda on the table in confusion. Wen Nian quickly exined, ¡°Thank you for exining the problem on Friday. When I was buying breakfast at the school¡¯s convenience store this morning, I brought you a bottle.¡± There was still no expression on Shen Jun¡¯s face. He thanked her in a deep voice. ¡°Thank you. We¡¯re all ssmates. You don¡¯t have to be so polite.¡± Fortunately, Shen Jun didn¡¯t refuse, and Wen Nian heaved a sigh of relief. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have been appropriate for her to insist that he take the bottle of soda.. During the morning reading ss, Li Fang released the news that this year¡¯s national high schoolpetition would be held at the end of the year. She asked students who were interested to sign up this week. The poption in China isrge, and tens of millions of people take the university entrance examination every year. However, the top famous universities in the country only recruit a few hundred thousand students in total. One can imagine the level ofpetitive pressure that exists. However, if one can stand out in such a national examination and be admitted in advance by those key universities, they would directly skip the college entrance examination. Wen Nian was very self-aware about her grades and did not consider it at all. When she saw Shen Jun looking at his book without looking up, she asked curiously, ¡°Are you participating?¡± Shen Jun shook his head. ¡°No.¡± Shen Jun had already won the first prize in the nationalpetition for Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry in his first year of high school, and as a result, a few top universities had taken the initiative to give him an offer. However, his grandfather insisted that he finish high school like an ordinary student. Wen Nian didn¡¯t think too much about it. She only assumed that Shen Juncked confidence regarding the nationalpetition. Wen Nian didn¡¯t participate, but Wen Yu did. The school organized specialized training on the weekends. Wen Yu trained during the day on the weekends and could only do his part-time job at night. Once again, Wen Nian¡¯s time to ask questions was reduced. Wen Nian had no choice but to be thick-skinned and try to build a good rtionship with Shen Jun. After spending more than a week together, she could tell that Shen Jun was cold and introverted. She didn¡¯t want toe across as too pushy, so she tried to initiate small talk with him every day, even if it was just a simple question about what he ate. While Wen Nian was trying his best to get close to Shen Jun, another week passed by unintentionally. However, Wen Nian especially enjoyed this kind of life now. It felt stable! She no longer had to deal with the sleepless nights resulted from her selling herself for money and resources. She no longer had to be constantly on guard in prison and not daring to even sleep peacefully. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 When the Tuesday self-studying session ended at nine, Wen Nian rode her bicycle home as usual. To save money, the Wen family rented a ce in a residential area located in an alley. It took a few minutes to get there by bicycle from the main road. Amp on the alley road had been destroyed during a fight some time ago and had not been repaired yet. As a result, it was always dark. As Wen Nian couldn¡¯t see the road clearly and there were many small forks, she was worried that someone would suddenly run out and bump into her. She didn¡¯t dare to ride fast and could only ride slowly under the moonlight. It wasn¡¯t until she was just two meters away from the three men standing in a row in front of her that she saw them. Wen Nian stopped the bike. She nced at them and confirmed that she had not seen them in her previous life. The man with a buzz cut in the middle took a few steps forward with his hands in his pockets and sized Wen Nian up. When he saw her face, his eyes revealed a hint of surprise. After confirming that she was the person he had seen in the photo yesterday, he said in a frivolous tone, ¡°Little girl, why are you out sote after school? It¡¯s not safe to be on the road alone. I¡¯ll send you home from now on.¡± Wen Nian parked her bike and stretched her wrist. She spoke calmly, ¡°You just need to step aside. I can go home by myself.¡± The buzz cut man approached Wen Nian with a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite with me.¡± As soon as the buzz cut man finished speaking, he wrapped his hand around Wen Nian¡¯s shoulder. Wen Nian had already given him a warning, so she didn¡¯t bother to stop him as he charged at her. With her left hand, she pressed down hard on the palm of her right shoulder. As she turned around, she quickly straightened the buzz cut man¡¯s arm and raised her right elbow to hit the joint of his elbow. ¡°Ah!¡± The buzz cut man screamed in agony, apanied by the sound of bones cracking. When the two sidekicks saw their boss being beaten up, they stepped forward and tried to grab Wen Nian¡¯s arm. Wen Nian had aimed in the right direction and kicked the buzz cut man¡¯s butt, causing him to stumble forward and collide with one of the hooligans with blond hair. The blond man quickly dodged to the side, causing the buzz cut man to lose his bnce and take a few steps before regaining his footing. The pain in his hand intensified once again. Wen Nian saw another man with tattooed arms rush towards her, attempting to grab her arm. In response, she quickly formed her fingers into a w shape and at lightning speed, urately grabbed the man¡¯s weakest spot: his throat. Applying just 30% of her strength, she made it difficult for the man to breathe, leaving him immobilized with fear. The buzz cut man, unable to use his right hand due to the fracture, picked up a wooden stick from the roadside and coborated with the blondie to sneak attack Wen Nian from behind. Wen Nian¡¯s ten years in prison were not in vain, as her intuition was like that of a third eye. The moment the wooden stick was about to smash down, she quickly dodged behind the tattooed man. The tattooed man coughed a few times. Before he could recover, he was hit in the head again. Although the buzz cut man stopped in time, he could not help but feel a little dizzy and his body copsed to the ground. Wen Nian first found an opportunity to throw the blondie over her shoulder. Then, she kicked the buzz cut man in the groin. Taking advantage of the fact that he had fallen to the ground and could not get up, she picked up the wooden stick that had fallen to the side and pressed it tightly against his throat. The buzz cut man, seeing the murderous intent in Wen Nian¡¯s scarlet eyes, broke out in a sweat and was so frightened that he begged for mercy. He realized that she was a female devil who truly dared to kill him. He hastily used his left hand to block the wooden stick and said, ¡°Heroine, spare me! I was wrong! I won¡¯t dare to do it again!¡± The buzz cut man was a street thug used to fighting, but he had never dared to cross the line into taking a human life. Despite this, he trembled in fear when faced with the ruthlessness of Wen Nian, who continued to apply pressure, seemingly ignoring his pleas for mercy. The blondie endured the pain all over his body and sat up. Seeing that one had fainted and the other one was almost out of breath, he did not dare tounch another attack. He was so frightened that he only dared to shout at the top of his lungs, ¡°Help! Murder! Police! Police, help!¡± Wen Nian had experienced countless big and small battles and could be considered someone who knew how to defend herself. Even the prison boss had never beaten her into submission; it was always the prison guards who intervened. Through these fights, Wen Nian had learned many small fighting techniques, often attacking the weaknesses of the human body with fast and ruthless moves. After all, those people would not give her time to calm down. Hence, Wen Nian did not waste her moves in a fight. Every move was fatal. Wen Nian only came back to her senses when she heard the word ¡°police¡±. She loosened her grip and slowly stood up to get her bicycle with a cold expression. Then, she rode past a few people as if nothing had happened. The buzz cut man took a deep breath of fresh air and watched Wen Nian¡¯s disappearing figure in the night with horror in his eyes. It was the first time in his life that he had felt so close to death. He covered his neck with both hands and thought to himself that Wen Nian was too scary. He decided that he would get someone to refund the money the next day. This was a job she couldn¡¯t take. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Just as Huang Yue was trying her best to find out Wei Xiao¡¯s contact information, she received an unfamiliar call during her afternoon break. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Are you Huang Yue?¡± The Wei Corporation was considered a leadingpany in Hai City, and Wei Xiao was regarded as the young master of the city. Huang Yue¡¯s family was nouveau riche, and Huang Jian had only just managed to gain entry to that circle. Huang Yue had only been brought to experience it twice. The first time she hade into contact with Wei Xiao was when she had helped Wen Nian take the gift box. Although they had only met a few times, Wei Xiao¡¯s voice was almost engraved into the DNA by Huang Yue. Huang Yue, who was already in a daze, instantly woke up and asked tentatively, ¡°Young Master Wei?¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s voice sounded again. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Huang Yue was so excited that she immediately sat up and saw her two sleeping dormitory mates. After contemting for a moment, she quietly slipped out of the dormitory and into the corridor. She then asked Wei Xiao with concern, ¡°Young Master Wei, I heard that you went overseas to study?¡± When Wei Xiao thought about how he had been forced to go overseas this time, his mood worsened. His grandfather had taught him a lesson, so he was living on a budget like an ordinary international student. His food and daily necessities couldn¡¯tpare to what he was used to back home. Theck of a driver and servants meant that he had to purchase his own meals three times a day. Wei Xiao, who was ustomed to the life of a prince, did not have the habit of doing things for himself. Wei Xiao took all his suffering to heart, realizing that he wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this state if it weren¡¯t for her. He couldn¡¯t just let it go. Wei Xiao had always presented himself as an elegant gentleman to the outside world, and he suppressed his anger as he replied gently, ¡°Yes, I have been overseas for a week. I left in a hurry because of something. I realized that I didn¡¯t have time to exchange contact details with you at thest banquet, so I wanted to call you after I settled down.¡± ¡°Huang Yue was not bad looking and she portrayed a gentle image. However, in Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes, Huang Yue was akin to someone who, like himself, could be easily controlled and was perceived as such by Wei Feng.¡±¡± Although he had only spoken to her once, Wei Xiao could still tell what Huang Yue was thinking at a nce. At the time, he thought it would be a waste not to use the helper who came knocking on his door. Moreover, since she was Wen Nian¡¯s friend, he guided her. As expected, Huang Yue took over the matter very actively. However, Wei Xiao did not expect the situation to change so much over the weekend. Even though the engagement was called off, the matter of Wen Nian causing his departure in a sorry state would not be easily resolved. Wei Xiao recalled the chess piece he had arranged before leaving the country, which was why he made this call. They chatted for a while, during which Huang Yue brought up Wen Nian¡¯s refusal to enter the entertainment industry and the manager she had arranged could not be used. Although Wei Xiao was secretly calling Huang Yue useless, he stillforted her after her setback. Since he already knew the answer, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He looked at his watch coldly and said in an apologetic tone, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. I suddenly remembered that it¡¯s lunchtime in China. Get some rest first.¡± Huang Yue didn¡¯t expect Wei Xiao to notice this small detail. Not only was he rich, he was considerate. Huang Yue was even more determined to take Wei Xiao down. After hanging up, she returned to the dormitory briskly. After the second lesson in the afternoon, Wen Nian took out her phone during the break to look up information. Only then did she see a message from her mother two hours ago. She said that she and her father were going back to their hometown and would be back in two days. She asked Wen Nian to take good care of herself. There was something that Wen Nian had forgotten after her rebirth. At this moment, she suddenly remembered and hurriedly ran to ask Li Fang for a leave of absence. If it was a leave of absence due to some other reasons, her parents would have to call the head teacher. She could only apply for a leave of absence herself if it was due to illness. Her parents would definitely not agree to her taking leave and going back with them to her hometown for no reason. Wen Nian could not exin it clearly now, so she could only pretend to be sick. Wen Nian was quite familiar with pretending to be sick. asionally, there would be people in the prison who would use these tricks to get a chance toze around. It would be fine if the prison guards didn¡¯t find out, but if they found out, they would make you experience the joy of doing double the work. Wen Nian used a small trick to increase the temperature of her forehead. Then, she went to the teacher¡¯s office and coughed from time to time. It was time to test Wen Nian¡¯s acting skills. Her voice was weak. ¡°Mr. Li, I have a fever. I would like to request a leave of absence from you to visit the clinic for a prescription of medicine. I don¡¯t think I can make it for the evening self-study session.¡± Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Having a fever was serious. Li Fang did not dare to be careless and immediately stood up to reach out and touch Wen Nian¡¯s forehead. She furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Why is it so hot? Have you taken your temperature?¡± Wen Nian coughed lightly once again and spoke softly, ¡°No, I¡¯ve been feeling a little dizzy since noon today. It was only after I started coughing and my nose started running that I realized I might have a fever.¡± Li Fang estimated Wen Nian¡¯s temperature to be around 39 degrees Celsius based on the temperature of her hand. Without any doubt, she said, ¡°You probably have a high fever. I¡¯ll call your parents toe and pick you up.¡± Wen Nian weakly interjected, ¡°Teacher, it might not be convenient for my parents to answer the phone at work. Can I please go to the clinic beside the school for an injection? My fever will subside soon.¡± It must be acknowledged that Wen Nian¡¯s acting skills, honed in her previous life, had improved greatly since she first entered the industry. Coupled with the temperature of her forehead, Wen Nian sessfully deceived Li Fang. Wen Nian had given Li Fang the impression that she didn¡¯t like to study and was easily distracted by the world outside. However, since Wen Nian had no history of skipping sses, Li Fang became even more worried. ¡°Nevermind, I¡¯ll apany you since your fever is so bad. I¡¯ll drop you off at home on my way.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s heart skipped a beat when she heard Li Fang¡¯s offer. By the time they reached the clinic, her fever had already subsided. She quickly declined, saying, ¡°No need, Teacher. The clinic is near the school. It¡¯s just a few steps away. My fever isn¡¯t that bad.¡± Li Fang thought that Wen Nian was feeling embarrassed to trouble her and spoke straightforwardly, ¡°It¡¯s not a problem. Besides, I don¡¯t have any sses next week.¡± Wen Nian was feeling anxious as if she were an ant on a hot pan, but she still had to keep up the act of being sick. In a moment of quick thinking, she came up with an idea and said, ¡°Teacher, actually, could you arrange for a ssmate to apany me and send me home? I¡¯m feeling a bit dizzy and don¡¯t dare to ride my bicycle. Also, since we¡¯re preparing for apetition now, if someonees to ask you questions after ss, it wouldn¡¯t be good for me to hold things up.¡± Although Li Fang¡¯s voice was loud, she was only 158cm. Wen Nian, on the other hand, was 168cm. Riding bicycles was mostly for students during their school days. Li Fang had graduated for many years and had long since switched to driving a car to work. She didn¡¯t have the confidence to ride a bicycle with someone on the back, and when Wen Nian mentioned thepetition, she thought her words made sense. After some thought, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for your desk mate to apany you. Since he¡¯s a boy, he should be able to carry you easily. Once you get home, ask your parents to give me a call.¡± Wen Nian breathed a sigh of relief and realized that she only had 20 yuan on her, just in case she asked Li Fang to borrow 100 yuan. As for her desk mate who would be apanying her, she could only exin the situation to him after they had left the school gate. The leave application was quickly approved with two copies printed out. One copy was handed to the ss monitor to present to the subject teacher, to avoid being marked absent. The other copy was given to the security guard, as students were not allowed to leave the campus during ss time without a signature from their homeroom teacher. Shen Jun helped Wen Nian retrieve her bicycle, and with his long legs, he sat on the seat. His tone was still calm and emotionless, making it hard to discern his mood as he said, ¡°Get on.¡± Wen Nian continued to pretend to be sick in school. She sat in the backseat and held the seat cushion tightly. Shen Jun rode very steadily. After getting out of the school gate, he asked, ¡°Should I turn left or right?¡± Wen Nian wanted to go back home so she answered, ¡°Right.¡± After they had traveled for several tens of meters and could no longer see the school gate, Wen Nian called out, ¡°Can you please stop the bike?¡± After Shen Jun stopped, he turned around and looked behind in confusion. Wen Nian gave a embarrassed smile to Shen Jun and said, ¡°Shen ssmate, I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I had to lie about being sick and take the leave of absence.¡± Wen Nian then puts her hands together and looks apologetic, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for dragging you into this. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal another day. Can you help me keep this a secret and just say that I¡¯ve already gone home after seeing a doctor? Is that okay?¡± Shen Jun frowned slightly. He was a person who was afraid of trouble. Who knew what would happen next when he was involved in this kind of thing? He said in a t voice, ¡°If anything happens to you in the future, I won¡¯t be able to escape this me.¡± If there is room for discussion, there is a chance to negotiate. With a slightly ingratiating smile, Wen Nian said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to do anything bad. I¡¯m going back to my hometown to see my parents. After I get home, I¡¯ll ask them to call the homeroom teacher to exin everything. You can rest assured that I won¡¯t implicate you. Please, please!¡± Shen Jun stared at Wen Nian for a few seconds. While that happened, Wen Nian¡¯s heart was pounding. Shen Jun¡¯s gaze flickered to the side. It just so happened that they stopped at Xifeng Court. He got off from the bike and said, ¡°Just make sure you handle the situation properly.¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Upon hearing that from Shen Jun, Wen Nian knew that things were settled. She thanked him repeatedly with a smile, and rode away on her bike like the wind, and within a few seconds, she had ridden far away. Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian, who no longer had the slightest appearance of being sick, and chuckled, ¡°You little fox.¡± Wen Nian rode her bike back home and it was already 4:30. Taking a minibus from the school to the town only cost 10 yuan, but it was time-consuming and she had to go to the station to buy a ticket. So, she decided to take a taxi. Wen Nian¡¯s hometown was only about 40 kilometers away from Hai City. However, she was in a hurry now, so she had to spend more money. Within a little over half an hour, they arrived at Lotus Town. The taxi drove all the way to the entrance of the vige, and the driver rounded up the fare to the nearest whole number, charging 45 yuan. Linxi Vige, where Wen Nian¡¯s house was located, was next to the street in town. She walked for a few minutes and arrived at home. The Wen family moved to the city six years ago in order to provide their children with better education. They only go back to their old home during the Chinese New Year. Without any people around, the two wooden courtyards have be even more dpidated due to years of neglect. ¡°Big brother and sister-inw, don¡¯t be too greedy. We are all dad and mom¡¯s children. Why can¡¯t the family of the second child have a share of this house?¡± As soon as Wen Nian arrived at the door of her home, the sound of a dispute in the courtyard had already reached her ears. Wen Nian didn¡¯t rush to go inside, she took out her phone and dialed a number. After a few minutes, she finally walked into the house. Zhou Mei looked at her aggressive sister-inw in front of her and pounded her chest in anger, ¡°Sister-inw, when we divided the family, we agreed that all the money in the family would go to you. This old house belongs to the first child of the family. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it¡¯s the fact! The vige chief was the witness at that time, and we will never sell this ancestral home. Give up on this idea!¡± After saying that, Zhou Mei turned to Wen Xing and said, ¡°Hubby, go find the old vige chief!¡± Wen Xing wanted to look for her, but Li Ke immediately gave her family a look. Li Ke¡¯s two brothers then blocked Wen Xing¡¯s path. Wen Nian quickly walked forward and went to the side of Zhou Mei, saying, ¡°Dad, Mom!¡± Zhou Mei looked at her daughter who had suddenly appeared and asked in surprise, ¡°Why are you back here? Aren¡¯t you supposed to be in school?¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t exin now and could only say perfunctorily, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about thister.¡± Wen Nian pretended to be ignorant as she watched the confrontation in the courtyard. ¡°Second Uncle, Second Aunt, what are you doing?¡± Li Ke¡¯s daughter is also studying in the No. 1 High School, but in a different ss. She had already heard about how after entering Yi Zhong, Wen Nian became vain, selfish and self-interested. With a sad expression, she said, ¡°Ah, Wen Nian, your parents even schemed against their family members. In the future, you have to be more careful and make sure they don¡¯t transfer all the family¡¯s money to your brother. Otherwise, you won¡¯t get a single penny.¡± ¡°This old house is already so rundown. It would be nice if wealthy people who like this kind of ssical courtyard would spend money to maintain and renovate it. If it is left to deteriorate further, it will be even less valuable. I think your parents are waiting for you to get married and then sell the house, so that the money can be given to your brother in a legitimate way.¡± In her previous life, at this time, Wen Nian had already dropped out of school. So when her parents went back to their hometown, she followed them all the way. At that time, Li Ke also used this trick to sow discord between them. At that time, Wen Nian was blinded by benefits and sessfully persuaded by Li Ke. She also felt that if she did not get the money in time, the money from selling the house would have nothing to do with her in the future, so she secretly promised Li Ke to help her persuade her parents to sell the old residence. Back then, if it weren¡¯t for her, her parents wouldn¡¯t have sold the house. In the end, the money was split equally with the family of the second child. Each family received 100,000 yuan. After that, she received 20,000 yuan from Li Ke. However, in reality, this house belongs to Wen Xing. When the family split up, the second branch of the Wen family disliked the old house and wanted to live in a new brick house. They proposed to rebuild on another piece ofnd in the vige owned by the Wen family. Wen¡¯s father divided two-thirds of the money to Wen Xun, the second branch, as he needed money to build a new house. All the family¡¯s fields and other properties were divided equally. However, Wen Xun refused to agree with the property division. He used the excuse of not wanting to live in the old house and requested to take away all the money. In fact, Wen Xun only used half of the money he received to build a new farmhouse courtyard. However, due to his dishonest nature, Wen Xun kept refusing to agree with Old Master Wen¡¯s proposal for the property division. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Old Mr. Wen had passed away before they could resolve the matter of dividing the family¡¯s assets. Wen Xun was a child that Old Mr. Wen and his wife had found abandoned by the roadside in town. When they saw their 6 or 7-year-old child abandoned in the winter, they kindly took him in and raised him as their own. Unfortunately, their kindness had been repaid with ingratitude. Old Mr. Wen¡¯s death did not awaken any sense of kinship in Wen Xun. Instead, he used it as an excuse to create a scene in the mourning hall, threatening Wen Xing that if he didn¡¯t agree to his proposal, Old Mr. Wen would not be able to be buried. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were both honest and kind-hearted people. In order to ensure that their father could rest in peace, they reluctantly agreed to Wen Xun¡¯s unreasonable demands andpromised with him during the family separation process. When Zhou Mei heard Li Ke stirring up trouble, she quickly said to Wen Nian, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense, Nian Nian! Your dad and mom treat you and your brother equally.¡± Wen Nian gave Zhou Mei a reassuring look and turned to Li Ke with a smile. ¡°Auntie, this is the first time I¡¯ve heard of someone trying to scheme against others using money. During the division of the family¡¯s property, my parents didn¡¯t take a single penny.¡± ¡°Even though I am young, I understand that the division of property only bes effective once both parties have signed it. Since it has been signed, it means that both parties have agreed to it. You cannot simply deny the agreement because you feel like it. Second Aunt, if you do not want us to summon the witnesses, why don¡¯t you show us the agreement that was signed by both parties during the property division? It is okay if you do not have it with you. There are a total of three copies. Besides yours, there are two other copies. We can retrieve the agreement and review every term and condition that was agreed upon back then.¡± Seeing that Wen Nian wasn¡¯t fooled, Li Yi couldn¡¯t be bothered to pretend to be a kind elder. ¡°You little girl, it¡¯s not your ce to speak about the Wen family¡¯s matters! A married daughter is like water that has been sshed out. Go away.¡± Wen Nian was not angry and calmly said, ¡°At least I have the Wen surname. In the Wen family¡¯s house, my words carry more weight than an outsider like you with the surname Li!¡± Wen Nian disliked the idea of judging rtionships based on surnames. Her mother was also a daughter-inw who had married into the Wen family and had contributed just as much to the Wen family as those who shared the Wen surname. However, at this stage, such words were the best response to Li Ke. Li Ke was so angry that she pushed Wen Xun, who was smoking leisurely at the side. ¡°Are you just going to watch your wife get bullied?!¡± Wen Xun originally intended to let Li Ke and her family lead the way, while he would show up just to make up the numbers. Now that he can¡¯t avoid it, he says, ¡°Wen Nian, have you forgotten your manners when speaking to your elders? Have your studies gone to waste? That¡¯s impolite! I¡¯ve already negotiated with someone to sell this house. Let¡¯s sign an agreement to split the money from selling the house evenly today, and I¡¯ll contact the buyer to collect the money tomorrow.¡± Wen Nian immediately sneered. ¡°Second Uncle, it¡¯s not easy to have double standards to this extent. Don¡¯t you feel guilty saying this? Before you say that I¡¯m ill-bred, please think about it. Have you ever respected my father as your elder brother? I¡¯m my parents¡¯ daughter. If they don¡¯t say it, I¡¯ll say it.¡± Wen Xing and his wife were honest people, but that didn¡¯t mean that they didn¡¯t have a temper. They could tolerate being wronged, but they couldn¡¯t tolerate their children being bullied. Zhou Mei had never used her status as the eldest sister-inw to suppress Li Ke in her entire life. In the face of Li Ke¡¯s repeated schemes and aggressiveness, she had always treated peace as the most important thing. Now, she could not help but say, ¡°Since the eldest sister-inw ys the role of parents when the parents are gone, I must teach you a lesson today.¡± Zhou Mei picked up the feather duster beside her and hit Li Ke hard on the back. Li Ke was known for herziness. Instead of working in the fields, she had opened a small shop in the vige, leading to a rtively sedentary lifestyle. As a result, her body was not particrly strong, and when the slender feather duster hit her, the pain was amplified. Her chubby body prevented her from dodging quickly. ¡°Ah! Zhou Mei, you¡¯re insane! Brother,e and help me hit her.¡± Li Ke¡¯s eldest brother went forward to snatch the feather duster, but Wen Xing hurriedly stopped him. Wen Nian had never seen such parents. In her eyes, they were all honest people who would tolerate being bullied no matter how ruthless they were. At this moment, Li Ke¡¯s second elder brother went behind Zhou Mei and wanted to push her away. Wen Nian scratched Second Brother Li¡¯s face fiercely. Five bloody marks immediately appeared on the face and neck of Li Ke¡¯s second elder brother. Wen Nian felt the other person¡¯s flesh yield under her nails. The searing pain made Li Ke¡¯s second elder brother forget about his sister and attempt to grab Wen Nian. Seeing that no one wasing to help, Li Ke could only save herself. The mostmon move women used in fighting was to hit, pull, and scratch. They even had to say ruthless words. Upon seeing the chaotic 3v3 fight, Wen Xun was so scared that he cowered on the side like a quail. Wen Nian didn¡¯t dare to unleash her full strength. She was portraying herself as a gentle and obedient girl at the moment. Fortunately, the first group of reinforcements had arrived. The sirens of the police cars sounded at the entrance of the Wen family¡¯s house. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 When the vigers saw the police car, they followed the police car out of curiosity and came to Wen family¡¯s residence. The two police officers were from the local police station and arrived at the Wen family¡¯s courtyard within ten minutes after receiving the call. Upon witnessing themotion, they hurried over and yelled, ¡°Stop! Stop the fight!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with the Wen Family?¡± ¡°Heh, it¡¯s clear that Wen Xun is causing trouble. He and his family are like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing behind wherever they go.¡± ¡°The two brothers understood it when they split up. They couldn¡¯t wait to devour Wen Xing¡¯s flesh and blood. How wicked.¡± Other than drawing blood from Second Brother Li in the first round, Wen Nian¡¯s remaining moves could inflict so much pain on him that no visible wounds would be left on his body. This time, Zhou Mei was a fierce opponent. When provoked, herbat strength was off the charts. She whipped Li Ke¡¯s back and thighs with a feather duster, inflicting pain that no one could ignore. Though Li Ke couldn¡¯t take off her clothes and pants to show the bruises, it was clear that she was hurting. However, as Li Ke had pulled Zhou Mei¡¯s hair and scratched her neck, there were two bloody wounds on Zhou Mei. Although they were not deep, Zhou Mei still appeared to be in a sorry state on the surface. Only Wen Xing was a little miserable. The corners of his mouth were bleeding, and the corners of his eyes were bruised. Big Brother Li¡¯s mouth was just a little bruised. The old policeman entered the courtyard and nced at everyone. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why are you fighting?¡± Taking advantage of her young age, Wen Nian widened her eyes and tried to hold back her tears. When she saw the police officers enter, she hurriedly stepped forward and spoke indignantly, ¡°Officers, can you please detain them for trespassing and assaulting us in our own home?¡± ¡°What a sin! Look at how he bullied Old Master Wen¡¯s daughter. I heard that Wen Yu wants to sell the ancestral home for money.¡± ¡°They went too far bying here to fight. If it weren¡¯t for Old Master Wen¡¯s kindness back then, Wen Xun might have starved to death on the roadside that year.¡± Some vigers who were aware of the situation and envious of Wen Xing¡¯s family moving to the city started to mock. ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by appearances. Wen Xing must have made a fortune in the city. If he really cared for Wen Yu, would Wen Yu cause so much trouble and try to sell his house?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It takes two to tango.¡± There were all kinds of things being said, and Wen Nian¡¯s anger was useless as she couldn¡¯t control what others said. She could only give the police officer a pitiful look, as if she was pleading for justice. When the old police officer heard the discussion, he had a rough idea that this was a family dispute. ¡°Youngdy, you can¡¯t be detained for trespassing on private property when it involves family members,¡± he said. Wen Nian immediately replied, ¡°My family and my second uncle have long separated. This is a house under my father¡¯s name. Everyone in the vige can prove it.¡± Since it involved his own interests, Wen Xun couldn¡¯t stay silent any longer. He walked forward and cursed, ¡°You wretched girl! Your father and I are brothers. How can it be considered trespassing on private property when Ie to visit my rtives?¡± Zhou Mei stepped forward and stood in front of Wen Nian, ring at Wen Xun. Wen Nian stood timidly at the side after being scolded. Her voice was even more sobbing as she said, ¡°Second Uncle and Second Aunt brought their family to our house and started a fight with us. Is this considered a visit?¡± Wen Nian looked at the vigers who had crowded into the Wen family¡¯s courtyard and questioned, ¡°Have any of you ever seen uncles and aunts in the vige visiting like this?¡± A neighbor who was close to Zhou Mei said in support, ¡°Whoever dares to visit my house like this, I¡¯ll beat him to death!¡± Li Ke also came back to her senses andined angrily, ¡°You guys attacked first this time!¡± Wen Nian wiped away her tears and didn¡¯t answer the question directly. ¡°Second Uncle, Second Aunt, now that everyone in the vige is here and even the police are here, let¡¯s tell them the truth. This house belongs to our family. Why should you sell it? Why should we split the money?¡± The Wen couple realized that they were wrong and didn¡¯t intend to escte the situation at first. They only used the excuse of having something important to discuss to lure their brother and sister-inw back to the vige. Li Ke invited the brothers from her maternal family to boost their morale, but the Li brothers would definitely resort to using their fists to threaten the Wens if Wen Xing disagreed. At the thought of this, Li Ke red at Wen Nian. If Wen Nian hadn¡¯te over, she was confident that she would seed today. Faced with Wen Nian¡¯s question, Wen Xun couldn¡¯t answer truthfully. ¡°Wen Nian, you can¡¯t say that. Second Uncle¡¯s family isn¡¯t well-off. Your father is the eldest brother, so shouldn¡¯t he help his brother? Moreover, you and your brother are about to graduate and go to university. These are all huge expenses. Second Uncle happens to know someone who wants to buy a house in the countryside to retire. This house won¡¯t have its current price in two years! You have to pay a fee to find an intermediary to sell the house. What¡¯s wrong with giving your brother some money?¡± Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Wen Yu was renting a house in the city. He only had one house in his hometown, and it was the Wen family¡¯s ancestral home. Wen Yu and Zhou Mei exchanged nces and firmly expressed to everyone that they would not sell it. ¡°Wen Xun, that¡¯s enough. If you want money, just sell your own house, your brother only has this one house.¡± ¡°Wen Xun only knows to bully honest people!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. If they reallyck money and want to sell their houses, they won¡¯t even have enough for their children to go to school. You won¡¯t get a share of the money no matter what.¡± As most of the people present were advocating for the eldest branch, the second branch of the Wen family realized that their efforts were in vain. In an attempt to diffuse the tension, Wen Xun smiled and said, ¡°If you are not interested in selling, then we won¡¯t force the matter. We just wanted to ask today. Alright, since that¡¯s settled, we¡¯ll take our leave now.¡± Wen Nian sneered in her heart, but she still shouted timidly, ¡°Wait, the matter of trespassing and hitting me isn¡¯t settled yet.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but it was enough for her parents to hear. Zhou Mei turned around to check if Wen Nian had been hurt, which she hadn¡¯t noticed earlier. Wen Xing¡¯s original intent of settling the matter had now changed. His attitude became slightly more firm as he told the police officer, ¡°I want to pursue this matter until the end.¡± Wen Xun panicked when he heard that. ¡°Big Brother, we¡¯re family. There¡¯s no need to be so ruthless!¡± Wen Nian had deliberately messed up her hair during the fight previously. Her clothes were also a little wrinkled, and her eyes were red. Although Zhou Mei did not find any external injuries, her heart still ached. The saying ¡°a mother¡¯s love is as fierce as a tiger¡± is not wrong at all. If it weren¡¯t for the presence of the police officer, Zhou Mei would have wanted nothing more than to y Li¡¯s second brother alive. They had neverid a finger on Wen Nian before, and now an outsider had beaten her. She felt like there was a tiger living inside her, ready to tear someone apart. ¡°When you were hitting us, did you ever consider that we¡¯re family?!¡± ¡°We wouldn¡¯t want such brothers. Officer, they were the ones who broke into our house first, and we only fought back in self-defense. We must pursue this matter! We will not reconcile!¡± Observing the situation, Li Ke realized that there was no room for negotiation. She spoke firmly, ¡°Big Brother, Sister-inw, I won¡¯t be able to take care of Wen Xun while I¡¯m in detention. Additionally, my elder and second brother¡¯s sries have been dyed. Once I¡¯m released, I will have toe to your house to eat since I won¡¯t be able to afford food. Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t be freeloading. We can also help send Wen Nian to and from school.¡± Wen Xun and his family were capable of doing such things. After all, they were only detained for a few days. Li Ke¡¯s words clearly made Zhou Mei and Wen Xing apprehensive. They were angry and helpless. Upon seeing her parents¡¯ powerlessness, Wen Nian pursed her lips and turned to Li Ke, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll also go visit my cousin who¡¯s in her first year of high school. I¡¯ll let her know that you guys are also in the city.¡± Li Ke doted on her daughter to the core. She was now a first-year student and would only return home on weekends like third-year students. Wen Nian¡¯s words hit the nail on the head, leaving Li Ke uncertain about how to break the impasse. Wen Xing also understood his daughter¡¯s intentions and expressed his attitude again. At this moment, Wei Feng arrived with a few people, including two police officers who came along. When the senior police officer saw the badge worn by one of the arriving persons indicating his rank, his pupils contracted slightly. Wei Feng¡¯s voice was a little hoarse, but it was as loud as a bell. ¡°It¡¯s better toe at the right time. It¡¯s quite lively.¡± As soon as Wen Nian saw the person she had been waiting for, she quickly walked over. ¡°Grandpa Wei, you and my grandfather have been friends for many years. When my second uncle came to the mourning hall to argue about the property division, you happened to be there paying your respects, and you were also one of the witnesses. Now that my second uncle has gone back on his word, I hope you can speak up for my family!¡± Wen Nian recounted Wen Xun¡¯s intentions and Li Ke¡¯s threatening words. Wei Feng nced at the second branch of the Wen family, and his eagle-like eyes intimidated Wen Xun. In the past, when Wei Feng asionally came to visit his father, Wen Xun had sensed a cold ruthlessness in Wei Feng¡¯s gaze that made him uneasy. Moreover, as Wen Xun was adopted by the Wen family, Wei Feng never interacted with the second branch. His superior attitude made Wen Xun feel inferior and hesitant to provoke him. Wei Feng enjoyed the way Wen Nian looked at him. It was the look of a weak person seeking protection. Wei Feng looked at Wen Xing and spoke slowly and deliberately, ¡°Of course, we will follow the rules. But since they havee to argue with the people in the house, it doesn¡¯t make sense for you to just let it go. Wen Xing, as the head of the family, you need to be firm and resolute.¡± The police officers behind Wei Feng quickly approached and conversed with the other police officers. Then, they escorted Li Ke and the Li brothers into the police car. With the vanguard gone, Wen Xun lost his confidence and didn¡¯t dare to create any further trouble. He decided to wait for the Li family¡¯s release before attempting to escape. The onlookers were still relishing the scene, and Zhou Mei quickly dispersed the crowd. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Wen Nian knew that Wei Feng was arrogant and liked to be a savior. He looked at Wei Feng worriedly. ¡°Grandpa Wei, is there any way to stop my second uncle¡¯s family from causing trouble? They definitely won¡¯t be satisfied.¡± Wei Feng chuckled dismissively. ¡°No need to worry. They won¡¯t be able to cause any trouble for the next few years. Your second uncle is just a coward who bluffs. Without the support of the Li family, he¡¯s powerless. But, I advise you not to push them too hard. Your second aunt is already facing the consequences of her actions, and her family holds a grudge against her. They won¡¯t hesitate to punish her. So, it¡¯s best to let them be for now. They have bigger problems to deal with.¡± This was simr to the oue Wen Nian had imagined. However, when she heard Wei Feng¡¯s arrangements, she still looked very surprised. ¡°Thank you, Grandpa Wei!¡± Compared to Wen Nian, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei seemed calm and thanked Wei Feng politely. Wei Feng cast a nce at the run-down courtyard and grinned. He then shifted his gaze to the Wen family and spoke in a soft tone, ¡°The issue has been resolved. I will take my leave and head back to the city. If you require any assistance, do not hesitate to reach out to me.¡± As Wei Feng made his way out of the house, the Wen family bid him farewell. He waved back after getting into the car, and signaled the driver to start the engine and depart. As the car drove away, Wei Feng gazed expressionlessly at the receding silhouette of the Wen family¡¯s antiquated house. Reflecting on how it had been over a decade since hest paid his respects there, he couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. It was thanks to Wen Sheng¡¯s financial aid that he managed to recover from bankruptcy and ultimately make a sessfuleback. Wei Feng owed much of his current sess to his own exceptional capabilities and the Wen family¡¯s unwavering support. However,ter on, Wei Feng was worried that Wen Sheng¡¯s urging him to return the money would cause his capital chain to break and he would go bankrupt again. Thinking that no official loan agreement was made between them and that only the two of them knew about the loan, he went all out and gave Wen Sheng a slow-acting poison to kill him. Wei Feng had been gued by guilt for many years, but as he watched Wen Sheng¡¯s adopted son behaving this way, his sense of remorse began to dissipate. Wen Xing was a person of integrity and honesty, and it was clear that he was no match for Wen Xun. Wei Feng realized that had he returned the borrowed money to the Wen family at that time, Wen Xing would not have been able to inherit it after Wen Sheng¡¯s passing. The more Wei Feng reflected on the situation, the more he began to believe that he had actually done the Wen family a great favor. In fact, a few years ago, he had even given Wen Xing a one-million-yuan sponsorship to support the education of his two children. This was a gesture that far exceeded the amount that Wen Sheng had borrowed from him. A faint smile appeared on Wei Feng¡¯s face. In addition to the help he had given this time, he had already done his best to make up for it. In the Wen family¡¯s old residence. Wen Nian jumped up and down in the central room, looking for something. Zhou Mei took out the medicinal wine and began to apply it to Wen Xing¡¯s wound. She turned to Wen Nian and asked, ¡°Nian Nian, did you ask Old Mr. Wei toe here?¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but recall how the Wei family had deceived her in her previous life, causing her parents and brother to die prematurely in their efforts to help her repay her debts. Fueled by anger, she curtly responded without even turning around, ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Zhou Mei exchanged a nce with Wen Xing, who shook his head slightly. They had always found their father¡¯s death suspicious and had once suspected Wei Feng¡¯s involvement, but without any concrete evidence, it was pointless to burden the child with such thoughts. This was also the reason why they were reluctant to form any marriage alliance with the Wei family. The existence of the one-million-yuan card gifted to them by the Wei family was known only to the couple. They had left the money untouched in the bank and nned to use the money only in case of an emergency. They also avoided any unnecessary interaction with the Wei family. They Zhou Mei sighed softly. ¡°Nian Nian, what are you looking for? And what about school? Why are you back when everything is fine?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t dare to say what she was looking for. She only replied vaguely, ¡°Some time ago, I dreamed that Grandpa sent me a dream and said that our family buried some money for emergencies. I received your message today and wanted toe back to look for it.¡± In China, many people still believe in dreams. Wen Nian didn¡¯t doubt it. She just scratched her head and said with a puzzled expression, ¡°If Grandpa wanted to entrust someone, it should be me. Moreover, I grew up in the old residence. Why didn¡¯t I know that our family had money?¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help butin in her heart that her grandfather was too good at hiding money. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that they had sold the house in her previous life and the new owner renovated it, no one would have known about it. Of course, the owner of the house wouldn¡¯t say anything, but he couldn¡¯t stand the worker¡¯s quick tongue. They gossiped so much that the entire town knew about it! The rumor was that there were a few gold bars! By that time, the news had already spread locally, but the real estate contract clearly stated that thend and everything attached to it had been sold. Despite their regret and frustration, the Wen family couldn¡¯t do anything about it. They didn¡¯t even get to see what the gold bars looked like. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Wen Nian was focused on finding the gold bars, but Wen Xing and Zhou Mei didn¡¯t take it too seriously. They knew dreams could sometimes be prophetic, but they also knew that dreams could just be dreams. They didn¡¯t want to discourage Wen Nian¡¯s curiosity and allowed her to explore as she wished. After resolving the matter sessfully, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei nned to return to the city. Taking a day off would result in a deduction of their sry. Additionally, it would also affect their eligibility for the full-time bonus that month. Although the bonus was only 100 yuan, it could provide food for their family of three for two days. After waiting for Wen Nian for an hour, Zhou Mei couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°It¡¯s probably just a dream. Only you, a child, would take it seriously. Let¡¯s go back quickly. There won¡¯t be a bus back to the city if we¡¯rete. Even if you skip evening self-study tonight, you still have to go to school tomorrow, right?¡± Wen Nian was worried that something bad would happen if she dyed finding it. She really didn¡¯t want to leave until she had found the gold bars. There were 11 rooms in the Wen family¡¯s house, but now only one room remained, which was being used as a storeroom. Wen Nian poked her head out of the door and said, ¡°Mom, there¡¯s only one room left. Let¡¯s wait a little longer.¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Xing were in a hurry, but they knew that Wen Nian was stubborn, so they went in to search together so that Wen Nian would give up sooner. Wen Nian searched very quickly and carefully, not missing a single brick on the ground. She used a wooden stick to tap everywhere, even clearing the area where the firewood was piled. ¡°Thump!¡± The hollow sound of the drum made Wen Nian¡¯s eyes light up with excitement. She quickly squatted down and carefully observed the surrounding floor tiles, which appeared seamless and intact with no signs of being pried up. Wen Nian said to his parents, who were still looking for her, ¡°Dad, Mom, bring a small shovel over.¡± The couple was stunned for a moment. Had they really found it? They quickly approached with their tools. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing were filled with anticipation when they saw Wen Nian¡¯s excited expression. They proceeded carefully with the tools to pry open the floor tiles. After more than ten minutes, the floor tiles were pried up, revealing a five-pound wine jar buried inside. The family members looked at each other with excitement in their eyes. It was buried so well. Who would believe that there was nothing? Wen Nian lifted the red cloth on the wine jar and opened the lid. The sky was still bright at 6 p.m. in the summer. The few of them saw the bottom of the jar at a nce. The gold bars were ced at the top. Wen Nian reached out and took out everything. Eight gold bars, two pearl nes, and a few sets of gold and silver jewelry. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei¡¯s eyes widened. Zhou Mei suddenly remembered that the front gate was not closed and hurriedly got up to close it. Wen Nian picked up the red cloth on the wine jar and ced everything in. ¡°Dad, restore the floor tiles.¡± Wen Xing came back to his senses and quickly made his move. The father and daughter piled the firewood back to its original ce and took the things to the central room. When they sat on the stool in the central room, the couple had yet to recover from the joy of this unexpected wealth. They looked at the gold, silver, and jewelry on the table and smiled foolishly. Wen Nian pursed her lips and sniggered. After waiting for them to calm down for a few minutes, she asked, ¡°Dad, Mom, what should we do with these things?¡± Wen Xing immediately said, ¡°Of course we have to save it! In the future, you and your brother will each take half.¡± Wen Nian heaved a sigh of relief. She was afraid that her father would say that he wanted to give half to her uncle. Wen Xing would have done that in the past. However, after the incident at the mourning hall and the incident today, Wen Xing no longer wanted anything to do with his younger brother. Speaking of this, the Wen family owed Wen Xun nothing. The Wen family had raised Wen Xun and found a wife for him. They had given him more than enough. Wen Nian had ns for this money. Her heart ached for her parents, who always stayed upte to work night shifts. Both of them were in their forties and wished that they could work 24 hours a day to earn money. If they continued to work like this, their bodies would copse. However, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei had been farming and working all their lives. They didn¡¯t have any intention of doing business, so Wen Nian could only guide them slowly. ¡°Dad, Mom, I think you can consider opening a small shop. There¡¯s a lot of traffic beside our school. There are also a lot of potential customers in the residential area and school.¡± Zhou Mei shook her head violently. ¡°How would we know how to do business? It¡¯ll be troublesome if we lose everything! It¡¯s better to save it all. We¡¯ll exchange it all for money and deposit it at a fixed time. We¡¯ll deposit it in the bank for interest.¡± Zhou Mei had a traditional view, but the currency attribute of gold was more stable. Wen Nian did not agree with the idea of exchanging it for money now. Moreover, some of those jewelry might be antiques. That would exceed the value attribute of gold itself. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Wen Nian shared his thoughts and then gave his opinion, saying, ¡°We can rent a safe and store the jewelry first. We should pay close attention to the fluctuations in the price of gold and silver and sell them when the price is right or if we urgently need money. If we have free time in the future, we can find an expert to verify if the jewelry is antique.¡± ¡°As for our business, it¡¯s not arge-scale operation. We only need to rent a small shop, perhaps a noodle shop that serves meals throughout the day. Cooking noodles happens to be Mom¡¯s specialty! Dad, what is your opinion on this?¡± Wen Xing knew his wife¡¯s culinary skills. He gave a thumbsup as he praised, ¡°I don¡¯t dare to say anything else about your mother¡¯s culinary skills. In terms of noodles, I¡¯ve never eaten anything better than your mother in the noodle shop outside.¡± While Wen Xing may have been exaggerating to please his wife, Zhou Mei¡¯s culinary skills were undoubtedly impressive. Her dishes had a unique vor that differed from those prepared by chefs inrger restaurants, and they appealed to a wider audience. In fact, her home-cooked meals were some of the most delicious dishes around. Zhou Mei was still not confident. She said with a conflicted expression, ¡°Forget it. When we lose all our moneyter, your tuition fees will be a problem.¡± Wen Nian grabbed Zhou Mei¡¯s arm and shook it yfully. She said in a coy tone, ¡°Mom, we now have more than just the tiny amount of money saved in the bank. Can¡¯t you see the items of value on this table? Plus, I don¡¯t want to eat the food in the canteen anymore. It¡¯s too nd and leaves me feeling hungry before it¡¯s even time my next meal. And as for my brother, being the good-for-nothing, he¡¯s always hungry!¡± ¡°And, don¡¯t you and Dad want to spend more time with me? You both are always so busy, and now that I¡¯m growing up, I need you both more than ever. Moreover, you¡¯re both approaching your 40s, and if you keep pushing yourselves like this, you might end up spending all the money you earn on hospital bills.¡± After a mixture of frightening and coaxing, Wen Nian finally managed to convince her parents. As it was nearly 6:30 pm, Wen Nian quickly stuffed the gold and silver jewelry, which were wrapped in red cloth, into Zhou Mei¡¯s backpack. They locked the door of their old residence and set out to walk towards the town, the few of them together. Zhou Mei could barely walk with these things on her back. Zhou Xing looked around nervously and felt as though everyone around was going to rob her. Wen Nian didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. She said softly, ¡°You guys are more suspicious like this. Just act as usual.¡± Zhou Mei¡¯s face stiffened as she whispered nervously, ¡°I want to do that too, but I can¡¯t control myself. I¡¯m just nervous.¡± Observing her parents¡¯ struggles, Wen Nian quickly took the initiative and slung the backpack over her own shoulder, then held onto Zhou Mei¡¯s arm. This way, the bag was sandwiched between them. ¡°Dad, you can walk behind us and just focus on the road ahead. Don¡¯t look around too much,¡± she advised. Thanks to Wen Nian¡¯s quick adjustment, everyone was finally able to behave like usual. ¡°It¡¯s already time for us to eat,¡± Wen Nian said. She felt really rxed and wanted to grab some food in town first. However, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing were hesitant, considering their newfound wealth and fearing for their safety. As a result, they declined Wen Nian¡¯s suggestion. At 7:30 pm, the family returned home with empty stomachs, feeling quite hungry. Finally, the couple was able to fully rx. Zhou Mei prepared a simple yet satisfying meal of tomato and egg noodles and set them on the table. As they sat down to eat, Wen Nian realized that it was about time to make the call to the head teacher. She dialed the number and asked Wen Xing to prove that she was at home and had sessfully covered up her fake illness. fter finishing the call, Wen Xing spoke sternly to Wen Nian, ¡°Don¡¯t lie next time. If you have any doubts or concerns, call me or Mom first. You were too bold this time!¡± Although Wen Nian nodded repeatedly in response to the reprimand, she still felt that she would dare to do the same if another emergency situation arose in the future. After Wen Xing finished his lecture, Wen Nian took out her phone and snapped a photo using the front camera. She then sent it to Shen Jun¡¯s number, which she had just obtained from Li Fang, in order to prove that she was not causing any trouble and would not implicate him. Shen Jun was reading in the ssroom when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and clicked on the message from Wen Nian. He saw a photo of her sitting at the table with three bowls of noodles in front of her. It was clear that the noodles were amon dish made at home. Some of the environmental details in the background suggested that the photo was taken in their house. As Shen Jun gazed at the bright smile on Wen Nian¡¯s fair face in the photo, he suddenly thought of the sunflower he had recently painted. The image filled him with a sense of brightness and hopefulness. The next morning, Wen Nian was awoken by the sound of her rm clock. As she heard her parents begin to wake up and prepare breakfast, Wen Nian happily stretched her back and headed out of her room. ¡°Mom, Dad, remember to submit your resignations as soon as you arrive at work,¡± she reminded them. Zhou Mei smiled as she brought out the breakfast. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Wen Nian. Your father and I will rent a safety deposit box at the bankter. We¡¯ll go to work and discuss this matter in person. What happened yesterday was quite significant, and it¡¯s difficult to exin everything over the phone. You should speak to Wen Xing about it today so that he¡¯s not the only one in the family who¡¯s unaware of what¡¯s going on.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Wen Nian tore the fried dough sticks into small pieces and dipped them into her soy milk. She nodded in agreement. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of it. Mom, could you give me 100 yuan? I borrowed that money from my head teacher to pay for the taxi ride back to the vige yesterday.¡± hou Mei walked back to her room and ced the money on the table. She gently tapped Wen Nian¡¯s head and said, ¡°Don¡¯t lie next time.¡± Wen Nian quickly epted the money and smiled brightly. ¡°Got it.¡± After having afortable breakfast, Wen Nian sent a message to her brother and asked him to have lunch with her. Wen Nian had been a bit too excited the previous night, and coupled with the leisurely breakfast at home, she ended up arriving a littlete. As she hurried downstairs, she ran into Shen Jun by chance. Wen Nian thought of her fruitful trip to her hometown the previous day and greeted Shen Jun warmly. ¡°Hey Shen Jun, thank you so much for yesterday. Are you free tonight? I¡¯d like to treat you to a meal as a thank you.¡± Shen Jun initially thought it wasn¡¯t necessary, but when he saw Wen Nian¡¯s beaming smile, he suddenly had an idea. ¡°Sure, that sounds great.¡± Wen Nian felt that favors were hard to repay. If she could repay a little bit, she would do it. She also thought that she could ask Shen Jun more questions in the future. She happily made an ¡°OK¡± gesture. ¡°Perfect, it¡¯s settled then!¡± The bell rang for thest period of the morning ss. Wen Nian casually packed her lunchbox and stepped out of the ssroom. The canteen also provided tes for those who were toozy to wash their own dishes, but they had to pay an additional 0.5 yuan. Wen Nian felt that it was unnecessary to spend that extra money. Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian¡¯s lunch box and became curious about the taste of the food in the canteen. He had not tried it in over two weeks. He took a look at the sandwich in his hand and decided to save it forter, opting instead to give the canteen food a try. Grade 12 students were given special privileges by the school, including being able to get their meals 10 minutes earlier than the other students. As Wen Nian was Wen Yu¡¯s sister, she was able to enjoy this privilege too, and so she took her time getting to the canteen. Wen Nian went to the canteen and quickly handed over her lunch box to someone. Then, she went to the window to check out the dishes for today. After that, she looked for Wen Yu and informed him of the dishes she wanted. ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ll go find an empty seat first.¡± Wen Yu nodded. Ou Yang, who was behind Wen Yu, asked excitedly, ¡°Wen Yu, Wen Nian is your sister?! Biological sister?¡± Wen Yu rolled his eyes at his deskmate and showed a disdainful look as he responded to his deskmate¡¯s overly exaggerated reaction. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Another ssmate who hung out with Wen Yu, Zhao Lei, said in surprise, ¡°F*ck, you kept that a secret really well. No one knew that the school¡¯s prettiest girl is your sister.¡± Wen Yu¡¯s expression froze for a moment before he replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯ve always kept a low profile.¡± When Wen Nian first started attending No. 1 High School, Wen Yu encouraged her to socialize with her new ssmates and develop rtionships. However, after half a semester, Wen Nian began to feel embarrassed about Wen Yu working part-time and studying, and she expressed to him that she didn¡¯t want their ssmates to know about their rtionship. Although Wen Yu felt sad about it, he agreed to her request. After that, Wen Yu even rode his bicycle to a spot about a hundred meters away from the school before getting off and walking the rest of the way to avoid being seen with Wen Nian. It wasn¡¯t until Wen Nian¡¯s rebirth that the situation changed. Considering that the matter involved money, Wen Nian chose a secluded corner. After getting their food, Wen Yu turned to his two close friends and said, ¡°You two can find another ce to eat. My sister and I need to discuss something.¡± Ou Yang thought that he could enjoy a meal with a beauty today. When he heard Wen Yu¡¯s words, he looked disgusted. ¡°You value your sister over your friend!¡± Wen Yu smirked and gave a smug nce to Ou Yang before heading to the dining area to find someone. Spotting Wen Nian waving her arms high in the corner, he hurried over to her. After hearing what happened yesterday from Wen Nian, Wen Yu looked around in shock. Once he confirmed that no one could hear him, he let out a breath and asked incredulously, ¡°You said that we have gold bars and valuable jewelry at home?!¡± Wen Nian nodded firmly and recounted how she had encouraged their parents to resign and start a business. Wen Yu agreed with her n and said, ¡°Every day when youe to school, pay more attention to the rental situation on both sides of the school. If you see anything suitable, settle it quickly.¡± Wen Nian nodded, and they both discussed the n in more detail. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei would resign for a month and use that time to look for a suitable shop. Meanwhile, Wen Yu would keep an eye on the rental situation on both sides of the school and quickly settle on anything suitable. The siblings had talked for quite some time, and by the time Wen Nian returned to the ssroom, it was nearly one o¡¯clock. Shen Jun was engrossed in ying games on his phone, while three other students were quietly writing. The atmosphere in the ssroom was peaceful and harmonious. Wen Nian tiptoed back to her seat and silently took out a set of math papers to work on. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 When the bell rang in the afternoon, Wen Nian was still two questions away frompleting. The math exam for college entrance exams was two hours long. Based on her current progress, it would be good if she could finish it, let alone consider finishing it before the time was up. Wen Nian let out a slight sigh. The students began to trickle in from the dormitory to the ssroom one by one. Wen Nian had already stopped writing and put down her pen. Although there were still more than ten minutes before ss started, she stood up to stretch her legs and refresh her mind slightly. Otherwise, she knew she wouldn¡¯t have the energy to focus in sster. ¡°The club recruitment for the new school year has started again. They will be setting up a stall in the field this afternoon and tomorrow to recruit new members. Have you decided which club you want to sign up for?¡± ¡°I want to sign up for the violin and continue learning tennis, but I can only choose one. It¡¯s so annoying!¡± ¡°Sigh. I don¡¯t really want to sign up for anything either. If I have free time, I¡¯d rather rx by reading aic book. But the school requires us to join a club, so I guess I have to figure something out.¡± Wen Nian clenched her fists and punched her waist to rx her muscles. She had been sitting for hours every day, from seven in the morning until nine in the evening, and she felt like she was developing a herniated disc. As she listened to her ssmates discussing different clubs, Wen Nian also began to think about which one to join. In her previous life, she had started learning the piano in her first year of high school, but had only managed to grasp the basics in a year. She could y some simple children¡¯s songs, but after dropping out of school, she had let it go. Later, while in prison, she had picked it up again. The prison had set up a choir to enrich the mental life of the prisoners, and because of their good performance, they were able to go out two to three times a year to perform in orphanages, nursing homes, and other ces. Wen Nian met a female teacher who taught piano, and after hearing Wen Nian y, the teacher praised her for having a spiritual aura in her music. This gave Wen Nian a lot more confidence in pursuing piano. To inhale the fresh air outside, Wen Nian devoted all of her spare time to learning the piano. After spending five years in prison, she patiently waited for the release of the female prisoner who yed the piano in the choir. Eventually, with her own efforts, she sessfully gained this opportunity. Therefore, Wen Nian decided not to pursue the piano and instead wanted to learn something more practical. She made ns to explore different club options after lunch with Shen Jun in the afternoon. After spending so many years in prison, she had forgotten what extracurricr activities the school had to offer. At the end of thest ss in the afternoon, Wen Nian closed her textbook and turned to Shen Jun. ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± Shen Jun suddenly recalled how Wen Nian had waved at the boy who gave her a ride in the canteen today. He wondered if they went home together for a meal. Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun and nodded, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I understand.¡± She didn¡¯t want to dwell on the matter and change the subject. ¡°Do you have any club you¡¯re interested in signing up for?¡± The first part of Wen Nian¡¯s sentence could be interpreted as making ns for another day, but the second half was a clear rejection of Wen Nian¡¯s treat. Shen Jun¡¯s attitude hadpletely changed from agreeing in the morning to rejecting in the afternoon. Wen Nian was feeling confused. However, Wen Nian still wanted to show her appreciation and sincerity. She said earnestly, ¡°I know you may think it¡¯s a small matter, but your help yesterday meant a lot to me. Besides, I had to handle an urgent matter, so I insist on treating you to this meal.¡± Shen Jun frowned slightly, feeling uneasy about the situation. He didn¡¯t want to discuss the meal any further, so he replied, ¡°Why don¡¯t you just treat me to a bottle of soda instead?¡± Seeing this, Wen Nian understood that Shen Jun really didn¡¯t want to eat, so she smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pay for the remaining two days of soda this week.¡± Seeing that Shen Jun didn¡¯t respond, Wen Nian quietly took out her lunch box from the drawer and began to eat. She couldn¡¯t help but think that it was definitely not easy to win over a big shot. After finishing her lunch at the canteen, Wen Nian grabbed her lunch box and headed straight to the field. Some of the people who have physical education sses in the afternoon had already signed up in advance, but many were still waiting for the evening. Although there was still half a day left to sign up tomorrow, Wen Nian wanted to get it done as soon as possible. Many people knew Wen Nian as the school belle, but her reputation had been tarnished by Huang Yue, who spread rumors about her being bad-tempered, vain, and superficial. There were many eyes on her, but Wen Nian remained unfazed and focused on choosing the club she wanted to join. A bespectacled male student was cheerfully ying the ukulele while recruiting people on the side of the road. ¡°Hey there, junior! Are you interested in learning how to y the ukulele with us?¡± The ukulele¡¯s cheerful and lively music style was appealing to Wen Nian, and the bespectacled male student¡¯s bright voice made her feel rxed and happy. However, she decided against learning it and shook her head in refusal. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look again.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 Huang Yue, who had just returned from buying drinks at the store, saw Wen Nian standing in front of her club¡¯s stall. After a moment¡¯s thought, she approached with a smile and greeted her. ¡°Wen Nian, if you¡¯re interested, you can sign up for our club. It just so happens that we have a spot open and I can give you more personal guidance.¡± Huang Yue was worried about how to rebuild her rtionship with Wen Nian. She knew it would take time to mend things between them. However, Wen Nian didn¡¯t even go back to the dormitory to take a nap in the afternoon and Huanguan Yue couldn¡¯t even find a chance to be alone with Wen Nian. Wen Nian maintained herposure and showed no signs of annoyance when she saw Huang Yue approaching her again. She responded in aposed manner, ¡°There¡¯s only one slot for each club, so I want to take a look at the other clubs before I make my final decision.¡± Seeing this, Huang Yue hurriedly said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll apany you.¡± Wen Nian gazed at Huang Yue for a moment, then smiled and replied, ¡°Certainly, I am happy for you to apany me. However, it seems like you are currently in need of additional manpower for recruitment.¡± It was difficult to catch Wen Nian, and Huang Yue was reluctant to let her escape. She ultimately had a change of heart and shed an apologetic smile at the club members. ¡°I apologize, everyone. I¡¯ll be stepping out for about ten minutes to take a stroll with my ssmate. She doesn¡¯t have much experience with extracurricr activities and has only learned the most basic nursery rhyme on the piano. It¡¯s possible that she didn¡¯t like it and wasn¡¯t trying to learn. This time, I¡¯ll help her select an extracurricr activity that truly sparks her interest.¡± Wen Nian sneered inwardly, feeling bitter. She didn¡¯t own a piano or electronic keyboard at home, and the school¡¯s music room had limited hours and equipment. Most club members were at the same level as her. Huang Yue threw her under the bus, implying that she wasn¡¯t trulymitted to learning. Huang Yue would only feel good if she could get to ridicule Wen Nian in front of someone. Wen Nian also raised her voice amiably and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a piano at home, and I didn¡¯t think it through when I first joined the club in year one of high school. As a result, I didn¡¯t make the most of my membership. However, I won¡¯t repeat that mistake this time. Huang Yue, if you¡¯re concerned about this, please don¡¯t worry. Go ahead and do what you need to do.¡± Even as Huang Yue still tried to befriend Wen Nian, she still remembered to shift the me onto Wen en Nian by insinuating that herck ofmitment was the reason for her initial failure to stay in the club. However, Wen Nian refused to ept the me and promptly retorted, expressing that she did not require Huang Yue¡¯spany. While the girl with waist-length hair was busy introducing the ukulele to the first-year students, Huang Yue¡¯s words caught her attention and prompted her to roll her eyes. She harbored disdain for Huang Yue¡¯s tendency to disappear to the restroom or for water breaks. Huang Yue, done with her idle behavior, resolved to join her ssmate in selecting a club, which irritated the girl with waist-length hair. The girl with waist-length hair couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and said, ¡°There are many peopleing to learn about the club now, Huang Yue, and your ssmate already knows what she wants to sign up for. Don¡¯t worry about her. We¡¯re short-staffed and have a lot to do.¡± Huang Yue nced at the senior from the club, feeling unable to retort. She only harbored resentment towards Wen Nian for herck of tact. Despite her kind intention to apany Wen Nian, she still had the audacity to decline, resulting in her being med by the senior! Huang Yue pouted slightly and cast a pitiful look towards Senior Lin, who was trying to recruit Wen Nian to the club. She pleaded, ¡°Senior Lin, it will only take ten minutes for me to apany my ssmate. I¡¯ll return immediately afterwards.¡± Wen Nian feigned anger and replied, ¡°Huang Yue, I don¡¯t need you to apany me. Besides, the club is already short-staffed. If someone sees you leaving your work toe with me, they might think I¡¯m causing you trouble. I¡¯ll just go by myself. You can stay here and continue your work.¡± With this, Wen Nian turned around and walked away, leaving Huang Yue in a dilemma. However, as she thought of her goal, she forced herself to say to the club president, ¡°Senior Lin, she¡¯s just mad at me. Sigh. I am her only friend. If I don¡¯t care about her, who will care about her? I am really sorry. As an apology, I will buy water for everyer.¡± Lin Qiao was fond of Huang Yue and her big, watery eyes softened his heart. He thought of her as kind-hearted and was a bit displeased with Wen Nian. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about buying water. We¡¯re all students here and money is tight. Just go ande back quickly,¡± he said. Huang Yue gazed at Lin Qiao with gratitude, knowing what type of expression she should make to captivate a man¡¯s heart and awaken the heroism within them. In a feeble voice, she whispered, ¡°Thank you, Senior Lin. I will hurry back as soon as possible.¡± After saying that, Huang Yue smiled, which made Lin Qiao even more captivated. Huang Yue quickly caught up with Wen Nian and naturally held her hand. Wen Nian nced at her and resisted the urge to shake her off. Huang Yue was so consumed with the desire to spend more time with Wen Nian and manipte her thoughts that she failed to notice Wen Nian¡¯s subtle actions. ¡°Wen Nian, I believe it would be good for you to learn how to y musical instruments. If you pursue the arts, you can earn a good living in the future. Look at the famous celebrities on television, they all have some artistic talent, and it¡¯s effortless for them to make a lot of money. With just a few songs, they can earn tens of thousands, or even millions.¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 With a smile, Wen Nian spoke earnestly, ¡°I reckon my talent is just average, and I wouldn¡¯t be able to make a living in this industry. I think you¡¯re better suited for it. You¡¯re not less attractive than me; it¡¯s just that if your eyes were a bit bigger, your chin more defined, and your nose smaller, you¡¯d be perfect.¡± In Huang Yue¡¯s heart, Wen Nian was a straightforward person who didn¡¯t know how to beat around the bush. Hence, Huang Yue didn¡¯t suspect anything when she heard this and was a little excited. ¡°Do you really think so?¡± Wen Nian nodded seriously. ¡°That¡¯s right. Haven¡¯t you heard about the Chinese beauty standards? Most people prefer delicate features like big eyes and oval faces.¡± Huang Yue had used this kind of trick on Wen Nian before in her past life. Wen Nian¡¯s distinctive facial features made her stand out, and some directors had taken notice of her pure and innocent aura. To prevent Wen Nian from getting the audition opportunity that a renowned director had offered her, Huang Yue had resorted to various excuses and lies, including making Wen Nian believe that she needed stic surgery to secure the role. Wen Nian had undergone drastic stic surgery to prepare for the audition, which had left her face looking unnatural and stiff. She was unable to make any facial expressions while acting. Later on, she used her body to get the chance to y a supporting role. One could imagine how tragic the broadcasting effect was in the end. It even implicated the entire production team and caused them to be scolded. Wen Nian was even scolded until she became a trending topic for a few days. Huang Yue had naturally big eyes, an oval-shaped face, and a round nose that gave her a gentle and approachable appearance. Her facial features were also the type that elders favored. However, if she followed Wen Nian¡¯s advice and underwent stic surgery, she would end up with an unrecognizable face made with stic, simr to what had happened to Wen Nian in her previous life. Nevertheless, Huang Yue was still oblivious to these facts, and she had great confidence in her natural beauty. Despite this, when she gazed at Wen Nian¡¯s exquisite features, she couldn¡¯t help feeling envious and resentful. The words Wen Nian had spoken earlier echoed in her mind, fueling her fantasies of bing even more beautiful after stic surgery. She was determined to crush Wen Nian. The mixed martial arts club was at the very end. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw the promotional poster. This was definitely practical! Most of the people who signed up for this club were boys. Among the ten members of the club, there were only two girls. Wen Nian¡¯s appearance also made many members¡¯ eyes light up. They rushed forward enthusiastically. ¡°Students, are you signing up?¡± ¡°You guys are so beautiful. It¡¯s especially necessary for you to learn a few moves to defend yourselves!¡± ¡°Absolutely! We usually have a teacher to guide us during ss, and our club¡¯s president has even won the mixed martial arts championship in a provincial high school. Once you join, you¡¯ll definitely learn some practical moves.¡± Huang Yue smiled softly and replied gently, ¡°You guys are too excited. I¡¯m actually here to apany my ssmates. I¡¯ve already signed up.¡± Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but feel disdain towards these muscr men. In her mind, only a refined gentleman like Wei Xiao was worthy of her admiration, not these brawny guys in front of her. Wen Nian showed great interest in the martial arts club and asked the members about the learning content, schedule, and other details. The fighting skills she learned in prison were all self-taught, without any proper guidance or systematic training. So, this opportunity was too precious to be missed. Huang Yue pretended to chat with the boys. They all appreciated Huang Yue¡¯s gentle and obedient personality. Huang Yue herself enjoyed being praised. However, when she snapped out of her daze, she realized that Wen Nian had already signed up. Huang Yue stared at Wen Nian and asked, ¡°Did you sign up?¡± Wen Nian replied happily, ¡°I did.¡± Huang Yue opened her mouth, but no words came out. She had followed Wen Nian all the way, hoping to dissuade her from signing up for any other clubs. However, she failed to achieve her goal. Huang Yue felt her breath caught in her chest. Wen Nian didn¡¯t care how ugly Huang Yue¡¯s expression was at all. She only said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll go back to the ssroom first. Hurry up and go back to your club.¡± With that, she left, leaving Huang Yue flustered and exasperated, but she still had to smile. In the morning, Wen Nian had breakfast at home before heading to school. Once there, she stopped by the convenience store to buy some soda water and ran into Huang Yue. Huang Yue nced at the soda in Wen Nian¡¯s hand. ¡°Wen Nian, is this what you eat for breakfast?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to exin too much to people who had nothing to do with this, so she replied in an aloof manner, ¡°Mhm.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 As Huang Yue was about to say something, Wen Nian had already left. The thought of the breakfast she had yet to buy made her stomp her feet in anger. She realized that Wen Nian was bing increasingly difficult to control, causing her to feel frustrated early in the morning. Entering the ssroom, Huang Yue¡¯s gaze inadvertently fell on the back row, where she noticed the soda water that Wen Nian had just purchased was now on Shen Jun¡¯s desk. Her eyes widened, and a glint of excitement flickered within them. Although Wen Nian and Wei Xiao had already broken off their engagement, Huang Yue felt that she had to collect evidence of Wen Nian cheating on Wei Xiao when she saw Wen Nian buying water for the boys. She would be prepared for any need that may arise. Previously, Wen Nian had never met Wei Xiao. They were simply engaged because of Wei Feng. However, she had never had any interactions with upper-ss society. Additionally, she only had one friend, Huang Yue, so Wen Nian relied on and believed in her. Huang Yue had also managed to gather some information about Wei Xiao through Wen Nian. She knew that as long as she used Wei Xiao as bait, Wen Nian would blindly follow her lead. The reason why Wen Nian was no longer relying on her now seemed to be because of Shen Jun¡¯s appearance. Was it because Wen Nian had changed his target and didn¡¯t need to ask her for anything? But on second thought, Wen Nian was so vain. Why would he abandon the heir of the Wei family and choose a poor student? Could it be that Shen Jun¡¯s background was not simple¡­ Huang Yue thought that she had figured it out. She waited for her driver at the side of the road while Wen Nian waited by the bicycle shed for Wen Yu. It was a Friday afternoon and they decided to visit the shops in the area further away after school. An Audi A6 was parked not far away from her. Huang Yue nced at the ordinary model before quickly retracting her gaze. She turned around to admire the cars of some rich parents of the kids from No. 1 High School who came to pick up their children. When the Bugatti Veyron belonging to the Jiang Ning¡¯s family appeared, Huang Yue¡¯s eyes turned red with envy. Huang Yue had dabbled in all kinds of substances that could represent the upper-ss society. Therefore, the moment the Jiang family¡¯s car appeared, Huang Yue automaticallybeled the car with its price tag. She immediately converted its price to 24.8 million yuan. Soon, as the Audi A6 drove past Huang Yue, the person sitting inside caught her attention once again. Thinking of the man in the driver¡¯s seat, Huang Yue recalled how Shen Jun, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, had introduced himself on the podium for the first time. Her intuition told her that Shen Jun was not born into an ordinary family. Huang Yue narrowed her eyes. She knew it all along. How could Wen Nian suddenly change her target? She must have had a bigger target in mind. Huang Yue thought about how Wen Nian had been pretending to study recently to establish a good image in front of Shen Jun. No matter what Huang Yue imagined, Wen Nian and Wen Yu had just visited all the shops within a 500-meter radius of the school. Unfortunately, they still hadn¡¯t found a shop that was avable for rent. It could only be said that the food business around the school was indeed profitable. The new week marked the beginning of preparations for the No. 1 High School¡¯s 100th anniversary. Li Fang, being an alumnus of No. 1 High School, held the school¡¯s 100th anniversary in high regard. During morning assembly, she entered the ssroom and knocked on the ckboard to signal for quiet. Then, she announced, ¡°In half a month, our school will be celebrating its 100th anniversary. Each grade, except for the third year, is expected to have at least one or two programs. I encourage everyone to sign up and participate enthusiastically. ss monitor, please hand in the sign-up list to the Student Union¡¯s Literature and Arts Department by tomorrow evening¡¯s self-study session at thetest. Participants should pay close attention to the specific process.¡± ¡°Teacher, I heard that even the local television station will be covering our school¡¯s anniversary?¡± The faculty member of No. 1 High School, Li Fang, felt honored and replied with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s right. No. 1 High School is the only school in Hai City that has been able to pass on its hundred-year-old legacy without being cut off, despite decades of war and regime changes. Therefore, this time, it will be very grand. The mayor is also our alumnus, and many celebrities who graduated from the No. 1 High School wille back to participate.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard this. ¡°Teacher, can we participate in a solo format?¡± Li Fang nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s possible. There are no limits on the format and number of people in the program. However, the Literature and Art Department will first make a selection before the program can actually go on stage. So if everyone wants to perform, they need to be fully prepared.¡± This was such a good opportunity. Huang Yue wanted to participate and she wanted to perform alone. After all, if it was a group performance, it would not give her the spotlight she wanted. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 In the end, Huang Yue signed up for ukulele¡¯s solo performance. There were also other girls in the ss preparing for the national dance, and the boys even organized a basketball show. High school students¡¯ learning progress was very tight, especially in a key city school like No. 1 High School. Large-scale gs were like stimnts to them, adding a touch of color to their boring life. However, whether it was watching others perform or performing for others, Wen Nian had experienced too much in her previous life. In such an atmosphere, theposed Wen Nian felt a little out of ce. But when she turned around and saw Shen Jun sleeping on the table, she suddenly felt less lonely. Shen Jun¡¯s image in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes was that he never paid attention in ss and did not do any work after ss. He would either read books that she couldn¡¯t understand at all or y games. asionally, he would also fall asleep. However, this did not stop him from getting full marks in the science tests. Wen Nian was willing to bet that Shen Jun would definitely get first ce in the cohort in the final exam. After school in the afternoon, Wen Nian didn¡¯t go to the canteen. She was a little tired of eating the same dishes twice a day. She took out a crispy pancake with assorted fillings and started biting into it, making crackling sounds with each bite. Unlike usual, Huang Yue didn¡¯t leave. Instead, she stayed seated on her seat and ate some biscuits to fill her stomach while secretly observing Shen Jun. After Shen Jun finished his sandwich, Huang Yue walked to the back of the ssroom with an exercise book and asked, ¡°Shen Jun, I have a question that I don¡¯t quite understand. Can I ask you?¡± Shen Jun looked up at Huang Yue, but then took out his phone and lowered his eyes to reply to a message. His thin lips then spat out two words: ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Seeing that Shen Jun had rejected her mercilessly, Huang Yue¡¯s smile froze instantly. However, she quickly adjusted her expression and spoke in such a soft tone, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I can wait here by the side.¡± Wen Nian had already begun working on the test paper when she heard Huang Yue¡¯s gentle voice, and she knew what Huang Yue was thinking. Huang Yue¡¯s mind was remarkably discerning. She would not fall for someone just because of their appearance; only money and power could entice her to give up her principles. Thinking of Huang Yue¡¯s personality of not waking up early without benefits, Wen Nian could guess that the change in Huang Yue¡¯s attitude must be because she saw that Shen Jun had something she could use. Wen Nian was a little curious about Shen Jun¡¯s attitude. She lowered her head to look at the test paper. She stopped writing, and her ears perked up. Shen Jun replied without looking up, ¡°I¡¯m very busy and don¡¯t have time.¡± Tears welled up in Huang Yue¡¯s eyes, making them slightly red and giving her a particrly adorable look. Her voice softened, as if she wanted to melt people¡¯s hearts. ¡°I won¡¯t take up too much of your time. Just a short while, please?¡± When Wen Nian heard Huang Yue¡¯s pleading voice, her body couldn¡¯t help but tremble. She could see with the naked eye that her arms were covered in goosebumps. She quickly rubbed them a few times to calm down this ufortable physiological reaction. After replying to a message, Shen Jun looked up at Huang Yue. Huang Yue was encouraged by this look and felt a little smug. It was indeed always beneficial to pretend to be weak in front of men. Huang Yue didn¡¯t reveal her inner thoughts on the surface, but Shen Jun had grown up in a big family and had been exposed to sly foxes in the business world like his grandpa Shen Lin and old politicians like his grandpa Zhao Zheng since he was young. Shen Jun could more or less guess what Huang Yue was thinking. Besides, he had already rejected her twice and she was still pestering him. His already irritable personality made him a little impatient. He frowned slightly before stopping and said, ¡°Are you deaf? Or did I not express myself clearly enough?¡± Looking up at Shen Jun¡¯s cold expression, Huang Yue felt extremely embarrassed. She moved her lips a few times, wanting to say something, but was afraid that Shen Jun mightsh out at her even more. From the corner of her eye, she saw Wen Nian¡¯s lips pursed. She felt like Wen Nian might be secretlyughing at her and wasn¡¯t sure if she had been overthinking. She turned to look at the other students in the ssroom. Even though their backs were facing her, Huang Yue felt like they had all heard the conversation just now and were looking down on her. Huang Yue tightened her grip on the book, looking at Shen Jun with an aggrieved expression. However, he had already shifted his attention back to his phone. Huang Yue immediately felt ashamed and resentful. This time, her eyes were really red. She stomped her feet and ran out of the ssroom from the back door. A few secondster. ¡°Ah!¡± All the students in the ssroom heard a scream. Wen Nian turned her head slightly to look at Shen Jun, but the other party did not seem to hear it and was still doing his own thing. Wen Nian was not curious enough to investigate and instead shifted her gaze back to the test paper. Shen Jun had a cold personality. They had been sitting together for almost a month, and Wen Nian had only been able to talk to him a little bit thanks to their proximity. asionally, she would ask him a few questions, and some girls even approached him for help because of his good looks. But Shen Jun¡¯s answers were always straightforward; he would say that he didn¡¯t know how to teach and advised them to ask the teacher instead. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 But no matter what, Shen Jun¡¯s attitude towards them was much better than his attitude towards Huang Yue. However, it was also true that the other ssmates were a little afraid of him. Wen Nian knew that Shen Jun was not like other 17-year-olds. He had a unique temperament that was cold and noble. Based on her many years of experience, Wen Nian suspected that Shen Jun¡¯s background was not that of an ordinary rich child. After pondering for a while, Wen Nian regained her focus and resumed writing the questions. This situation was not her concern. She had no intention of taking shortcuts in life for money. She would only consume what she could afford based on her abilities. If she wanted more, she would work harder to improve her skills. ¡°Mountains may fall. A person must still rely on themselves!¡± ss 2 was separated from ss 3 before they reached the stairs. Huang Yue had lost so much face in front of her ssmates that she ran downstairs in embarrassment. Unexpectedly, she was too fast and lost her footing. She slipped and rolled down the stairs, but fortunately, she only rolled five to six steps before reaching the corner tform. Huang Yue felt like her butt was about to break in two. After a moment, she noticed a few students from her grade looking at her from the stairs. Her face instantly turned red. She tried to stand up to leave quickly, but as soon as she put weight on her right ankle, the pain spread throughout her body. Huang Yue looked down and noticed that her ankle was extremely red and swollen. She didn¡¯t dare to put any more weight on it. After thinking for a moment, she endured the stares of her ssmates and called Wen Nian on the phone. ¡°Wen Nian, I sprained my ankle and can¡¯t walk. Can you please help me to the clinic to get it checked?¡± The reason why Huang Yue looked for Wen Nian was because she did not want to miss any opportunity to be alone with Wen Nian. There had been no progress with her n of convincing Wen Nian to sign a contract with the manager. Huang Yue was also anxious. She endured the embarrassment called Wen Nian. Wen Nian was a little surprised when she received the call. She was about to reject Huang Yue when the word ¡°clinic¡± reminded her of something she had heard in her previous life. As a result, she agreed readily. ¡°Okay.¡± The call ended and Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. A mischievous smile spread across her face. She felt like if she didn¡¯t take advantage of this opportunity, she would be letting down her friendship with Huang Yue. Shen Jun watched the little fox beside him leave and smiled. ¡°Interesting.¡± After finally leaving the teaching building, Huang Yue heaved a sigh of relief and turned to Wen Nian, ¡°Can you give me a ride on your bicycle?¡± Wen Nian had never given anyone a ride on her bicycle before, so she said with a difficult expression, ¡°I don¡¯t know how to carry someone. It¡¯ll be troublesome if you fall again.¡± When Huang Yue heard this, she did not dare to let Wen Nian give her a ride anymore. She rolled her eyes impatiently andined, ¡°How old are you? You don¡¯t even know how to give people a ride.¡± Wen Nian had a good temperament and didn¡¯t argue back. She assisted the limping Huang Yue out of the school and listened to Huang Yue¡¯s attempts to persuade her while enduring the pain along the way. She couldn¡¯t help but feel that Huang Yue¡¯s desire to use her was so strong that Huang Yue didn¡¯t even care about her injury. Wen Nian yed along and said helplessly, ¡°Don¡¯t mention my parents, even my brother is against it. He thinks that you instigated me to not study well and has been wanting to settle the score with you. If I hadn¡¯t stopped him, he would havee to our ssroom to find you.¡± Huang Yue immediately imagined a tall and burly man. If he were to impulsively punch her, she would definitely end up in the hospital! Even if he didn¡¯t do anything physical, just letting him spout nonsense at the ssroom door could ruin her reputation that she had been carefully maintaining for so long! Huang Yue said nervously, ¡°Wen Nian, everything I did was for your own good. If you can¡¯t stop your brother, I won¡¯t tell you anything good in the future!¡± Wen Nian nodded seriously and smiled meaningfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know who treats me well.¡± Seeing that Wen Nian¡¯s attitude towards her had returned to how it was before, Huang Yue felt much more at ease. However, she didn¡¯t dare to persuade her anymore. She nned to get the manager that Wei Xiao had hired to contact Wen Nian directly after this. She was only responsible for creating an opportunity to provide information. The nearest clinic was about 50 meters away from the school gate. When they arrived at the entrance of the clinic, Huang Yue noticed that Wen Nian had no intention of stopping. She reminded her, ¡°Wen Nian, we¡¯re here.¡± Wen Nian held Huang Yue¡¯s hand and walked forward, saying, ¡°This is just a small clinic. I remember there¡¯s amunity hospital nearby, just a hundred meters ahead. I heard that the doctors there are very skilled!¡± Huang Yue could only use one foot to exert force, and the pain was so intense that she was sweating profusely. All she wanted was to find a ce to sit down and have the doctor apply medicine to her sprained ankle. Wen Nian dragged Huang Yue and Huang Yue had no choice but to follow along. If not, it would hurt even more when she touch her sprained ankle. At the same time, she asked Wen Nian to slow down. She was in so much pain that she almost couldn¡¯t speak. Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Seeing that Huang Yue didn¡¯t want to walk, Wen Nian didn¡¯t loosen her grip as sheforted her unhurriedly. ¡°You can¡¯t ignore a problem just because it seems small. I know a girl whose mother fell down the stairs and didn¡¯t think it was serious at the time. She refused to see the doctor and she applied some medicine at home. However, she died the next day. It waster discovered that she had fallen on the back of her head and didn¡¯t even realize it.¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Yue became so frightened that she no longer dared to insist and obediently walked towards the hospital. When she arrived, her ankle was even more swollen, and she grimaced in pain. After the checkup, it was just a sprained ankle. After it was treated, Huang Yue was tricked by Wen Nian into taking a CT scan of her brain. Themunity hospital was not very big, and the doctors had weekends off. There were only two doctors in each department. Wen Nian helped Huang Yue to register as a patient and then assisted her in getting inside. When Wang Jing saw the two girls enter the consultation room, a trace of lust shed across his eyes. Wen Nian had been observing Wang Jing and naturally didn¡¯t miss his reaction. She gave him a cold nce, deliberately showing his ruthlessness through his eyes. Wang Jing¡¯s heart trembled, puzzled as to why a young girl would have such a scary gaze. However, after blinking, he only saw Wen Nian¡¯s calm eyes. It was as if that nce was just an illusion, and he decided not to pay any further attention to Wen Nian. Wen Nian helped Huang Yue to a chair and then left. Wang Jing looked at Huang Yue¡¯s adorable and youthful face, and a gentle smile appeared on his own face. ¡°Dear student, where does your head hurt?¡± Wen Nian was in a daze outside the consultation room. If there was nothing seriously wrong with the patient, it usually only took a few minutes. However, Huang Yue only came out after about half an hour. Wen Nian was not at all impatient about the wait. In fact, she even wished that the two of them could spend more time together. Wang Jing helped Huang Yue out of the consultation room, his voice even gentler than before. ¡°Normally, you¡¯ll be fine. If you feel unwell,e back again.¡± The two of them stood a little close to each other, and Huang Yue could smell Wang Jing¡¯s masculine scent. She blushed slightly and said, ¡°Alright, Dr. Wang. I¡¯m sorry to have troubled you this time.¡± Wang Jing revealed the watch with the Maltese Cross logo on his wrist at the right time. Despite wearing a white coat, the numerous luxury items he revealed made Huang Yue¡¯s heart flutter when she saw them. The Huang family was nouveau riche, and Huang Yue was an illegitimate daughter. Her monthly pocket money was slightly higher than that of ordinary students. However, unlike most students who spent their money on entertainment like eating, drinking, and ying, Huang Yue spent all of her pocket money on various newspapers that could provide insights into the lives of wealthy people, such as famous fashion magazines, car magazines, and so on. Huang Yue was also very knowledgeable about thetest designs produced by various luxury brands. She sessfully identified Wang Jing¡¯s cufflinks, rings, watches, and shoes that were not covered by his white coat. Wang Jing smiled at Huang Yue and didn¡¯t say anything else. Upon seeing this scene, Wen Nian almost wanted to whistle and sing. She admired Wang Jing¡¯s skills in conversation as he could chat for half an hour even if the person wasn¡¯t sick. However, the 17-year-old Huang Yue was not as skilled at hiding her interest in the man as she would be in the future. After they both came out, they walked slowly. Huang Yue discreetly nced at Wen Nian and was grateful that she had tactfully waited outside the consultation room earlier. Otherwise, she would have been overshadowed by Wen Nian¡¯s presence. Undoubtedly, Wang Jing was a young returning doctor with an impressive resume. Though not as attractive as Wei Xiao, he still had good looks. Huang Yue had never considered giving up on Wei Xiao, but the reality was that they were separated by the Pacific Ocean. Huang Yue had to consider her options practically. Wang Jing could afford to wear watches worth millions, and the cheapest watch she was seen wearing in the magazine cost 198,000 yuan! Just by looking at the other party¡¯s clothing, she could tell that his family background wasn¡¯t bad. It It would be nice to benefit from this. In addition, she had a feeling that he developed feelings for her as well. Huang Yue touched her face arrogantly as she thought about this. When Wen Nian saw Huang Yue¡¯s movement, she pretended to say casually, ¡°Huang Yue, your face looks so round from this angle. I never really notice this. But now that I am looking at your face from this angle, it¡¯s very obvious. But thankfully, there is still a difference between your face and a big round face. If not, even shaving off the lower jaw would not have been able to solve the issue of having a round face. When Huang Yue heard this, her heart skipped a beat. Of course, she knew that her face was round. In the past, when she looked in the mirror, she felt that it was quite cute. However, after hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words recently, she felt that it made sense. Huang Yue had always been blessed with a good foundation in terms of her facial features. Although she was quite already quite good-looking, if she could adjust her facial features slightly and change her face shape to oval shape¡­ why would she push away the chance to be more beautiful? The idea, which had previously faded from her mind, returned. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Wen Nian stopped at the perfect moment and kept quiet. After the club recruitment process, thest ss on Wednesday afternoon has been designated as the activity ss for the new school year. When the bell rang for the second ss, students left the ssroom in groups of two or three to attend their respective club¡¯s activity ssroom. Wen Nian didn¡¯t know how many of her ssmates were in the same club as her. Feeling unfamiliar with her peers, she didn¡¯t pay much attention to them and instead followed the message address sent by the club. Wen Nian located ssroom 604 in Building 3, which still had the club logo affixed to its door. The mixed martial arts club¡¯s activity ssroom was notably spacious, twice the size of a typical ssroom. The back of the room was adorned with a variety of training equipment and a handful of sandbags. In the center of the ssroomy foam mats that covered two-thirds of the floor. Several individuals were standing or sitting within the space. In a club with a greater number of male members than female, Wen Nian¡¯s arrival caught the attention of several male students. ¡°Hello new students, pleasee and sign in first.¡± Upon hearing the voice, Wen Nian turned her head in its direction and recognized a familiar figure. The person was dressed in neutral clothing, had short hair, and tightly pursed lips. When Wen Nian saw Zheng Mo standing by the podium, her pupils constricted. She felt like she was in a daze as she walked over. Zheng Mo was the vice president of the club and was in charge of signing in the new members today. Wen Nian walked over to sign the papers andposed herself. She looked up and asked with a smile, ¡°Are you a senior in Year Three?¡± Zheng Mo looked at Wen Nian¡¯s signature and nodded. ¡°My name is Zheng Mo,¡± she said. She was as silent as ever, but after getting to know her better, Wen Nian realized that Zheng Mo was a girl who appeared cold on the outside but was warm on the inside. It was one of the few sources of warmth that Wen Nian received during her time in prison. Zheng Mo did not notice Wen Nian¡¯s abnormality and called another new member to sign in. A tall figure exuding a familiar cold aura appeared beside Wen Nian. Wen Nian took a closer look and realized that Shen Jun had also signed up for mixed martial arts. Zheng Mo looked up at the two of them and said, ¡°Find a seat first.¡± The two of them took off their shoes like the other club members and ced them beside the cushion. They found a seat and sat down. Not many students in their second year of high school learned mixed martial arts. Only 46 people had signed the attendance list, with three people from ss 2. In addition to Wen Nian and Shen Jun, there was another boy named Chen Ri. After so many years, Wen Nian had no impression of him in her memory. After her rebirth, she focused on her studies and only recognized Chen Ri by face. The bell had not rung yet, and everyone was sitting with their familiar ssmates. They had taken their seats ording to their respective sses. Chen Ri had not yet arrived. Wen Nian and Zheng Mo were not the type to draw attention to themselves, so they chose a corner seat and sat down. Wen Nian took the opportunity to get closer to Shen Mo. Even though she had witnessed Huang Yue being scolded by Shen Jun that afternoon, Wen Nian was still curious and asked, ¡°Shen Jun, why did you choose to learn mixed martial arts?¡± When Shen Jun heard the question, he turned to look at Wen Nian and replied calmly, ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to choose anything else. What about you?¡± Wen Nian was delighted as this was an improvement from before. Previously, he would only answer questions one by one, but now he had learned to ask questions in return. ¡°I want to learn self-defense.¡± Shen Jun took a nce at Wen Nian¡¯s appearance and thought that Wen Nian had made a right decision. Shen Jun thought about how Wen Nian always sat from morning until night, and even went back to the ssroom to read during the free time for physical education sses. Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian¡¯s small body again and said, ¡°You need to focus on your physical training first.¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement. She was aware that her current body was too delicate, and even climbing up to the sixth floor made it difficult for her to breathe. In the past, she had relied on her ruthless moves to win fights and had used techniques to finish off the other party in a short period of time. After ss, the president of the mixed martial arts club was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances. Zheng Mo was in charge of this ss, which happened to be the first period of the mixed martial arts ss. There were some old members present, but most of the attendees were new members. Zheng Mo began the ss by having everyone introduce themselves. She then gave a brief exnation of the club rules and the fundamental theoretical knowledge of mixed martial arts. Finally, she assigned a daily training mission to the ss. ¡°Everyone, you should aim to run at least 1,000 meters per day. I understand that most of you spend your time studying, but your current physical strength is not enough to support your mixed martial arts training. We only have ss once a week, and the content we cover is limited.¡± ¡°In terms of physical training, you need to maintain consistency in your regr training routine. If you want toe to the ssroom to train, you can use the facilities here. There are many pieces of physical training equipment avable. The ssroom is open during lunch break and dinner time.¡± Just as Zheng Mo finished speaking, it was time for ss to end. Wen Nian had been in a daze since ss started. In her previous life, Zheng Mo worked as a prison guard at the women¡¯s prison where Wen Nian was imprisoned. Wen Nian was a pretty and thin young woman who was frequently bullied when she first arrived at the prison. The prison had its own set of rules, which the guards could manage to some extent. However, it was impossible for them to control everything, especially those who had received special benefits. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Wen Nian didn¡¯t ept any benefits. However, most of the time, she wouldn¡¯t bother with what was going on in prison. Prior to going to prison, Wen Nian was willing to do anything for money. But when she got into prison, she became more resilient and refused to give in even when subjected to brutal beatings that left her bones broken. This sudden change in behavior led many people to believe that Wen Nian had lost her mind. From the moment Wen Nian found out that her only rtive, Wen Yu, had died, she felt that she was the one who was most unworthy of living in this world. This world, you know, has always been about the weak being afraid of the strong, the strong being afraid of the foolish, the foolish being afraid of the ruthless, and the ruthless being afraid of those who are unafraid of death. Wen Nian happens to belong to thest group. However, most people believe that it¡¯s better to live than to die. Even those who were sent to prison were still hoping to start a new life after their release. Every time Wen Nian resisted, she used the most intense and fearless methods, truly unafraid of perishing together. Wen Nian was subjecting herself to this torture because she wanted to be covered in wounds from fighting them. It was also a way for her to find some semnce of peace in her heart. In a way, it was a way of repaying a tiny fraction of the debt owed for the deaths of her parents and brothers. Even death row convicts were only allowed to die during execution. Wen Nian¡¯s attitude of wanting to take people down with her after a fight not only frightened other prisoners, but also worried the guards that someone might actually end up dead. It was at this moment of deep despair that Zheng Mo appeared. Once, Wen Nian thought that she was really going to die. Zheng Mo rushed over with her men and brought Wen Nian to the hospital outside of the prison for medical treatment, as her injuries were too severe. Upon seeing the vibrant world outside, Wen Nian felt that her life was still moving forward. Her eyes sparkled with hope as she turned to Zheng Mo and said, ¡°Officer Zheng, I want to go to the cemetery to pay my respects to my family.¡± When Wen Nian¡¯s parents passed away, it was her brother who organized the funeral, and she was too ashamed to attend. And when she learned of her brother¡¯s death, she didn¡¯t even have the opportunity to say goodbye. However, she used her parents¡¯ savings to settle their affairs in their hometown and purchased a cemetery to bury all three of them together. At that moment, Wen Nian and Zheng Mo were alone in the hospital ward. Zheng Mo looked at Wen Nian expressionlessly and responded coldly, ¡°If you wish to go, you must apply for permission first.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes instantly dimmed. ¡°All my family members are dead. I can¡¯t submit the application.¡± The prison had strict regtions regarding temporary releases, and prisoners were only granted permission for serious reasons. Even if the request was approved, the prisoner¡¯s family would need to provide a deposit and have someone vouch for their temporary release. Wen Nian observed the birds perched on the branches outside the ward, resembling a family unit. Suddenly, she felt an urge to share a story with someone. ¡°Officer Zheng, may I tell you a story?¡± she asked. Wen Nian began telling the story of her life. Upon concluding the story, the bird had flown away. Wen Nian could only wait for thepletion of her wound dressing before returning to prison. At this moment, a solitary tear trickled down her cheek. Zheng Mo¡¯s eyes flickered and she did not say anything else. As Wen Nian was losing hope, Zheng Mo unexpectedly appeared before her with the approved temporary release form. To Wen Nian¡¯s surprise, the guarantee and guarantor columns were both signed by Zheng Mo. Despite the act of signing the form, Zheng Mo remained stoic, with no change in her expression or tone. She curtly informed Wen Nian that there was only half a day left and urged her to change clothes quickly. Wen Nian knelt in front of the tombstone and sobbed. On their way back to the prison, Zheng Mo spoke, ¡°I can see that you are not afraid of death because you want to die.But remember, as long as you are alive, there is still a chance for you.¡± These words enlightened Wen Nian. Because of Zheng Mo¡¯s words, Wen Nian no longer gave up on herself and tried her best to live. She wanted to take revenge on the people who had harmed her family with her own hands. Not long after this incident, Wen Nian heard the news of Zheng Mo¡¯s death. She had no way of knowing the details. Wen Nian hoped that she could help her avoid such an ending if they met earlier in this life. Wen Nian¡¯s mood had always been a little low as she met an old friend from her previous life and recalled the past. She followed the crowd out of the school building absentmindedly. Just as Wen Nian was about to push open the door of the school building, it bounced back and nearly hit her. Shen Jun quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her back, saying, ¡°Watch where you¡¯re going.¡± Wen Nian came back to her senses and was shocked. ¡°Thank you.¡± Shen Jun had long realized that Wen Nian had been absent-minded during this lesson. Wen Nian seemed to be in a very gloomy mood. And so, he asked, ¡°Are you in a bad mood?¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun in a daze and nodded honestly. Shen Jun wasn¡¯t someone who would pry into someone else¡¯s business. However, considering that it was enjoyable being her deskmate and considering howpatible he was with Wen Nian, he said, ¡°Wait for me here.¡± Without waiting for a response, Shen Jun left. Wen Nian scratched her head. She was slightly confused but she didn¡¯t walk away. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Ten minutester, Shen Jun returned to Academic Building No. 3 and found Wen Nian squatting beside the flowerbed by the gate, ying with a lost ant using a slender branch. Wen Nian looked really silly and reminded him of his three-year-old niece. He crouched down. ¡°Are you having fun?¡± Wen Nian turned around and saw Shen Jun half-squatting beside him. His thin lips were pursed and slightly raised, and there were faint dimples on both sides of his cheeks. Seeing the faint smile in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian¡¯s face turned warm. She quickly got up and threw the branch in her hand into the trash at the side. Shen Jun also stood up and handed over the chocte cake he had just bought. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling down, have some sweet food to get that dopamine rush.¡± Wen Nian was a little surprised. She didn¡¯t expect her to receive such treatment from Shen Jun. She took the cake and smiled. ¡°Thank you.¡± Wen Nian was about to take the cake back to the ssroom to eat, but when she saw Shen Jun still standing there, she looked at him in confusion. Shen Jun raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to eat it now? Do you intend to feel sad for a few more minutes?¡± Wen Nian felt speechless and responded, ¡°I will eat now.¡± Actually, after Shen Jun had interrupted her, she felt much better. She yed with the ant for a while. However, thinking of Shen Jun¡¯s rare kindness, Wen Nian sat down by the cement side of the flowerbed. en Nian lowered her head and started eating with a small spoon. The sweet and soft texture melted in her mouth, and she finished the palm-sized cake in a minute. Shen Jun had never seen a girl eat so quickly. He blinked and took a few more nces. He was a little curious if Wen Nian had swallowed it without chewing. Wen Nian didn¡¯t know if it was a psychological effect, but she felt much better after eating. She got up to throw away the trash, then turned around with a smile and asked, ¡°How much is the cake?¡± Shen Jun considered the meager amount of money that remained in his pocket and stated the cost of the cake he had purchased. ¡°Ten yuan.¡± Wen Nian took out the money and handed it over to Shen Jun. Suddenly, she felt a sense of closeness towards him due to their interaction. She had the urge to take this opportunity and began to think, her eyes darting around as she pondered. As Wen Yu had to focus on preparing for thepetition exams during this period of time, and the content of the textbooks became more and more difficult, Wen Nian¡¯s revision had not been very smooth recently. The original n was toplete the first semester of the first year of high school by the end of December this year. There were still two months left, but Wen Nian had not evenpleted a third of it. She was feeling really anxious. Wen Nian seemed hesitant for a moment, but Shen Jun was not used to this and urged her, ¡°If you have something to say, just say it.¡± Wen Nian shamelessly asked, ¡°Can you help me with my studies? It¡¯s not really tuition. I just want to ask you questions during my free time while I¡¯m in school. I won¡¯t waste your effort. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal as a thank you, but I don¡¯t have much money, so I can only treat you to a meal in the canteen.¡± Upon hearing this, Shen Jun felt a little tempted. It wasn¡¯t because of the meal. However, when he thought about how close Wen Nian was with that boy in the canteen, he asked with a hint of meaning, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried that someone might misunderstand our rtionship?¡± Wen Nian was momentarily taken aback. She thought that Shen Jun was concerned that their teachers might mistake their rtionship for romantic involvement and report it to their parents. She quickly expressed her stance, ¡°We¡¯re being open about it. There¡¯s no reason for anyone to misunderstand. Don¡¯t worry about it too much. We have nothing to hide, and we¡¯re not afraid of any false usations.¡± Seeing that Wen Nian didn¡¯t mind, Shen Jun didn¡¯t think too much about it. ¡°Forget about eating. Do you know how to clean the house?¡± Although Wen Xing and his wife doted on their child, everyone had the responsibility to do housework. Moreover, Wen Nian had done a lot of work in the prison. ¡°Of course.¡± Shen Jun coughed lightly. ¡°Help me clean the house every week and you can ask me questions even if ss is ongoing.¡± Shen Jun had a monthly allowance of 2,000 yuan for his living expenses, which covered all his expenses in Hai City. While this amount was higher than what most students received, Shen Jun never bothered to check the prices of things due to his spending habits that had developed since childhood. Shen Jun still had to hire part-timers to clean up his ce every week, which cost him 200 yuan each time. As a result, almost half of his living expenses went towards this expense. This forced him to resort to eating sandwiches three times a day, and sometimes he would switch it up by having instant noodles instead. However, the food in the canteen was less than satisfactory, and Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to subject his taste buds to it. He came up with a suggestion. if Wen Nian helped him with the cleaning, he could save a significant amount of money and eat out every day. Prior toing to Hai City for his studies, Shen Jun had made an agreement with his grandfather that he would not rely on any form of assistance, such as epting money from his uncle, Zhao Wu, who worked in the city, or having Zhao Jiao secretly transfer money to him. He wasmitted to keeping his promise and upholding the spirit of the agreement. Wen Nian was poor to begin with, so she was naturally willing to pay with her stamina instead of money. With this arrangement, the two of them hit it off immediately. After being asked high school first-year subject questions for a whole day, Shen Jun curiously asked, ¡°Did you not attend sses in the first semester of your first year of high school?¡± Wen Nian blushed. ¡°I just never listened in ss.¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 Shen Jun fell silent for a moment. After learning about Wen Nian¡¯s study n, he objectively pointed out the issue at hand. ¡°If you want to catch up to the teacher¡¯s curriculum by the time you reach your final year of high school, you need toplete three years¡¯ worth of lessons in just one year. With your current pace, it¡¯s impossible to achieve.¡± Wen Nian pursed her lips, knowing that Shen Jun was speaking the truth. ¡°I still have to try,¡± she said determinedly. In Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian looked like a dejected little rabbit who had just suffered a huge setback. He sighed and said, ¡°You can barely understand what¡¯s going on in ss right now. You might as well not pay attention to it. You can use all your free time to work on it and ask me any questions you have during ss. The key is to save as much time as possible. The conceptster on are even more difficult to grasp.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes lit up. Shen Jun¡¯s words essentially meant that she had secured a tutor! For this, it was definitely worth cleaning his house twice a week, let alone once a week. Wen Nian promptly adjusted her approach and followed Shen Jun¡¯s advice during ss the following day. However, she refrained from asking questions immediately, taking into ount that Shen Jun had his own tasks to attend to. Only if the concept was crucial, she would interrupt him. Otherwise, she jotted down the unfamiliar topics and cleared her doubts quickly after ss. Shen Jun was good in his studies and had a natural talent for teaching.Wen Nian felt like she had to roast her brother. Shen Jun¡¯s guidance and exnations were like a standard answer, while Wen Yu¡¯s were more like a reference answer. This highlighted the difference between individuals and their abilities. However, her situation was even worse. She used to be the top student in her ss, but now she was only better than the lowest-ranked students. Wen Nian could only console herself by thinking that she was at least not at the very bottom. Saturday. Wen Nian woke up at 7:30 am, by which time Wen Xing had already left for work and Wen Yu had already started his pre-match training in the ssroom. Knowing that Zhou Mei woulde home from her graveyard shiftter, she gave up on the idea of going out to eat. She prepared millet porridge and stir-fried two side dishes for her mother. As she finished cooking, Zhou Mei arrived home. Wen Nian scooped a bowl of porridge from the kitchen. ¡°Mom, you are back just in time. Get some rest after eating.¡± Seeing the breakfast on the table, Zhou Mei felt the fatigue from the night shift dissipating a lot. She sat down at the table and rubbed Wen Nian¡¯s head. She smiled and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten your food in a long time. It¡¯s good to have a daughter. Your brother has grown up. It¡¯s already lucky that he hasn¡¯t poisoned us to death.¡± Before moving to Hai City, in order to earn money, Wen Xing went out of town for work. Zhou Mei was busy farming and taking care of the family. At that time, the 10-year-old Wen Yu felt sorry for Zhou Mei, who still had to cook when she returned home. And so, he volunteered to cook, but that resulted in the entire family not daring to let him touch the wok again. Instead, Wen Nian inherited Zhou Mei¡¯s good culinary skills. At the thought of Wen Yu¡¯s dark cuisine, Wen Nian pursed her lips and snickered. ¡°Perhaps your culinary skills are only passed down to women and not men.¡± After breakfast, Wen Nian took the bus to Xifeng Court. Wei Feng bought a duplex t here and moved in from the old house a few yearster. Wei Xiao would asionallye over to stay with Wei Feng for a few days. After Wen Nian found out, she used various excuses to visit Wei Feng. Unexpectedly, Wei Feng and Shen Jun lived in the same building. Wen Nian had been to Xifeng Court many times in her previous life and was quite familiar with thisyout. When they arrived at the gate of the district, Wen Nian contacted Shen Jun first. The security guard only allowed her in after confirming it. After locating the building, Wen Nian faced another obstacle¡ªa security door that required either facial recognition or a password from a resident. Of course, she could enter the building with the help of a resident. However, a card was needed to use the elevator and the card could only take the user to the floor of the resident who owned the card. The property prices in Xifeng Courtyard were considered the most expensive in Hai City, not only due to the scenic greenery and impressive architectural design, but also because of the high level of security measures implemented. Many wealthy and influential individuals had purchased houses here as a way to disy their social status. Those who could stay here had hired servants. Of course, Shen Jun was an exception. He could only take the elevator down and bring them upstairs. Shen Jun lived on the 12th floor, the top floor of the building. The originalyout consisted of two separate units on the same floor, but he knocked down the wall between them to create an openyout. Now, as he was the only one living in this four to five hundred square meter house, it appeared particrly spacious. Wen Nian entered and changed into a pair of disposable slippers. She then saw the spacious living room. The television screen took up one-third of the front wall, ying a movie, while an astronomical telescope was ced by the French window. Then, she noticed two instant noodle bowls and a game console on the coffee table, along with an openptop. Wen Nian observed that there were some clothes scattered on a chair in the dining room and on the sofa in the living room, which was connected to the dining area. Although the room was huge, it was messy in every corner. However, the kitchen was immacte and appeared to have never been used, despite being fully stocked with rice, noodles, oil, condiments, and other essentials. Fortunately, the Shen Jun¡¯s house only had two rooms, a gym room and a bedroom. Chapter 40 Chapter 40 The gym room was not bad, but the bedroom was in a horrible state. Shen Jun had some self-awareness. Feeling a little embarrassed, he touched his nose. ¡°My house is a little messy. So if you have any questions about school, just ask away.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s previously furrowed brows rxed upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words. She quickly smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m actually really good at cleaning up. You go ahead and do your work. I¡¯ll take care of it myself.¡± Shen Jun secretly heaved a sigh of relief. He really didn¡¯t want to eat sandwiches next month. ¡°There¡¯s water on the coffee table. Pour it yourself if you¡¯re thirsty.¡± After speaking, Shen Jun settled back onto the sofa and crossed his legs, turning on hisputer and returning to his tinkering. Wen Nian began by collecting the scattered clothes in the living room. When she saw a pair of pants on the ground beside the dirty clothes basket in the bathroom, she resisted the urge to ask Shen Jun why he didn¡¯t put them in the basket. Taking a deep breath, she said to herself, ¡°No one is perfect, even a big shot is just an ordinary person.¡± Wen Nian gathered the clothes and took them to theundry room on the balcony. Inside, she found four washing machines that were meticulouslybeled with categories like clothes, pants, shoes, socks, and even underwear! In her previous life, Wen Nian had not lived a life as luxurious as Shen Jun¡¯s even when she was at her richest. Fortunately, the 20 to 30 pieces of clothing she had collected did not include the most personal items. Although Shen Jun didn¡¯t like to do housework, he would still wash his underwear himself, even though it was just putting them in the washing machine. Wen Nian quickly sorted them and ced them into the washing machine. Then, Wen Nian proceeded to clean everything else in the room including wiping surfaces, organizing packing items, and sweeping and mopping the floor. Although the floor was not dirty, it was quiterge and required thorough cleaning. By the time they finished, three and a half hours had passed. Wen Nian rarely stood up straight, and as she stood by the window, she admired the greenery in themunity while massaging her waist to rx her muscles. Shen Jun had just finished writing a set of code. He got up and stretched his body. Looking at the clock on the wall, it was almost one o¡¯clock. He took out a sandwich and milk from the fridge and said, ¡°Wen Nian, let¡¯s have lunch first.¡± Wen Nian turned around and said, ¡°You can eat first. I will eatter.¡± Seeing this, Shen Jun ignored her. He took out his phone and ate while replying to messages. Wen Nian noticed the astronomical telescope next to her and became curious about how far it could see. With Shen Jun¡¯s permission, she opened the lid in front of the lens. The telescope happened to be pointed towards the empty space in front of the building, and as Wen Nian looked through it, she saw Wei Feng walking with a bald man who had a tiger head tattoo. She could see them very clearly. The man with the tiger head tattoo was walking half a step behind Wei Feng, and appeared to be in his thirties or forties. Seeing this, Wen Nian recalled something that Wen Yu had once told her. In her previous life, Wen Nian¡¯s parents had been hit by a huge rock at a construction site and died. At the time, Wen Yu had wondered why it was such a coincidence that they had been hit at the same time and that there was only one eyewitness at the scene. However, the police eventually determined that it was an ident. When Wen Yu went to the construction site to look for the eyewitness, the other party had already left. The foreman was worried that Wen Yu would cause trouble, so he said that the police hadpensated him 200,000 yuan and concluded that the matter was settled. He was unwilling to reveal anything else. One of Wen Xing¡¯s colleagues took pity on Wen Yu and secretly told him that the person had a tiger head tattooed on his head and was nicknamed Big Tiger. However, At the time, Wen Nian was avoiding this because she felt so guilty. She heard Wen Yu¡¯s doubts but she was distracted and did not take it to heart. If she had not seen this guy with her own eyes, she would not have recalled this. Wen Nian felt her heart pounding. She clenched her fists and went into the kitchen to fill a bag with flour. Then she picked up the bag and said as she walked out of the door, ¡°Shen Jun, I¡¯m going out for a while. I¡¯lle backter.¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s anxious expression and asked, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Wen Nian shook her head, closed the door, and opened the fireproof door to the safe passage beside her. She quickly descended to the tenth floor. In order to enter the tenth floor through the safe passage, she had to open the fireproof door with a password lock from the outside. Wen Nian pinched a small handful of flour and ced it on the LCD panel. Then, she blew gently. The traces of flour on the six number keys were heavier. Wen Nian pressed a set of numbers ording to the finger marks with different depths. Wen Nian¡¯s lips curled up slightly when she heard the soft sound of the lock being unlocked. She was d that her ten years in prison had not been in vain. She wiped the flour with a tissue. Wen Nian knew that there was a cleaningdy in the Wei Family¡¯s house and was feeling frustrated about how to sneak in. Through a crack in the door, she saw the auntie carrying the trash out of the house. When they entered the elevator, Wen Nian used the same trick to enter the Wei residence. Wen Nian had been to the Wei residence many times in her previous life and knew theyout very well. The study was located at the end of the second floor. Wen Nian walked to the door with familiarity and gently turned the doorknob, opening it just a crack. Through the opening, she could see the two of them talking, but unfortunately, their voices were too soft for Wen Nian to hear clearly. ¡°Ding.¡± The ringtone of a message sounded and Wen Nian broke out in a cold sweat. ¡°Who was that!¡± Wei Feng¡¯s deep-sounding voice rang. Chapter 41 - 41: Escape Chapter 41: Escape Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian quickly turned around and briskly descended the stairs, pulling the hood of her sweater over her head to shield her eyes. ¡°Stop right there!¡± A harsh, masculine voice echoed from behind,ced with a hint of ruthlessness thatpelled Wen Nian to quicken her pace even further. Upon reaching the first floor, Wen Nian¡¯s gaze fell upon a water bottle and a box of Go sitting atop the coffee table. Without hesitation, she picked up both the water bottle and the Go box. Wen Nian turned around and lowered her head slightly. She smashed the kettle on the floor behind her and threw the chess box back forcefully. More than 300 go box pieces scattered all over the ground. The man hastily hit the brakes and looked at the mess on the ground. He could only slow down and cautiously tiptoe around it. Wen Nian had already opened the door and ran out. Since the elevator required a security swipe, Wen Nian had no choice but to return to the secure corridor. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t enter Shen Jun¡¯s house without the password. After all, the other party had already caught up with her when she scattered the flour and entered the password. Therefore, Wen Nian had no choice but to quickly run downstairs. Suddenly, Wen Nian felt a pair ofrge hands grab her shoulder, which startled her. She immediately turned around and punched out due to the stress, but her fist was once again enveloped by a force. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Wen Nian recognized Shen Jun¡¯s voice, and just as she breathed a sigh of relief, they heard the door of the residence being pulled open. ¡°Go upstairs! 120599.¡± Wen Nian was already feeling extremely tense, but she quickly realized that this was the password for the fireproof door on the 12th floor. She immediately took off her shoes and held them in her hand, running up the stairs three steps at a time. As soon as the edge of Wen Nian¡¯s shirt disappeared from the tform around the corner, the man with the tiger head tattoo opened the fire door. He saw Shen Jun with one hand in his pocket, lowering his head and selecting a DJ on his phone. Shen Jun descended the stairs leisurely. ¡°The man with a tiger head tattoo hesitated for a moment, looking up and down the stairs, unsure of which way Wen Nian had fled. He suspected that Wen Nian would choose the opposite direction and started heading upstairs.¡± Shen Jun casually stepped to the side, blocking the path of the man with the tiger head tattoo. The man with the tiger head tattoo was aware that the people here were wealthy and of high status. He nced at Shen Jun and quickly stepped aside. Shen Jun cast an indifferent nce at the man with the tiger head tattoo. After a few seconds, he continued down the stairs with an air of impatience. The man with a tiger head tattoo gazed at Shen Jun¡¯s back and let out a soft sigh. Although the other party was clearly only a teenager, the weight of his presence made even the man¡¯s breathing cautious.¡± The man with the tiger head tattoo searched all the way up to the 12th floor, but found no one. He feared that he had misjudged and allowed Wen Nian to escape, so he had no choice but to return and report his findings. Wen Nian only rxedpletely once she sessfully returned to the Shen family¡¯s residence, where she discovered that the password for the front door was the same as that of the fireproof door. Upon entering the room, Shen Jun noticed Wen Nian sitting on the sofa in a daze. He then headed to the kitchen to pour her a ss of warm water. Wen Nian regained her senses and took the cup from Shen Jun. She looked at him and expressed her gratitude softly. ¡°Thank you so much for today,¡± she said. Shen Jun¡¯s lips curled up slightly as he teased, ¡°1 didn¡¯t expect you to have the ability to sneak into someone else¡¯s home.¡± Feeling embarrassed, Wen Nian touched her nose and smiled wryly. She then changed the subject and asked, ¡°Why did you suddenly head downstairs?¡± Shen Jun picked up hisputer and essed the property surveince system that he had designed. He operated it a few times to erase any traces of Wen Nian entering the neighborhood. He then turned around and replied, ¡°1 saw that you were in a hurry and didn¡¯t even ask me to open the elevator. 1 thought about it and decided to head downstairs to look for you.¡± Shen Jun was not typically one to pry into other people¡¯s affairs. He had helped Wen Nian earlier because he did not want to lose someone who could assist him in saving on part-time work. If he had to give a particr reason, it was likely because he felt that Wen Nian could bring some excitement to his life here. Unable to express her reasons, Wen Nian remained silent. Remembering the task she had yet toplete, she retrieved the bag of unused flour from her backpack and was about to put it back in the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll start working,¡± she said before leaving the living room. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s actions, Shen Jun quickly intervened. He widened his eyes and said, ¡°Wait a moment. You already took it out. You¡¯re not nning to put it back in, are you?¡± Wen Nian nced down at the bag of flour, feeling it would be a waste to dispose of it. ¡°If it¡¯s okay with you, I¡¯ll take it home,¡± she said. Shen Jun nodded. ¡°Take it.¡± As Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun¡¯s expression of germaphobia, she couldn¡¯t help but remember the dirty clothes strewn throughout the house when she first arrived at the Shen residence that morning. She quietly returned the flour to her bag and proceeded to theundry room to retrieve the clothes from the dryer. Afterward, she went to the master bedroom to fold them. Due to her encounter with the man with the tiger-head tattoo, Wen Nian was a bit distracted. After finishing her work, she said goodbye to Shen Jun. ¡°I¡¯ve finished all the cleaning. 1¡¯11 head home now..¡± Chapter 42 - 42: Changing Chapter 42: Changing Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun picked up his coat and handed it to her. ¡°Change out of your clothes and put on mine. If they¡¯re waiting for you downstairs, you¡¯ll be walking right into their trap.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun with gratitude. Thoughts from her past were still intertwined in her mind, making it difficult for her to think clearly. She had even overlooked critical details, but Shen Jun¡¯s reminder had saved her. Therefore, Wen Nian didn¡¯t hesitate to change her clothes. She took off her hoodie and began to put on Shen Jun¡¯s coat. Shen Jun felt a bit nervous and quickly averted his gaze, but he couldn¡¯t help but notice his reflection in the TV wall and realized he was overthinking things. Wen Nian also had a short-sleeved T-shirt inside as a foundation. She neatly folded the sweater and put it inside her backpack, then put on Shen Jun¡¯s jacket. The clothes were slightly oversized, and Wen Nian looked a bit awkward in them. Shen Jun chuckled when he saw Wen Nian wearing his clothes. ¡°This is the smallest piece of clothing 1 have.¡± Wen Nian shook her sleeve, which was longer than her arm, and found it funny. Then, she thought that she seemed a little heartless to leave directly. If not for Shen Jun¡¯s help today, it was hard to say what would have happened. The Wei family¡¯s grandfather and grandson were very ruthless. Wen Nian thought about Shen Jun¡¯s monotonous diet and wondered if he preferred that sort of food. So, she asked, ¡°You helped me so much today. Would you like me to cook dinner for you as a thank you?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Sure! I¡¯m tired of eating sandwiches.¡± When Wen Nian heard this, she became curious and asked about her doubts. However, when she learned that Shen Jun had chosen to eat sandwiches because he didn¡¯t have much money, she looked at the luxurious house that many ordinary people might not be able to afford in their entire lives and became even more puzzled. However, since it involved other people¡¯s privacy, Wen Nian felt embarrassed to ask too much. So, she took the initiative and suggested, ¡°Then I¡¯ll make some dumplings for you. It¡¯s good to change your taste asionally, and it¡¯s not healthy to keep eating outside all the time.¡± Shen Jun was happy to ept the offer, so he readily agreed. Since there was nothing in the fridge, they both decided to go to the supermarket. As they left the apartment building, Shen Jun had a sense that someone was observing the neighborhood from a high ce, even though he didn¡¯t see anyone. The feeling of being watched was quite strong. Fortunately, Wen Nian had changed into Shen Jun¡¯s clothes and had let down her hair, which she had previously tied up, so she didn¡¯t attract much attention. There was arge supermarket not far from the neighborhood, and Wen Nian picked out the fresh ingredients with ease. Shen Jun trailed behind her, pushing the cart, and asked curiously, ¡°Do you cook often?¡± Wen Nian nced at the young master who didn¡¯t know the hardships of themoners and replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright. When my parents are busy with work, 1 have to cook by myself.¡± Shen Jun nodded in understanding. It was simr to how he had no choice but to give up on delicious food and stick to sandwiches three times a day due to his financial situation. After purchasing the ingredients, they headed back home together. Since the meat filling from the meat grinder was not chewy, Wen Nian had certain requirements for cooking it. Therefore, she declined the supermarket¡¯s offer to grind the meat for them and insisted on taking it back to chop it herself. Shen Jun had never cooked before and felt a little embarrassed to see Wen Nian busy preparing the meal. He politely asked, ¡°Is there anything I can do to help you?¡± If it had been her partner, Wen Nian would have likely started bossing them around in the kitchen. However, she was grateful to Shen Jun for offering to help, so she didn¡¯t want to burden him. ¡°That¡¯s okay, no need. 1 can handle it myself. You can go ahead and do your own thing,¡± she said kindly. Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s response, Shen Jun didn¡¯t insist on helping any further. He turned around to attend to his own tasks. Wen Nian had been busy in the kitchen for over three hours, carefully wrapping and storing more than a hundred pieces of three different types of stuffing in the refrigerator. The amount of food she had prepared was enough to feed Shen Jun for a week or two. After washing her hands and drying them with a tissue, Wen Nian stepped out of the kitchen and asked Shen Jun, ¡°You do know how to cook dumplings, right?¡± Shen Jun paused for a moment and replied, ¡°1¡¯11 search online.¡± Wen Nian was also stunned and smiled helplessly. ¡°Alright, contact me on WeChat if you don¡¯t understand.¡± Zhou Mei had already gone to bed at home, and when she woke up and stepped out of her bedroom, she identally bumped into Wen Nian. She took a quick nce at Wen Nian¡¯s outfit and asked in confusion, ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like your clothes. Whose are you wearing?¡± Wen Nian quickly found an excuse and slipped into the room. Wen Nian noticed a faint scent of cypress wood emanating from Shen Jun¡¯s clothes, and out of curiosity, she brought them to her nose and took a sniff. After realizing what she had done, she felt embarrassed and foolish. Her face turned red, and she quickly removed her coat and ced it on the nearby desk. Wen Nianposed herself and took out a history book to study for the uing test, focusing on memorizing the test venue.. Chapter 43 - 43: Shop Chapter 43: Shop Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As they sat down to eat dinner, Wen Yu shared some exciting news. ¡°I¡¯ve found the perfect shop!¡± she eximed. Upon hearing Wen Yu¡¯s announcement, Wen Nian set aside her history book and eagerly rushed out of the bedroom. ¡°Where is it? How old is it?¡± Wen Yu took off her bag and beamed as she shared more details. ¡°It¡¯s also located near the school, but closer to Xifeng Court, so it¡¯s a bit pricier. However, the location is excellent, and it¡¯ll be worth it,¡± she exined. Wen Xing helped his wife bring the dishes to the table and overheard the conversation. He expressed his concern and asked, ¡°How much will it cost per month?¡± Wen Yu provided a brief overview of the situation. ¡°It¡¯ll cost 3,000 yuan per month, and the lease will start in six months. The shop is 85 square meters, and the current owner is running a stir-fry restaurant but wants to apany his son to university, which is why he is transferring it,¡± she exined. Wen Yu then turned to Wen Nian and added, ¡°Do you remember the restaurant ¡®Stir-Fry Every Day¡¯? It¡¯s affordable and popr among students. It has a good reputation in our school. Today, I saw the owner putting up a transfer notice outside the shop, and I made an appointment to visit it tomorrow morning.¡± After her rebirth, Wen Nian had gotten used to eating at the school canteen every day. She doesn¡¯t remember ¡°Stir-fry Every Day¡± at all, but she still nodded and said, ¡°Yeah, I know. Mom, since Wen Yu had already scheduled an appointment, let¡¯s go and take a look at the shop tomorrow.¡± When Zhou Mei heard the monthly rent, she suddenly became hesitant. ¡°3,000 yuan a month? That¡¯s quite expensive. Our family¡¯s three-bedroom apartment¡¯s rent is only 1,200 yuan a month. If no one eats at our restaurant, we would have to starve and wake up everyday just to pay 3,000 yuan every month.¡± The couple had always been farmers or workers for others. They had no prior business experience. They initially thought that renting a small shop would not be too expensive. But upon hearing the price, they suddenly lost their confidence. Seeing their hesitation, Wen Nian quickly tried to encourage her parents. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t just focus on the rent. You have to consider the potential customer flow. Otherwise, why would thendlord charge such a high price? They know that the location is valuable and there will be demand for it. Our school is always busy and finding a suitable shop is not easy. My brother and I have been looking around for a while but haven¡¯t found anything better. That¡¯s why this shop is worth considering.¡± ¡°Besides, a bowl of noodles can be sold for between 8 to 20 yuan. After deducting the cost of the ingredients, I think a bowl of noodles will earn at least 4- to 5 yuan. Taking the average, it¡¯s 4.5 yuan per bowl! With the shop being near the school and the surrounding residential buildings and considering the people working nearby, we will definitely have no problem selling 100 bowls during each mealtime in the morning, noon, and night. That¡¯s 450 yuan a day, which is 13,500 yuan in revenue per month.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve factored in the highest possible amount for the utility bills, whiches to around 2,000 yuan per month. After deducting the rent, we¡¯ll still have around 8,500 yuan left. You and Dad work so hard and only earn about 5,000 yuan per month, while also having to endure the supervisor¡¯s anger.¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Xing looked at each other and thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Then let¡¯s go take a look tomorrow.¡± Wen Yu secretly gave Wen Nian a thumbs up. This was the first time he realized that his sister was so persuasive. Certainly, it wasn¡¯t a case of outright deceit. In fact, provided that the restaurants situated near the school were reasonably decent, there was a notable amount of business during meal times. Once Zhou Mei and Wen Xing hadpleted their meal, they promptly sought out the supervisor to request a leave of absence. The next morning, the family of four went to the stir-fry restaurant together. The stir-fry restaurant epassed a total area of 85 square meters. Upon entering through the door, the cashier¡¯s counter could be found on the left-hand side. Beyond that was the dining area, which featured six tables that could seat four individuals each, as well as three tables that could amodate six individuals each. Additionally, there was a bathroom and sink avable for customer use. Further in was the kitchen. The catering equipment was already there, and once they took over, they couldmence operations right away by simply changing the decor and style of the interior. Everyone was content with the shop¡¯syout. The transfer fee was ultimately settled at 20,000 yuan following negotiations. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing felt like they were caught off guard, as if they were ducks being hastily put into a fight. Before they could gather their bearings, they discovered that the transfer and rental agreements had already been signed, and the rental deposit had been settled. Upon returning home, Zhou Mei narrowed her eyes and fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Wen Nian. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know you were my daughter, I would have assumed that you were acting as a middleman. It feels as though I was on a high-speed train just now. I was only gone for a mere three hours, and everything has already been settled. The transfer fee, rent, and deposit amounting to a total of 40,000 yuan had disappeared.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s sense of urgency wasn¡¯t due to impatience; rather, it was born out of her deep concern that her parents might befall the same fate as they did in their previous lives. Even though everything had started to change for the better, Wen Nian would only feel truly at ease once her parents hadpletely escaped the work environment of their past lives. Furthermore, working at night proved to be detrimental to their health, and with their improved economic conditions, there was no reason for them to sacrifice their well-being.. Chapter 44 - 44: Help Chapter 44: Help Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian poured a ss of water for her parents with a charming smile, then enthusiastically began to massage Zhou Mei¡¯s shoulders and back. She then gave Wen Yu a meaningful look. Wen Yu angrily rolled his eyes, feeling that the matter was progressing too quickly. It was no wonder that he was considering taking his parents¡¯ side. However, Wen Nian was still his biological sister and Wen Yu couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her being nagged at by their parents. ¡°Wen Nian is just worried that such a good shop would be rented out. If we wait a few days, we might end up losing it. Good business locations are hard toe by, and since our family is already nning to start a business, we should be decisive and seize this opportunity.¡± As Wen Xing and Zhou Mei witnessed the siblings helping each other, they relished in the warm and loving atmosphere of their home. Realizing that they were notcking in tens of thousands of yuan at the moment, they stopped sulking. With a smile, Wen Xing held his wife¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve rented it, let¡¯s work together to manage it well.¡± Zhou Mei gently tapped Wen Nian¡¯s head and said in a helpless tone, ¡°You may be small in size, but you have big ideas.¡± Wen Nian smiled coquettishly and the matter was settled. Since the next owner of the shop had been confirmed, the owner of the stir-fry restaurant promised to clean the shop and hand it over to the Wen family within three days. Wen Xing had not yet found a recement for himself, but Zhou Mei had already started the handover process with the new employees. She was only waiting for the next three days to get the shop and fully resign from thepany. Her n was to devote herselfpletely to the noodle shop. On Monday at school, Wen Nian ced the freshly washed jacket on Shen Jun¡¯s desk and started memorizing English words. Shen Jun had sleptte the previous night, so when he arrived in the ssroom and saw the jacket, he ced it in his drawer and promptlyid down on his stomach to catch some more sleep. The two of them continued to interact in a question-and-answer pattern as they did on regr days. Later that day, just as Wen Nian finished eating lunch and was about to head back to the ssroom, she ran into her homeroom teacher. Holding a bag and two lunch boxes, Li Fang intercepted Wen Nian with an anxious expression. ¡°Wen Nian, could you do me a favor? These materials are for the Literature and Arts Committee. Please hand them over to whoever is on duty. I have to rush back home for some unexpected matter.¡± Wen Nian took the files and replied readily, ¡°Sure.¡± After thanking her repeatedly, Li Fang hurriedly left. Wen Nian then headed towards the student union. The student union office building of No. 1 High School was located in the same building as the social activities ssroom, both situated in the No. 3 teaching building. There was a sign on the wall on the first floor indicating the location of the different departments. Wen Nian followed the sign and found the Literature and Arts Department¡¯s office ssroom, which was ssroom 205, and went straight there. The ssroom door was open. Wen Nian didn¡¯t see anyone, but she still knocked tentatively. ¡°Is anyone there?¡± When the other members of the Student Union saw Wen Nian holding the documents, they kindly reminded her, ¡°Department Head Bai is on duty today. He didn¡¯t close the door. He might have gone out for a while. You can go in and wait for him.¡± After expressing her gratitude, Wen Nian entered the Literature and Arts Department ssroom. The room was over 200 square meters in size, with an independent work desk at the back that had a name tag of the department head. Beyond that were several rows of information cabs. A piano was ced against the wall next to the window, and Wen Nian couldn¡¯t resist walking up to it and touching it. Wen Nian sat down at the piano and slowly lifted the lid. As she looked at the familiar ck and white keys, she suddenly felt the urge to y. Life in prison was incredibly challenging, and Wen Nian had a strong ulterior motive for learning the piano from the start. She didn¡¯t take up the instrument simply because she enjoyed it. But over time, the piano became a friend to Wen Nian. She was able to express her thoughts and emotions through the ck and white keys. The piano was also thepanion that helped her through the difficult days in prison. As soon as Wen Nian ced her hand on the piano keys, her fingertips seemed toe alive with a soul of their own. As Wen Nian looked out the window at the leaves blowing on the branches, her fingers seemed toe alive, and she yed a tune she often yed on the piano. Bai Zheng was taken aback when he heard the sound of ¡°Fate¡± echoing through the archive room. His hand, which had been reaching for some documents, froze in ce as he listened intently. Bai Zheng was first hit by a wave of intense despair and pain. Then, a sense of gentle and lingering sorrow and longing set in. However, it wasn¡¯t love that he felt. It was more akin to a sense of family bond, of remembering his parents and elders. As the song entered its third chapter, it revealed a vigorous life force. Bai Zheng, who was listening attentively, started to feel a sense of excitement. As the music filled the air, Bai Zheng was transported to a world where tender green branches bloomed amidst lifeless wood and bright flowers blossomed in the barren desert.. ¡°Who is ying the piano?¡± Chapter 45 - 45: The Prodigy Boy Chapter 45: The Prodigy Boy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Bai Zheng couldn¡¯t bother toplete the action of retrieving the document as he quickly followed the sound. Upon seeing Wen Nian ying the piano, Bai Zheng tiptoed into the office and pulled out his phone to snap a photo of the end of Wen Nian¡¯s enchanting performance as a keepsake. As the song came to an end, Wen Nian rose from the piano bench and found herself face to face with a tall, beaming boy. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she was momentarily speechless. Bai Zheng was a brilliant musician, but also struggled with depression. In her past life, Wen Nian had spent only a few years in prison when she received the devastating news that Bai Zheng had taken his own life by jumping off a building. The official statement cited depression as the cause. By the age of 17, he had already debuted a solo show at the nation¡¯s most prestigious art hall. Two yearster, at the age of 19, he was bestowed with the Bernstein Art Achievement Award. And by the time he was 20, he had ascended to be the world¡¯s most celebrated piano prodigy. He was among the rarefied ranks of world-ss pianists in the country. Tragically, the life of this bright and promising young man would be cut short at the age of 23, frozen in time. Wen Nian¡¯s awareness of Bai Zheng¡¯s tragic death was solely due to his prominent standing in the domestic piano industry. His passing had even been featured in official news coverage across the country, and the prison had permitted inmates to watch an hour of news every night. In her previous life, Bai Zheng had been nothing more than a vaguely familiar alumni name from Wen Nian¡¯s school days, and she had only glimpsed him from afar while on campus. But now, this same person stood before her at a very close distance. Bai Zheng walked forward with a smile. ¡°You y really well! Very few people can y this song so well! How many years have you studied? Which style are you better at ying? Do you want to join our art department?¡± Seeing someone y the piano with such spiritual and empathetic resonance was a rare sight, and Bai Zheng was filled with admiration for the talent before him. Excitedly, he asked a series of questions. In truth, Wen Nian had been studying piano for almost 10 years, but in this life, she had only started in her first year of high school. She smiled enigmatically and replied, ¡°I¡¯m just ying by ear. I haven¡¯t specialized in any particr style. At this stage, the college entrance exams are more important, so I¡¯m not considering joining any departments for now.¡± When Bai Zheng heard Wen Nian¡¯s response, he felt a bit disappointed. However, after a moment of thought, he took out his phone and suggested enthusiastically, ¡°Let¡¯s exchange WeChat and keep in touch! If there¡¯s a chance in the future, we can coborate on music! By the way, what¡¯s your name? Did you participate in our school¡¯s anniversary program? If you didn¡¯t participate, I can try to help you secure a spot.¡± As Wen Nian thought about the rumors she heard of Bai Zheng, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse Bai Zheng¡¯s offer. And so, she took out her phone and added him as a friend on WeChat. She smiled and introduced herself, ¡°My name is Wen Nian. I¡¯m a student in the second year, ss two, of high school. I am worried about my studies, so I won¡¯t be participating.¡± As Wen Nian nced at the bag of information beside her, she remembered the purpose of her visit. ¡°Oh, by the way, Teacher Li Fang asked me to give you this information,¡± she said, handing the bag over to Bai Zheng. Bai Zheng epted the information and quickly perused it. He shed a polite smile and said, ¡°Thank you so much. I apologize for the trouble you¡¯ve gone through to deliver it to me.¡± Wen Nian waved her hand. ¡°You¡¯re wee. It¡¯s on the way. I¡¯ll go back to the ssroom first.¡± The two of them said goodbye to each other. When they left the office, Wen Nian turned to look at this genius youth and sighed softly in her heart. When Wen Nian returned to the ssroom, Shen Jun had already gone out to grab some food ande back. As he looked up from his textbook, he noticed that something seemed off about Wen Nian¡¯s expression. ¡°You took a while toe back from lunch today. Is everything alright?¡± Wen Nian snapped out of her thoughts and replied, ¡°Oh, Teacher Li asked me to deliver some documents to the student union, so it took a bit longer than expected.¡± Shen Jun continued, ¡°I slept in all morning and won¡¯t be sleeping during lunch break. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes lit up when she heard this. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do the math questions today!¡± Seeing that Wen Nian¡¯s expression had returned to normal, Shen Jun redirected his focus to his book. Huang Yue didn¡¯t have time to bother Wen Nian recently because she had spent all her free time chatting with Wang Jing. After her fallst week, Huang Yue even made a special trip from home to clinic near school for a hotpress during the weekend. The second time they met, the two of them became much closer. As a result, Huang Yue had been keeping her phone with her almost all the time in the past few days. In Huang Yue¡¯s opinion, Wang Jing and Wei Xiao werepletely two different types. Compared to Wang Jing, Wei Xiao often felt distant and unapproachable. She appreciated that Wang Jing would reach out to her first and were patient with her asional outbursts and bad moods. However, Huang Yue had no intention of giving up on Wei Xiao. After all, she had yet to figure out Wang Jing¡¯s family¡¯s financial background. If the Wang family couldn¡¯t match the Wei family in terms of wealth and status, even if Wang Jing truly loved her, she would still have to reconsider. Love without bread was not reliable.. Living that kind of powerless life would only make people step on them for the rest of their lives! Chapter 46 - 46: A New Life Chapter 46: A New Life Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian had noticed that Huang Yue had been frequently smiling at her phone recently, indicating that her rtionship with Wang Jing was progressing well. Seeing this, Wen Nian didn¡¯t feel the need to intervene or stir up any trouble. She was content to sit back and watch how things unfolded. Wen Nian withdrew her gaze from Huang Yue¡¯s back. Lately, she had been receiving tutoring from Shen Jun and had made much faster progress than before. She first reviewed the test papers and reference answers, pondering over the incorrect questions before handing them over to Shen Jun. Wen Nian looked at the red crosses on her test paper and felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I got half of the questions wrong, but after looking at the reference answers, I was able to figure out the correct answers for eight of them. I marked them with a triangle symbol on the side.¡± Wen Nian had only learned the materials taught during the first year of high school. And so, Shen Jun arranged for her to do all theprehensive test papers from the first year of high school that were mixed with concepts for the entire semester. This would enable him to identify her weaknesses in every subject, and she would then receive special training to improve her understanding of unfamiliar knowledge points. Shen Jun took it casually and skimmed through it. He noticed that functions were a significant part of the first-year textbook and carried the most weight in terms of marks. Unfortunately, Wen Nian¡¯s understanding of functions was limited to the most basic concepts, and she struggled with moreplex questions that required creative problem-solving. Shen Jun furrowed his brow slightly. This was the easiest set of questions in theprehensive test paper. He analyzed the situation objectively and said, ¡°Your application of the forms is too weak. Previously, when you asked me about specific points of knowledge, I didn¡¯t fully understand your situation. But now, it seems that there are at least half a book¡¯s worth of knowledge points that you don¡¯t have a deep understanding of.¡± Mathematics could not bepared to subjects like politics or geography, which could be answered with a routine temte. In humanities exams, subjective questions could be influenced by factors such as handwriting, which could lead to the teacher showing mercy. The science department had always been strict. They followed a no-nonsense approach, and if the students made mistakes, they would receive a cross mark on their test papers without any mercy. The students knew that there was no point in dwelling on their mistakes, so they would move on to the next question without wasting any time. Wen Nian¡¯s confidence in her ability to solve math problems was greatly affected by the poor performance on the test. She wore a fawning smile as she pressed her palms together in front of Shen Jun, seeking his help. ¡°Please help me, boss. I still want to get into university and experience campus life.¡± Tutoring Wen Nian was a challenging task due to the tight schedules and heavy workload involved. Given Shen Jun¡¯s personality, he would typically not ept such a difficult responsibility. However, upon seeing the longing in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, his cold heart suddenly melted, and he found himself unable to refuse. Shen Jun gazed at Wen Nian, taking a moment to consider his request. ¡°I can assist you in organizing your coursework, but you mustplete my assigned homework on time. If you cannot fulfill this agreement, do not seek my help again.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s determination was evident in his statement; his words woulde back to haunt him if he didn¡¯t follow through. Wen Nian nodded repeatedly and promised with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely study hard andplete my homework on time!¡± Shen Jun created a new study n for Wen Nian, which included devoting two hours of his lunch break every day to supplementing her theoretical knowledge. He also extended his workday by an hour in the evenings. Additionally, he arranged a special schedule for her to follow. Wen Nian utilized her ss time to work on the practice questions and test papers assigned by Shen Jun. If she encountered any difficulties or had any questions, she would quietly ask for rification during ss. High school desks had a special feature ¨C students tended to pile all their books on them. This was not only convenient for grabbing books but also allowed them to discreetly do some small activities, such as passing notes or whispering while ying with their phones, hidden under the cover of their books. In the past month or so since Wen Nian¡¯s reincarnation, she had been studying all the first-year high school textbooks. Therefore, with Shen Jun¡¯s help in gaining a deeper understanding of those concepts, her error rate would be greatly reduced. As Wednesday approached, it was time to take over the new shop. Wen Nian rmended to her parents that they opt for an original wood-element renovation for the shop. She suggested keeping the decorations to a minimum, aiming for a clean and simplistic look that wouldn¡¯t easily be outdated. This style would create a fresh and hygienic environment. After finishing her afternoon sses, Wen Nian decided to stop by the shop on her way home. She realized that the Shen Jun¡¯s house was nearby. If she had gone first and Shen Jun happened to pass by the shop while she was there, it would be really awkward. Therefore, Wen Nian proactively invited him, saying, ¡°My family is getting ready to open a restaurant near the school, and it¡¯s close to your neighborhood. I¡¯m heading over there now to check out the renovation. Would you like a ride?¡± Shen Jun refused and said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I will get something to eat before going home.¡± After the two of them said goodbye, Wen Nian rode her bicycle and quickly headed to the noodle shop. Wen Nian parked her bike on the sidewalk by the entrance and stepped inside. She gazed at the newly painted white walls and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of oddness. It was as if she had started an entirely new life for her parents, one that was entirely different from her previous one.. Chapter 47 - 47: Promotion Chapter 47: Promotion Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The workers were busy changing the ceiling lights on both sides of the aisle, which used to be dim yellow light tubes. To brighten up the ce, Zhou Mei had purchased a new three-headed geometric cone-shaped white light chandelier online just this past Monday. The mother and daughter had chosen variousic-style noodle portraits online, and the four new paintings now hanging on the wall were a result of their selections. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing were sticking wood-patterned stickers on the wooden tabletop to give it a natural look. They had also reced the stools with tree stumps to match the theme. Wen Nian ced her bag on the stool and greeted, ¡°Dad, Mom.¡± Wen Xing turned around and saw Wen Nian. He asked in surprise, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Wen Nian picked up a roll of stickers and walked forward, replying, ¡°I am done with ss so I came to take a look at the shop.¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Xing suddenly realized that the sky outside had darkened. They nced at the clock on the wall and eximed, ¡°Oh no, it¡¯s already sote! We were so focused on our work that we didn¡¯t even notice the time.¡± Wen Nian tore open the sticker and started to help. She smiled and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel really motivated if it¡¯s your own shop?¡± Zhou Mei nodded excitedly. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to prepare everything now and open the shop tomorrow!¡± Wen Nian looked at the progress. ¡°I think we can finish installing everything today, right?¡± Zhou Mei nodded and said, ¡°Yes, of course. I arranged for someone to make a signboard this morning, and we can pick it up tomorrow. Also, the business license was issued today. Your father and I are currently discussing the opening day, most likely in two days. He has already changed his work schedule so he cane over and help.¡± This was the first time Wen Nian saw Zhou Mei making such quick decisions. She widened her eyes slightly and said, ¡°Mother, aren¡¯t you being too hasty? We haven¡¯t even released the flyers yet. Have you thought about the opening event?¡± When the couple heard Wen Nian¡¯s question, they realized their mistake and smacked their thighs in frustration. ¡°How could we forget about that?! We were so focused on opening the shop early to earn money that wepletely forgot about nning an opening event.¡± Wen Nian shook her head helplessly but took charge of the matter. As someone who had seen more of the world than her parents, she had no problem providing some conventional suggestions. Wen Nian contacted the advertisingpany and paid them extra to print 1,000 flyers that same night. In addition, she purchased a small ckboard to ce outside the shop. The colorful marker pen was used to write the details of the three-day opening event on the small ckboard at the door. Wen Nian also decided to take a photo of the activity rules and the exterior of the noodle shop and share it on her WeChat Moments to promote the event. With 20 likes, one could enjoy a half-price discount. She even noted with a red marker that this discount could not be redeemed with other discounts. The next day, Wen Nian took 300 flyers to school. She asked her parents to distribute the rest to the surrounding malls and office buildings today. Wen Nian primarily distributed the flyers among students of the same grade. While they may not have all known each other personally, they would often cross paths while walking or participating in school activities together, making them familiar with one another. Many students had already arrived at school half an hour before the morning ss. Wen Nian began by visiting ss One and then went around doing publicity before finally returning to her own ss. The girl with two ponytails looked at the flyer curiously and asked, ¡°Bowl of Noodles. Is this your family¡¯s noodle restaurant, Wen Nian?¡± With enthusiasm, Wen Nian replied, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right! Bring this flyer to my noodle shop within a week of our opening, and you can participate in the buy-one-free-one event.¡± A male ssmate passing by also took the initiative to take the leaflet. ¡°Let me see. There are quite a lot of types of noodles, and the price is suitable.¡± Following that, more and more students gathered around. ¡°I¡¯ll take one too.¡± ¡°I feel the same way. I¡¯m tired of eating cafeteria food recently, so I¡¯ll go for a change tomorrow,¡± chimed in another ssmate, taking a flyer as well. ¡°Zheng Shuang, let¡¯s get two bowls of noodles together.¡± ¡°Sure, I really like noodles. Wen Nian, give me one!¡± The remaining flyers were less than 30 and were distributed in an instant. ¡°Wen Nian, even though it may sound impressive being your own boss, starting a business involves risks. Your parents currently work as cleaners for the hotel and their steady paycheck provides them with a stable ie. Did you pressure them into starting a business at their age because you felt ashamed of their current job?¡± A female voice interrupted the originally harmonious atmosphere. Wen Nian looked at Huang Yue with a serious and persuasive expression, and said with a faint smile, ¡°You seem to know a lot about my family. Then you should also know that my parents have been working at the hotel for five or six years. If they were to quit just because I look down on their job, they would have done so long ago, wouldn¡¯t they? Huang Yue, your words can spread rumors about my family with just a flick of your tongue..¡± Chapter 48 - 48: Secret Chapter 48: Secret Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Observing that Wen Nian had reacted promptly, Huang Yue didn¡¯t feel the need to rush. With an expression of grievance, she said, ¡°Wen Nian, why did you misunderstand me? Remember, it was you who mentioned that your parents¡¯ profession made you ufortable. You even told me not to mention it in ss.¡± The ssmates around Wen Nian nced at her. Most of the parents represented in the ss were working-ss individuals, with a few belonging to the middle-ss category. As soon as they learned that Wen Nian¡¯s parents were cleaners, a handful of students took a few steps back, as if they were afraid of getting their clothes dirty by association. However, most students did not discriminate against her parents¡¯ profession. Rather, they abhorred those who looked down on their own parents for having a menial job. As Wen Nian caught sight of the condemning res of her ssmates, she remained calm andposed. The regret for her past foolish behavior and words washed over her. When Wen Nian didn¡¯t retort, Huang Yue secretly felt happy. She quickly covered her mouth and looked at Wen Nian apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not keeping your secret, Wen Nian. I blurted it out in a hurry because you used me of spreading rumors earlier.¡± ¡°I believe that someone feels guilty and tend to subconsciously retaliate when someone reveals a secret.¡± ¡°Exactly! Huang Yue, don¡¯t be scared. The one who is right gets to speak!¡± As some students began to speak out against the injustice, Huang Yue felt a sense of satisfaction. The lives of most students were marked by monotony. Growing up in protective families and schools, they were particrly susceptible to mental and ideological influences. However, Wen Nian remainedposed. She let out a soft sigh before speaking, ¡°I was thoughtless before and said many things I shouldn¡¯t have. Now, I want to focus on my studies, get into a good university, find a decent job, earn enough money, and provide an early retirement for my parents.¡± Without hesitation, Wen Nian acknowledged her mistake and expressed her future aspirations. She refrained from denying or trivializing her previous words. During this period, everyone had noticed the remarkable transformation in Wen Nian. She arrived early and leftte, never napping during the day and dedicating all her time to studying. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s attitude, they really felt as though Wen Nian was just like the prodial son. The people who had scolded her felt a little embarrassed as they coughed dryly. ¡°If you have any questions regarding English, feel free to ask me¡± ¡°The biology teacher said that my notes are the best she¡¯s seen so far. I can lend them to you if you need them.¡± Observing the uneasy expressions on their faces, Wen Nian maintained a smile and shifted the topic as if nothing had happened earlier. ¡°Thank you for your assistance. Don¡¯t hesitate to reach out if you need any help from me. And, if you visit the shop on the opening day, mention my name to my mom. I will ask her to serve an additional serving of meat to all my ssmates.¡± Since you said so, I have to go support Uncle and Auntie.¡± ¡°We will go too. We have already tried all the restaurants near school. It would be good to taste something new.¡± Huang Yue didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to really changepletely. She even wanted to get into a good university?! Feeling that her previous attempts werepletely futile, she knew she had toe up with a new approach to deal with Wen Nian. Huang Yue fixated her gaze on Wen Nian, who was surrounded by a crowd. Wen Nian appeared bright and cheerful, like a young girl full of life. Her purity and cleanliness were evident at first nce, a product of being nurtured by love. Huang Yue felt the mes of jealousy reignited in her heart, as she watched Wen Nian¡¯s seemingly effortless happiness. Wen Nian returned to her seat after promoting her shop and noticed that Shen Jun had already arrived in the ssroom. Wen Nian didn¡¯t know if Shen Jun had heard her earlier conversation, but she said jokingly, ¡°Hey, my noodle shop is opening tomorrow. I¡¯m expecting a big crowd, so I¡¯d like to treat you to a meal on Sunday as a thank you for your help these past few days. I know I¡¯ll be relying on you a lot in the future, big shot. Do you have time to grant me this favor?¡± Shen Jun had indeed put in the effort to teach Wen Nian. And so, Shen Jun agreed in a confident manner. ¡°Then I won¡¯t be courteous.¡± On Friday afternoon, Shen Jun had nned to use his lunch break to teach biology, so Wen Nian couldn¡¯t assist with the preparations for the opening. As a result, she asked her parents to hire two university students to help out during the three days of the opening. What was truly gratifying was that after the customers finished their meals, they sought out Wen Nian topliment Zhou Mei¡¯s excellent cooking skills, the generous portions of noodles, and the delicious taste. Some even expressed their willingness toe back and pay full price without any discounts. Upon hearing the positive feedback, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but express her gratitude and thank everyone for their support. After school in the afternoon, Shen Jun reviewed the four medium difficulty papers that he had asked Wen Nian toplete earlier that day. Although they were all barely passing, they were still a significant improvement from her previous performance.. Chapter 49 - 49: Revenue From Opening Chapter 49: Revenue From Opening Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun asked, ¡°Do you have any free time this weekend? I was thinking of taking advantage of these two days to have youplete the remaining two sets of difficult test papers and thematic exercises. If you have any questions, I can answer them on the spot. It¡¯s best to finish the first half of the textbook by Monday this week since time is so tight. It¡¯s best not to dy any longer.¡± Shen Jun was willing to help her with her remaining tasks. If she was still picky about the timing, she would seem a little ungrateful. Wen Nian was stunned for a second before agreeing. ¡°No problem!¡± After packing up the books and papers for the weekend, the two of them left the school together. After setting a time to meet tomorrow, Wen Nian left. Shen Jun turned around and walked towards the Audi A6 that had been waiting by the roadside for half an hour. Zhao Wu saw his nephew get into the car and lit a cigarette. ¡°Niuniu, it¡¯s your school¡¯s anniversary celebration next Friday. You can sit beside me then.¡± Shen Jun wasn¡¯t interested in going to crowded ces and participating in the celebrations. ¡°I think I¡¯ll pass. It¡¯s just going to be a bunch of shows. It¡¯s the same everytime. What¡¯s the point?¡± Zhao Wu rolled his eyes and chided Shen Jun, ¡°Who watches shows during such an asion? You are just supposed to look at the person who apanied you. You¡¯re always so pure-hearted. Be careful that you won¡¯t be able to find a girlfriend in the future when you¡¯re too enlightened.¡± ¡°I¡¯m bringing you along to broaden your horizons. Learn a few moves from me and handle your girlfriend better. And while we¡¯re at it, I¡¯ll introduce you to some of the school officials so that those ignorant people won¡¯t dare to offend you. Just consider it as chatting with me and shielding me from the ttery.¡± Seeing this, Shen Jun could only agree. ¡°Alright then.¡± It was around six or seven in the evening, during dinner time, and the noodle shop was experiencing intense business since its opening. When Wen Nian arrived at the shop, she noticed that all of the dozen or so stic stools in the waiting area at the entrance were already upied. Hurriedly, she went in to assist and saw that Wen Yu had already arrived earlier to start working. Wen Nian looked at the empty seats and was a little excited. This was her first time doing business. She ced her bag on the shelf under the cashier counter. ¡°Brother, arc there many people who want to join our WeChat fan club?¡± Shen Jun picked up the phone in the shop and opened the ¡°Bowl of Noodles¡± WeChat group. He smiled and remarked, ¡°Wow, the group has really grown. There are now more than 50 people in it.¡± Wen Nian also adopted marketing practices simr to those used by future merchants. She attracted customers by holding daily lottery draws, offering three free bowls of noodles each day. This strategy sessfully caught the attention of many potential customers. This was also a way for the shop to retain its customers. In the future, when new products were released or promotions were offered, the WeChat fan club could serve as a means to spread the word and generate publicity. Seeing the two girls stand up, Shen Jun quickly walked over to collect the empty bowls and brought them to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Wen Nian pressed the call button and took over Wen Yu¡¯s job of taking orders and handling the cash register. They were constantly busy until past eight o¡¯ clock when the number of guests began to dwindle. Finally, Zhou Mei could take a break and start cooking for her own family. That was how it was in the food and beverage industry. The shopkeepers either had their meals before or after meal times. After 50 minutes, a table of dishes was ready ¨C braised pork, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, chicken with mushrooms, garlic stir-fried vegetable hearts, and mustard greens tofu soup. Zhou Mei shouted into the kitchen, ¡°Xiao He, Xiao Li, let¡¯s not clean up for now. Come out and eat.¡± Two university students, a guy and a girl, came out of the kitchen. Only then did Wen Yu and Wen Nian had the time to greet them officially. After dinner, Zhou Mei was worried about the students¡¯ safety, so she asked the two students to head home first ande back to work at 11 am the next day. When the outsiders left, Wen Yu stopped appearing calm. He was very anxious as he urged, ¡°Dad! Mom! Let¡¯s calcte today¡¯s revenue!¡± Zhou Mei smiled and patted Wen Yu¡¯s shoulder. ¡°When did you be so anxious?¡± Zhou Mei, despite her statement, proceeded to the front desk to assist with the sales report. Additionally, she retrieved the cash from the cashier and the mobile phone used for online payments. The whole family started counting together and very quickly calcted the total amount. A total of 356 bowls of noodles were sold today, and additional drinks and dishes were also charged, resulting in total sales of 2,680 yuan. Zhou Mei inspected the remaining ingredients in the kitchen and approximated that around 2,000 yuan worth of ingredients were used throughout the day. When considering the expenses for utilities, rent, andbor, the ie and expenses were almost bnced. After reviewing the sales and expenses, Wen Nian promptly encouraged her parents. ¡°Our main goal for opening the business is to raise awareness and attract customers to dine with us. Considering the significant discount we offered today, it¡¯s already an achievement that we were able to break even.¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s encouragement, Wen Xing grinned and reassured her, ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry. Your mother and I have gained some valuable marketing insightstely. We understand that there may be a significant decline in customer traffic once the event is over.¡± Zhou Mei smiled and added, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about us. We are mentally prepared for this scenario. Our top priority is to maintain the high-quality taste of our noodles. Since our location is favorable, we must rely on the consistent excellent taste to attract both new and repeat customers. After all, the foundation of a sessful restaurant lies in its ability to serve delicious food..¡± Chapter 50 - 50: Customized Purchase Chapter 50: Customized Purchase Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Yu gave them a thumbs up and said, ¡°I have high expectations for all of you. You have demonstrated the ability to learn how to run a shop.¡± Zhou Mei looked at Wen Yu with a smug expression and remarked, ¡°Well, of course I have to learn! After all, I invested a lot of money into this venture. Sometimes, it still pains me when I think about the amount I spent.¡± Wen Xing quicklyforted Zhou Mei and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, honey. This is just an early-stage investment. I have full confidence in our noodle shop! I took a look at the bowls we collected and I noticed that most of them werepletely empty, with only a small portion left at the bottom. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s because some girls are watching their weight and don¡¯t want to overeat.¡± Zhou Mei, who was busy in the kitchen for the entire day, felt a sense of relief and joy upon hearing Wen Xing¡¯s words. The actions of the customers were a more convincing proof that they were doing well. If Zhou Mei¡¯s culinary skills were sessfully recognized by the localmunity, it would no longer be necessary to keep hiring temporary workers. ¡°Dad, when will you be able to start your new job?¡± Wen Xing responded with delight, ¡°I can start on Monday. Xiao He doesn¡¯t have any sses that day, so she cane in to help for an extra day. After the opening event, your mother and Xiao He should be able to manage the shop on their own.¡± Wen Nian replied, ¡°Then I¡¯ll help after school in the future.¡± Zhou Mei responded firmly in a serious tone, ¡°Today is Friday and it¡¯s the first day of business, so I¡¯ve made an exception and allowed you both to help out. However, your studies should always be your top priority. I don¡¯t want you to help just because this is the restaurant we opened. If it meanspromising your education, I¡¯d rather close the shop altogether! Once things have stabilized, your father can send food to you both. Nian Nian,e over for dinner tonight after school. I¡¯ll cook ahead of time so you can eat and then go home to study.¡± Seeing that Zhou Mei had already decided on a n, Wen Nian and Wen Yu looked at each other and silently dismissed the idea. After the family finished cleaning up, it was nearly ten o¡¯clock by the time they returned home. Zhou Mei quickly washed up and went to bed to rest and prepare for the next morning. The following day, Zhou Mei woke up just after four o¡¯clock and quietly got ready to go to the market to purchase ingredients for breakfast. Wen Yu was the next to wake up as he had to attend make-up lessons at school. After him, Wen Xing got ready for work, and finally, Wen Nian stretched and got out of bed. Wen Nian arrived at Xifeng Court promptly at 8:30 and took the elevator with Shen Jun. As the LCD panel disyed the words ¡°10th floor,¡± Wen Nian recalled the incident from the previous week when she had snuck into the Wei family¡¯s residence. Throughout the week, Wen Nian had entertained all sorts of possibilities and had spected that Wei Xiao might have hired someone to kill her parents. Perhaps he had done so because he did not want to be with her and wanted to frame her for the crime. All of these thoughts rushed through Wen Nian¡¯s mind as the elevator doors opened on the tenth floor. Wen Nian was certain that Wei Feng must have known about the incident. Even if he was not aware of it earlier, he would eventually find out. Wen Nian had witnessed Wei Feng¡¯s authoritative nature. Wen Nian stood in front of the notification board, staring at it with a frown, and clenched her fists tightly. She gritted her teeth in frustration as she thought about the Wei Family reaching out to her family first to return a favor. Wen Nian spected that Wei Xiao was too scared to go against Wei Feng¡¯s wishes and had decided to destroy her to protect himself. For this, they did not hesitate to destroy a family to satisfy their own selfish desires! The Wei family¡¯s hypocrisy was truly repulsive, but Wen Nian knew she had to focus on improving herself before taking any action. She wasn¡¯t the protagonist of a novel with special abilities or powers, and so she could only rely on her own hard work to rise higher and be powerful enough to make the Wei family afraid to oppose her. Ding! The elevator door opened. Wen Nian also came to her senses and followed Shen Jun into the Shen residence. Shen Jun had stayed upte the night before to deal with something and had only slept for two hours when he was awakened by Wen Nian¡¯s call. He was extremely sleepy, and his voice was still groggy. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a little longer. When you¡¯re done, work on the first set of the most challenging papers in each subject.¡± Wen Nian put down her bag, rolled up her sleeves, and prepared to start working. ¡°No problem, you go back to sleep. I¡¯ll figure out the schedule on my own.¡± When Wen Nian returned to the Shen residence, she was already familiar with the ce. Three hourster, she had finished cleaning all the areas. Wen Nian opened the refrigerator to take out a sanwich for lunch, but she noticed that the sandwich had been reced with a container of fruit and vegetable juice mixed with chicken, duck, and fish. Wen Nian looked at the fresh ingredients and quietly wondered to herself, ¡°Did he buy these ingredients specifically because I came?¡± The only thing that was ready to eat in the fridge were a few leftover dumplings that she had made the previous week. Wen Nian had no choice but to select some ingredients and cook her own meal. In the end, she prepared stir-fried chicken with spicy peppers and egg soup. It took half an hour to cook the meal and ten minutes to finish eating. After finishing her meal, Wen Nian sat in front of the coffee table and began doing her test papers.. Chapter 51 - 51: Treat Chapter 51: Treat Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Shen Jun woke up, it was already three in the afternoon. He sat on the bed in a daze for a while, then scratched his head, yawned, lifted the nket, and got up to wash up. Wen Nian heard the noise and turned to see Shen Jun walking into the living room. ¡°I¡¯ve kept the food warm in the pot in the kitchen. Go and eat first.¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he turned around and went to the kitchen to dish out the food without saying a word. Wen Nian was surprised to see Shen Jun in such a state after waking up. It was something new to her, so she took a few more nces before shifting her attention elsewhere. Wen Nian noticed the change in Shen Jun¡¯s demeanor after he finished his meal. He seemed to have fully awakened and was back to his usual cold and aloof self. At this point, Wen Nian had only finished the mathematics and physics papers. Shen Jun started by going through the mathematics papers with her, exining in detail any concepts covered by the incorrect questions, no matter how basic. He also created a few questions for Wen Nian toplete, ensuring that she could correctly answer all simr questions. Afterward, he had Wen Nian work on the second set of the most difficult papers. To enroll in the school as the first ce, Wen Nian was never stupid. Even though she hadn¡¯t studied for over ten years, her brain was still sharp. Afterpleting the second set, Shen Jun realized that Wen Nian had a firm grasp of the basic knowledge points, and had already understood the deeper difficulties to about 80%. He decided not to pursue the higher difficulties for the time being, as he felt it was more important to focus on catching up at the current stage. As long as he made sure that her current level wouldn¡¯t impede her future studies, he believed that she could strengthen her foundation by doing practice questions over the next three years.¡± Shen Jun used the same teaching method for physics, exining four sets of practice papers. By the time they finished, it was already eight or nine in the evening, and both of them were feeling hungry again. Without waiting to be asked, Wen Nian went to the kitchen to prepare stir-fried meat and fish with spices, as well as stir-fried cabbage for dinner. During dinner, Wen Nian made a casual observation, ¡°I noticed that your ingredients have be quite abundant since I wasst here. You even have a variety of sauces and ingredients now.¡± Shen Jun savored a bite of the fragrant fish with contentment. Ever since Wen Nian took over from the part-timer, his quality of life had improved significantly. ¡°I consulted with a chef yesterday and bought some ingredients based on his rmendations. Take a look and see if there¡¯s anything missing. I¡¯ll buy it another day.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s hand, which had been reaching for food, paused midair. The dish seemed perfectly suited to her tastes. ¡°Feel free to buy anything you¡¯d like to eat. I¡¯m confident in my ability to whip up some delicious home-cooked dishes,¡± she said. Shen Jun nodded solemnly. ¡°Pleasee back again at nine tomorrow morning. There are only two more topics to cover, and we should be able toplete them quickly.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face lit up with joy. This meant that she would soon be able to start working on materials taught for the second semester of high school. As it was gettingte, Wen Nian left after dinner and made her way back to her residential building. As she arrived on the ground floor, she ran into her parents and brother who had also just returned home. When Zhou Mei saw her daughter returning with her school bag, she asked with concern, ¡°Where have you been all this time? I wanted to call you to ask you to get dinner with us, but you didn¡¯t answer. Your father and I were getting worried and were about to call the police if we couldn¡¯t find you.¡± Wen Nian quickly pulled out her phone and noticed two missed calls. ¡°My ssmate was tutoring me today, and I identally left my phone on silent,¡± she exined hastily. Wen Xing¡¯s heart twinged with concern as he saw his daughter studying sote. ¡°Study hard, but don¡¯t forget to take care of yourself. Your health is more important than anything else,¡± he advised her. Wen Nian smiled obediently and nodded in agreement. Upon hearing this, Wen Yu¡¯s eyes widened and he interjected gloomily, ¡°That¡¯s not what you said earlier! You told me that I¡¯m in my third year of high school and that I need to study harder to avoid the consequences. You said that sacrificing sleep for a year would be worth being happy for the rest of my life!¡± Zhou Mei gave her son¡¯s arm a gentle pinch. ¡°You can¡¯tpare yourself to your sister. As a man, you should be prepared to endure more challenges. In the future, you¡¯ll be there to support Nian Nian, and you two should always be there for each other as siblings,¡± she advised him. Wen Yu was no stranger to his parents¡¯ double standards, and he had seen it many times before. When he sensed that his mother was about to nag him again, he quickly interrupted her, saying, ¡°Okay, okay, I¡¯ll study hard. Don¡¯t worry!¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but let out a sillyugh as she watched this scene unfold. She wished that she could always hold onto this feeling of happiness throughout her life. The family walked into the house, chatting andughing as they went. Suddenly, Wen Nian remembered that she had promised to treat Shen Jun to a meal, so she decided to bring it up to her parents. ¡°Oh, by the way, tomorrow I¡¯m nning to treat my ssmate to noodles at the noodle shop. This ssmate of mine has been a big help to me with my studies,¡± she exined. When Zhou Mei heard about Wen Nian¡¯s n to treat her ssmates to noodles, she agreed but thought it was not enough. ¡°We should treat him to a proper meal. Just noodles is too casual,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll cook a few dishes tomorrow. What does your ssmate like to eat?¡± Wen Nian pondered for a moment before answering, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what he likes, but I do know he doesn¡¯t dislike spicy food.¡± Zhou Mei patted her chest and made a promise, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll take care of everything. I definitely won¡¯t let you lose face tomorrow..¡± Chapter 52 - 52: Rejection Chapter 52: Rejection Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian wrapped her arms around Zhou Mei¡¯s arm and gave it a gentle shake. She spoke in a yful, childlike tone, ¡°Thank you, Mom.¡± After the ns were made, everyone went to wash up and prepare for the following day¡¯s activities. The next day, under Shen Jun¡¯s guidance, Wen Nian sessfullypleted the first stage of her studies ording to his n. Shen Jun sent Wen Nian the study n for the second semester of high school on her phone and said, ¡°Start with this n. If it doesn¡¯t yield good results, we¡¯ll adjust it ordingly.¡± Wen Nian checked her phone and noticed that it was already 6 pm. ¡°Okay,e to my noodle shop at 7 pm. I¡¯m heading there now, and I¡¯ll send you the location when I arrive.¡± Shen Jun replied, ¡°Okay.¡± When Wen Nian arrived back at the noodle shop, Wen Yu was already there helping out after school. Since it was a Sunday, there weren¡¯t many customers from the nearby office buildings or schools. The only ces that could attract customers were the nearby malls and residential buildings, so there weren¡¯t many people around. After Shen Jun hung up the phone, he checked the address that Wen Nian had sent him. He opened the message and realized that it was less than 100 meters away from his district. Realizing that it was almost time, he quickly changed his clothes and headed out. Bowl of Noodles Noodle Shop As Wen Nian turned around, he caught a glimpse of silver in Wen Yu¡¯s hair. He was taken aback and eximed, ¡°Oh my god! Brother, you have white hair now!¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯sment, Wen Yu quickly turned on the front camera of his phone. He pulled at his hair anxiously and asked, ¡°Where? Where is it?!¡± Wen Nian pped Wen Yu¡¯s hand away. ¡°Take your ws away. I¡¯ll look for them for you.¡± As Shen Jun stood at the door, he didn¡¯t expect to witness Wen Nian behaving so intimately with the boy he had eaten with during hisst visit to the noodle shop. Shen Jun felt a sudden heaviness in his chest and lost his appetite, so he turned around and left. Wen Yu sat cooperatively on a chair as Wen Nian inspected his hair. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t miss anything and don¡¯t make a mistake,¡± he said. ¡°Why do I have white hair¡­ Ow!¡± Wen Nian plucked the white hair and showed it to Wen Yu. He said with a teasing tone, ¡°See, the evidence is irrefutable. You¡¯re finished. You¡¯ve entered the white-haired stage of old age prematurely.¡± Wen Yu took the strand of white hair with a long face. How could his once-ck hair turn white so suddenly?! Although Wen Nian didn¡¯t know the reason behind Wen Yu¡¯s sudden white hair, she remembered that two yearster, Wen Yu no longer had any white hair. She figured that it was probably just a temporary phenomenon. Despite seeing Wen Yu holding the white hair andmenting the loss of his youth, she couldn¡¯t help but find it amusing and didn¡¯t offer any constion. For a man, this was a trivial matter. Wen Nian was busy at the front desk, asionally helping to collect empty bowls. She waited until 7:10 pm when Zhou Mei brought the dishes to the table, but she didn¡¯t see Shen Jun. Zhou Mei asked, ¡°Your ssmate hasn¡¯t arrived yet? Oh dear, I¡¯ll start cooking early then. The dishes won¡¯t taste as good if they get cold!¡± Wen Nian was about to make a call when she noticed a WeChat message that was sent 20 minutes ago. Shen Jun had sent a WeChat message that read: ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Something came up at thest minute and I won¡¯t be able to make it. Thank you for your kindness in treating me. Please don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Wen Nian let out a soft sigh. It seemed like treating him to a meal was not going to be easy. ¡°Mom, my ssmate had somethinge up and won¡¯t be able to make it.¡± Zhou Mei felt a little regretful that she couldn¡¯t thank him in person. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Bring him over next time when he¡¯s free, and I¡¯ll make some dishes for you.¡± At the beginning of the new week, Wen Nian began following her new study n. Wen Nian had just finished her night lessons when she received a WeChat message. Bai Zheng: Wen Nian, the school¡¯s anniversary is in a few days. Are you really not participating? It¡¯s not toote for me to add a show now. If it¡¯s anyter, I really won¡¯t be able to do anything.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect Bai Zheng to still be thinking about this. She smiled helplessly. Wen Nian: Thank you for your kind intentions. We¡¯re about to enter the revision stage of the third year of high school, and I just want to study hard now and not think about anything else. Looking at Wen Nian¡¯s reason for rejection, Bai Zheng felt a little regretful that he couldn¡¯t bring such a good piece of work to the stage, likest time. Bai Zheng: Alright, I hope you can learn and improve! Bai Zheng opened the clip fromst time. In the end, he couldn¡¯t help but share this video with a niche circle on the Inte, filled with friends who really liked music and filmed these arts. On the streets of the capital. A sharp-faced man with long hair and sunsses was leaning against the wall of the busiest alley in the south building. His gaze kept scanning the crowd, but his eyes were fixed on the girl. ¡°Police, it¡¯s him! I¡¯ve been watching this hooligan for half an hour. He¡¯s been specifically targeting beautiful girls and even sizing them up. He must have ulterior motives! He might even have a criminal record. There¡¯s definitely something wrong!¡± An auntie was holding onto two police officers and pointing at the man as she shouted angrily.. Chapter 53 - 53: Amateur Actor Chapter 53: Amateur Actor Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The aunties in the capital were a particrly enthusiastic group. They frequently took notice of all kinds of unusual individuals and eagerly reported them to the public security authorities. They had certainly made numerous valuable contributions tobating crime, but their excessive caution sometimes caused trouble for innocent people. The two police officers inrge hats stared suspiciously at the man and said with solemnity, ¡°Sir, please remove your sunsses and present your identification card.¡± The man paused briefly, but he was ustomed to this routine. After all, he had gone through it several times in the past year. He took out his ID card with a hint of helplessness. ¡°I¡¯m a director looking for actors,¡± he said to the police officers. The middle-aged woman became even more agitated upon hearing this. ¡°Ah! I know who you are! You run that leatherpany, don¡¯t you? The one that uses models and celebrities to lure beautiful girls and then takes nude photos of them and engages in illicit transactions! The police have already admitted it. Hurry up and arrest this despicable man! Investigate him thoroughly. Who knows how many young girls he has victimized!¡± The man held his forehead and furrowed his brow. ¡°Ma¡¯am, please don¡¯t nder me! What did I admit to? I¡¯m truly a director, and mypany is a legitimate studio!¡± After saying that, the man quickly retrieved his business card and presented it to the police. ¡°My name is Xu Chang. This is my entertainmentpany, and I have work to do. The lead role in the movie I¡¯m currently shooting is a female high school student, so I came here specifically to search for a young actress.¡± The middle-aged woman perceived Xu Chang as a deceitful individual regardless of how she regarded him. Adhering to her principle of treating malefactors with the coldest of shoulders, she continued to assail him with a sneering expression. ¡°Oh, please. What criminal would willingly admit to being a criminal with impure motives to the police? Your appearance alone speaks volumes about your character. A man with hair longer than mine and nails longer than a woman¡¯s? And just look at that sharp tongue and those cheeks. No good person looks like you!¡± Xu Chang conceded that his appearance was indeed intended to reflect the deficiencies of his parents, but in a way, he was also a victim! It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t sympathize, but why are you making personal attacks on me! Xu Chang retorted indignantly, ¡°Auntie, how can you judge someone based on their appearance?! That¡¯s shallow! And who said that men can¡¯t have long hair and fingernails?! Did you make that rule? If you have evidence, show me thew. Otherwise, I¡¯ll sue you for nder and demandpensation for the emotional distress you¡¯ve caused me!¡± The police checked their identification documents and realized that, apart from the difference in hair length, the two individuals were the same person. However, as the public had already reported the incident to the police station, the officers couldn¡¯t ignore it. One of them questioned Xu Chang, ¡°Is this your usual method for recruiting actresses? And how can you prove that yourpany is legitimate?¡± Upon hearing the officer¡¯s questions, Xu Chang quickly took out his phone and navigated to a search website. He confidently disyed a few of his movies, saying, ¡°These are all my works! Do these actors look familiar to you?¡± The three of them leaned closer to take a look. The male and female leads of the first two movies did know each other. The one behind seemed familiar, but they had never seen him before. However, the director of the three movies was indeed Xu Chang. Xu Chang logged into the Industry and Commerce Bureau¡¯s website and verified that his studio, registered under his real name, was indeed the producer of the films he mentioned. Although the movies were not well-known, it became clear to everyone that this was all just a misunderstanding. The middle-aged woman looked a little embarrassed. She realized that she had been overly cautious and quick to judge, and so she apologized to Xu Chang, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I was mistaken about you. Your appearance and the way you look for actors can be easily misunderstood. I hope you can understand my concern.¡± Xu Chang was not the type of person to hold a grudge. When he heard the woman¡¯s apology, he tried to hide his difort and coughed a few times before responding, ¡°Those who haven¡¯t received formal acting training tend to have a certain level of naturalness and authenticity that I want to capture in my film. It¡¯s a quality that trained actors can¡¯t replicate with their skills alone. That¡¯s why I was looking for amateur actors this time, without going through an agency.¡± Xu Chang may have been able to deceive these non-industry people, but to those in the industry, it was clear that a sessful director with sufficient funding could easily choose to cast amateur actors. There was likely a deeper meaning behind Xu Chang¡¯s choice of casting method. Sometimes, due to budget constraints or theck of established connections, filmmakers may opt to work with amateur actors rather than established ones who require the services of a talent managementpany and thus, additional fees.. Chapter 54 - 54: Gathering Funds Chapter 54: Gathering Funds Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The three of them didn¡¯t understand the rules of these industries, but they had heard of this saying. The police officer returned the ID and kindly reminded him, ¡°You should try your best to recruit in the name of thepany on the recruitment website, or you can cooperate with schools. With your method of searching, someone mighte to report youter.¡± Xu Chang bit his lip in frustration. If he had the ability to cooperate with a school, he wouldn¡¯t have resorted to searching the streets for actors. However, he didn¡¯t intend to voice his thoughts out loud. He couldn¡¯t risk damaging his reputation, could he? Xu Chang agreed in a cooperative manner, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll make sure to follow the proper procedures in the future.¡± After they left, Xu Chang lost interest in finding the female lead and decided to take the bus home. On his way back, he stumbled upon an auntie selling steamed buns on a cart by the street near his residence. He spent five yuan to buy four stale steamed buns and carried them back to his basement apartment to alleviate his hunger. Xu Chang gazed at the 82 yuan in his hand and took a bite of the steamed bun. He grabbed a cup of tap water and gulped it down, sighing softly. ¡°If we can¡¯t find the female lead and start filming soon, even steamed buns will be a luxury item.¡± Xu Chang munched on his steamed bun as he opened up an app on his phone to browse through thetest songs from various musicians. He was searching for a perfect fit for his uing movie. Xu Chang munched on his steamed bun as he opened up an app on his phone to browse through thetest songs from various musicians. He was searching for a perfect fit for his uing movie. Xu Chang took a big bite of the steamed bun as he casually clicked on the video. In the video, a girl was ying the piano in her school uniform. The sunlight shone on her and the piano, and the girl looked out of the window with a mixture of unwillingness and tenacity in her eyes, creating a contrast with her gentle appearance. Xu Chang¡¯s mouth hung open in amazement as he took a bite of the steamed bun. As the music video ended, he swallowed thest bit and eximed, ¡°She¡¯s perfect for the female lead!¡± He checked the release time of the video and realized that it had been posted for a few days already. Xu Chang felt uncertain about when Bai Zheng would see his private message, and he knew that even though he was a fan of Bai Zheng, they did not have a personal rtionship. Therefore, it was possible that Bai Zheng might not give him the girl¡¯s information. Xu Chang couldn¡¯t wait to search for Bai Zheng¡¯s details online. Bai Zheng¡¯s studies at Hai City¡¯s No. 1 High School were public information, and it was likely that the piano girl was also a student at the same school. He was eager to personally convince her to join the project with sincerity. Ignoring the remaining half of the steamed bun, Xu Chang threw it on the table and made more than ten calls in quick session, managing to borrow 1,000 yuan. It wasn¡¯t that he was unpopr, but many people thought that after being in the industry for more than ten years, he hadn¡¯t made much of a ssh. He was even struggling to make ends meet. Everyone advised him to change careers, so they were hesitant to lend him money, feeling that it would be enabling his mistakes. Xu Chang purchased the cheapest train ticket avable and hurriedly made his way to Hai City. Huang Yue had been quite busy these past few days, dividing her time between flirting with Wang Jing and practicing for the ukulele performance at the school anniversary party. Looking at the takeaway box in Wang Jing¡¯s hand, Huang Yue asked in surprise, ¡°Is this Xingyue Restaurant¡¯s steak? I haven¡¯t eaten it in a long time.¡± Xingyue Restaurant was the only three-star Michelin restaurant in Hai City. Although Huang Yue¡¯s younger brother often dined there with their mother, Huang Yue had only been taken there once as a reward for getting into No. 1 Middle School a year ago. She still vaguely remembered the taste of the steak she had eaten on that asion. A hint of panic shed across Wang Jing¡¯s face, but he quickly suppressed it and put on a smile. ¡°Baby, you¡¯ve worked hard practicing the ukulele. Tonight is your time to shine. Of course, I have to express my gratitude. I need to curry favor with a budding artist like you, lest you forget about me when you be sessful.¡± Huang Yue was amused by Wang Jing¡¯s yful words. They found a stone table under a tree on the school grounds and began to enjoy their meal. As Huang Yue opened the takeaway box, she asked with curiosity, ¡°Why did you only order one takeaway?¡± Wang Jing didn¡¯t reply immediately. He looked down, the smile fading from his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± he said. ¡°You go ahead and eat.¡± Huang Yue looked up from her work, concern etched on her face. ¡°Is everything okay?¡± she asked. ¡°You look upset.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s smile faltered and he forced a grin. ¡°Something¡¯se up with the biologicalpany I invested in before. I need to transfer funds urgently. My father¡¯s been pressuring me toe back and take over the family business, but I want to achieve something on my own before I go back. I don¡¯t want the shareholders who started thepany with my parents to think less of me and believe that I rely solely on my family¡¯s support. So, I¡¯m exploring options to raise money. Thankfully, I only need 200,000 yuan more..¡± Chapter 55 - 55: The Food Doesn’t Taste Right Chapter 55: The Food Doesn¡¯t Taste Right Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Huang Yue heard the amount, she thought of the 220,000 yuan in her ount that she had saved up over the years. She hesitated about lending it to Wang Jing, feeling torn between wanting to help her friend and wanting to hold onto her hard-earned savings. It was a chance for Huang Yue to show her support for Wang Jing, but she also felt uncertain about the risks involved. After all, it was her hard-earned money. Huang Yue still felt hesitant about lending it out. What if Wang Jing didn¡¯t return it? Even though she knew the chance was small, the thought still made Huang Yue uneasy. Wang Jing noticed Huang Yue¡¯s hesitation and felt a sense of satisfaction. He had gambled correctly. Even though Huang Yue wasn¡¯t as wealthy as some of the women Wang Jing had dated in the past, she was still young and vibrant. Wang Jing also noticed Huang Yue¡¯s clothing and deduced that her family background was likely decent. She asionally wore authentic items, indicating that she wasn¡¯tcking in financial resources. Wang Jing opened the half-opened takeaway box and carefully arranged the contents. He took a handkerchief from her suit jacket pocket and ced it on Huang Yue¡¯sp. Then he handed her a knife and fork and spoke softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to burden you with my troubles. It was wrong of me to bring it up and upset you.¡± Huang Yue reassured Wang Jing, ¡°It¡¯s not a problem at all. The biologicalpany is owed a refund from a foreign partner who is currently on vacation. They can¡¯t ess the funds right away, so they need to pay a sum of money urgently. I¡¯m only borrowing the money for a week, and I¡¯ll ask two more people to help out. Don¡¯t worry. Let¡¯s eat before it gets cold.¡± Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but feel tempted by Wang Jing¡¯s wealth and gentle, considerate nature. The rich second-generation heirs she had encountered were arrogant and dismissive of her. Despite feeling hesitant, Huang Yue made up her mind to help Wang Jing, especially since it was only a one-week loan. However, she still held back a bit when she said, ¡°Wang Jing, I have saved up some red packets over the years and have 100,000 yuan. I can transfer it to youter. Use it for emergencies if you need it.¡± Wang Jing felt a twinge of disappointment when she heard that Huang Yue had only saved up 100,000 yuan. However, he didn¡¯t want to appear too pushy or disrespectful, so he declined politely. ¡°No, Huang Yue, I couldn¡¯t possibly take your money. I appreciate the offer, but I¡¯ll find another way to solve my problem.¡± Huang Yue felt affirmed by Wang Jing¡¯s refusal and decided to y coy. She looked down and spoke softly, ¡°Even if I didn¡¯t say it directly, you can tell that I want to help you. But, are you sure you want to make our rtionship so clear-cut?¡± Only then did Wang Jing agree, with a helpless expression. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled. Just this once. I don¡¯t want to argue with you over this little bit of money. It¡¯s as if I¡¯m treating you as an outsider.¡± After expressing her gratitude, Wang Jing held Huang Yue¡¯s hand and looked at her with affection. ¡°Huang Yue, thank you so much for helping me. There aren¡¯t many good-hearted people like you these days who arc willing to make sacrifices. I will always remember this and cherish you. I promise to never let you down.¡± Huang Yue also looked back affectionately, praising herself for being too smart. In any case, Wang Jing was only fishing with an ambiguous rtionship. She didn¡¯t explicitly say that she wanted to be his girlfriend. This way, when she traps Wei Xiao by her side, she wouldn¡¯t leave any evidence behind. Even if she couldn¡¯t trap Wei Xiao by her side, she would have already trapped Wang Jin. She still had the safety of being the young madam of a wealthy family. During their time together, Huang Yue was impressed by Wang Jing¡¯s gentle, considerate, andpliant personality. Despite not being as well-off as the Wei family, she could still consider marrying him due to the emotional connection they shared. Wang Jing did not expect to win Huang Yue over so easily. Although he did not manage to get the full 200,000 yuan, his smile became much more sincere. ¡°Sweetheart, let me send you my ount number first,¡± he said. Huang Yue smiled and said gently, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to you now.¡± Two minutester, Wang Jing looked at the bank transfer information and the smile on his face deepened. ¡°Baby, let¡¯s eat quickly.¡± Huang Yue nodded happily. After taking a bite, Huang Yue found that although the meat was not bad and the taste was decent, it didn¡¯t taste quite like she remembered. Doubtfully, she asked, ¡°Why does this taste different from thest time I had it?¡± Wang Jing calmly offered the exnation he had thought of at thest minute. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of the takeaway. I was dyed for a while just now. I¡¯m sorry you had to experience this. Next time, I¡¯ll take you to Xingyue Restaurant to make it up to you.¡± Wang Jing calmly offered the exnation he had thought of at thest minute. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because of the takeaway. I was dyed for a while just now. I¡¯m sorry you had to experience this. Next time, I¡¯ll take you to Xingyue Restaurant to make it up to you..¡± Chapter 56 - 56: Choose One Chapter 56: Choose One Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The school anniversary started at two in the afternoon, and many alumni had already returned to the school one after another. While the third-year students were upied with the event, the first and second-year students had the afternoon off. Many students who excelled in their studies volunteered to entertain the alumni. Among them were several distinguished figures from the political and business world, who were eager to interact with their fellow alumni. The student volunteers saw this as an opportunity towork with these sessful individuals, hoping to establish connections they could brag about in the future. The area outside the ssroom building was abuzz with lively conversations as students, teachers, and visitors mingled together. The school had organized a variety of exhibitions and events with the theme ¡°Reminiscing the Past¡± on both sides of the road, hoping to make the afternoon enjoyable for the visiting alumni. Only a dozen or so students stayed in the ssroom to study. The rest of the students, who were not volunteers, went down to participate in the festivities and had the chance to bump into some notable alumni. Wen Nian remained undeterred and stayed seated in the ssroom, focused on her practice questions. In the past, she would have eagerly sought the attention of political entrepreneurs like the ones present at the school anniversary. However, she had learned a hard lesson from her previous experiences and knew better than to jump at every opportunity that came her way. Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian and noticed that she was sitting like a diligent student, without any trace of impulsiveness. This piqued his curiosity even more. Despiteing from an ordinary working-ss family, Wen Nian had the poise and self-assurance of a child from an aristocratic family. The difference was that Wen Nian had matured through her experiences, despite being only 17 years old. Only those who were familiar with her could see asional glimpses of her youthful spirit. Wen Nian gave her exercise book to Shen Jun and excitedly said, ¡°I finished today¡¯s chapter practice questions! When I checked the answers, 1 noticed that I had made only a few mistakes earlier. You exining the concepts first and then tackling the questions really works!¡± Shen Jun curled his lips slightly and said jokingly, ¡°Well, of course. After all, it took up so much of my break time!¡± This approach definitely turned Shen Jun into a teacher, and he taught Wen Nian the textbook material from beginning to end. Luckily, Wen Nian was not stupid and Shen Jun was a good teacher. During ss, the teacher had to slow down to cater to the needs of most students. However, in the one-on-one setting, Shen Jun could adjust the pace and rhythm ording to Wen Nian¡¯s understanding and guide her in the most effective way. The amount of content that Shen Jun was able to teach in an hour was equivalent to what a teacher would teach in a week. It was a highly efficient and intense way of learning, but Wen Nian was able to handle it. However, she didn¡¯t dare to not handle this workload. Wen Nian knew that even if she didn¡¯t understand something, Shen Jun would patiently teach her again. However, if she were to ck off, she was sure that Shen Jun would lose interest in teaching her. After all, attitude was everything. Wen Nian smiled when she heard this. She noticed the empty ss on Shen Jun¡¯s desk, so she took it to the water dispenser near the podium to fill it with water. Then, she handed it to him obediently and said, ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard all afternoon.¡± Shen Jun epted the ss with a smile and took a sip. ¡°It¡¯s already December now. At this rate, you¡¯ll definitely finish learning the materials taught during the first year of high school by January. The winter break for this semester is probably at the end of January next year, and school starts in mid-February. You previously mentioned that you nned to master the materials taught during the second year of high school before the winter break. However, I won¡¯t be able to help you catch up during the break. How do you n to ensure that you can learn everythingpletely? If your studies don¡¯t yield results, it will affect th tutoring progress during the third year of high school.¡± Since Wen Nian had Wen Yu during the winter brcak.she was able to respond without a worry. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, someone will tutor me during the winter break. I have someone who can be on call for 24 hours a day! It definitely won¡¯t dy the tutoring progress next semester.¡± Shen Jun stopped drinking water and nced at Wen Nian. ¡°On call for 24 hours a day? If there¡¯s such a person, why are you asking me to tutor you?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s tone sounded a little cold. Wen Nian had a feeling that Shen Jun might be angry. Wen Nian wondered if Shen Jun was upset because he felt like he was only being used as a backup option for her tutoring, even though it was the truth. She couldn¡¯t let him know that though. Wen Nian felt that she had hit the nail on the head. She tried to act casual and said, ¡°Well, how can hepare to the effectiveness of your teaching? But I have no other choice. It¡¯s better than studying alone. I don¡¯t want to bother you during the New Year, so I can only choose him.¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he felt his chest tighten even more. He was aware that Wen Nian was weighing the options between him and her boyfriend, but he decided to keep quiet and instead took a big sip of water from the ss.. Chapter 57 - 57: Help Chapter 57: Help Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian sensed the tension in the air and decided not to push the subject further. She wasn¡¯t good atforting people, so she abruptly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve checked the answers to the questions I got wrong, but I¡¯m still having trouble understanding some of them.¡± Wen Nian trailed off mid-sentence, but her gaze toward Shen Jun conveyed the unspoken question, ¡°Can you help me understand?¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian, who was biting her lower lip and looking very careful at him with her big eyes. The anger in his heart suddenly subsided, and he took the exercise book from her and began to exin the questions she had difficulty with. As usual, they continued with their extra hour of tutoring after school had ended. Typically, by this time, most students would have already hurried home for the weekend, leaving the school grounds silent. However, today was different. It was the school¡¯s anniversary, and the school had announced that those who wanted to stay after school to watch the evening performance could do so. There were only a few rows of seats avable in the back of the auditorium. If they didn¡¯t manage to grab one, they would have to stand in the empty space at the back and watch. As a result, only a small number of people in the school were still waiting to join in the festivities. The two of them descended the stairs side by side. Shen Jun had proposed to make up for the missed ssesst week in order to help Wen Nian finish learning the first-year high school materials as soon as possible. However, this week, everything had returned to normal, and Wen Nian continued to visit the Shen family just to clean up, as per usual. Shen Jun took the initiative to discuss their ns for the weekend. ¡°Once you finish sorting out the problems you encounter over the weekend, send me a message on WeChat at 10pm every night. I¡¯ll find some time to reply to you.¡± Wen Nian nodded eagerly. ¡°Okay! Have you finished the dumplings I made for youst time? If not, I can make some more for you this week.¡± Wen Nian was concerned about Shen Jun¡¯s mood today and wanted to cheer him up. Over the past few weeks, she had noticed that Shen Jun¡¯s one-on-one tutoring was even more effective than her brother¡¯s tutoring! If it weren¡¯t for the fact that Shen Jun would definitely be going home and visiting families during the winter break, she would have shamelessly asked for video lessons every day. It was not easy to find high-quality academic support, and Shen Jun had even helped her during a critical moment without asking any questions. Wen Nian cherished his help and decided to show concern for every aspect of Shen Jun¡¯s life in the future to strengthen their rtionship. The dumplings in Shen Jun¡¯s house had indeed been consumed, so when Wen Nian offered to make more, he epted without hesitation, ¡°Sure, if it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡± Wen Nian waved her hand and said, ¡°No trouble at all, see you tomorrow at nine.¡± After saying goodbye, the two of them parted ways under the teaching building. Huang Yue had just finished doing her makeup outside and was getting ready to head to the auditorium. The student union member in charge of the program was captivated by her beauty, so she managed to secure a higher spot in the lineup. She quickly rushed back to get ready for her performance. Huang Yue was walking past the teaching building in her new high heels she had bought over the weekend when she saw Wen Nian and Shen Jun. Though she couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, Huang Yue noticed a gentleness in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes towards Wen Nian, which waspletely different from how he treated her on that day. Huang Yue thought it was unfair as she secretly cursed Wen Nian for being a slut with a seductive face! Previously, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t forget Wei Xiao. However, the moment Wei Xiao left, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t bear the loneliness and started hooking up with Shen Jun! Looking at Wen Nian¡¯s pure and fair face, Huang Yue felt that she had to do something. She had been too busy to care about Wen Nian recently, so she had allowed this b*tch to livefortably these past few days. As Wen Nian had to stay after school for tutoring, Wen Yu had left his bicycle for her to use and walked to the noodle shop to wait for her. As soon as Wen Nian reached the bicycle shed, she saw Huang Yue walking towards her in a dress. Huang Yue quickly stepped forward and held Wen Nian¡¯s arm. She said with a smile, ¡°Wen Nian, I need your help with something.¡± Wen Nian nced at Huang Yue, unsure of what ideas she might havee up with. However, she maintained a calm smile and asked, ¡°Sure. It seems your leg has recovered quickly?¡± When Huang Yue heard Wen Nian¡¯s words, the smile on her face froze slightly, and she tried to put on a fake smile. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been fine for a long time. You¡¯ve been too busy with your studies to care about me.¡± Wen Nian listened to Huang Yue¡¯s fake flirtation and refrained from rolling her eyes. She responded with a sigh, ¡°I have no choice. My parents will be even stricter. If I don¡¯t do well this semester, they might actually break my leg.¡± Huang Yue hooked her arm around Wen Nian¡¯s and led her towards the auditorium, unable to resist showing off. ¡°You know, this is the 100th anniversary of our school. We have many celebrities and alumni attending the event, even the city government¡¯s leaders are here to watch our performance!¡± ¡°My parents think that I¡¯ve been studying too hard recently, so they want to take me to Yellow Mountain near Lin City for a break. We¡¯re leaving tonight. I already informed the student unionst week that they needed to find a recement for me, but the student insisted that I still had to perform..¡± Chapter 58 - 58: Privacy Chapter 58: Privacy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After saying that, Huang Yue purposely nced at Wen Nian, but she saw that Wen Nian was looking straight ahead and walking attentively. Huang Yue noticed that there was no trace of envy in Wen Nian¡¯s expression, which was a change from the past. Wen Nian knew what Huang Yue wanted to see, but she didn¡¯t agree with her. She replied calmly, ¡°Then you have to perform well tonight. Otherwise, you¡¯ll lose face in front of those big shots.¡± Huang Yue red at Wen Nian, her voice rising in anger. ¡°Wen Nian, what do you mean by that? Are you cursing me?!¡± Wen Nian looked at Huang Yue, confused by her aggressive reaction. ¡°I was just trying to offer some encouragement. Did I say something wrong? Sorry if I did. Maybe it¡¯s better if I head back now so I don¡¯t make things worse.¡± Wen Nian sighed inwardly at her acting skills. She felt that she was getting better at pretending to be innocent in front of Huang Yue. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s innocent demeanor, Huang Yue began to think that she might have overreacted. She was aware that Wen Nian had a short temper andcked flexibility in dealing with people. To be blunt, Wen Nian had a low EQ. In the past, Huang Yue had been angered by Wen Nian¡¯s behavior, but now she realized that she needed to execute her n and couldn¡¯t afford to let Wen Nian leave. Huang Yue immediately smiled. ¡°I¡¯m just joking with you. I¡¯m just scaring you. Don¡¯t I know you?¡± Wen Nian also smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good. What do you want me to help with?¡± Huang Yue replied, ¡°It¡¯s too boring for me to be backstage alone, so I want you to apany me. My performance happens early and I can leave soon. I¡¯ll treat you to a meal then.¡± Wen Nian nodded happily. ¡°Okay!¡± Huang Yue looked at Wen Nian¡¯s unguarded appearance and felt a sense of disdain towards her. She couldn¡¯t believe that Wen Nian was so clueless and didn¡¯t even realize that she had been deceived. The program started at 7:30 p.m. It was just past 6 p.m., and many students who were performing had already started preparing backstage. The entire scene was a little chaotic and especially noisy. The busiest people were still the volunteers who knew how to put on makeup. They were running everywhere to put on makeup for everyone. However, dance programs and solo programs like Huang Yue usually chose to go outside for styling. Although the school did not provide any funding for this, the students who participated in the performance were very enthusiastic. They would rather spend their own money to look their best on stage. Huang Yue pulled Wen Nian to sit down intimately and asked about the Shen Jun family. ¡°Wen Nian, does Shen Jun¡¯s ent sound like he¡¯s from the capital? It seems like he knows someone who works in the government.¡± Wen Nian thought about it seriously. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He never mentioned it.¡± Huang Yue spoke resentfully, ¡°You two have been quite close recently, yet you don¡¯t even know this?¡± Wen Nian frowned disapprovingly at Huang Yue and replied in a loud voice, ¡°Where is he from and what is his family background? That¡¯s all private information. You can¡¯t just ask about it casually. Are you trying to his friend because of his family background?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice sessfully drew the attention of the students sitting around her, and they all looked at Huang Yue in unison. Huang Yue didn¡¯t want others tobel her as someone who despised the poor and loved the rich. She hurriedly stood up and retorted loudly, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that! I only asked because I was concerned about my ssmates. Don¡¯t nder me!¡± Wen Nian scratched her forehead and looked at Huang Yue with confusion. Then she smiled foolishly and said, ¡°Alright, maybe I misunderstood, but it¡¯s probably best not to ask these types of questions, especially when they¡¯re asked by snobbish people. But, of course, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re one of them.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s attitude made everyone feel that Huang Yue was simply defending herself. In other words, Wen Nian seemed to be innocent and willing to believe whatever others said. However, it was none of their business. At most, everyone nced at Huang Yue meaningfully before turning around to continue discussing the details of the uing stage performance. Huang Yue was so angry that she pped her chest. She wanted to scold Wen Nian, but the other party was not in a good state at all. Wen Nian didn¡¯t even seem to notice that Huang Yue was angry, as she was absorbed in ying with her phone with her head lowered. Huang Yue nced around at the surrounding crowd. In order to avoid causing any further trouble, she could only sit back in her chair, feeling hateful. After calming down for a while, Huang Yue chatted with Wen Nian as if nothing had happened. Seeing that the atmosphere was not tense, she stood up and went to the water dispenser to get a cup of hot water. Huang Yue stood beside Wen Nian and handed her a ss of water. She spoke with concern, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m sorry you had to wait for me and go hungry. I got you a cup of hot water. It¡¯s still a little hot, so please let it cool before drinking.¡± Wen Nian looked up at the steaming cup for a few seconds and smiled sweetly. ¡°Thank you,¡± she said.. Chapter 59 - 59: Accident Chapter 59: ident Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian reached out to take it. Huang Yue took two steps forward and pretended to lose her bnce. She wanted to ssh hot water on Wen Nian¡¯s face and scald her face until it was covered in blisters. It would be best if there was a scar! Huang Yue¡¯s smile grew uncontrobly as she thought about it. She tilted her body and flipped her hand out. Wen Nian suddenly stood up and stood to the side. ¡°Huang Yue, be careful!¡± In the next scene, it appeared to outsiders that Wen Nian was attempting to stabilize Huang Yue. In reality, however, Wen Nian grabbed Huang Yue¡¯s hand and pushed it towards her own body, causing the hot water to ssh onto Huang Yue¡¯s face due to the force. ¡°Ah! My face!¡± The backstage area was filled with Huang Yue¡¯s screams. Wen Nian grabbed Huang Yue¡¯s arm tightly and shouted anxiously, ¡°Huang Yue, are you alright?¡± Huang Yue couldn¡¯t care less about Wen Nian at the moment. All she could think about was the scalding pain on her face, and the possibility of disfigurement. The water was freshly boiled and had caused severe burns. In an attempt to harm Wen Nian¡¯s face, Huang Yue purposely didn¡¯t mix cold water into the hot water. She was aware of just how scorching it was. The teacher in charge of the backstage hurriedly rushed over. When he saw Huang Yue¡¯s red face, he was also shocked. ¡°Quick! I¡¯ll bring you to flush with cold water first!¡± Upon finding the most dependable person, Huang Yue rushed out of the backstage with the teacher. However, in her haste, her high heels caused her to stumble and fall to the ground with a loud thud. She let out a cry of pain as she sprained her ankle and her shoe¡¯s heel broke off. Huang Yue let out an even louder pig cry. Wen Nian almost couldn¡¯t help butugh out loud. Wen Nian quickly went forward to help Huang Yue up, but as Huang Yue tried to get up while pulling Wen Nian¡¯s arm, Wen Nian took the chance and pushed Huang Yue down instead. Wen Nian panicked and hurriedly stood to the side. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry! Huang Yue, I can¡¯t pull you with my weak strength. I¡¯d better let someone pull you.¡± The teacher became even more anxious upon seeing the troublesome scene. He quickly removed Huang Yue¡¯s high heels and set them aside before helping Huang Yue up and guiding her to the nearby bathroom. Wen Nian was not in a hurry to go back. She followed them to watch themotion. Some students who were already prepared for their performance followed curiously. It waste autumn in Hai City at the end of November, and the temperature was only 8 to 9 degrees Celsius. In order to ensure the effect of the cold water, the teacher asked Huang Yue to press her face into the sink filled with cold water. Wen Nian quickly turned on the tap. The cold water flowed onto Huang Yue¡¯s face, causing her to feel a sharp contrast between the hot and cold temperatures. It took Huang Yue 15 minutes to get up. Her head was wet and her face was no longer hot but stiff from the cold water. Seeing this, the teacher nned to bring Huang Yue to the hospital outside to apply medicine. Only then did she notice the students surrounding the door. He waved his hand and urged them to leave. ¡°Are you all ready? What are you watching for? Hurry up and go back to prepare. If anything goes wrong in the middle of your performances, you will be the ones to feel the embarrassment!¡± Huang Yue¡¯s eyes widened like copper bells as she pointed at Wen Nian, who was standing on the side as if nothing had happened. ¡°Teacher,¡± she cried out, ¡°it was Wen Nian who ruined my face! She intentionally sshed hot water on me!¡± Wen Nian stood rooted to the ground, her face filled with helplessness. ¡°I didn¡¯t ssh you,¡± she protested. ¡°You stumbled just now, and I instinctively tried to help you up. I was afraid you would sprain your ankle and couldn¡¯t stand up. I didn¡¯t mean to cause any harm.¡± A ssmate who witnessed the scene hurriedly interjected, ¡°I saw it too. Huang Yue lost her bnce while walking, and Wen Nian helped her up to prevent her from falling. I don¡¯t know why she used Wen Nian of sshing her with hot water.¡± ¡°I saw it too,¡± another ssmate chimed in. ¡°Wen Nian was only trying to be helpful. Nobody could have predicted that an ident would ur.¡± ¡°Besides,¡± the first ssmate added, ¡°you poured the water on yourself. How could Wen Nian have known that it was hot water?¡± After listening to several student testimonies, the teacher agreed with their version of events. Huang Yue wanted to refute their ims, but she couldn¡¯t. After all, she couldn¡¯t admit that she had pretended to fall, could she? Having heard the various testimonies, the teacher drew a conclusion. ¡°Huang Yue, this seems to be an unfortunate ident. Nobody intended for this to happen, so please don¡¯t dwell on it.¡± Huang Yue was seething with anger and panted heavily, but she knew there was nothing she could do. As the water on her face dried up, she began to feel a burning sensation once again. It was only then that she realized what the most pressing matter was ¨C she needed medical attention urgently. She hastily implored the teacher to take her to the hospital. The situation ended as suddenly as it had started. Wen Nian turned around and offered a relieved smile. Bai Zheng came backstage to confirm the program, and upon learning about the earlier incident, he promptly arranged for the candidates to go on stage. However, as Wen Nian entered the backstage to retrieve her bag, he quickly called out to the other members. Bai Zheng jogged forward and greeted Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian!¡± Wen Nian carried her bag and heard someone calling her. She turned around and saw that it was Bai Zheng. She smiled and waved in response.. Chapter 60 - 60: Performance Chapter 60: Performance Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Bai Zheng saw this as a good opportunity to convince Wen Nian and seized the moment. ¡°We¡¯ve had an ident with one of the performers at thest minute. Could you do us a favor and y a piano solo for us?¡± he requested. Wen Nian was taken aback for a moment before inquiring, ¡°Is it because the ukulele performer can¡¯t go on stage?¡± Bai Zheng nodded in affirmation. ¡°Yes, unfortunately, the ukulele performer is injured. I had asked you before, but you turned me down. However, now that we unexpectedly have this chance to meet again just before the performance, I believe it¡¯s a sign that you¡¯re destined to perform in this g. Please, just consider it!¡± The members of the club were surprised to see their minister shamelessly begging Wen Nian. It was well-known in the piano field that Bai Zheng had high standards and was very selective with whom he worked. Few people were considered worthy of his attention. Amused by Bai Zheng¡¯s persistence, Wen Nian chuckled and replied, ¡°Well, if you don¡¯t mind that I don¡¯t have a gown, then I¡¯m okay with performing.¡± Bai Zheng smiled in response and said, ¡°Of course not! Who says that ying the piano requires a gown?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s shyness vanished as she realized that if other performers had been avable, she might not have stepped in. However, given that it was Huang Yue who had put in so much effort, she would be letting Huang Yue down if she had not taken over. At that moment, Huang Yue, who had jsut arrived at the hospital, was unaware that Wen Nian had easily obtained the opportunity she had been longing for. It was a littlete to rent another gown. Moreover, Wen Nian also wanted to end her studies early and go home. No. 1 High School¡¯s autumn and winter school uniform was just an ordinary set of casual sportswear. Wen Nian rejected the heavy makeup on the stage and put on light makeup herself. On this basis, she applied a little more makeup. When Bai Zheng asked Wen Nian what song she wanted to y, she chose a piece that matched the theme of the school anniversary. After a moment of contemtion, she replied, ¡°The Story of Time.¡± Bai Zheng made the announcement for the song ¡°The Story of Time¡± and Wen Nian was the eighth performer to appear on stage. Xu Chang hurried to the entrance of No. 1 High School with the intention of finding an inte cafe nearby to book for the entire night. However, upon arriving, he noticed that the entrance of the school was bustling with activity. He changed his n and decided to inquire about what was happening before making a decision. Although Xu Chang didn¡¯t know much about music, he stayed in the music industry because he found that the musicians in it were passionate about music and not solely focused on fame and fortune. He believed that by building genuine rtionships with them, he could get them to write songs for him at a low price in the future. Through Bai Zheng¡¯s attitude, Xu Chang knew that he had to acknowledge that girl¡¯s ying skills. Then, she would definitely have a ce at tonight¡¯s school anniversary performance. There was no need for anyone to lead him into the school. Xu Chang simply followed the sound of the music and eventually found his way to the entrance of the auditorium. There were a lot of people gathered at the entrance, but Xu Chang wasn¡¯t particrly tall, so he had to squeeze into the crowd and jump around to try and catch a glimpse inside. After not spotting the face from the video on stage, Xu Chang walked over to a nearby flower bed at the entrance of the auditorium and sat down. He took out the remaining steamed bun from his bag and began to eat it. After the group dance on stage had ended, the auditorium lights were turned off. Then, five secondster, a beam of white light scattered down from above the stage. As the light illuminated the stage, the audience saw a girl in a school uniform with a ponytail sitting in front of the piano. Wen Nian recalled the innocent and happy times before high school. Her slender and fair fingers pressed the piano keys. There was a sense of nostalgia in the air as the sound of the zither filled the auditorium. The audience was transported back to their youth, to a time when they sat in the ssroom listening to their teachers, ran freely in the fields, and secretly watched their crush from behind a tree. ¡°The melodious tunc told the story of time¡¯s relentless passage and the loss of sentimental youth.¡± The good and memorable moments will always remain engraved in our memories and serve as our driving force when we face difficulties and setbacks in the future. Upon hearing the sound of the piano, Xu Chang quickly stood up and rushed to the door, filled with anticipation. When he saw that it was Wen Nian, he breathed a sigh of relief. Standing quietly behind the crowd, he listened to the music and was transported back to his youth by the melodious piano. Filled with a renewed sense of determination, he vowed to be the top director in the country. After Wen Nian finished ying, she noticed theck of apuse and felt a bit awkward, but still prepared to walk to the front of the stage. While the young people present may not have fully grasped the poignant sense of time conveyed in the song, many of the middle-aged alumni in attendance were deeply moved. Once the lights on the stage were all turned on, the audience suddenly snapped out of their trance. Someone took the lead and began apuding, soon joined by others until the sound grew louder and louder. Wen Nian breathed a sigh of relief at the audience¡¯s reaction. She bowed deeply and walked off the stage with a smile.. Chapter 61 - 61: Moving the Mudane Heart Chapter 61: Moving the Mudane Heart Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios A big smile spread across Bai Zheng¡¯s face as he vigorously pped on the backstage steps. After watching Wen Nian leave the stage, he eximed excitedly, ¡°That was amazing! Your music is particrly adept at storytelling. The audience waspletely captivated by your performance!¡± Wen Nian smiled modestly as the two of them chatted for a bit longer, but then they both realized that the apuse outside was still going strong. Wen Nian went back out and bowed again to express her gratitude for the audience¡¯s love of her performance. Zhao Wu gently touched Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder and asked, ¡°Do you know what grade this girl is in?¡± As someone who was brought up by Zhao Wu, Shen Jun could understand what he was thinking with just one look and one sentence. Shen Jun red at Zhao Wu and said firmly, ¡°Put away your dirty thoughts. She¡¯s my deskmate!¡± Zhao Wu looked at Shen Jun in shock. He wasn¡¯t bothered by Shen Jun¡¯s wrong assessment of his feelings towards the ¡°beauty.¡± Rather, he was surprised by Shen Jun¡¯s protective tone towards the girl. Was this still his big nephew who had no desires?! Zhao Wu raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°Niuniu, are you tempted?!¡± Shen Jun looked at Zhao Wu but didn¡¯t say anything in response. However, this couldn¡¯t erase Zhao Wu¡¯s curiosity. He was even more interested in the girl that Shen Jun was being protective of. Zhao Wu leaned close to Shen Jun¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Bring her to Uncle¡¯s gathering someday. I¡¯ll help you check her out. Although you¡¯re very outstanding, that girl isn¡¯t easy to woo. Without me, you might not be able to do it.¡± Shen Jun rolled his eyes at Zhao Wu. For the first time, he realized that his uncle had such a vivid imagination. ¡°I can¡¯t deal with you,¡± he said, exasperated. Zhao Wu chuckled and patted Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder, as if he had experienced this before. ¡°You just won¡¯t admit it, won¡¯t you? Well, we¡¯ll see how long you can hold out,¡± he said with a smirk. At that moment, Xu Chang had already found the small door to the backstage. Coincidentally, he saw Wen Nianing out with her school bag. He hurriedly jogged forward and tapped Wen Nian on the shoulder. ¡°Student¡­ Ah!¡± From the corner of her eye, Wen Nian saw a dark figure approaching her from behind. Thinking that Huang Yue was seeking revenge and had brought backup, she quickly threw the person over her shoulder. Wen Nian saw the long-haired man in a jacket on the ground and took out her phone. When Xu Chang saw this familiar action, he immediately knew that Wen Nian wanted to call the police. He quickly got up from the ground and shouted, ¡°Wait, wait! We¡¯re on the same side! I know Bai Zheng!¡± Wen Nian paused and looked at the man who had already stood up suspiciously. The more she looked at him, the more familiar he looked. She suddenly recalled his identity. Xu Chang was a well-known director in the Beijing circle. He had made a name for himself at the young age of 36. Despite being a genius in everyone¡¯s eyes before graduation, he had faced criticism and wasbelled as a failure after graduation. Due to the rmendation of the school¡¯s mentor and the sess of his graduation project, he managed to secure investment before graduation. Heter directed two art films, but they didn¡¯t create much of an impact after their release. Since then, he struggled to find any investors. In order to survive, Xu Chang had worked as a production assistant in various film and TV projects, saving up money to eventually fund a small-budget production. However, the film failed to make any significant impact. He continued to work as a production assistant and saved up money again to produce a film on school bullying, which gained widespread recognition and propelled him to sess. Wen Nian smiled apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I thought you were someone else. I didn¡¯t recognize you at first.¡± Xu Chang waved his hand apologetically. It was indeed a little rash to put his hand on the shoulder of a girl he didn¡¯t know at night. He realized he was too excited at that moment. Xu Chang rubbed his waist and shed a smile that he hoped was more friendly than creepy. ¡°I apologize for startling you. My name is Xu Chang, and I¡¯m a well-known director. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?¡± Knowing that the other person was not a bad person, Wen Nian rxed and introduced herself. ¡°Hello, Director Xu. My name is Wen Nian.¡± Xu Chang was an impulsive person, so he couldn¡¯t take his time befriending Wen Nian. As he noticed Wen Nian wasn¡¯t as cautious of him anymore, he took a few steps forward and said eagerly, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing. I¡¯ve been working on a movie that portrays school bullying. The moment I saw you, I knew you were my female lead!¡± ¡°Trust me,¡± Xu Chang said, taking a step closer. ¡°If you star in my movie, it will be a huge hit. It will be talked about in the entertainment industry, and I am very confident in the script. With you on board, I am sure we can win international awards.¡± Looking at Xu Chang¡¯s excited expression and hearing his words, Wen Nian almost thought that she had already agreed to work with him. However, Wen Nian was now certain that Director Xu, who had appeared in front of her, was not yet famous.. Chapter 62 - 62: Rejection Chapter 62: Rejection Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, what surprised Wen Nian the most was that Xu Chang wanted her to be the female lead. In her previous life, Xu Chang had hired an amateur. That girl was a college student and was even a top student. Although the film became popr, that girl still did not have any intention to enter the entertainment industry. Later, Wen Nian heard that she had gone overseas to study and settled down there. Since then, she had not heard any news about her. But regardless, Wen Nian had no interest in entering the entertainment industry again in this life. Her only goal was to study and work hard, to provide her parents with a better life, and to see those who had wronged her receive justice. Wen Nian smiled politely and declined Xu Chang¡¯s offer. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director Xu. I am still focused on my studies right now. Getting into a good school is my top priority at the moment.¡± Xu Chang had been searching for the perfect actor to y the role of Mu Ci for a year, risking being mistaken for a pervert as he searched the streets of the capital. In his eyes, Wen Nian and his female lead were one and the same. He wouldn¡¯t give up just like that. ¡°Wen Nian, please think about it carefully. The filming period won¡¯t be very long. We can start by focusing on your scenes first!¡± ¡°I will try toplete the filming within two months, so it won¡¯t take up too much of your time!¡± Wen Nian shook her head politely and remained firm in her decision. ¡°Director Xu, I believe there must be someone more suitable for the female lead role in your movie. It¡¯s gettingte now, and I need to head home. Bai Zheng is backstage, and you can locate him if you go there.¡± With that, Wen Nian left and Xu Chang didn¡¯t chase after her. He knew that some things in life couldn¡¯t be aplished overnight and he was prepared for a long-term battle. Xu Chang thought for a moment and decided to find Bai Zheng to learn more about Wen Nian¡¯s background and situation. The next day, which was a Saturday, Wen Nian woke up early and went to the Shen family¡¯s house to help with some cleaning. As Wen Nian prepared to cook lunch, she nced at the sizable refrigerator, brimming with food, and eximed in surprise, ¡°Shen Jun, did you buy out the entire supermarket?¡± Shen Jun entered the kitchen and cast his gaze at the refrigerator, appearing somewhat helpless. ¡°I was concerned that we might run out of ingredients andpromise your cooking, so I purchased a small quantity of everything. I didn¡¯t anticipate buying so much.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s situation in life paralleled Wen Nian¡¯s situation in academics. Reflecting on Shen Jun¡¯s usual patient instruction, Wen Nian sensed that she needed to take on the responsibility of imparting some practical knowledge to him. Wen Nian selected some leafy greens. ¡°There¡¯s a limit to how much frozen food you can consume. Since you don¡¯t cook for yourself, it¡¯s advisable to purchase enough fresh vegetables like these for three days. They won¡¯t stay fresh for long, and it would be a shame to discard them, but consuming them after they¡¯ve spoiled wouldn¡¯t be beneficial either.¡± Wen Nian surveyed the meagerly-stocked refrigerator and eximed in admiration, ¡°How were you able to haul all of this back by yourself?¡± Recalling his uncle whom he had pressed into service after the g the night before, Shen Jun grinned and replied, ¡°I had a secret helper.¡± Wen Nian was surprised that someone as reserved as Shen Jun had a sense of humor. She joined in the banter, quipping, ¡°Well, then I should be considered the othr support. He can help you with the carrying, and I¡¯ll assist with the cooking.¡± Wen Nian intended to use up all the groceries as soon as possible to prevent them from being frozen for too long. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to use them up quickly so that you can eat at home more often. However, after dinner, you muste and lend a hand. This is a major undertaking.¡± Shen Jun did not subscribe to such chauvinistic notions and believed that the kitchen was a space for everyone. Therefore, he readily assented to Wen Nian¡¯s request. With much left to be done, Wen Nian quickly whipped up two bowls of simple beef noodles for lunch. After consuming the meal in haste, they promptly resumed their work. There was even a pig¡¯s head in the fridge! Wen Nian took it out and asked, ¡°You like to eat pig heads?¡± Upon noticing the sudden appearance of this ingredient in his kitchen, Shen Jun immediately deduced that Zhao Wu must have slipped it in unnoticed. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal if you¡¯re unfamiliar with handling it,¡± he remarked. The braised meat served at Wen Nian¡¯s family¡¯s noodle shop was exceptional. The recipe for this dish could be traced back to Wen¡¯s ancestors who had cooked for the Qing Dynasty Emperor. In fact, this recipe was a secret recipe from the pce! The note was passed on to Wen Xing, who was not skilled in the culinary arts, but his wife Zhou Mei was an excellent cook. Wen Nian had been exposed to the recipe from a young age and was quite familiar with it. Uponying eyes on the pig¡¯s head, Wen Nian had a brilliant idea. ¡°I can make braised beef, pig¡¯s head, and pig¡¯s leg for you. It canst for a while and will be easy to consume. You just need to cook rice every day and retrieve the braised dish you desire for that day to reheat.¡± Shen Jun readily agreed to this n, as it would enable him to save money on eating out and avoid the difort that came with it.. Chapter 63 - 63: Living Difficultly Chapter 63: Living Difficultly Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After the software waspletedst time, he had managed to secure customers for trial runs. However, at the early stage of the newpany, every expense had to be paid in cash. As a result, Shen Jun was unable to spare any extra funds at present and was subsisting on the modest allowance sent by his family every month. ¡°Sure, tell me how to do it. I¡¯ll cooperate.¡± Wen Nian was hesitant to entrust the technical work to Shen Jun, so she could only assign him tasks such as washing and cutting. Wen Nian took charge of boiling the braising liquid and added all the meat dishes into the pot to simmer. The aroma of the braising filled the room, causing Shen Jun¡¯s mouth to water. He thought of asking Wen Nian to help him braise another dish and bring it to the Zhao family as a gift for the uing new year. Wen Nian took advantage of the break time to roll out the dumpling skins and prepare the filling. She then dragged Shen Jun over and forced him to learn how to wrap dumplings. Wen Nian nced at the dumplings that Shen Jun had wrapped and couldn¡¯t help but have mixed feelings. She didn¡¯t want to lie to herself and pretend that they were good dumplings. Shen Jun was surprised that he couldn¡¯t even master the art of making dumplings, despite being a straight-A student. He awkwardly touched his nose, feeling embarrassed. Wen Nian saw Shen Jun¡¯s actions and reached out to stop him. ¡°Hey!¡± Shen Jun gazed up at Wen Nian, perplexed. As he did, Wen Nian noticed the white flour on the tip of his nose and burst outughing. Shen Jun looked down at the flour in his hand and then quickly took out his phone to snap a photo of his floured face. Seeing Wen Nianughing, he couldn¡¯t resist the urge to y a prank on her. He grabbed another handful of flour and smudged it on Wen Nian¡¯s face, making her look like a ghost. Then he turned around to wash his own face in the vegetable basin. Wen Nian saw the white smudges on her face through her phone and muttered softly, ¡°Childish!¡± Then, she took a piece of tissue and wiped it casually. She wasn¡¯t as particr as Shen Jun. The two of them made a scene, but Shen Jun washed his face and prepared to continue the challenge with the dumpling skin. Wen Nian was afraid that he would wrap something strange again, so she simply took the dumpling skin and walked to Shen Jun¡¯s side, preparing to teach him step by step. ¡°Follow my steps.¡± Wen Nian would demonstrate one step of the dumpling wrapping process and then pause to inspect the dumpling skin in Shen Jun¡¯s hand. She would also check the amount of filling he had taken. Seeing that there were some parts of Shen Jun¡¯s dumpling skin that were not properly kneaded, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but hold his hand and guide him. Shen Jun looked down at her small mouth as she spoke, and caught a whiff of the faint fragrance emanating from her hair. His heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out, ¡°What shampoo do you use?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Nian was in the middle of imparting knowledge when Shen Jun abruptly interrupted her with unrted words. Despite feeling extremely embarrassed, Shen Jun gathered hisposure and nonchntly asked, ¡°What shampoo do you use? It smells good. I¡¯d like to buy it too.¡± Wen Nian observed Shen Jun¡¯s serious expression. It felt as though he was not actually asking about shampoo, but rather seeking help with a math problem. Feeling a sense of pressure, Wen Nian didn¡¯t have time to contemte why Shen Jun suddenly asked this question. She responded in ordance with Shen Jun¡¯s intended meaning, ¡°It¡¯s just the most regr shampoo.¡± Shen Jun nodded with a serious face. ¡°Let¡¯s continue wrapping dumplings.¡± Wen Nian nodded. ¡°Okay.¡± On the second time through, Wen Nian taught Shen Jun step by step. This time, he focused his attention and memorized each detail. It¡¯s like using a cat as a reference when drawing a tiger. Except for a few ingredients that couldn¡¯t be used up, Wen Nian organized the remaining contents of the fridge into four categories: cold sds, braised dishes, dumplings, and egg dumplings. After arranging everything into different categories, she managed to free up one-third of the fridge¡¯s space. Looking at the well-organized fridge, Wen Nian, who liked cleanliness, felt morefortable. When Wen Nian left, it was almost six o¡¯clock. It was time for dinner, so she went straight to the noodle restaurant for dinner. Wen Nian entered the shop and spotted a long-haired man wearing a jacket seated at a table. She approached him and said, ¡°Director Xu?¡± The man turned around and saw Wen Nian. He was exhrated when he greeted her, ¡°Wen Nian, I knew it was right to wait here.¡± Wen Xing, who was in the kitchen, spotted Xu Chang and Wen Nian conversing. Without even putting the dish cloth down, he hurried over and eximed, ¡°Mr. Xu, my daughter is still studying. She is not going to be an actress. Please find someone else.¡± With that, Wen Xing turned to Wen Nian and muttered, ¡°Didn¡¯t I send you a message to cook at home today?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s phone was practically a decoration. Unless she was making a call, she wouldn¡¯t have the time to look at her phone when she was busy. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful next time. Call me directly if anything happens.¡± After Wen Xing and Wen Nian finished speaking, Xu Chang quickly suggested, ¡°Mr.. Wen, Wen Nian, if you¡¯re concerned about her studies, how about this? You can hire a tutor to join the production crew and I¡¯ll cover the costs!¡± Chapter 64 - 64: Video Chapter 64: Video Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang hade up with this idea just the night before. If Wen Nian was willing to join, he intended to sell one of his limited edition CDs and have the Wen family hire a tutor to join the production crew to provide one-on-one tutoring sessions. Wen Nian was taken aback by the offer. Hiring six teachers for six different subjects would be expensive, and finding high-quality instructors would only add to the cost. It would likely cost at least 100,000 yuan to hire a tutor for two months. However, no matter what n Xu Chang gave, Wen Xing remained unwilling. He couldn¡¯t grasp theplexities of the entertainment industry. However, entertainment news outlets, newspapers, and weekly publications all wrote about the unspoken rules for achieving sess in the industry. Those who refused toply with thepany¡¯s demands would be suppressed, suspended, and subjected to various scams, including exorbitant breach of contract fees. Furthermore, there was no privacy. Wen Nian would be followed and photographed by entertainment reporters all day. Zhou Mei emerged from the kitchen and waved her hand, firmly rejecting the offer. ¡°No, no! We won¡¯t go even if you hire a gold-medal teacher. Sir, you¡¯ve been sitting here all afternoon. If you¡¯re here just to sit, I wee you. But if you¡¯re here to drag my daughter into filming, I¡¯ll kick you out right now!¡± ¡°Even if people misunderstand that we¡¯re bullying customers, I won¡¯t let you sit here!¡± Observing the Wen couple¡¯s resistance, Xu Chang paused for a moment before speaking, ¡°I can see that you think I¡¯m a liar, and that¡¯s why you don¡¯t want Wen Nian to join the production team. I understand that my previous film wasn¡¯t famous, but ourpany is legitimate. If you¡¯re still worried, you can follow the production team and participate in the filming process the whole time.¡± When Wen Xing heard this, he and Zhou Mei exchanged a nce. They could see Xu Chang¡¯s sincerity and decided to express their thoughts directly. ¡°Director Xu, as parents, we hope that Wen Nian can have a stable and secure future. We don¡¯t expect her to be wealthy or famous. As long as she¡¯s healthy, safe, has a stable job in the future, and a happy family, that¡¯s all that matters to us.¡± ¡°The entertainment industry is indeedplicated, and as parents, we want our child to have a happy and stable life. So I¡¯m sorry, but we¡¯re not interested. Please find someone else,¡± Wen Xing reiterated his stance. There were too many cases of child stars being exploited by their parents and treated as money-making machines in the entertainment industry. Xu Chang was ustomed to seeing the dark side of fame and fortune in the industry. Hearing the Wen couple¡¯s sincere concern for their daughter¡¯s well-being and happiness, he was even more impressed. However, this also meant that it would be more challenging for him to persuade the Wen family to let Wen Nian join the production team. However, despite the Wen couple¡¯s reluctance, there was still a glimmer of hope. The more they cared about their daughter, the more it became clear to Wen Nian that she also had a strong interest in acting. This realization became a potential breakthrough in the matter. Xu Chang nced at Wen Nian, who had been standing at the side without saying anything. ¡°I understand what the parents are thinking. However, Wen Nian, what are your real thoughts?¡± Wen Nian was taken aback for a moment before looking at Xu Chang and replying, ¡°I think the same as my parents.¡± Xu Chang noticed the momentary pause from Wen Nian and felt a glimmer of hope. However, when he saw the Wen couple¡¯s watchful gazes, he realized it was not the right time to have a detailed conversation with Wen Nian. Xu Chang smiled and took his leave, ¡°Since you¡¯re insistent, I¡¯ll take my leave now. But I will definitelye to your noodle shop again to eat some noodles. Big Sister¡¯s braised meat is superb. I¡¯ve never tasted such delicious food in the capital. Truly, experts are hidden among themon people!¡± When Zhou Mei heard this, she knew that Xu Chang had no intention of leaving Hai City immediately. Her heart raced, but she wasn¡¯t someone who ruled this city, so she couldn¡¯t force him to leave. She could only force a smile and reply, ¡°Sure, I hope you¡¯ll juste for noodles next time.¡± Xu Chang smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. His wretched face looked even more despicable. After Xu Chang left, the couple looked at Wen Nian with concern. The entertainment industry¡¯s allure to young people was too strong. There were very few who didn¡¯t dream of bing a dazzling celebrity, wearing beautiful clothes all day, going to luxurious venues, and enjoying the feeling of being pursued by tens of thousands of people. Wen Nian looked at her parents¡¯ expressions and naturally knew what they were thinking. ¡°Dad, Mom, I don¡¯t n to enter the entertainment industry. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Zhou Mei smiled when she heard this. As long as Wen Nian made up her mind not to go, they were not afraid that Director Xu woulde again. In the house of the Huang Family. Huang Yue was watching a video that was going viral on Hai City¡¯s high school forum. In the video, the girl¡¯s elegant posture while ying the piano, the endless apuse, and the posts below the video that were shouting ¡°Goddess¡± were all provoking her. Huang Yue was so angry that her chest felt stuffy and her eyes turned red.. She gritted her teeth and shouted, ¡°Wen Nian!¡± Chapter 65 - 65: International Phone Call Chapter 65: International Phone Call Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Hiss!¡± Huang Yue gritted her teeth, causing the muscles in her face to tense up. Her burned face throbbed with pain, causing her to gasp. She gently touched her face, which was wrapped in gauze, to try and soothe the difort. Huang Yue gazed at the other half of her face in the mirror and wished she could rip Wen Nian apart! Huang Yue¡¯s gaze shifted to the phone on the table. After contemting for a moment, she resolutely picked up the phone and made an international call. Wei Xiao¡¯s frigid voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°What is it?¡± It had been a while since Huang Yue had received a call from Wei Xiao. At the time, she was disappointed for a while, but meeting Wang Jing had diverted her attention, so she didn¡¯t think about Wei Xiao all day. Huang Yue was also concerned that contacting Wei Xiao would irritate him. However, now that she had been almost disfigured by Wen Nian and had even allowed Wen Nian to use her position to show off at the school anniversary, she couldn¡¯t care less about Wei Xiao¡¯s reaction. She wanted to destroy Wen Nian more than ever. However, Huang Yue knew her limits. In order toplete this matter, she had to rely on Wei Xiao. She had failed to trick Wen Nian into entering the entertainment industryst time. After that, Wei Xiao did not contact her to do anything else. It had been a while since then, and if Huang Yue wanted to use her previous n again, she would need to work with Wei Xiao. After all, the other party was arranged by Wei Xiao. If the n turned out to be sessful, she needed Wei Xiao to pay for it. Huang Yue¡¯s voice was conflicted and hesitant. ¡°Young Master Wei, there is something I think I should tell you. Even though you and Wen Nian have already ended your engagement, I can¡¯t bear to see you being deceived by her.¡± When Wei Xiao heard Huang Yue¡¯s words, he furrowed his brow slightly. However, he knew that Huang Yue would tell him what she wanted to say when she called, so he purposefully remained silent. Huang Yue waited for a few seconds, but Wei Xiao didn¡¯t ask for more information. She had no choice but to continue, ¡°Ever since you went overseas, Wen Nian has been with a male ssmate in our ss. I suspect that they already knew each other. Isn¡¯t this cheating on you?! I can¡¯t bear to witness her behavior anymore!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to bother you with such a troublesome matter, but not only has Wen Nian not faced any consequences for her immoral behavior, she has also be more and more audacious. She relied on her boyfriend, who has connections in the government, to use underhanded methods and took the spot of a student performing for our school¡¯s anniversary celebration!¡± Upon hearing Huang Yue¡¯s words, Wei Xiao knew there might be some exaggeration, but the thought of Wen Nian flirting with another man after he left made him feel intolerable. Even if Wen Nian didn¡¯t cheat before their engagement ended, how long had Wei Xiao been overseas? He couldn¡¯t believe she moved on so quickly to another man! She was truly promiscuous and couldn¡¯t live without a man! Wei Xiao looked around the cramped apartment and thought about how he only received the same living expenses as ordinary students every month. This made him even more infuriated. If it weren¡¯t for Wen Nian, Wei Xiao would never have angered the old master and ended up living such an inhumane life overseas. Wei Xiao didn¡¯t care who was upying the performance slot, but he vowed to make anyone who made him suffer pay for it! Wei Xiao didn¡¯t care about Huang Yue¡¯s role in the situation. He was solely focused on the oue and not the process. However, since Huang Yue was willing to help and take the initiative to be the gun in his hand, he wouldn¡¯t reject her offer. Wei Xiao smirked and spoke calmly, ¡°I never expected Wen Nian to be such a person. She has gone too far.¡± ¡°How about this? I remember giving you a manager¡¯s number previously. You can contact him again. You don¡¯t have to worry about the money. I¡¯ll transfer the money after the matter is done, but you and the manager can discuss how to do it. I just can¡¯t stand a scheming woman like Wen Nian. I also want to seek justice for my ssmates who were bullied by her.¡± Wei Xiao said in a calm voice, offering to help Huang Yue. Although both of them had their own motives and were using each other, because they shared the same goal, the atmosphere of the call was surprisingly amicable. The holidays always seemed too short, and all the students weed a new Monday. As soon as Wen Nian entered the ssroom, she couldn¡¯t help but notice Huang Yue, who was wrapped in gauze, sitting at her desk. Wen Nian was somewhat surprised that Huang Yue had chosen not to take leave and had appeared in ss looking like this. Wen Nian sighed inwardly. When evil people are more diligent than you, what reason do you have not to work hard?! As Wen Nian walked by her desk, Huang Yue reached out and grabbed her wrist. She looked at Wen Nian with a vexed expression and said, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m really sorry about that day. I was in a panic after my face got scalded, and I wrongfully used you. I hope you can forgive me..¡± Chapter 66 - 66: Trust Chapter 66: Trust Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue¡¯s ability to tolerate her after such a serious matter urred only fueled Wen Nian¡¯s curiosity about the schemes she had in mind. In all seriousness, she yed along with Huang Yue¡¯s act and said, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t act impulsively again. We¡¯ve been ssmates for over a year now, and given our past rtionship, I¡¯m willing to forgive you. However, if you had used a total stranger, they may demand that you pay them for the emotional distress.¡± She had been disfigured and sprained her ankle, yet she was the one being med? Observing Wen Nian¡¯s continued pretense of obedience despite taking advantage of her, Huang Yue had to put in a great deal of effort to suppress her anger and force a smile. ¡°Okay, it¡¯s been a while since we left school together. Let¡¯s go out for dinner tonight after ss. I promised to treat you for the school anniversary.¡± Wen Nian looked at Huang Yue regretfully. ¡°Huang Yue, I have to ask my deskmate questions after school. I can¡¯t go with you.¡± Huang Yue quickly smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll wait for you. You can¡¯t make me go back on my word.¡± After seeing this, Wen Nian no longer refused. ¡°Alright, since you¡¯ve already insisted so much, it would be impolite of me to keep saying no.¡± After chatting andughing, the two of them reached an agreement, and Wen Nian returned to her seat with a smile. Although Huang Yue¡¯s incident had urred backstage, it caused a lot ofmotion. Someone had posted about it on the school¡¯s inte, but it was still deemed an ident. Shen Jun had also heard about the incident. He nced at Wen Nian, who was in a good mood, and teased softly, ¡°Judging by your smile, it seems someone is going to suffer.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s smile froze. She covered her face with her hands and turned to Shen Jun in surprise. ¡°Is it that obvious?¡± Shen Jun chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s not that you¡¯re being obvious. I see through you.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun in surprise. When did she be so transparent to him? Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s wide-open eyes and resisted the urge to touch her chin like a rabbit. He used the book in his hand to gently nudge Wen Nian¡¯s head and turned her around to face straight ahead. Wen Nian only heard Shen Jun¡¯s cold voice. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Do whatever you want. I promise that no matter what I know you¡¯re nning, no one will hear any news from me that could affect your n.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s guarantee, Wen Nian had no doubts. She thought it might be because he had helped her in Xifeng Court previously, or perhaps it was due to the trust she had developed after spending time with him. In fact, Wen Nian had also thought about it afterward. If Shen Jun knew that she was not an innocent student at all, but a woman who was always scheming against others and seeking revenge, would he still help her like he was doing now? Given Shen Jun¡¯s qualifications, he was likely born into an aristocratic family. He had probably read enough schemes and plots to fill a book. Shen Jun had been one of the people Wen Nian had interacted with for the longest time since her rebirth. It was not strange for Shen Jun to be able to pick up on things about her, but he had never asked out of curiosity. Despite this, Shen Jun never tried to create a distance. Therefore, Wen Nian didn¡¯t feel that her trust in Shen Jun was inexplicable. She believed that it was because of her gradual understanding of him through their interactions, coupled with her intuition. After school, Shen Jun left first. Wen Nian packed her bag and walked slowly with Huang Yue. Huang Yue had sprained her ankle previously, and unfortunately, she had sustained the same injury again this time, making it difficult for her to walk at a normal pace. She didn¡¯t dare to get close to Wen Nian again. Although she believed that what happened on the night of the school anniversary was an ident, Huang Yue was still cautious and didn¡¯t want to let her guard down. The two of them made a conscious effort to avoid the Bowl of Noodles Noodle Restaurant and eventually settled on a nearby eatery where they had Hainan coconut chicken. There were not many people, and the environment was rtively peaceful. This type of restaurant was typically frequented by the working ss, so most of the customers were office workers from nearbypanies. After the two of them sat down and ced their orders, Huang Yue began to chat with Wen Nian. ¡°Have you heard about thetest popr movie, Love of the Triangr Plum? It¡¯s been the top box office movie for over a month now! The female lead is actually an amateur actor that the director discovered. And guess what? She reportedly earned a whopping 20 million yuan for the role!¡± ¡°Oh my god! If you use that 20 million yuan to buy a few houses in an ordinary neighborhood in Hai City, you could earn more than 10,000 yuan a month just by renting them out.. We could even earn money by lying down!¡± Chapter 67 - 67: Maximizing Benefits Chapter 67: Maximizing Benefits Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian was aware of the movie by the renowned director in the country, Sun Wei. However, she didn¡¯t want to hear about it at the moment. ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with that. I¡¯ve been busy studyingtely and haven¡¯t had time to watch any dramas or movies,¡± she exined. Huang Yue felt frustrated, like she was punching cotton. ¡®But isn¡¯t that the crux of the matter? That actress didn¡¯t even bother to learn her craft. After just a few months on the production team, she took home more money than most people earn in a lifetime!¡¯ she eximed impatiently. Wen Nian nodded seriously. ¡°Indeed, she¡¯s quite lucky.¡± As Wen Nian returned to the topic, Huang Yue grew emotional. ¡°Exactly. When do you think we¡¯ll ever get that lucky?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, a man in a suit, ck leather shoes, and ck-framed sses appeared. He exuded an air of maturity and stability, giving off a favorable impression. The elegant middle-aged manmanded attention as soon as he entered the room. Upon seeing the other party, Wen Nian clenched her fists tightly under the table, feeling her blood vessels pulsing with anger. She struggled to maintain a calm expression. She cast a disinterested nce his way before turning her attention to the waiter, who had just arrived with their dishes. The man handed them each a business card. ¡°Excuse me for interrupting your meal, beautifuldies. I¡¯m Zhao Cheng, the gold medal manager of ¡®Red Fang Entertainment.''¡± Seeing how Huang Yue curiously took the card, Wen Nian feigned interest and looked at it as well. Zhao Cheng smiled and asked politely, ¡°Can I sit down and talk to you?¡± Huang Yue eagerly nodded in agreement. ¡°Absolutely. I¡¯m very curious about how entertainmentpanies like yours create stars. My father also has friends in your line of work, but I couldn¡¯t ask a lot of details because they were too busy to discuss things,¡± she exined. While the two of them exchanged questions and answers, Wen Nian remained focused on the coconut chicken soup pot in front of her. As soon as she saw the soup boiling, she promptlydled some into her bowl and began eating. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s preupation with her food, Huang Yue frowned slightly. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Wen Nian had be less trusting of her. After discussing it with Zhao Cheng, she had arranged this encounter on purpose. Despite setting up this meeting with Wen Nian in mind, both Huang Yue and Zhao Cheng felt helpless as they watched her show no interest. They exchanged a nce, unsure of what to do next. As Wen Nian finished her first bowl of chicken and soup and began serving herself a second, Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but sound slightly reproachful. ¡°Wen Nian, our guest is still here. It¡¯s impolite to only think about yourself.¡± As she looked up at the other two, Wen Nian offered a casual smile. ¡°I noticed that the two of you were having a good chat, so I didn¡¯t want to interrupt. That¡¯s why I started eating first.¡± As Zhao Cheng observed Wen Nian¡¯s unassuming demeanor, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder why they were putting in so much effort for someone who appeared to be so simple-minded. Perhaps Huang Yue was overthinking things. He gave Wen Nian a warm smile and remarked, ¡°You bear a striking resemnce to my niece, who now lives in Thand. We only get to meet once a year during the New Year celebrations, so seeing you brings back a sense of familiarity.¡± Wen Nian smiled at Zhao Cheng and immediately picked up a piece of meat to eat, but remained silent. Seeing Zhao Cheng curry favor with her like this, Wen Nian was not used to it. In her previous life, Huang Yue had brought her along to visit Zhao Cheng. Zhao Cheng was clearly a second-rate manager in the entertainment industry who couldn¡¯t even make it into a top-tierpany. Yet he acted as if he were above it all and had often looked down on Wen Nian with a hint of contempt. Before Zhao Cheng arrived, he had not expected the girl he wanted to sign to be so stunning. If he could sign her and take care of her, he felt that he had a chance of bing a top manager in thepany. Unfortunately, the higher-ups had clearly instructed him to think of a way to destroy her after signing the contract. But it didn¡¯t matter. Everyone had their own value. Zhao Cheng had already thought of how to use Wen Nian to maximize his benefits. After failing to get closer to them, Zhao Cheng continued saying, ¡°I still don¡¯t know how to address both of you?¡± ¡°Please call me Huang Yue,¡± she replied cooperatively. ¡°And her name is Wen Nian. We¡¯re both students from No. 1 High School.¡± Because Wen Nian hadn¡¯t been ying by the rules at all, Zhao Cheng wasted no time and went straight to the point, addressing Wen Nian, ¡°Hello Wen Nian, I must say you have a striking appearance. Last year, I signed a high school female artist who¡¯s doing quite well in ourpany. She takes on three or four dramas annually and although she¡¯s a neer, she hasn¡¯t acted as the female lead yet. However, with my guidance, she has already progressed to the point where she can secure the role of third female lead.. Her yearly ie has reached seven digits!¡±
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Chapter 68 - 68: Liar Chapter 68: Liar Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Since Wen Nian remained silent, Zhao Cheng pressed on. ¡°Your credentials are stronger than hers. I¡¯m confident that you can secure the lead female role within a year!¡± Huang Yue shook Wen Nian¡¯s hand excitedly. ¡°Can you believe it? She¡¯s the same age as us, but she only earns a million yuan a month! Wen Nian, you¡¯re so beautiful. If you sign with ourpany, your sry will definitely be higher than hers!¡± Despite Huang Yue¡¯s excitement, Wen Nian remainedposed as she turned to Zhao Cheng and asked earnestly, ¡°Could we include a use in the contract specifying that I would be given the lead female role within a year? If that¡¯s not possible, both parties could terminate the contract without penalty.¡± Zhao Cheng was taken aback. Whatpany would agree to such terms in a contract?! However, Zhao Cheng was a seasoned professional, and he quickly regained hisposure. He smiled patiently and replied, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t write such a specific use in the contract, but I hold you in high regard as an artist. In many ways, our interests are aligned. If you¡¯re able to secure better roles and appear in more films, ourpany¡¯s stocks will perform better. So you don¡¯t have to worry about us not taking good care of you.¡± In her previous life, Wen Nian had been quite naive. And even now, she didn¡¯t think anyone would spend a million yuan to entrap her through Zhao Cheng. At the time, Wen Nian felt that she had used Huang Yue¡¯s connections to gain entry. She was grateful for the opportunity and worked diligently to please Zhao Cheng. Thanks to Huang Yue¡¯s introduction, she had ced a great deal of trust in Zhao Cheng. The first time Wen Nian lost her virginity in her previous life was because of this man in front of her. At that time, she had not received a job for half a year. Wei Xiao also expressed his hope that she could be famous in the entertainment industry. This would help him. Hence, Wen Nian took the initiative to look for Zhao Cheng again, hoping that he would show her the way. Zhao Cheng said with a benevolent look that he could bring her to a drinking party. After secretly drugging her, he sent her to the bed of the investor. In the end, Wen Nian indeed received the role. Wen Nian sacrificed her virginity and received the role of a maid who had less than three lines. eanwhile, another female artist under Zhao Cheng secured the role of the second female lead. Later, Wen Nian learned that Zhao Cheng had given away the resources she had obtained through sexual favors to other artists under his management. This happened on numerous asions, but what disgusted Wen Nian the most was how Zhao Cheng would always showcase her as his protege at every dinner party he hosted. He made it seem as though she owed everything to him, and Wen Nian was expected to be grateful for the opportunities he had provided her. For a long time, Wen Nian believed that she wasn¡¯t being offered good roles because she was a neer whocked the necessary acting skills. One could argue that in theter stages, Zhao Cheng relied on the artists he managed to make a name for hispany, making him the most sessful manager of ¡°Red Fang Entertainment¡±. However, this wasrgely due to Wen Nian¡¯s repeated sexual favors andpensations to investors. Wen Nian looked at Zhao Cheng, who was trying to deceive her, and frowned in confusion. She asked, ¡°You promised to let me be the female lead in a year. If you¡¯re unwilling to add this condition to the contract, how can you guarantee that you¡¯ll keep your promise? With just your mouth?¡± ¡°Pfft! Hahaha!¡± A series ofughter suddenly sounded behind them. The few of them looked in the direction of the sound. As everyone¡¯s gazes turned towards him, Xu Chang could hardly contain hisughter. He got up from the table behind Wen Nian and walked towards her, taking the only avable seat. ¡°I apologize if I offended you. I just find it amusing that you¡¯re using your word as a guarantee. It seems rather unreliable, and I¡¯ve never seen a manager make such a promise before.¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m only familiar with the practices of managers in top-tier entertainmentpanies. I¡¯m not so knowledgeable about the operations of third-ratepanies like yours.¡± ¡°Besides, Wen Nian, if you want to be the female lead, why bother signing with an entertainment or managementpany? If youe to my studio to film, you can save the middleman¡¯s cut on your sry! With your looks, even if you sign with a bigpany, there will be many peoplepeting for you. Don¡¯t make things difficult for yourself by signing with someone who only knows how to deceive you. There are many unscrupulous people in this industry. If you really want to make it in the entertainment industry, I can rmend some trustworthy people to you.¡± Zhao Cheng looked at the person who had interrupted with a confused expression and then turned to secretly nce at Huang Yue. He realized that she also shook her head gently with a puzzled expression, indicating that she had not made any other arrangements. Seeing this, Zhao Cheng no longer remained courteous. He was not going to let go of the chance to earn a million yuan. Even if God himself came, he would still fight for it. Looking at Xu Chang¡¯s ugly appearance and his slightly worn-out leather jacket, Zhao Cheng smiled disdainfully. ¡°Who are you to use me of lying? Take a look at yourself! You don¡¯t even have decent clothes, and you want to introduce a manager to a youngdy. I think you¡¯re the one trying to deceive her.¡±..
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Chapter 69 - 69: Negotiation Chapter 69: Negotiation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang wasn¡¯t one to shy away from a verbal argument. ¡°Just because you wear a suit and tie doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re a good person in this day and age!¡± he countered. ¡°In fact, you¡¯re not saying anything worthwhile despite your fancy attire.¡± ¡°Only innocent girls would fall for your lies. In the real world, you can¡¯t fool anyone with your tricks. If anyone in the real world believed you, I¡¯d walk on my hands!¡± Embarrassed and angry after being exposed, Zhao Cheng retorted, ¡°And what about you? You said that you can give her the role of the female lead and rmend a good manager. If you¡¯re really so powerful, how did things turn out like this?¡± Xu Chang chuckled and adjusted the cor on his shirt. ¡°What am I like? This is called fashion. I like the feeling of being unconventional and free-spirited! Besides, I have different tastes from you. I¡¯m a director, and I want Wen Nian to be my female lead now. If she agrees, I can get everything ready in a month!¡± Huang Yue frowned disapprovingly at Xu Chang and then turned to Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, it¡¯s obvious at first sight that this person is a liar. Don¡¯t believe hisme excuses. I have never seen anyone in the entertainment industry dress so inappropriately. He should have just said that he doesn¡¯t have money instead of trying to pass it off as a fashion statement. You should be careful! What if he tries to trick you into filming porn?¡± As this idea crossed Huang Yue¡¯s mind, she wanted to p for herself. If Wen Nian wanted to be the female lead, they could achieve that by making her the female lead of a porn movie. She then winked at Zhao Cheng, urging him to include Wen Nian¡¯s request in the contract. Zhao Cheng didn¡¯t know what good idea Huang Yue had thought of. He hesitated for a moment, but when he thought of the 1 million yuan reward, he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Wen Nian, I can add your request to the contract!¡± Wen Nian lowered her eyes to hide the surprise in them. Then, she understood what they could do and sneered in her heart. However, Wen Nian still looked confused. ¡°Huang Yue, I think what Director Xu said makes more sense. If you want to find a job, you should look for a reputablepany. Smallpanies are more likely to be illegitimate. I understand that you¡¯re concerned about the possibility of Director Xu offering me a role in a pornographic movie, but I¡¯m also worried that Mr. Zhao might try to arrange such a job for me. It¡¯s unfortunate that adults can be so cunning. I¡¯ll have to be very careful, unless¡­¡± ¡°Mr. Zhao, you must specify which director¡¯s female lead I¡¯ll be ying, whether it¡¯s for Zhang Mou or Feng Gang. Otherwise, I reserve the right to terminate my contract within a year without penalty, and you will also have topensate me for the loss of one year of my studies. This will cost at least ten million yuan.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s tone was very serious, making Zhao Cheng so angry that he wanted to m the table! He wanted to poach some famous artists, but he knew that thepany would never give such a favorable treatment. Even B-list celebrities might not receive such treatment from entertainmentpanies. How could she, a naive student, ask for 10 million yuan aspensation? Only entertainmentpanies could exploit artists in such a way. He had never heard of any artist in the country who could exploit thepany. At this moment, Wen Nian appeared to be a greedy and foolish person in Zhao Cheng¡¯s eyes. However, Xu Chang, as an outsider, could see some underlying clues. Xu Chang had interacted with Wen Nian twice before, and he had never seen her wear such an ignorant expression on her face. Every conversation with her made him feel that she was someone who could make sound decisions. Xu Chang realized that Wen Nian had been intentionally acting naive and putting on a show for Huang Yue and Zhao Cheng. Upon realizing this, he decided that he needed to y his part even better. Currently, Xu Chang was an observer who didn¡¯t care if things became worse. He supported Wen Nian, saying, ¡°I think Wen Nian¡¯s request is quite reasonable. If your smallpany wants to sign a potential actress like Wen Nian, you need to show your utmost sincerity, Mr. Zhao. If you agree to her terms, I will back off voluntarily. Otherwise, I will snatch her away.¡± Before Zhao Cheng could make any headway with Wen Nian, the unknown director next to her jumped in again. Zhao Cheng, motivated solely by money, was willing to put up with Wen Nian¡¯s antics, but he had no intention of being polite to Xu Chang. ¡°There are thousands of directors in the entertainment industry. Who do you think you are?! Look at you, you¡¯re in your thirties, right? And you look weird. If you were famous, I would have known who you are. And you¡¯re saying that I¡¯m unqualified? Are you even qualified to say that?!¡± Xu Chang was ustomed to facing people who prejudged him based on his appearance. He remained unfazed upon hearing Zhao Cheng¡¯s insults. ¡°I may not be the best director out there, but I am a legitimate director working for a legitimatepany. I am willing to let Wen Nian¡¯s parents be a part of the production team and provide them with food and amodation,¡± he said calmly.. Chapter 70 - 70: Reason Over Friendship Chapter 70: Reason Over Friendship Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang turned to Wen Nian and made a serious suggestion. ¡°Wen Nian, you should also include this in your n: Celebrities usually have assistants. You could demand that your parents be the ones to take the positions of assistants. While the sry may not be high, it¡¯s still an additional source of ie. Many entertainmentpanies often pressure their artists to drink with people. By having the artist¡¯s parents act as their assistants, they can ensure that their child is not mistreated. If any misconduct urs, legal action can be taken immediately.¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement and turned to Zhao Cheng with an innocent expression. ¡°Director Xu is absolutely right. If you¡¯re running a legitimatepany, you wouldn¡¯t force an underage girl like me to apany you to drink. So, please do consider adding these two uses to the contract. If you don¡¯t, my parents won¡¯t allow me to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.¡± Zhao Cheng sat down on a stool and took a deep breath, refraining from speaking. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, he might end up scolding Wen Nian. Realizing that the situation was turning sour, Huang Yue cast a disapproving nce at Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯re still a new artist in this industry. It¡¯s not appropriate for you to make so many demands. Your priority should be to establish yourself in the industry first and achieve some sess before making such requests.¡± Wen Nian had already eaten more than half of the chicken pot and was feeling a bit bloated. She picked up some vegetables from the side and added them to the pot to heat up. ¡°I understand your point, but if I¡¯m not allowed to make such reasonable demands, then maybe I should just focus on my studies instead. If I don¡¯t seed in the entertainment industry and dy my education, I stand to lose much more. I wouldn¡¯t have gotten any benefit.¡± Huang Yue was taken aback for a moment. She then offered some earnest advice, ¡°There¡¯s a saying that goes, ¡¯No risk, no gain!¡¯ As a minor, you have the potential to earn millions or even tens of millions of dors a year in the entertainment industry. It¡¯s worth taking the risk.¡± Xu Chang interrupted with a puzzled expression, ¡°Are you Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate? Yet it seems like you¡¯re advocating on behalf of someone else. Others who had no idea might think that you¡¯re a paid lobbyist hired by this mediocre manager.¡± Huang Yue felt a pang of guilt when she heard Xu Chang¡¯sment. In response, she retorted subconsciously, ¡°I¡¯m advocating for fairness and reason, not just for the sake of my friendship with Wen Nian!¡± Taking advantage of the lull in the conversation, Wen Nian quickly finished the cooked vegetables that she had dipped in sauce. She covered her mouth and let out a burp before making a final statement about the dinner. ¡°I can see that Mr. Zhao is in a difficult situation too. In any case, I¡¯m still a student, so I¡¯ll focus on my studies for now. To be honest, I¡¯m not very interested in the entertainment industry anyway.¡± ¡°Huang Yue, thank you for treating me to a meal today. I am full now. I think you are very interested in bing a celebrity and earning money and you seemed to have a good conversation with Mr. Zhao. Maybe you can persuade him to sign a contract with you. Even though you may not be as good-looking as me, their mediocrepany may not have too many requirements. I will be leaving now, so feel free to continue your conversation.¡± Appearance was what Huang Yue cared about the most. Now that Wen Nian had exposed her in front of two men, Huang Yue was so angry that she wanted to curse. But before Huang Yue could react, Wen Nian had already gotten up, grabbed her bag, and walked straight to the dining room door. Huang Yue hurriedly got up and wanted to chase after Wen Nian to stop her. ¡°Wen Nian!¡± As soon as she stepped out, Huang Yue felt a sharp pain in her ankle, causing her to quickly sit back down on the chair. Upon seeing his ¡°female lead¡± leaving, Xu Chang quickly followed her.¡± Huang Yue looked at Zhao Cheng andined, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you chasing after her!¡± Zhao Cheng replied angrily, ¡°What should I say if I chased after her? Should I tell her that I agree to her terms and conditions or reveal that I can¡¯t do it?¡± Huang Yue believed that she would only y a supporting role in this matter, with Zhao Cheng being the main person in charge. After all, she didn¡¯t receive a single penny from Wei Xiao. Despite paying for this meal out of her own pocket, this was the result she received and this made Huang Yue very dissatisfied with Zhao Cheng. However, Zhao Cheng was also furious with Huang Yue and felt that the information she gave was inurate. In his opinion, Wen Nian does not seem vain and easy to control. The two of them red at each other and startedining at the dining table. On the other side, Xu Chang caught up to Wen Nian and asked in a friendly manner, ¡°Wen Nian, are you not on good terms with that girl?¡± After messing with the two individuals who had schemed against her, Wen Nian was in a particrly good mood. She smiled at Xu Chang and said, ¡°Director Xu is quite clever. You must have seen through their n. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have deliberately said those words to cooperate with me.¡± ¡°Director Xu, could it be that you were waiting for me at the school gate today and followed me there?¡± Xu Chang smiled in embarrassment. This was the only solution he could think of at the time. When he had tried to get close to Bai Zheng earlier, Bai Zheng initially refused to divulge information about Wen Nian. It was only after Xu Chang had mentioned that he was a legitimate director that Bai Zheng revealed the address of the Wen family¡¯s noodle shop. At first, Xu Chang had hoped to enlist the help of someone who was familiar with Wen Nian to persuade the Wen family. He had repeatedly tried to convince Bai Zheng to assist him in meeting Wen Nian, but he failed to convince Bai Zheng. On the other hand, the Wen couple remained very stubborn. After spending the entire Sunday at the noodle shop without catching a glimpse of Wen Nian, Xu Chang had no choice but to wait for her at the school gate.. Chapter 71 - 71: Accepting the Offer Chapter 71: epting the Offer Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang scratched his head a few times and then changed the subject to filmmaking. ¡°Hey Wen Nian, I¡¯ve got a great idea for a movie and I really want you to be a part of it! Take a look at my script and you¡¯ll see what I mean. The theme is super important ¨C school bullying is such a big problem, not just here but all over the world.¡± ¡°In addition to wanting to draw attention to the issue among schools and parents, I¡¯m making this movie to give hope to those who are being bullied. Victims of bullying typically face three choices. The first option is that the victim bes the perpetrator, bullying their weaker ssmates in turn as a way to cope with their own victimization.¡± ¡°The second choice is to suffer in silence until graduation, then move on to a new ce only to be a fresh target for bullies again. Alternatively, one might choose to suppress their feelings and try to appear ¡°normal¡± on the surface, all while carrying the trauma of their school experience with them for the rest of their life. This can lead to long-term negative effects that persist well into the future.¡± ¡°The third option is to fight back and kill those people, ruining their life.¡± ¡°Wen Nian had seen Xu Chang¡¯s movie in her previous life and witnessed its significant impact on society. The film¡¯s sess was evident from the fact that it won the Best Director Award overseas. It was impossible for Wen Nian to resist the temptation. The movie was simply too good. Xu Chang¡¯s future achievements were unparalleled among domestic directors. His extensivework and top-tier resources were second to none. Wen Nian did not immediately refuse; instead, she remained silent. This gave Xu Chang a sense of encouragement. After a moment of thought, Xu Chang said, ¡°Wen Nian, you might not realize how difficult it is for a director to find a female lead who meets their specific requirements. The truth is, I found a female university student two months ago who came closest to matching the role in the past year, but still fell just short. If 10 points is the perfect score, she scored a 9. However, the moment I saw you, I knew you were the full 10 points.¡± Wen Nian was a little surprised and stopped in her tracks to look at Xu Chang. ¡°Would you be willing to reveal the surname of the other candidate?¡± she asked. Xu Chang found it a little strange, but he still answered, ¡°She has a two-character surname and it is Sikong.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered with recognition. Even among people with two-character surnames, this surname was rare. So, she was certain that this was the same amateur actor who had yed the role in her previous life. When the film was first released, everyone saw that the lead actor was just a nobody, and the director was not well-known. Consequently, not many people went to watch it. Initially, the film¡¯s box office performance was mediocre. However, everything changed when a popr movie blogger wrote a review online, which caught the attention of many viewers. Word of mouth spread, and eventually, the film sessfully counterattacked and became a dark horse at the quarterly box office. The lead actor, who was just a nobody, was also the audience¡¯s top choice for the role. Wen Nian was surprised to learn that the actor who received such high acim was only Xu Chang¡¯s second choice. Furthermore, she didn¡¯t expect Xu Chang to be interested in her for the role. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t resist her curiosity and asked Xu Chang, ¡°Director Xu, may I ask why you believe I am a perfect fit for the role?¡± Xu Chang smiled and replied, ¡°Would you believe me if I said it was just a gut feeling? I can¡¯t quite put it into words myself.¡± Xu Chang retrieved his phone and showed Wen Nian a scene that Bai Zheng had filmed. ¡°To be honest, it¡¯s hard to exin why I feel you scored 10 points. Maybe it¡¯s just a gut feeling. But if I had to give a reason, it¡¯s because I see a vibrant energy in you that I want to convey to the audience, especially those who arc being bullied. It¡¯s a challenging emotion to portray on screen, and only actors with a certain level of experience can pull it off. But with you, I see a potential that can trante into apelling performance, which is why I gave you that extra point.¡± Wen Nian felt a conflict within herself. She realized that getting to know the current Xu Chang was both a stroke of fate and an opportunity for her. Even without her, Xu Chang could still rely on the actress to be famous, while she would have to climb thedder of sess step by step, which might take five or ten years. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to wait that long. She knew that in life, one may only meet one or two benefactors, and her rebirth gave her the opportunity to know Xu Chang¡¯s fate in advance. Wen Nian decided to take a risk, knowing that it would only postpone her university ns by two months. If she failed to get epted, she could always repeat her third year of high school. Wen Nian looked at Xu Chang firmly this time. ¡°I ept the offer.¡± Xu Chang¡¯s expression went from disbelief to ecstasy. Xu Chang had even nned to wait for Wen Nian at the school gate tomorrow, at a specific time, in case she had not epted the offer. Xu Chang was so excited that he quickly replied, ¡°Alright, alright, alright! I¡¯ll draft the contract immediately and then head back to the capital to start preparing.. We¡¯ll aim to start filming in January and try our best to finish it during the winter break so that your studies won¡¯t be disrupted too much!¡± Chapter 72 - 72: Persuasion Chapter 72: Persuasion Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian smiled and nodded. ¡°But I still have to tell my parents first.¡± Only then did Xu Chang realize there was another obstacle, but now it was a 2v2 scenario. However, he felt confident! ¡°I¡¯ll go to the copy shop to print out the contract first. Meet me at the noodle shop and wait for me there.¡± They went their separate ways. It was already past seven in the evening, and the noodle restaurant was nearly empty with only a few people eating. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were about to start eating when they saw Wen Nian enter the shop with her school bag. They asked curiously, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were going to eat with your ssmates today? You finished eating so quickly!¡± After cing her bag in the cab at the front desk, Wen Nian went over to help carry the dishes. ¡°I¡¯m finished eating,¡± she said. ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Wen Xing brought out two bowls of rice and looked at his daughter with a smile. ¡°What¡¯s so urgent that you came all the way to the shop to talk about it?¡± he asked. ¡°Would you like to eat with us again?¡± Wen Nian was worried that her parents would lose their appetite if she said anything, so she urged them, ¡°I¡¯m full. Please go ahead and eat. We can talk after you finish.¡± Afraid of being questioned, Wen Nian turned to collect the empty bowls from the table before heading into the kitchen. The couple finished their meal quickly, taking only ten minutes. ¡°Nian Nian, please tell us. What¡¯s the matter?¡¯ Wen Xing asked. ¡®Why are you being so mysterious?¡± Wen Nian sat down beside her parents and pursed her lips. Carefully, she said, ¡°Before I be an adult, I want to do something meaningful, like helping some of my weaker ssmates.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Mei immediately spoke up in support. ¡°That¡¯s a great idea! We fully support you,¡± she said. Wen Xing also chimed in with encouragement. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Do we need to donate money or items?¡± Wen Nian smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s more meaningful than just donating money or items. I want to be a role model for them. When they see me, I hope they will find the courage to face the dark side of society and fight against injustice.¡± The couple paused and exchanged a look, worried that they might discourage Wen Nian¡¯s good intentions. Tactfully, they said, ¡°Daughter, it¡¯s not that your Dad and I don¡¯t believe in your abilities, but we want to help you in the best way we can. Remember, you¡¯re still young, so don¡¯t overestimate yourself blindly.¡± Seeing that she had sessfully primed her parents, Wen Nian added, ¡°I won¡¯t be doing this alone. It will be a group effort. But I understand that it might affect my studies a little. Our activity willst for about two months, but I¡¯ll make use of every spare moment to catch up on any missed homework.¡± Hearing this, Wen Xing smiled and said, ¡°That¡¯s good. Your mom and I won¡¯t stop you from doing good things just because it might dy your studies, but you have to be careful. Is this activity organized by the school?¡± Before Wen Nian could reply, she was interrupted by a greeting behind her. Xu Chang suddenly appeared in front of everyone with a smile and greeted them. ¡°Brother Wen, Sister Zhou, it¡¯s a relief to finally see Wen Nian chatting so happily with you.¡± Seeing the confusion on her parents¡¯ faces, Wen Nian quickly exined to them, ¡°Dad, Mom, the activity I mentioned just now is to participate in the filming of Director Xu¡¯s movie.¡± When Wen Xing and Zhou Mei heard this, their expressions changed drastically. Zhou Mei red at Wen Nian and said to Wen Xing Xing, ¡°Wen Xing, go to the door and hang up the ¡®suspended business¡¯ sign. Let¡¯s settle this matter first.¡± Wen Xing did as he was told. Wen Nian smiled ingratiatingly and exined the theme of the movie. Xu Chang quickly handed over the outline of the movie script. Due to Wen Nian¡¯s attitude, the couple was worried that if they were too tough, it would trigger her rebellious side. They had worked hard to maintain goodmunication with her recently and didn¡¯t want to strain their rtionship again, so they decided to take the script. After reading the script, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei remained silent for a while before asking, ¡°Where is the filming location?¡± Xu Chang responded, ¡°The capital. I intend to set Wen Nian¡¯s scenes during the winter break as much as possible. If she requires tuition and team support, I will provide her with everything as promised.¡± Wen Xing and Zhou Mei fell silent once again. Wen Nian understood that her parents were contemting whether they should close their shop and join the production team with her. ¡°Mom, I can manage on my own. When the shop closes for the New Year, you and my brother cane to Jingdu to visit me. We can even go on a trip for the New Year! Director Xu, I¡¯ll have a holiday for the New Year, won¡¯t I?¡± Xu Chang nodded repeatedly. ¡°Of course! Usually, our production team gets time off from the 30th of this year until the second day of the New Year. The festive atmosphere in the capital is very lively, and there are many enjoyable activities. When your brother and sister arrive in the capital, they can stay in a hotel with Wen Nian.. I¡¯ll cover the cost of their amodation and round-trip tickets!¡± Chapter 73 - 73: Human Trafficker Chapter 73: Human Trafficker Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhou Mei shook her head and said worriedly, ¡°Your father and I should apany you the whole time. You¡¯re still young, and what do you know? You won¡¯t even realize if someone tries to take advantage of you!¡± Upon hearing this, Xu Chang, who had beenbeled as a ¡°human trafficker¡±, felt his facial muscles twitch a few times. Wen Nian realized that she wouldn¡¯t be able toprehend her parents¡¯ thoughts for the time being, but she didn¡¯t feel an urgency to argue for a resolution at that moment. Her priority was to secure the agreement and sign the contract, so she gave Xu Chang a nce. Upon seeing this, Xu Chang promptly handed the contract to the Wen couple. ¡°Brother, Sister, please take a look at the contract first. If there¡¯s anything you don¡¯t understand, don¡¯t hesitate to ask. Well sign it after making sure that everything is right.¡± Wen Nian leaned closer to take a look as well. After all, she had signed numerous contracts in her previous life and had gained a lot of experience through trial and error. Upon reading it, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but admire Xu Chang for his kindness. Since Xu Chang¡¯s filming budget of five million yuan came from his personal savings, and he nned to mortgage the city house that his parents had bought for him to secure a bank loan, he couldn¡¯t offer a high sry. As a result, Wen Nian, the female lead, was only paid 200,000 yuan. However, Xu Chang had included a use in the contract stipting that if the box office revenue exceeded 10 million yuan, he would pay Wen Nian an additional 800,000 yuan. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing didn¡¯t know much about the entertainment industry, but to them, 200,000 yuan seemed like a considerable amount. Based on their previous sries from their jobs, it would have taken Zhou Mei and Wen Xing several years of saving without any expenses to earn that amount. However, now they only needed to work on the film for two months to earn it. The contract was signed smoothly, and after receiving it, Xu Chang eagerly headed back to the capital that same night to prepare for mortgaging his property the next day. He was eager to start preparing for filming. Wen Nian didn¡¯t feel smug about her uing lead role in the highly anticipated movie. Instead, she felt a bit anxious about whether her acting skills were up to par to carry the film. She was also concerned that any mistakes she made could ruin Xu Chang¡¯s future sess. Once Xu Chang found out, he took it upon himself tofort Wen Nian. Being more confident than her, his reassurance helped ease her worries. After Xu Chang left, Wen Nian continued to attend school and make-up sses. The Shen family. As Zhao Wu took a bite of the braised pig head meat, his eyes lit up. He turned to the girl beside him who was eating vegetables with her head lowered and said in a disdainful tone, ¡°Bai Ling, hurry up and eat two more pieces of meat. I¡¯ve been supporting you for two to three months and I haven¡¯t seen any improvement in your weight. It makes me ufortable to hug you while sleeping at night.¡± Upon hearing Zhao Wu¡¯s lewd words, Bai Ling¡¯s face turned red with difort. She whispered, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡± Observing her reaction, Zhao Wu felt tempted to tease her. He extended his index finger and lightly caressed Bai Ling¡¯s chin. ¡°I only mentioned that I¡¯ll hold you tonight. I didn¡¯t say anything else. Are you entertaining thoughts that you shouldn¡¯t be having?¡± Bai Ling only dared to re at Zhao Wu. Her red face wished she could bury it in her chest and ignore him. Shen Jun observed the interactions between Bai Ling and Zhao Wu and felt a mix of emotions. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder when his uncle had changed so much. Two months ago, he had invited Bai Ling to the beach, and now he was bringing Bai Ling to his house. It was apletely new experience for Shen Jun. When Zhao Wu saw Bai Ling¡¯s expression, he knew that this was already her limit. He was afraid that if he continued to tease her, Bai Ling would be embarrassed and angry, so he smiled and changed the subject, saying ¡°Niuniu, your little girlfriend¡¯s culinary skills are not bad!¡± Upon hearing this, the Shen family immediately swapped their bowls of vegetable soup with Zhao Wu¡¯s braised meat te. ¡°Food can¡¯t even stop you from talking. She has a boyfriend.¡± Zhao Wuughed disdainfully. ¡°What¡¯s the big deal? If you like it, just take it. And if you don¡¯t know how, I can teach you. I guarantee you¡¯ll learn how to do it!¡± At that moment, Zhao Wu looked disheveled and aggressive. He was a far cry from theposed and professional deputy mayor depicted in official news reports. Shen Jun smiled insincerely and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry. Just eat your vegetables.¡± Zhao Wu raised his eyebrows and smiled. ¡°Alright, it seems like you still don¡¯t understand the weight of my promise. If you change your mind and want to seek my adviceter, I won¡¯t help you unless you bring me two braised pig heads as a gift!¡± ¡°If it were anyone else, I wouldn¡¯t give them a second chance, but you¡¯re different. You¡¯re my biological nephew, and I can¡¯t bear to see you end up as an old virgin.¡± After hearing Zhao Wu¡¯s teasing, Shen Jun rolled his eyes and got up to put the braised meat back in the fridge. Zhao Wu quickly grabbed Shen Jun¡¯s hand, took the te back, and ced it in front of himself. ¡°Let¡¯s stop talking and eat..¡± Chapter 74 - 74: Return Later Chapter 74: Return Later Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue and Zhao Cheng parted ways on bad terms that night. Since there was no progress on Wen Nian¡¯s side and Huang Yue¡¯s face and feet had not fully healed, she applied for the rest of the week off and didn¡¯t attend any sses. However, Huang Yue didn¡¯t have afortable time while recuperating at home that week. She spent her time thinking about how to set up a trap for Wen Nian. It¡¯s unclear whether it was due to her preupation or something else, but her wound seemed to heal particrly slowly. On the night of the incident, the scalded area had only been rinsed for over ten minutes. Despite receiving prompt treatment, the water that burned Huang Yue¡¯s face and feet was still over 90 degrees Celsius. Huang Yue was willing to resort to extreme measures to bring Wen Nian down, even if it meant harming herself. If the water hadn¡¯t already boiled for a while, she would have filled it with boiling hot water to ensure Wen Nian¡¯s punishment. As a result, the final test determined that Huang Yue had suffered a moderately severe burn. For the first two weeks, she had to go to the hospital every day to have her dressing changed. Half of her face was still covered in red, swollen blisters. To prevent pigmented marks and hypersia from developing on her face, Huang Yue had been eating boiled vegetables at home for the past week. She avoided high-protein foods and anything that could cause a reaction, as per her doctor¡¯s orders. Of all the seasonings, she only dared to add salt and food tasted nd. Huang Yue became increasingly anxious each time she changed her dressing and saw the burn, especially after the doctor told her that she might not be able to fully recover her fair skin. It wasn¡¯t until Saturday that she realized Wang Jing hadn¡¯t contacted her for two days. It had been over a week since she borrowed the money. Huang Yue thought for a moment before picking up her phone to send a message. Huang Yue sent a message saying: ¡°Hey baby, have you been really busytely? Make sure to take care of yourself, or I¡¯ll worry.¡± Huang Yue couldn¡¯t confront Wang Jing directly, so she opted for a tactful approach to start the conversation. This way, she could show her concern for Wang Jing¡¯s well-being and not give the impression that she only cared about the money. She waited until nighttime to receive a reply. Wang Jing replied: ¡°Thanks for your concern, baby. I¡¯ve been pretty busytely and haven¡¯t had a chance to look for you. I¡¯ve been running back and forth between the hospital and thepany. I¡¯m so busy that I don¡¯t even have time to eat.¡± Huang Yue quickly opened the message and read its contents. After seeing what Wang Jing had written, she hesitated on how to bring up the topic. Ding! The phone rang, and Huang Yue immediately picked it up. Wang Jing: ¡°Baby, have you eaten?¡± Wang Jing sounded a little tired. Huang Yue hurriedly asked with concern, ¡®Tve eaten. What about you? Why are you so busy now?¡± Wang Jing: ¡°Not yet. There¡¯s a problem with that batch of goods overseas. They¡¯re still being resolved. Baby, can I return the money fromst weekter?¡± Huang Yue was momentarily stunned. In her heart, she wanted to refuse, but she had already lent the money. If she said no now, wouldn¡¯t all her efforts be for nothing? In that case, she might as well not have lent the money to Wang Jing in the first ce. If Huang Yue took the money back now, it would only give Wang Jing more reason to object to her. Huang Yue made up her mind and replied cheerfully, ¡°Sure, no problem. You¡¯re in a hurry, so go ahead and use it first.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s cheerful voice rang out. ¡°Thank you so much, sweetie! Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll pay you back as soon as I receive the money!¡± Hearing Wang Jing¡¯s assurance, Huang Yue thought about the expensive designer clothes and essories that Wang Jing often unted and felt slightly reassured. Investing some money in the early stages to create a good impression was worth it. After all, the money would be returned eventually, but the opportunity to gain favor with someone was rare and valuable. Wang Jing expressed concern, ¡°How¡¯s your face, baby? I feel terrible that I wasn¡¯t on duty that night. I would have stayed with you the whole time. When you told me what happened, my heart felt like it was breaking. I¡¯ve been looking for ointment that can help your skin recover over the past few days. Once you remove the gauze, it¡¯ll be easier to apply.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s voice was filled with warmth. ¡°Silly girl, how could I despise you? Your beauty is not just about your face, but also your heart. As long as you¡¯re still the same you, I¡¯ll always like you.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s voice was filled with warmth. ¡°Silly girl, how could I despise you? Your beauty is not just about your face, but also your heart. As long as you¡¯re still the same you, I¡¯ll always like you.¡± Huang Yue was overjoyed. The two of them chatted for a while more. When they hung up, Huang Yue¡¯s worry about the 100,000 yuan loan hadpletely dissipated. She felt that she hadpletely grasped Wang Jing¡¯s heart. On Saturday, Wen Nian went to the noodle restaurant for dinner after work at the Shen family¡¯s house. She found Zhou Mei pounding her legs and arms in the kitchen.. ¡°Mom, are your muscles sore?¡± Chapter 75 - 75: Stability Chapter 75: Stability Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhou Mei nodded, her weariness belied by her upbeat demeanor. She smiled and remarked, ¡°We¡¯ve been getting a lot of regr customerstely, and our daily revenue is pretty consistent. Many fans have been raving about my braised meat. I¡¯m thinking about adding it as a separate item on the menu.¡± Wen Nian pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°We could sell it as a standalone dish, but we can¡¯t offer it at this noodle shop. We¡¯ll need to open a separate shop for that!¡± Zhou Mei¡¯s eyes widened slightly. ¡°Do we really need to do that? Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just stay here and save on rent? If customerse for the noodles, we could simply sell them a portion of braised meat to take away.¡± As Wen Nian pondered the suggestion, she became increasingly convinced of its feasibility. She sped Zhou Mei¡¯s arm affectionately and said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯ll see. It¡¯ll work out. Let¡¯s discuss it further over dinner.¡± Zhou Mei cast a nce at Wen Nian¡¯s delicate and enigmatic demeanor and replied with a smile, ¡°Sure, but why don¡¯t you sit outside at the cash register? The kitchen is full of the smell of oil and smoke, so it¡¯s best to stay away.¡± As the day progressed, Wen Yu finished school and the noodle shop grew increasingly busy. It wasn¡¯t until 8:30 p.m. that the Wen family finally had a chance to sit down and enjoy their own meal. Wen Yu also shared the timing of his uingpetition. ¡°The teacher announced today that the preliminary round is scheduled for December 26th, followed by the semi-finals the next day. The candidates from across the province will convene in Hai City, and No. 1 High School will be one of the examination venues.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Xing smiled with satisfaction. ¡°Work hard and aim to make it to the finals.¡± Zhou Mei was also very confident in her son and inquired about the timing of the finals. Wen Yu replied, ¡°The national finals will take ce in the capital, but the exact date and time have yet to be decided. It will be determined after the semi-finals.¡± When Wen Nian heard this, she eximed, ¡°That should be in January! I might have already joined the production team and be in the capital by then.¡± Since Wen Nian¡¯s recent brainwashing, the Wen couple was less resistant to the idea of their daughter going to the capital to film a movie. Zhou Mei also smiled and said, ¡°Then our family can gather in the capital! It will be my first time going there. When the timees, we should visit the capital square to watch the g-raising ceremony and share the experience on our Moments. My older sisters will be so envious!¡± Wen Nian noticed that Zhou Mei was fullymitted to joining the production team with her, and knew she had to quickly find a way to change the subject. If her mom closed her shop for two months to go to the capital, she would lose many customers. Wen Nian changed the subject to braised meat. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t think you and Dad can continue like this. You wake up at 5 am to buy groceries and open the shop at 7 am. You don¡¯t return home until 10 pm, and you only get a few hours of sleep each night. I¡¯ve noticed how exhausted you both look every day. Just a few nights ago, I woke up to use the bathroom and heard your loud snoringing from the living room where you sleep. You should consider hiring someone to help you out. I¡¯ve been wanting to bring this up for a while now.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t want her parents to stay in the restaurant all the time, even if there weren¡¯t many customers. Running a restaurant was a demanding business. It could be very profitable, but also exhausting. When Zhou Mei heard this, she shook her head vigorously and rejected the idea without much thought. ¡°It¡¯s only been a month since we opened the restaurant, and it hasn¡¯t fully stabilized yet. Hiring another person will increase our costs. Will it even be profitable?¡± Wen Nian pouted. ¡°I wonder who told me in the kitchen earlier that our daily operating ie has stabilized.¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Mei coughed lightly but remained silent. Zhou Mei was primarily responsible for cooking on the stove, standing there for most of the day. As a result, her calves were starting to show varicose veins. Meanwhile, Wen Xing was responsible for cleaning up the noodle shop, spending the entire day bent over washing dishes. Each night, as he closed up shop and headed home, his waist felt like it was about to snap. This job was even more ufortable than standing at the stove, as Zhou Mei did. Last week, Wen Xing suggested hiring someone to help with the noodle shop to his wife, but she rejected the idea and suggested waiting until after Wen Nian finished filming and if they observe the same customer flow. The idea of waiting another month was overwhelming for Wen Xing, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel like crying at the thought of enduring the physical strain and long hours for much longer. Fortunately, Wen Nian had raised the idea now. Wen Xing was grateful to have such a considerate daughter, unlike Wen Yu who was less discreet with her thoughts and feelings. Wen Nian continued, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t worry about the cost. The shop has already made a profit, and even if it doesn¡¯t, it¡¯s more important to take care of your health. We¡¯ll hire a helper to work in the morning, and you cane in to work in the afternoon. That way, both of you can take a break and take turns to rest. The business won¡¯t be affected, and your health won¡¯t be affected either..¡± Chapter 76 - 76: Hiring Someone Chapter 76: Hiring Someone Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian didn¡¯t give Zhou Mei a chance to refute and continued, ¡°Don¡¯t hate me for saying these harsh words. You better be careful not to work hard just to hand over the money to the hospital. I absolutely won¡¯t agree to you and dad holding on like this!¡± Wen Yu supported Wen Nian and said, ¡°Nian Nian is right. Mom, you don¡¯t have to risk your life doing business like this! Besides, by hiring two people to help, you¡¯ll have more free time to think of ways to expand the shop, retain your old customers, and attract new ones. Spending this money is necessary. I noticed that you don¡¯t respond to your customers quickly in the restaurant fans group chat. Is this how you treat the people who supports you?¡± Since his son and daughter had already spoken, Wen Xing felt much more supported. He gathered his courage and once again expressed his wish to ask for help. The Wen family remained very open-minded, and with the situation now 3 against 1, Zhou Mei could onlypromise under the expectant gazes of the family. ¡°Okay, but we can only hire one person for now. You¡¯ll be responsible for helping me and taking turns washing the dishes with your father.¡± The other three also agreed topromise, considering it an improvement. Wen Nian continued, ¡°Mom, I think we can create a series of braised meat dishes like the brand ¡®ck Duckie¡¯. They have spicy braised food that¡¯s focused on snacks, while our family¡¯s products can be a mix of snacks and cooked dishes that can be served directly on the table. Either option is fine.¡± ¡°In that case, we definitely can¡¯t share a stall with the noodle shop anymore. It wouldn¡¯t look official. Additionally, there are so many braised dishes that we can¡¯t store them here. However, we can¡¯t just blindly open a shop either.¡± ¡°We can start by conducting a pre-opening survey using the restaurant customers group chat toe up with a braised food menu. In addition to meat dishes, we can also offer some vegetarian options and see how well they¡¯re received. We can also require customers to reserve a day in advance. Let¡¯s try it out for half a month and then decide whether we want to pursue this further.¡± Wen Yu nodded in agreement. ¡°The customers who join our fan club are the group with the highest number of repeat customers. They are more loyal, and therefore more likely to be tolerant of us. I think it¡¯s best to experiment with them first!¡± Zhou Mei looked at Wen Nian in surprise. ¡°Nian Nian, how do you know so much?!¡± Wen Nian had never seen a the pork meat before, but she had seen them run. In her previous life, when she went out for drinks with investors, they would often gather to boast and discuss business matters like these. Wen Nian had learned a little from the sidelines. Although those people were womanizers, the fact that they were able to earn so much money meant that they were quite skilled in business. Wen Nian smiled and replied, ¡°I just read about it in some business newspapers.¡± In the end, the family decided to give it a try as Wen Nian suggested. Wen Nian was worried that something would happen if she dyed any longer. She immediately posted a recruitment advertisement on the recruitment website and posted a notice at the door. She had to recruit people as soon as possible. The first day of December was Wednesday. As soon as Wen Nian woke up, she saw small snowkes floating outside the window. Looking at the greenery on the tree branches covered in a thinyer of white frost, Wen Nian, who liked snowy days, was in a good mood. Wen Nian was taken to school on Wen Yu¡¯s bike and hummed along the way to the ssroom. When she saw Shen Jun, she took the initiative to greet him. ¡°Good morning, deskmate.¡± Shen Jun raised his eyebrows and nced at Wen Nian. ¡°You¡¯re in such a good mood today?¡± Wen Nian replied with a smile, ¡°I like snow the most. Unfortunately, I was born in autumn.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes flickered. He smiled and didn¡¯t say anything. The snow was getting heavier, and after finishing her lessons in the afternoon, Wen Nian walked out of the school pushing her bike with Shen Jun by her side. Shen Jun was curious when he saw his uncle suddenly appear at the school gate instead of waiting for him in the car. Zhao Wu smiled smugly when he saw Wen Nian. He had suspected that something was wrong, as Shen Jun always seemed to be thest one to leave whenever he came to pick him up. Zhao Wu looked at Wen Nian and smiled warmly. ¡°You¡¯re Shen Jun¡¯s ssmate, right, little friend?¡± Wen Nian widened her eyes in shock as she looked at the young man in front of her. She still remembered that, in her previous life, the official news had announced that he had entered the country¡¯s core political power on the night before she died. Zhao Wu didn¡¯t think much of Wen Nian¡¯s reaction. He often appeared on the local station¡¯s official news and assumed that the youngdy in front of him was simply surprised to see him in person.¡± Shen Jun frowned slightly, unsure of his uncle¡¯s intentions. However, since he was already in front of them, he decided to introduce him to Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, this is my uncle,¡± he said.. Chapter 77 - 77: Birthday Party Chapter 77: Birthday Party Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian came back to her senses and bowed slightly. ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Zhao Wu smiled and responded, ¡°Hello. Today happens to be Shen Jun¡¯s birthday, and since you two seem to be quite close, why don¡¯t you join us for his birthday party?¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun in surprise. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t realize it was your birthday today. I didn¡¯t prepare anything for you,¡± she said. Zhao Wu seized the opportunity and quickly added, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about a gift. Your presence is the best gift of all!¡± Wen Nian assumed that the invitation was merely a polite gesture, so she declined it politely. ¡°Thank you for the invitation, Uncle, but it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to attend your family¡¯s gathering as an outsider. I¡¯ll give Shen Jun a gift another day,¡± she said. Zhao Wu understood the hidden meaning behind Wen Nian¡¯s rejection and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not just exchanging pleasantries with you. The Shen Jun family isn¡¯t in Hai City, so I¡¯ll be celebrating with a few friends. If you join us, it¡¯ll be a great opportunity for you to gain more poprity and make Shen Jun¡¯s birthday celebration even more enjoyable,¡± he said. Shen Jun red at his uncle but then smiled casually at Wen Nian. ¡°It¡¯s alright. If you have something else to do, go ahead and do it,¡± he said. Zhao Wu wasn¡¯t willing to give up so easily on the opportunity to see Wen Nian. He persisted, ¡°Don¡¯t pay attention to him. He¡¯s just afraid that you¡¯ll outshine him in front of me, so he¡¯s looking for a way out. After all, who doesn¡¯t want a lively birthday celebration?¡± After saying so much, Wen Nian felt that it would be unreasonable for her not to attend since her rtionship with Shen Jun wasn¡¯t that of an ordinary ssmate. Wen Nian smiled at Shen Jun. ¡°I don¡¯t have much to do tonight, so I¡¯d be very happy to attend your birthday party.¡± Shen Jun couldn¡¯t quite discern his own emotions at the moment. All he knew was that when his uncle invited Wen Nian to the party earlier, his anxious heart had suddenly eased. Zhao Wu felt even happier than the girl he had a crush on. He hastily suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s put the bike back at the shed quickly. I¡¯ll give you a ride home after the party.¡± After returning the bike to the shed, Wen Nian called her parents to exin the situation and let them know she would being hometer than usual today. When Wen Nian got into the car, she noticed a gentle-looking girl sitting in the front passenger seat. Zhao Wu took the initiative to introduce the girl to Wen Nian and Bai Ling. The two of them exchanged greetings but didn¡¯t say much else. Zhao Wu had arranged for the birthday party to be held at a high-end club in Hai City, which happened to be one of the ces where Wen Nian had oftene to apany for drinks in her previous life. Coming to this ce again after her rebirth resulted in her remembering those unbearable memories and her expression turned sour. Shen Jun saw it and asked softly, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face was pale as he shook his head stiffly. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s keep going.¡± Seeing this, Shen Jun didn¡¯t ask further. The four of them entered the private room together. The private room was divided into two parts: one for dining, and the other for entertainment, such as ying mahjong and singing. There were already three men around Zhao Wu¡¯s age in the private room. Two of them were singing karaoke, but they were singing at the top of their lungs, almostpeting to see who had a louder voice. Wen Nian found the noise level unbearable, but she didn¡¯t say anything and just sat quietly beside Shen Jun. On the sofa sat a man with a crew cut. He had a two-centimeter scar on his brow bone, and was dressed in a leather jacket and cargo pants. He exuded a very cold demeanor. Shen Jun¡¯s cold demeanor suggested that he was not one for small talk and was resistant to conformity. However, the scarred man emitted a murderous aura that gave Wen Nian a clear indication of his profession. When the man saw Shen Jun, he raised his hand and greeted, ¡°Niuniu, happy birthday!¡± Wen Nian was taken aback by Shen Jun¡¯s endearing nickname, causing her to purse her lips and stifle a smile. Upon hearing his nickname, Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian ufortably, clearing his throat before introducing her to the two men. ¡°Big Brother Zheng Jun, this is my ssmate Wen Nian. Wen Nian, this is my uncle¡¯s good friend. You can address him like how I did.¡± Given the generation gap between Shen Jun and his uncle, he should have addressed these men as ¡°uncle.¡± However, due to Shen Jun¡¯s close rtionship with his uncle and their history of ying together since youth, Shen Jun had always referred to his uncle¡¯s friends as ¡°big brother.¡± Both sides had agreed to this arrangement, disregarding the biological rtionship between Shen Jun and his uncle. Wen Nian nodded politely in greeting. ¡°Hello, Big Brother Zheng Jun.¡± Zheng Jun could see the difort on Shen Jun¡¯s face and chuckled. ¡°Hello, Wen Nian.¡± The two men who had been singing stopped and walked over to Shen Jun¡¯s side to wish him a happy birthday Shen Jun introduced each of them to Wen Nian one by one, although she already knew the other two men quite well. One of them was Wu Kang, the future head of GK Corporation, while the other was Xiang Cheng, the crown prince of Stars Entertainment, the country¡¯s top entertainmentpany. In her previous life, Wen Nian had not been qualified to toast with such big shots. However, Zhao Cheng had taken her to a few high-end cocktail parties where she had seen the two men from afar..¡± Chapter 78 - 78: Get Accepted to a School in the Capital Chapter 78: Get epted to a School in the Capital Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As expected, the friends of the big shots were also important figures. Wen Nian obediently greeted them. Everyone present was talented, and after noticing the strange atmosphere between Shen Jun and Wen Nian, they refrained from using Shen Jun¡¯s nickname, which he was relieved about. Since everyone was from Jingdu, the dishes served that night were also in the Jingdu style. Shen Jun assumed that Wen Nian had never eaten it before, so he quietly demonstrated how to eat the Capital¡¯s roast duck. ¡°When eating the Capital¡¯s roast duck, the skin is the most important part. The meat is not the main point,¡± he said. Wen Nian also pretended that she had never tried it before and followed suit. The skin was crispy and slightly charred, and the meat was fat but not greasy. Most importantly, it had a rich and mellow vor. Wen Nian wasn¡¯t sure if it was the ambiance or the quality of the dish, but she felt that the Capital¡¯s roast duck tasted much better than what she had eaten at the escort table in her previous life. After taking a bite, Wen Nian eximed from the bottom of her heart, ¡°This roast duck is absolutely delicious! Shen Jun chuckled and said, ¡°I would give this roast duck only nine points. Once you get into a school in the capital, I¡¯ll take you to an old restaurant where I¡¯ve been eating since childhood. The taste will be extraordinary.¡± As he spoke, there was a knock on the door. Thinking that the dishes had been served, Zhao Wu called for the person toe in. The door was pushed open and a slightly plump man with a bald head appeared. The man bent down slightly and entered with a smile on his face. His voice dripped with ttery. ¡°Hello, Secretary Zhao. I¡¯m Chen Xiang from Tengfa Technology. I heard that you reserved a private room here today, so I came specifically to raise a toast to you.¡± As Wen Nian looked at the person in front of her, her throat tightened and her heart felt as if it was being squeezed. She struggled to catch her breath. Today¡¯s banquet was Zhao Wu¡¯s private gathering. When he saw Chen Xiang arrive, annoyance flickered across his face, but he quickly suppressed it. He greeted Chen Xiang with the same gentle and polite tone he used when receiving people at the government office. ¡°President Chen, you¡¯re too kind. I¡¯m just having a meal with my family and friends.¡± Chen Xiang knew it was not the best timing to visit, but the entire Hai City government was seeking to upgrade their oldputers. This was a significant project where earning money was secondary to building connections with government officials. The young man in front of him was in charge of the project, making him an essential contact. Chen Xiang only intended to make an appearance, so he did not linger long. He didn¡¯t want to risk upsetting Zhao Wu and ruining any chance of building connections. ¡°Of course, of course. I just wanted to pay my respects to you. Please don¡¯t mind me. You carry on with your ns.¡± After speaking, Chen Xiang downed the full ss of liquor in one gulp and held it out to Zhao Wu, signaling that he had finished it. From the moment he came in until now, Chen Xiang kept his back bent. However, he didn¡¯t feel tired in the slightest. His facial muscles were bunched together from his constant smile. ¡°Secretary Zhao, please continue. I¡¯ll be in the adjacent private room. If you require any assistance, simply inform me. I¡¯m always at your service.¡± With that, Chen Xiang bent down slightly and exited the private room. Both the political and business worlds were ustomed to such urrences. No one was bothered by this minor disruption, and everyone resumed their eating, drinking, and chatting at the table. Wen Nian lowered her head, tightly gripping her chopsticks with one hand and the corner of her shirt with the other. She wished she could erase the man¡¯s face from her memory. She wished she could forget how he hadid on top of her. Chen Xiang was the first man arranged by Zhao Cheng for Wen Nian, a man with a particr sexual fetish. Every time Wen Nian saw him, memories of the excruciating experience from that night flooded her mind, including at present. Shen Jun quickly noticed that something was wrong with Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, is everything okay?¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s concern, Wen Nian snapped back to reality. She felt a cold sweat break out on her skin and replied in a dazed tone, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± Wen Nian sprang up from her seat and hurried out of the room without waiting for Shen Jun¡¯s reply. Wen Nian stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, her mind still reeling from the memories that had resurfaced. Her fair face was free of makeup and her long, ck hair was tied into a messy ponytail at the nape of her neck, giving her the appearance of a pure and innocent student. She was no longer the cheap and disgusting woman in her previous life. After a while, Wen Nian lowered her head and sshed cold water on her face. She took a few deep breaths. The private room actually had a washroom, but Wen Nian had escaped from the environment at that time and was alone, so she walked to the public washroom at the back of the corridor. Wen Nian walked out of the washroom and almost bumped into Chen Xiang, who was walking past her while on the phone. He continued on his way towards a small leisure terrace located beyond the washroom. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but take a few steps forward and watch as Chen Xiang walked away, his back disappearing from her sight.. Chapter 79 - 79: Gone to the Police Station Chapter 79: Gone to the Police Station Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Chen Xiang leaned against the railing of the balcony, his arms resting on the hollowed-out carved railing that only reached his abdomen. Wen Nian walked into the balcony in a daze. At this moment, Chen Xiang was chatting happily with someone and did not notice that someone was standing behind him. At this moment, if someone took advantage of his unpreparedness and pushed him slightly, the first murder case would ur in this club. Wen Nian was a little nervous as she slowly reached out to Chen Xiang¡¯s back. As Wen Nian¡¯s fingertips brushed against the windbreaker¡¯s fabric, she was abruptly yanked away by a powerful force. Startled, she nced back with apprehension. With a dark expression, Shen Jun pulled Wen Nian back to the corridor, leaving Chen Xiang who was still boasting to the other party about his certainty of securing the business deal with the government official this time. Shen Jun led Wen Nian to an empty private room. Despite his efforts to control his emotions, he couldn¡¯t shake off the anger from the earlier altercation. Surveince cameras loomed over the balcony. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel regretful; had he not been keeping a close eye on Wen Nian and followed her out, he might have gone to the police station to see her that night. But Shen Jun knew that Wen Nian was not he type to cause trouble. And so, he asked her patiently, ¡°Did he do something to you?¡± Wen Nian looked up at Shen Jun, but ultimately lowered her head without uttering a word. In this lifetime, nothing had urred that could justify Wen Nian¡¯s actions. She couldn¡¯t me it on anything from her past life, could she? Wen Nian¡¯s silence left Shen Jun feeling somewhat helpless. From her uncharacteristic entrance into the club to the terror and panic that ensued upon encountering the man, Shen Jun had noticed all of these abnormalities. This was enough for Shen Jun to realize that Wen Nian was acquainted with the other person. However, the other party¡¯s response didn¡¯t suggest any familiarity with Wen Nian. Shen Jun was at a loss to understand what kind of intense animosity existed between the two. Shen Jun felt concerned about Wen Nian¡¯s well-being. After some thought, he spoke up, ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened to you, but please be aware that both the corridor and terrace are under surveince. Regardless of what¡¯s going on, I hope you¡¯ll consider your parents¡¯ feelings. You¡¯re not alone in this.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered. In the heat of the moment, she had forgotten that she was no longer the same Wen Nian with nothing to lose. She didn¡¯t need to spend her life in prison for such a pervert. Wen Nian suddenly felt grateful that Shen Jun had intervened earlier. She looked at him with appreciation and said, ¡°Shen Jun, thank you.¡± Shen Jun felt somewhat relieved upon seeing that Wen Nian¡¯s expression had regained its rity, and that she no longer seemed as despondent as before. They returned to the private room, where Bai Ling and Zheng Jun were waiting. The other three present raised their eyebrows at Shen Jun, casting him ambiguous nces. Shen Jun chose to ignore them. After the meal, Zhao Wu had originally nned for a card game and a drinking game. However, due to Wen Nian¡¯s presence, Zhao Wu sang a bit before beginning to grumble about wanting to eat the cake. Zhao Wu summoned someone to bring in the cake, and five or six statuesque beauties entered the private room. The alluring woman at the front carried an exquisite birthday cake as she led the group. With a smile, she said, ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s been a while since Mr. Zhao has graced us with his presence.¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s peach blossom eyes crinkled as he smiled. ¡°What can I say? My sry can¡¯t handle being squandered by you all.¡± The woman ced the cake on the coffee table and giggled, covering her mouth with her hand. She then turned to Shen Jun and gazed at him seductively. ¡°Oh, Mr. Zhao, you tter us. With your charms, we could have thedies pay for it, but it all depends on whether you¡¯ll enjoy it.¡± Zhao Wu smiled without saying anything. Observing the situation, the woman deftly steered the conversation towards the guest of honor. ¡°I heard it¡¯s Young Master¡¯s birthday today. I¡¯vee to offer my best wishes for your sess and a smooth-sailing future.¡± The others behind her also followed her lead and offered their well-wishes. At that moment, Zhao Wu shed a smile at the woman and said, ¡°It feels a bit strange for us men to sing the birthday song. Why don¡¯t we let some of the beautifuldies here sing for us?¡± The woman skillfully unwrapped the cake and lit a candle before responding cheerfully, ¡°Sure thing! Singing happens to be our specialty. And if any of the gentlemen ordies are not satisfied with our performance, I¡¯ll have to punish myself with three cups of liquor.¡± Although Zhao Wu¡¯s tone was not disrespectful at all, as if it was just a casual request, it still made Wen Nian feel a sense of distance and separation from them, as if she was not on the same level. If Wen Nian had to choose an ally in the group, she felt that it would be Bai Ling, the girl who stood to the side. After the young girls finished singing the birthday song, Shen Jun made a wish and blew out the candles. Zhao Wu hurriedly took a photo and sent it to his second elder sister as well as the grandpa and grandma at home to show them that he had done such a good job today.. Chapter 80 - 80: Use Protection Chapter 80: Use Protection Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios It wasn¡¯t even nine o¡¯clock when they finished eating the cake. Zhao Wu put his arm around Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder and whispered, ¡°You better not say that I didn¡¯t help you. Just remember to use protection.¡± Before Shen Jun could react to his uncle¡¯s intentions, Zhao Wu released his hand and retrieved the car keys from his pocket, handing them over to Shen Jun. He then turned to Wen Nian with a smile and said, ¡°You have ss tomorrow, so let Shen Jun give you a ride home. I had a drink earlier and it wouldn¡¯t be safe for me to drive. Besides, Shen Jun already stole my car once when he was just 14, so he¡¯s definitely an experienced driver. You don¡¯t have to worry about his driving skills!¡± Despite being only 17 years old and having neither a driver¡¯s license nor having reached the legal driving age, Shen Jun had already been driving for three years. Wen Nian had long been aware that thews and regtions of society often limited ordinary people. She knew that if Shen Jun encountered the traffic police, a simple phone call would suffice to resolve any issues. The officer might even have to apologize to him. Wen Nianmented the harsh realities of society in her heart, and realized that the gap between herself and them was like an insurmountable chasm. She still had a long way to go before catching up. Wen Nian smiled and said goodbye to everyone. The two of them walked out of the private room. As they walked past the private room next door, Wen Nian heard Chen Xiang¡¯s raucousughter seeping through the crack in the door. She halted in her tracks and a mischievous thought urred to her. A sinister smile crept onto her lips as she decided to follow Shen Jun. Shen Jun finally understood what Zhao Wu had meant and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of helplessness. He couldn¡¯t fathom what his uncle was always imagining. As he started the car, he asked, ¡°Where do you live?¡± Wen Nian recalled that there was a mall nearby. She blinked quickly and answered, ¡°It¡¯s in Fujing District, just up ahead.¡± The clubhouse was in the suburbs, and Fujing District was at the edge of the city. Shen Jun wasn¡¯t familiar with the road conditions in Hai City, so he drove for almost ten minutes before arriving at the destination. Shen Jun watched Wen Nian get out of the car and said, ¡°Wen Nian, thank you foring to my birthday party today.¡± Wen Nian smiled in embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be embarrassed. I went to the event empty-handed.¡± The corners of Shen Jun¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine as long as you were present. Hurry up and go in.¡± Wen Nian nodded with a smile and reminded her with concern, ¡°Drive slowly when you go back. Be careful.¡± Shen Jun replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Watching as Wen Nian turned around and walked into her neighborhood, Shen Jun waited in the car for a few moments before driving away. ¡°Miss, what are you doing?¡± An elderly voice sounded. Wen Nian squatted behind the lushwn of the green belt at the entrance of the district. Suddenly, a loud noise jolted her out of her reverie, causing her to spin around in surprise. It was then that she saw an old granny hobbling along, pulling a fluffy puppy behind her on a leash. She smiled awkwardly. ¡°Nothing much. I was doing squats.¡± With that, Wen Nian swiftly left the district and made her way to a small shopping mall on the side of the road. She bought another bag to put the things she neededter and she deposited the bag at the counter. Next, she hurried to the clothing store and quickly picked out a ck coat, paying for it without hesitation. She slipped on the coat and tied up her hair, tucking her hair underneath her new ck cap. Then, she wore a ck mask. Finally, she hailed a taxi and instructed the driver to take her back to the entrance of the club. There was arge parking lot at the entrance of the clubhouse. Wen Nian quickly located Chen Xiang¡¯s car based on her memory of the license te. She stealthily avoided the watchful eye of the security guard and proceeded to release most of the air from all four tires. Finally, she concealed herself beside the entrance road of the parking lot. Wen Nian waited for more than an hour before she saw Chen Xiang get into the car with a woman in his arms. Wen Nian immediately got into a taxi waiting for customers at the side. The driver was a middle-aged woman who took a quick nce at Wen Nian, who was covered head to toe, and wasn¡¯t sure whether to address her as ¡°Sir¡± or ¡°Miss¡±. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to forgo the title and simply asked with a smile, ¡°Hello, where can I take you?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s gaze was fixed on the entrance, and when she spotted the familiar license te number, she said to the driver, ¡°Follow that car!¡± The driver could tell that Wen Nian was a young girl, and felt that her age was too young to be suspicious. Despite this, she maintained a professional demeanor and replied, ¡°Okay, Miss.¡± Soon, they arrived at a traffic light. As soon as Chen Xiang¡¯s car passed the intersection, the red street lights began to sh yellow. The auntie subconsciously wanted to stop. Wen Nian saw through the auntie¡¯s intentions and quickly said, ¡°Auntie, that¡¯s my father and his mistress. I want to take photos of the evidence of his affair and fight for my mother¡¯s divorce assets!¡± When the auntie heard this, her sense of justice exploded. She stepped on the elerator and rushed out in front of the red light to catch up to Chen Xiang¡¯s gray car. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With my driving skills, you won¡¯t lose them!¡± As soon as she finished speaking, the car in front of them stopped crookedly by the roadside. The auntie also slowed down and stopped by the roadside a few meters away. Seeing Chen Xiang getting out of the car to check the tires, Wen Nian quickly nced at the meter and handed the auntie 20 yuan, saying, ¡°Auntie, keep the change. I¡¯ll get off here. Thank you..¡± Chapter 81 - 81: Pay Any Price For His Life Chapter 81: Pay Any Price For His Life Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The woman¡¯s hot-bloodedness was quenched before it could even ignite, but she sensed that the other person was having car trouble and wouldn¡¯t be able to leave anytime soon. She took the money and instructed the youngdy, ¡°Be careful not to be caught by that scumbag. If he discovers you, you won¡¯t be able to gather the evidence you need, and it might put you in danger. Wen Nian nodded, got out of the car, and quickly walked onto the sidewalk. The shaded trees on both sides blocked the faint yellow light. Wen Nian walked towards the darkness that was not illuminated by the feeble glow. After the taxi had departed, Chen Xiang¡¯s car was the only one left on the suburban road. He soon realized that he had a problem with one of his tires and quickly called for assistance, feeling somewhat perplexed. The deste suburbs suddenly piqued Chen Xiang¡¯s interest. He thought about the time needed for the driver toe over, so he pushed the woman onto the hood of the car and began to unbuckle his belt. ¡°Under the cloak of darkness, Wen Nian moved swiftly along the sidewalk and silently approached the car. She retrieved an alloy stick from her backpack and deftly extended it from its initial length of 20 centimeters to a formidable 60 centimeters. Chen Xiang was lying on the woman¡¯s body and twitching when Wen Nian suddenly appeared from the side. ¡°Ah!¡± The woman saw it from the front and screamed in fear. When Chen Xiang heard this, he became even more excited. He stood up slightly and pped the woman hard. Looking at the blood at the corner of the woman¡¯s mouth, he felt the blood in his entire body screaming in excitement. He roared ruthlessly, ¡°B*tch, shout louder!¡± Chen Xiang suddenly noticed another slender shadow beside the imprint of his own on the hood of the car. The shadow was now looming over him menacingly, brandishing a raised object. Fear and terror coursed through Chen Xiang¡¯s body, causing him to tremble uncontrobly. Just as he was about to turn around, he felt a sharp pain in his neck and promptly lost consciousness, his body going limp. Wen Nian remained silent, gesturing with his stick towards the woman and then indicating the direction of the road. The womanprehended Wen Nian¡¯s gesture and gazed down at Chen Xiang, whoy motionless on the ground. Her makeup failed to conceal the pallor of her face, which betrayed her overwhelming fear. She nodded her head vigorously, her voice quavering as she replied, ¡°I¡¯ll leave right away! I¡¯ll leave right away!¡± The woman ripped her dress from her waist and stumbled down the road. When Wen Nian saw that the woman had run far away, she immediately opened the car door and took out the memory card of the dashcam she was recording. As Wen Nian gazed down at the motionless Chen Xiang, the corners of her lips curled up in satisfaction beneath her mask. With a swift kick to his lifeless lower body, she expressed her contempt for the man. ¡°Chen Xiang, who had been rendered unconscious, abruptly awakened from the pain. His eyes bulged, and his vision was blurred. It took him a while to regain his bearings and find his voice. ¡®Who sent you?! I¡¯ll pay you double whatever the other party offered! Just let me go, please,¡¯ he pleaded desperately. Chen Xiang suspected that the person he had wronged in his business was now exacting revenge through murder. Fueled by his terror, he promptly offered to pay any price for his life. Wen Nian was in a good mood when she saw Chen Xiang begging for mercy. She lowered her voice and said, ¡°Kowtow a few times first. If you make me feel good, I can agree to your request.¡± When Chen Xiang heard Wen Nian¡¯s words, he looked up and secretly nced at Wen Nian¡¯s shorter body. He was secretly delighted. He slowly got up, then endured the pain in his crotch and pounced on Wen Nian. Wen Nian took out a mini bottle of pepper spray from her pocket and calmly sprayed it at Chen Xiang. There was another roar on the quiet road. Chen Xiang felt as if he was going to turn blind. His eyes burned with pain and tears kept flowing. Wen Nian raised her stick and hit Chen Xiang¡¯s leg hard. Chen Xiang followed the force and knelt beside Wen Nian. He couldn¡¯t see and his lower body was in pain. The pain from the two ces ovepped. Chen Xiang could only beg in a low voice, ¡°Please let me go. I¡¯ll give you as much money as you want!¡± Wen Nian looked at the former perpetrator and said what he had said to her in her previous life, ¡°Can¡¯t you bear it silently and suffer less? Since you dare to resist me, be prepared to bear my anger.¡± Wen Nian raised the stick high and hit Chen Xiang¡¯s back. Chen Xiang bent over and half-squatted on the ground. At this moment, he already knew that the person in front of him wouldn¡¯t let him off easily, so he stopped showing weakness and threatened fiercely, ¡°I¡¯m warning you. My status in Hai City isn¡¯t something you can afford to offend. Don¡¯t risk your life for others. No matter who you are, I can find out!¡± As Wen Nian struck Chen Xiang repeatedly, his voice grew fainter and fainter. The pain coursing through his body caused tears and snot to stick to his face. Gradually, his coarse words gave way to pitiful pleas for mercy. Observing Chen Xiang¡¯s helpless state, lying on the ground like a pile of mud, Wen Nian realized it was time to stop.. Chapter 82 - 82: Ordinary Student Chapter 82: Ordinary Student Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The club entrance was the only convenient location to hail a taxi. Wen Nian quickly stashed her jacket in her backpack and removed her cap before jogging back to the club. Several taxis were waiting for customers at the entrance. Wen Nian casually got into one of the cars, gave the address of the mall, and prepared to retrieve her school bag first. On the other side, after Shen Jun had dropped off Wen Nian in Fujing District, he returned to the club where he was celebrating his birthday with a few friends. As the host, he couldn¡¯t just leave everyone behind. He went back and spent more time at the party before sending the drunk Zhao Wu and Bai Ling back to Zhao Wu¡¯s neighborhood. Just as he drove to the intersection in front of Xifeng Court, Shen Jun suddenly saw Wen Nian sitting in the backseat of a taxi passing in front of him. His eyes widened slightly. At the same time, the left-turn light lit up, and Shen Jun followed quickly, without hesitation. Ten minutester, Shen Jun followed her to an old neighborhood and saw Wen Nian get out of the car and go upstairs. Soon after, a dark room on the third floor lit up with a faint glow. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Shen Jun picked up his phone and sent a message. Shen Jun asked, ¡°Are you asleep? How many pages of exercise books did you write when you got home?¡± ¡°I¡¯m preparing to rest. I¡¯ve written five pages!¡± Wen Nian replied. After replying, Wen Nian guiltily touched her nose. Even though she could have used the excuse of feeling unwell, she subconsciously wanted Shen Jun to know that she hadpleted her homework diligently. Before she realized it, she had already hit send. Shen Jun replied, ¡°I¡¯ll check tomorrow.¡± Wen Nian stared at the message on her phone in shock. Shen Jun had never before asked to check her daily exercise book, so she had taken the risk of lying. ¡°It¡¯s over¡­¡± she thought to herself in dismay. Wen Nian replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Observing that Wen Nian didn¡¯t offer any excuse, Shen Jun surmised that she would likely spend the night studying andpleting her exercise book. Noticing that it was nearly midnight, Shen Jun let out a helpless sigh and messaged Wen Nian, telling her that he was only joking and encouraging her to get some rest. ¡°Wen Nian raised her eyebrows and smiled as she read the message. She quickly got changed into her pajamas and went to wash up. Shen Jun waited downstairs for half an hour and only drove away when he saw that the previously lit room had fallen into darkness once more. The weekends always seemed to arrive quickly once Wednesday had passed. Wen Nian rescheduled her cleaning for Sunday and decided to pick out a gift for Shen Jun on Saturday. Even though Shen Jun¡¯s birthday had already passed, she still wanted to express her appreciation. Wen Nian emptied out her savings and began counting. She quickly realized that even with 1,000 yuan, she wouldn¡¯t be able to buy anything suitable for Shen Jun¡¯s needs. As she thought about the price of his daily necessities, she realized that this amount of money could not buy anything suitable for Shen Jun. ¡°Sigh, I can only focus on the emotional value of gifts.¡± Wen Nian took all the money and was about to leave when she suddenly realized that she could ask Zheng Mo out. Since their meeting at the mixed martial arts club, Wen Nian had gradually be closer to Zheng Mo. She had put in a lot of effort, and eventually, the two of them had exchanged WeChat messages. Because of their mutual interest in mixed martial arts, they often discussed theories and techniques, and had grown to be very familiar with one another. The two of them arranged to meet at Baisheng Mall. Zheng Mo had a personality that was more in line with a stereotypical masculine disposition. As a result, she had more friends who were male. When shopping, she was quick and decisive, much like her male counterparts, unlike other girls who might spend half a day searching for a suitable outfit. This was the first time Zheng Mo had ever shopped so slowly, and she was feeling a bit nervous. She took the initiative to ask Wen Nian, ¡°Are you looking to buy clothes? Wen Nian shook her head and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s Shen Jun¡¯s birthday a few days ago. I want to give him a gift.¡± Zheng Mo nodded and said, ¡°What do you n to give him?¡± Wen Nian hadn¡¯t yet thought of a gift and nned to browse while shopping. She asked, ¡°Do you have any good suggestions? Zheng Mo thought about the gifts she had given before and started counting with her fingers. ¡°Game console, wallet, fountain pen¡­¡± Zheng Mo woulde up with a gift idea and Wen Nian would reject it. After more than 20 gift ideas were rejected, Zheng Mo was so angry that sheughed. She looked at Wen Nian helplessly and teased, ¡°Your Shen Jun is the most precious. It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯tck it, but the things aren¡¯t worthy of him. You can give yourself to him.¡± When Wen Nian heard Zheng Mo¡¯s words, her ears turned red. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®my Shen Jun? We¡¯re just ssmates!¡± Although Zheng Mo had never been in a rtionship before, she had a crush on someone. They were all in the same club. Recently, during ss, Zheng Mo felt that there was an inexplicable atmosphere between Shen Jun and Wen Nian. They weren¡¯t in love. However, it was as though they were more than friends, but not yet lovers..¡± Chapter 83 - 83: Pay a Visit Chapter 83: Pay a Visit Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zheng Mo did not expose her. She smiled at Wen Nian and nodded perfunctorily. She joked, ¡°Yes, yes, yes. If it was this difficult to pick out a gift for a ssmate, you would not be able to pick out a gift for someone who is special.¡± After hearing this, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°I¡¯m only putting in so much effort because he helped me a lot. I don¡¯t have much money, so I have to be more careful in my choices and choose items that offer the best value.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, Zheng Momented nonchntly, ¡°When ites to sincerity, nothing beats something made by oneself. And the best part? It doesn¡¯t have to be expensive! Maybe a handmade scarf or gloves, for example.¡± Wen Nian pondered for a moment and found the suggestion reasonable. ¡°Actually, I do know how to knit scarves and gloves. Back in junior high school, there was a trend of making handmade gifts, and I knitted a few for my brother and parents. So, I have some experience in this!¡± Once they had decided on their n, everything fell into ce. They headed straight to the yarn shop, and Wen Nian selected the most luxurious cashmere thread avable. She purchased half a catty each of white and gray. Upon arriving home, Wen Nian retrieved the knitting book she had purchased in junior high and started browsing through it. After more than an hour, she finally settled on a pattern that she could knit quickly. She was concerned that the design might be too ostentatious or in, but ultimately decided on the two-colored flower field knitting method. Wen Nian was quite adept at knitting, and she spent half a day working on the gift. Once she had finished, she carefully ced it in the new gift box she had purchased. Two weeks prior, Shen Jun had registered Wen Nian¡¯s facial recognition in the building¡¯s security system and provided her with an elevator ess card. Thus, Wen Nian entered the building with ease and headed straight for the elevator. As the elevator doors slid open, Wen Nian locked eyes with Wei Feng. Wei Feng was a little surprised. He walked out of the elevator and asked, ¡°Wen Nian, why are you here?¡± Wen Nian maintained a polite and distant demeanor as she smiled calmly and replied, ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Wei. I¡¯m here to visit my ssmate, who lives in this building.¡± Having spoken, Wen Nian casually nced at the man with the tiger-head tattoo behind Wei Feng, then turned her attention back to Wei Feng himself. Wei Feng was somewhat taken aback by the revtion that Wen Nian had a ssmate in the building. He inquired with a note of concern, ¡°What a coincidence. Which floor is your ssmate on?¡± Wei Feng could have easily found out which floor Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate lived on, but she had nothing to hide and opted to tell him the truth. Wei Feng was taken aback upon learning that Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate resided on the top floor. Although he didn¡¯t know the resident¡¯s true identity, he was aware that they hailed from a prominent family in the capital. Wei Feng himself was a local businessman who had amassed his wealth in recent decades. Despite his best efforts, he had been unable to acquire more information about the aristocratic families of the city. Despite feeling a sense of turmoil inside, Wei Feng remained outwardlyposed, his years of business experience having honed his ability to maintain a calm demeanor. He offered a kind smile and remarked, ¡°It seems you and your ssmate are quite close, if you can enter our building so easily.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Nian feigned anxiety and nced at the time on her phone. She quickly replied, ¡°Old Mr. Wei, I¡¯m afraid I must be going. The time I agreed upon with my ssmate is almost up. Let¡¯s chat another time.¡± Wei Feng didn¡¯t say anything and waved at Wen Nian with a smile. Wei Feng frowned slightly when he saw the number on the elevator rising. He turned to look at Big Tiger. ¡°When you went and chased after that person, you saw that the person was a girl?¡± Big Tiger nodded in affirmation. ¡°Although I didn¡¯t get a good look at her face, the person had the figure of a girl.¡± As the elevator reached the top floor, Wei Feng couldn¡¯t help but recall Big Tiger¡¯s earlier encounter with a young man in the building. ¡°Do you think the girl you saw just now might be the same person you were chasing earlier?¡± he asked, turning to Big Tiger. Big Tiger was not very sure. ¡°She¡¯s about the same height, but that person was wearing a slightly looser casual outfit at that time. This girl is wearing a cotton shirt now, so there¡¯s no way to urately judge.¡± ¡°However, based on the fact that the person was able to evade surveince cameras and enter the premises through the secret passage, it¡¯s safe to assume that they have some level of martial arts training and experience in prying open doors. On the other hand, the girl we just saw seemed like an ordinary student, with no remarkable skills.¡± When Wei Feng heard these words, he pondered and realized that he may have been overthinking. Additionally, Wen Nian¡¯s reaction just now seemed very normal. If she had continuously stared at him and ignored Big Tiger, it would imply that she deliberately tried to avoid him or concealed that she had seen him. This was because when ordinary people knew that there were other people present, they would naturally look at the person nearby. This was a subconscious action. And so, Wei Feng removed Wen Nian from the list of suspects who had eavesdropped on himst time. He began to think about Wen Nian¡¯s rtionship with the resident living on the 12th floor and how to get to know her through Wen Nian. Thinking about how he had not been to Wen Xing¡¯s house for a long time, he felt that it was time for him pay Wen Xing a visit.. Chapter 84 - 84: Birthday Gift Chapter 84: Birthday Gift Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Feng tried calling Wen Xing from the car, but no one answered, so he proceeded to go to thepany as nned. When Wen Nian entered the Shen family¡¯s house, he was still sleeping in his room. After Wen Nian put down her bag, she quietly started cleaning for the week. When Shen Jun woke up, he realized it was already ten o¡¯clock. Even though his bedroom door was closed, he could still hear a faint noise emanating from the living room. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t resist a slight smile as hey in bed, lost in reverie for more than ten minutes. As he looked out the window at the light snowfall, he found himself growing fond of this winter season Shen Jun freshened up in his room before venturing out of the bedroom. When he caught sight of Wen Nian cleaning the table, he greeted her with a simple ¡°Good morning.¡± Wen Nian looked up and replied, ¡°Good morning.¡± Seeing the person for whom the gift was intended, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t wait to unveil it. She retrieved a small package from her bag and handed it to Shen Jun, saying, ¡°I know it¡¯s a bit overdue, but here¡¯s a birthday present for you.¡± Shen Jun was taken aback by the gift. Although Wen Nian had mentioned wanting to give him one a few days ago, he had expected her to forget about it. Thus, the unexpected surprise caught him off guard. Although Shen Jun¡¯s expression didn¡¯t look happy, Wen Nian could sense a change in his mood through his warm gaze. Shen Jun unwrapped the gift to reveal a scarf, and a faint smile graced his lips. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s lovely,¡± he said. Wen Nian cast a quick nce at the luxurious furnishings in the Shen household and scratched her head bashfully. ¡°It may not be worth much, but it¡¯s from me,¡± she said. It¡¯s hand-woven. It¡¯s warmer than those machines.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s thoughts drifted back to a saying he hade across online when he heard Wen Nian¡¯s words. It stated that when a girl hand-weaves a scarf, it signifies her affection. The idea of a handmade present denoting diligence and uniqueness made his heart flutter slightly. Shen Jun picked up the scarf and carefully examined it. ¡°Your handiwork is excellent,¡± he said, a genuine smile on his face. ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s even better than the ones sold in stores.¡± Wen Nian picked up on Shen Jun¡¯s happiness and felt a sense of reassurance. It showed that he truly valued her as a friend. ¡°I practiced knitting for a long time,¡± she admitted, with a hint of pride in her voice. ¡°And I have to say, if I can produce something this good on my first try, maybe I have a knack for it.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s smile froze for a moment, but he quickly covered it up. He stuttered as he said, ¡°I am surprised that the first scarf you knitted could be so excellent.¡± Wen Nian smiled, unaware of Shen Jun¡¯s odd reaction. ¡°I used to knit a lot for my family,¡± she said. ¡°But it¡¯s been two or three years since Ist did it. I was worried that my skills might have gotten rusty.¡± When Shen Jun heard this, his mood recovered. He smiled and praised, ¡°You knitted it quite well. Your skills definitely hasn¡¯t gotten rusty.¡± Hearing other people¡¯s praise, she was always in a good mood. Wen Nian smiled and teased, ¡°Are you being polite? But whether it¡¯s true or not, I¡¯ll take it seriously. Hurry up and eat breakfast. I¡¯ll clean up first.¡± Shen Jun nodded, put the scarf back in the bedroom, and went to the kitchen to cook dumplings. When Wen Nian saw this, she thought about how she had failed to treat him to a meal before. She then said to Shen Jun, ¡°I wanted to invite you to my noodle shop for a meal previously, but you haven¡¯t had the time. Why don¡¯t we eat together for lunch today?¡± Shen Jun was fishing for dumplings. When he heard this, he stopped what he was doing and replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Nian felt like she still owed Shen Jun a meal and couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of unfinished business. She kept thinking about it, and the idea of inviting him to lunch resurfaced. Without hesitation, she called Zhou Mei and shared the news, hoping that she could treat Shen Jun to a meal this time. It was daytime in China, and nighttime on the other side of the ocean. Wei Xiao identally clicked on the ss group chat that he had previously blocked. It was then that he saw Huang Yue¡¯s message about Wen Nian using her tactics to win the program during the school anniversary. As Wei Xiao looked at Wen Nian, who was quiet and elegant on stage, he felt a sudden shift in his heart. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions. At the time of Wei Ming¡¯s marriage, the Wei Corporation was still a small shop. Wei Xiao¡¯s mother had moved from the vige to the city for work and it was there where Wei Ming fell in love with her at first sight. They dated for half a year and then got married. Soon after their marriage, Wei Xiao was born. Wen Nian¡¯s mother was a beautiful woman, and despite being from the countryside, her gentle temperament set her apart from the vigers who enjoyed gossiping about others. This was one of the reasons why Wen Nian¡¯s father fell in love with her. After Wei Ming¡¯s marriage, the Wei family business began to prosper. When his two uncles got married, their unions were more like business arrangements that brought great benefits to the family. The two women that Wei Xiao¡¯s uncles married indeed brought a lot of benefits to the Wei Family.. Chapter 85 - 85: Lucky Chapter 85: Lucky Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Had it not been for the disappointing behavior of Wei Xiao¡¯s two uncles and their sons, Wei Xiao and his father might not have had the opportunity to stand out and seed. Memories from Wei Xiao¡¯s childhood came flooding back, particrly those involving his aunt, cousin, and their condescending attitudes toward him. These experiences left him withplex feelings toward his own mother when he was young. Wei Xiao had mixed feelings towards his mother. He appreciated her peaceful nature, which was in stark contrast to the arrogant and domineering attitudes of his aunts. However, he also resented that her social status couldn¡¯t benefit him and that he was looked down upon because of it. Following his mother¡¯s death, Wei Xiao¡¯s father struggled to recover, and as a result, Wei Xiao was sent to live with his grandfather. Despite the difficult circumstances, Wei Xiao saw this as a stroke of luck. In reality, this turn of events gave Wei Xiao the opportunity to be the sessor of the Wei Corporation. Despite not being apanied by his parents, he had obtained what he wanted most. As Wei Xiao watched the video of Wen Nian, he saw shadows of his mother in her. Her temperament had the ability to make his heart flutter. Even though Wei Xiao knew that it was impossible for him to marry someone as impractical as Wen Nian, he didn¡¯t want anyone else to see her unique and somewhat radiant qualities. After some thought, Wei Xiao called Zhao Cheng to tell him to stop the mission. At the Wen family¡¯s noodle shop, the Wen couple had been busy since morning, preparing for the new braised food shop they were nning to open. The couple would go to the wholesale market as early as four or five in the morning to receive the goods. Although they had fixed purchasing stalls, Zhou Mei was worried about letting the suppliers deliver the ingredients directly. So, she personally selected the ingredients every day to ensure their quality. ¡°Since there weren¡¯t many customers at the noodle restaurant in the morning, the employees worked from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei arrived at the restaurant at 6:30 a.m. to start preparing for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. After finishing breakfast, they started cooking for the customers who had reserved braised food through the fan club.¡± Wen Xing was busy with work until noon before he finally had a chance to check his phone. Upon seeing Wei Feng¡¯s missed call, he hesitated for a moment before deciding to return the call. After the call went through, Wei Feng¡¯s voice came through. ¡°Wen Xing, are you at work?¡± Wen Xing subconsciously didn¡¯t want to talk about his family¡¯s business. Moreover, working for his family was also work, so he replied righteously, ¡°Uncle Wei, I am at work, so I didn¡¯t receive your call.¡± Wei Feng¡¯s mellow voice sounded again. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just thought that I haven¡¯t seen you for a while, so I wanted to visit you guys. Is there anything I can help you with recently?¡± Ever since they reunited, Wei Feng would asionally contact Wen Xing to ask about his recent situation because he felt guilty. Hence, Wen Xing did not think too much about this call. ¡®Uncle Wei, you¡¯re too polite. We¡¯re doing quite well here. There¡¯s no difficulty. Wei Feng and Wen Xing exchanged a few more pleasantries. ¡°We can still see each other even if you are not struggling. Your father is my benefactor. With such a rtionship, our families should have interacted more.¡± After Wei Feng said this, his attitude became more forceful. He asked, ¡°When do you have the day off? I want toe visit you at your house.¡± As soon as Wei Feng¡¯s aura emerged, Wen Xing¡¯s calm demeanor dissipated. Considering that there were more people dining during the weekdays, he suggested they meet the following Sunday. Wen Yu arrived at the noodle restaurant for lunch after finishing his lessons. When he entered the kitchen and saw his mother preparing the dishes, he asked with curiosity, ¡°Mom, aren¡¯t we going to have some noodles for lunch today?¡± While Zhou Mei efficiently chopped the vegetables, she answered, ¡°Your sister invited a ssmate to our restaurant for dinner tonight. Ask Sister Sun to make you a bowl of braised noodles. After you eat, hurry back to school and rest.¡± Sister Sun was a newly hired employee. Previously, Wen Yu felt sorry for his parents, so he would oftene to the restaurant on weekends to help out. Zhou Mei also felt sorry for her son, who had to attend extra sses in the afternoons. But now that there were enough staff, she encouraged Wen Yu to return to school after finishing his meal. Wen Yu had just left when Wen Nian brought Shen Jun to the noodle shop. It was already past one o¡¯clock, and it was Sunday. There were not many customers in the shop. Zhou Mei was stir-frying in the kitchen, Sister Sun was disinfecting the washed dishes and utensils, and Wen Xing was organizing the backend data at the cashier. After Wen Nian entered, she shouted, ¡°Dad!¡± Wen Xing smiled and looked up at Wen Nian. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± When Wen Xing saw the outstanding-looking boy behind his daughter, he was stunned for a moment.. Then, he smiled and said, ¡°Wen Nian, is this the ssmate who has been tutoring you?¡± Chapter 86 - 86: Eating Chapter 86: Eating Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun greeted him politely. ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s father introduced Shen Jun, saying, ¡°Dad, this is my ssmate, Shen Jun.¡± Wen Xing smiled and nodded. ¡°Hello, Student Shen.¡± ¡°Wen Nian, please bring your ssmate and have a seat. Your mother will be finished cooking soon.¡± Zhou Mei, who was preparing thest dish in the kitchen, caught a glimpse of Shen Jun through the window of the serving area. Although she didn¡¯t see his face clearly, she knew that he was a boy. As Wen Nian entered the kitchen to serve the dishes, Zhou Mei stopped her and asked softly, ¡°The ssmate who has been tutoring you is a guy?¡± In China, parents of underage children who are studying would pay special attention to two issues: academic performance and dating at a young age. As a result, they tend to be particrly concerned about thepany their children keep. Although she didn¡¯t go as far as to say that she hoped her child wouldn¡¯t date a ssmate of the opposite sex, she was nevertheless a little worried. Of course, Wen Nian knew what Zhou Mei was thinking. She chuckled and said, ¡°With his family background, he won¡¯t be interested in your daughter. Don¡¯t worry! He consistently scores first ce in both the monthly and midterm exams. In every aspect, I am still far inferior to him.¡± With that, Wen Nian brought out the dishes that had been stir-fried. When Zhou Mei heard Wen Nian¡¯s words, she initially felt slightly relieved. However, she soon began to feel uneasy. Was her daughter not good enough for him? She knew her daughter was excellent! It was only temporary for her daughter¡¯s grades to fall behind. Zhou Meiforted herself. Soon, the dishes were all served. The restaurant did notck ingredients. Although it was ast-minute decision, Zhou Mei still made five dishes and a soup. There was boiled beef, sauteed golden fish, scrambled eggs with bitter melons, stir-fried rapeseed, handmade shrimp balls, and vegetable soup. Zhou Mei even asked Sister Sun, who was still in the kitchen, to join them for dinner. After everyone had taken their seats, Wen Nian introduced Zhou Mei and Shen Jun. The two greeted each other politely. Zhou Mei couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit stunned when she caught sight of Shen Jun¡¯s appearance, but she quicklyposed herself and offered a warm smile. ¡°Student Shen,¡± she said, ¡°thank you so much for taking care of Wen Nian. I cooked some homemade food for us. I hope it suits your taste. Shen Jun¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. ¡°Auntie, you and Wen Nian are too kind. Please just call me Shen Jun. Wen Nian and I are ssmates, so it¡¯s only natural for us to help each other out.¡± Wen Xing¡¯s warm smile matched Zhou Mei¡¯s as she spoke up. ¡°I believe there¡¯s no need for formalities, Shen Jun. Please treat this ce as your home and help yourself to anything you¡¯d like. Don¡¯t hesitate to take what you want,¡± she said, gesturing towards the food. Shen Jun replied, ¡°Okay.¡± As everyone began to eat, Shen Jun and Wen Nian seemed perfectly at ease. However, the other three guests, despite being in a familiar setting, couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of unease that lingered in the air. Wen Nian seemed to sense their difort but chose to remain silent. Some things were ingrained from childhood and often went unnoticed by the person involved, yet were palpable to others around them. Shen Jun had been taught from a young age not to speak during meals, but in reality, his family wasn¡¯t particrly strict about it. They only followed this rule when dining with unfamiliarpany. Thus, Shen Jun failed to notice anything amiss during the meal. After a silent meal, the Wen couple engaged in a brief conversation with Shen Jun. Sensing that the two still had dinner preparations to attend to, he took the initiative to speak. ¡°Auntie, the food was delicious, and your hospitality was much appreciated. I have already taken up too much of your time. I will take my leave now.¡± Wen Xing waved his hand dismissively and replied, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry about us, Shen Jun. Even if you didn¡¯te, we would still have to eat. Since you love Zhou Mei¡¯s cooking, visit us again whenever you want to get a taste of it.¡± Shen Jun smiled, realizing that Wen Xing was simply being polite. ¡°Thank you, I would love to join you all again. Just let me know if I¡¯m ever a bother.¡± Wen Nian apanied Shen Jun to the door of the shop and then turned to him, sounding curious. ¡°Now that it¡¯s just the two of us, can I ask you something? Do you really think my mother¡¯s cooking is delicious?¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he chuckled. ¡°Did I sound that insincere?¡± After a moment of contemtion, Wen Nian replied, ¡°You didn¡¯t sound insincere. It¡¯s just that I figured after having tasted so many delicious dishes, you might have be more selective and discerning with your taste buds.¡± Shen Jun answered, ¡°Your mom¡¯s cooking is not the best I¡¯ve ever tasted, but you can never get tired of home-cooked meals.¡± Wen Nian realized that she had nevere to this understanding in her previous life. She had always believed that everything outside of her own home was better. She had not expected Shen Jun to recognize the simple joy that could be found in such a peaceful and contented existence. Wen Nian gave her a thumbs up in agreement. ¡°You¡¯re quite perceptive. Despite the many delicious foods out there, I still prefer my mother¡¯s cooking above all else.¡± The two of them chatted a little longer before bidding each other farewell. Wen Nian then made her way back to the noodle shop.. Chapter 87 - 87: Unnecessary Worry Chapter 87: Unnecessary Worry Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhou Mei and Wen Xing stood by the front desk near the entrance. Spotting Wen Nian as she walked in, they beckoned her over and inquired, ¡°Wen Nian, is this ssmate of yours quite wealthy?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to rm the two of them, so she chose to respond subtly. Despite having a hunch, she simply replied, ¡°I think they¡¯re doing fine.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s implicit response, Zhou Mei chimed in, ¡°I agree. There¡¯s a distinct vibe about him. While we were having our meal earlier, I didn¡¯t feel the urge to engage in casual conversation. It seemed appropriate to adhere to proper dining etiquette while dining with him.¡± Wen Xing nced at his wife and remarked, ¡°I was curious why you were unusually silent during the meal today. I noticed the somewhat serene ambiance and was waiting for you to speak before I did.¡± Zhou Mei yfully rolled her eyes at Wen Xing. ¡°Don¡¯t talk about me. Don¡¯t you usually make smacking sounds while eating? I¡¯ve been telling you for years that some things never change. But today, you didn¡¯t do it even once. I never expected Nian Nian¡¯s ssmate to have the power to cure your habit. I might as well invite him over for dinner everyday!¡± Wen Nian watched her parents bickering like children once again, a smile ying on her lips as she shook her head. She walked over to the counter, retrieved her bag, and headed home to continue working on the progress she had made yesterday while preparing her birthday gift. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ll go back and focus on my homework for now.¡± Zhou Mei reminded Wen Nian, ¡°Alright, be careful on your way home.¡± After seeing Wen Nian leave, Zhou Mei expressed her thoughts, saying, ¡°I was concerned that if the two children interacted daily, they might develop an early romantic rtionship. However, after the meal, I realize my worries were unnecessary.Given his family¡¯s status, he might not even agree to dating Wen Nian even if Wen Nian wanted to date him.¡± Wen Xing, feeling unconvinced, retorted, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with our daughter? What¡¯s wrong with her? Besides, who said that the two individuals in a rtionship must be exceptionally remarkable? There are plenty of exceptions. Our daughter topped her cohort. Previously, she had just entered high school and was going through an adjustment phase, which led to some deviation in her thoughts. But now, she¡¯s willing to put in the effort, and I¡¯m confident she¡¯ll catch up swiftly!¡± ¡°Perhaps it will turn out that Shen Jun is the one interested in dating Wen Nian, and she ends up rejecting him.¡± The two of them bickered about this topic again. Previously, Bai Zheng was constantly pestered by Xu Chang and was forced to add Xu Chang on Wechat. During his free time, he casually scrolled through his WeChat Moments and was slightly taken aback toe across some pictures of pre-shoot preparations posted by Xu Chang. Bai Zheng messaged and asked, ¡°Director Xu, are you filming your movie soon?¡± Xu Chang replied, ¡°Absolutely! By the way, I want to express my sincere gratitude to you! I was in such a rush after signing the contract with Wen Nianst time that I didn¡¯t have a chance to treat you to a meal. The next time you visit the capital, please be sure to let me know. I insist on treating you to a delicious hot pot of mutton!¡± Upon reading the message, Bai Zheng found it hard to believe. After all, bing part of the production team required much more time and effort than ying the piano. He felt a sense of dejection, realizing that even though he had met Wen Nian before Xu Chang, the difference in treatment between them was substantial. Bai Zheng was not one to dwell on matters, but Wen Nian held a special ce in his heart. After a frustrating day, he found himself unable to fall asleep at night. Eventually, he mustered the courage to send Wen Nian a message on WeChat. Bai Zheng messaged, ¡°Wen Nian, I heard that you¡¯re involved in Director Xu¡¯s film project?¡± Wen Nian had just finished taking a shower and was about to start working on another practice paper when she received a message from Bai Zheng. Wen Nian replied, ¡°Yes.¡± In that moment, Wen Nian also reflected on how she had previously declined further piano lessons, citing the need to focus on her studies. However, now that she had taken on something more time-consuming, she realized the importance of providing an exnation to Bai Zheng. Wen Nian messaged, ¡°The movie that Director Xu wants to make has a very realistic theme. Moreover, he¡¯s willing to amodate my studies and has assured me that my filming scenes will be prioritized. He¡¯s even taking care of the tuition fees for joining the production team. Given these factors, I made the decision to participate in the film.¡± Bai Zheng didn¡¯t expect Xu Chang to have put in so much effort. He despised himself for being petty today. Bai Zheng replied, ¡°It¡¯s great that you can engage in something meaningful withoutpromising your studies. However, I still feel a sense of regret that I can¡¯t practice the piano together with you.¡± Wen Nian noticed that Bai Zheng had shifted the conversation towards the topic of piano and wondered if his piano ying skills were exceptional. Wen Nian messaged, ¡°I consider myself an amateur, but I feel incredibly honored to receive recognition from a professional like you.¡± Bai Zheng messaged, ¡°I¡¯ve recentlyposed a song, and I¡¯d appreciate your feedback on it. If you¡¯re avable, you cane over at noon to listen to it. I have this nagging feeling that there¡¯s something peculiar about it. Perhaps as an outsider, you can provide valuable suggestions and insights.¡± Bai Zheng¡¯s words were vague,cking a specific time frame for the invitation. Wen Nian contemted for a moment and decided not to decline the invitation. Wen Nian replied, ¡°Okay..¡± Chapter 88 - 88: Anger Chapter 88: Anger Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian herself was curious about Bai Zheng. During this stage in the country¡¯s history, depression didn¡¯t receive as much attention as it wouldter on. Smiling Depression, in particr, held a special significance. Bai Zheng¡¯s suicide had prompted some awareness of this specific form of depression, and as a result, more people had gained some understanding of it. Following Bai Zheng¡¯s demise, numerous spections and theories surrounding the cause of his death began circting on the inte. One prevailing theory suggested that Bai Zheng¡¯s exceptional talent ced an overwhelming amount of pressure on him. Coupled with the high expectations from others, this pressure ultimately led to a loss of inspiration for him. There were also ims that Bai Zheng¡¯s family background wasplex, with his parents being divorced. It was suggested that hisck of parental care contributed to his ability to adeptly put on a facade of pleasing others. Furthermore, there were spections about Bai Zheng¡¯s sexual orientation, with some suggesting that he was homosexual. It was believed that his fear of societal judgment and the inability to alter his sexual orientation added to the immense psychological pressure he faced. Tragically, these circumstances ultimately led him to take his own life. The final theory, which carried an enigmatic undertone, gained significant traction and became the most widely circted version during that time. Back then, Wen Nian was unable to uncover the truth surrounding Bai Zheng¡¯s situation. However, at least Bai Zheng¡¯s smile right now was still genuine. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of regret that such a brilliant genius had met such a tragic fate. There came a knock on the door, and as Wen Nian turned around, she found Zhou Mei standing there. ¡°Mom,¡± she greeted. Zhou Mei carefully set a ss of milk on the desk and advised, ¡°Make sure to drink milk before going to bed. Sister Sun has be ustomed to helping out, so she will be able to help with a lot of things. Going forward, your father will deliver both yours and your brother¡¯s meals to the school guard during lunchtime. You can simply pick them up after ss tomorrow afternoon.¡± As Wen Nian contemted Shen Jun¡¯s habit of eating lunch outside, she couldn¡¯t help but think about the potential hygiene concerns and time wastage involved. She considered the possibility of suggesting to her mother that they prepare Shen Jun¡¯s meal as well, which would not only save time but also allow her to receive additional lessons. The more Wen Nian pondered over the idea, the more convinced she became of its feasibility. With a warm and eager smile, she looked at Zhou Mei and said, ¡°Mom, could you please pack an extra serving for me?¡± hou Mei¡¯s response was dyed as she processed Won Nian¡¯s request. Finally, she replied, ¡°But aren¡¯t you nning to eat at the noodle restaurant tonight?¡± Wen Nian rified, ¡°It¡¯s for Shen Jun. His family isn¡¯t from Hai City, and he¡¯s studying here on his own.¡± Zhou Mei expressed surprise, saying, ¡°1 noticed his ent that day too. He doesn¡¯t sound like he¡¯s from Hai City. I thought his parents moved here because of work and brought him along. He¡¯s just a child and he¡¯s alone in this unfamiliar ce. That¡¯s sad. He doesn¡¯t seem like he knows how to cook.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pack an extra serving for him to thank him for tutoring you everyday.¡± Wen Nian smiled warmly and embraced Zhou Mei, wrapping her arms around her waist. ¡°Thank you, Mom. You¡¯re the best to me, Zhou Mei¡¯s heart melted as she gazed at her daughter¡¯s innocent gesture. ¡°I am d you know. It would be best if you don¡¯t make me worry about you in the future.¡± As the next day¡¯s noon dismissal approached, Wen Nian suddenly realized that she had forgotten to inform Shen Jun about the lunch arrangement. Wen Nian quickly caught up with Shen Jun, who was about to head out for lunch. She halted him and eagerly informed him, ¡°Starting today, my father will send me food, and you¡¯ll have a share too. You don¡¯t have to eat out anymore.¡± Shen Jun furrowed his brows slightly, a look of confusion crossing his face as he regarded Wen Nian. Then, as he deduced the reason behind her offer, a yful smile emerged on his lips. ¡°Well, I suppose I can consider it one of the rewards.¡± Wen Nian smiled and nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, you can interpret it that way,¡± she replied, sharing in the lightheartedness of the moment. Shen Jun raised an eyebrow and grinned yfully. ¡°Well, in that case, 1 won¡¯t hesitate to ept.¡± Wen Nian brought the food over, presenting two lunch boxes with identical designs, one in pink and the other in blue. The threeyered lunch boxes were carefully packed, each containing a serving of rice, vegetables, and soup. Just as they were about to begin their meal, Wen Nian casually shared with Shen Jun that she had made the decision to join the production team for an uing movie. As Shen Jun was taking a sip of soup, he heard the unexpected news and choked, covering his mouth to cough a few times. After regaining hisposure, he looked at Wen Nian with surprise and asked, ¡°You want to be a celebrity?¡± Wen Nian proceeded to recount to Shen Jun the conversation she had with Bai Zheng the previous night. Shen Jun remained silent, and this caused Wen Nian to feel a pang of guilt. She realized that she had been the one to request additional lessons in the past, and now she was the one considering putting her studies on hold. She had even promised Shen Jun that she would persevere until the end. It felt like a contradiction and a betrayal of that promise. Wen Nian began tapping her chopsticks against the rice and ncing at Shen Jun from the corner of her eye. After their dedicated study sessions, Wen Nian and Shen Jun felt quite content with their recent progress. Despite it being only the second week of December, they had already covered a substantial portion of the freshman semester¡¯s material, making up around one-third of the curriculum. Based on their current pace, they would be able to finish learning the second book of grade 10 by thest day of December. Shen Jun found himself experiencing a sense of anger, although he couldn¡¯t quite pinpoint its source. Honestly, he and Wen Nian were just working together. Currently, he was even eating food made by her family. It was Wen Nian who wanted to stop being tutored and there was no real reason for him to feel angry. After the silent meal, Shen Jun proceeded to conduct the day¡¯s tutoring session with Wen Nian as usual. However, there was a distinct shift in the atmosphere during the session.. Chapter 89 - 89: Misunderstanding Chapter 89: Misunderstanding Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian went off-topic as usual, but Shen Jun answered in the simplest words. Their interactions were just like when they had first met. Seeing this, Wen Nian did not dare to say anything else. She obediently finished her lessons and returned to the noodle shop for dinner after school. Zhou Mei realized that Wen Nian did not have much of an appetite today. Everyone had finished eating, and there was still more than half a bowl of rice in her bowl. She asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell today?¡± Wen Nian turned around and saw her mother looking at her. She shook her head weakly and said, ¡°I¡¯m feeling fine. Mom, go do your work. I¡¯m fine.¡± Zhou Mei chuckled softly. ¡°You¡¯re almost making rice paste out of the rice in the bowl. You call this fine?¡± Wen Nian followed Zhou Mei¡¯s gaze and looked down at the rice in her bowl. She looked up andughed dryly at Zhou Mei. ¡°I¡¯ll finish it immediately.¡± Just as Zhou Mei was preparing to inquire further, a customer who had ced a custom order for braised food arrived at the door. Even though Wen Xing was already handling the front desk duties, Zhou Mei decided to personally attend to this customer as this was a huge order. Worried that she would be questioned, Wen Nian quickly finished eating and cleared the dishes into the kitchen. She bade farewell to her parents and slipped away. Afterpleting her homework in the evening, Wen Nian found herself contemting whether or not to send a message to Shen Jun before going to bed. However, she ultimately decided to wait until the following morning. What if he had cooled down and let go of his anger after a good night¡¯s sleep? Perhaps, by then, she could muster up the courage to have a conversation and mend the situation. She hoped that this matter would resolve itself in due time. With this mentality, Wen Nian fell asleep. The next morning dawned with an even colder weather. Wen Yu realized that he didn¡¯t have any sufficiently warm clothing in his dormitory. Shivering, he urgently requested Wen Nian to bring the thickest clothes avable from their home to school. As Wen Nian arrived at the parking lot and parked the car on the sidewalk, she caught sight of Wen Yu rushing towards her, d in a tweed jacket. ¡°Quick, quick, quick! I¡¯m freezing!¡± he eximed, his teeth chattering from the cold. Wen Nian swiftly retrieved the clothes from her bag and handed them to Wen Yu. However, she couldn¡¯t resist mocking him mercilessly. ¡°Well, serves you right! The weather forecast predicted that it would be colder this week, but you insisted on being a gentleman and not dressing warmly. You even tried to look handsome by wearing so little,¡± she teased, a mischievous grin on her face. Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s teasing remarks, Wen Yu yfully used his height advantage to toss the jacket he had taken off at Wen Xiangxiang. With a swift motion, he grabbed the down jacket and swiftly put it on, shielding himself from the biting cold. Wen Nian was so angry that she grabbed onto Wen Yu¡¯s jacket and tried beating Wen Yu with the jacket. ¡°You are so annoying. You messed up my hair!¡± While expressing her frustration and tugging at her hair, Wen Nian happened to catch a glimpse of Shen Jun passing by. Thinking that he hadn¡¯t noticed her, she lit up with delight and greeted him, ¡°Good morning, Shen Jun!¡± Shen Jun walked straight ahead without responding. Upon witnessing the interaction between Wen Nian and Shen Jun, Wen Yu became displeased. ¡°Is that your ssmate? What kind of person is he? He didn¡¯t even respond when you greeted him. How rude! You¡¯re not allowed to hang out with him anymore.¡± Realizing that the matter from the previous day still lingered, Wen Nian let out a soft sigh. ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± she said with a hint of resignation. ¡°Just go to your ss. I¡¯ll head back to the ssroom first.¡± Wen Yu retorted indignantly, ¡°I¡¯ll understand if you tell me!¡± Wen Nian was feeling annoyed and couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. She threw the jacket at him. ¡°There¡¯s only one thing you have to do now, and that¡¯s to prepare for your exam. I can handle my own matters.¡± Wen Nian turned around and made her way towards the ssroom. As she took her seat, she couldn¡¯t help but sense the palpable atmosphere of tension and unease that surrounded her. Afterpleting her early morning reading, Wen Nian retrieved the set of practice questions she had answered incorrectly and handed them to Shen Jun. With the intention of sparking a conversation, she started discussing her errors. ¡°I didn¡¯t make many mistakesst night, but I¡¯m still having trouble with the force analysis of circr motion. Most of my errors are rted to this topic.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t ept the set of practice questions. He kept his gaze fixed on his book, avoiding eye contact. His tone was indifferent as he spoke, ¡°Didn¡¯t he tell you not to associate with me? I believe it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Wen Nian froze for a moment before exining, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I¡­¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s attempt to defend the other party, Shen Jun¡¯s frown deepened, and he interjected, ¡°You don¡¯t need to exin to me. You mentioned that he was the one who helped you catch up on your lessons during the winter break, right? Well then, let him continue doing that now, so there won¡¯t be any misunderstandings.¡± Confused by Shen Jun¡¯s sudden outburst, Wen Nian couldn¡¯tprehend why he was making such a big deal out of a seemingly minor issue. She believed that the misunderstanding had urred that morning, and she felt frustrated that he didn¡¯t give her an opportunity to exin her side of the story. She couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled and somewhat hurt by his reaction. Feeling helpless in the face of Shen Jun¡¯s anger, Wen Nian realized that trying to reason with him in that moment would be futile. Instead, she made the decision to contact Zhou Mei and exin the situation, giving an excuse for why there was no need to deliver food to Shen Jun for the next few days.. Chapter 90 - 90: Here with a Takeout Again Chapter 90: Here with a Takeout Again Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Throughout the day, Wen Nian¡¯s state of mind wasn¡¯t the best. However, she was fortunate to have a strong foundation from her previous studies. With the help of self-studying and reviewing the answer analysis, she could grasp the concepts and understand the material for the most part. Her progress was just a bit slower. Usually, Wen Nian wouldplete two sets of test papers and the corresponding exercises at night. However, on this particr night, she found herself only able to finish the test papers by her usual bedtime. As she nced at the empty space in her exercise book, she let out a soft sigh. It seemed that she would have to push herself to studyte into the night to catch up with the remaining exercises. When she finished writing, it was already past two in the morning. Wen Nian, despite her yearning for sleep, found her mind racing with thoughts. Hastily, she captured a snapshot of her desk and appended a document to her WeChat Moments. ¡°Even with fewer than five hours remaining until my awakening tomorrow, I have atst aplished today¡¯s mission as per the original n,¡± she captioned the post. Wen Nian intentionally adjusted the privacy settings to make the post visible only to Shen Jun. She was convinced that the root cause of their ongoing cold war was her failure to keep her promise. The addition of her brother¡¯s remarks only worsened the situation, intensifying the conflict that unfolded today. Wen Nian believed that deliberately disying vulnerability might be effective, considering that she and Shen Jun had been desk mates for several months. When Shen Jun woke up the next day, as Wen Nian had hoped, he sessfully scrolled through the Moments she had posted the previous night. Upon seeing Wen Nian entering the ssroom with visible dark circles under her eyes after only getting four hours of sleep, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sadness. He couldn¡¯t pinpoint his current state of mind, but Shen Jun could already sense that Wen Nian was different to him. Wen Nian attempted to engage in a conversation with Shen Jun and observed that his attitude remained unchanged from the previous day. While he didn¡¯t disy enthusiasm, he also didn¡¯t outright reject the conversation. This gave Wen Nian a sense of relief and even a hint of happiness. Recently, Huang Yue had been preupied and hadn¡¯t been able to pay much attention to Wen Nian. While the swelling on her face had reduced to some extent, the blisters on her skin still had a shiny appearance, and there was fluid umting in her sprained ankle. Huang Yue hadn¡¯t retrieved the money from Wang Jing yet. Two days ago, she had reached out to Zhao Cheng to urge him to expedite their n against Wen Nian, only to discover that the n hade to a halt. She desperately wanted to reach out to Wei Xiao to inquire about the situation, but her calls to him went unanswered. The series of events left Huang Yue¡¯s mood in a truly dismal state. And in this very moment, Wang Jing appeared again with a takeout. Wang Jing, positioned at the school entrance in a Ferrari, patiently awaited Huang Yue¡¯s arrival. With the fluid umtion in her ankle sheath hindering her movement, Huang Yue hobbled along, paying little attention to appearances as she clutched a walking stick. Observing her struggle, Wang Jing hastened towards her, swiftly lifting her up and gently settling her into the front passenger seat of the car. This act of being embraced felt more intimate than merely holding hands. It marked the first time that Huang Yue had been held by a member of the opposite sex since she grew up. She averted her gaze, feeling bashful, and softly expressed, ¡°Wang Jing, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to be seen with you like this.¡± A faint smile appeared on Wang Jing¡¯s face as she said in a low voice, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? I hope everyone knows about us.¡± Huang Yue, being an illegitimate daughter, had always felt insecure about her appearance and presence. Wang Jing¡¯s words struck a deep chord within her. As she observed Wang Jing attentively buckling her seatbelt, a thought crossed her mind for the first time: perhaps Wang Jing could be a better choice for her than Wei Xiao. Wang Jing drove the car to the beach and retrieved the takeout box from the backseat. The familiar words ¡°Xingyuc Restaurant¡± were still printed on the box, reminding Huang Yue of their previous encounters. Wang Jing opened the packaging and ced a container of lean meat porridge on the car¡¯s dashboard. She spoke softly, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since west met, so I decided to bring the food here for us to eat. I hope you won¡¯t be upset that I couldn¡¯t fulfill my promise to take you to the restaurant. Can you forgive me for selfishly wanting to have this private moment with you?¡± This reason made Huang Yue feel loved by Wang Jing, filling her with joy. She responded with an understanding expression, ¡°I¡¯m not angry. The most important thing is that we¡¯re together. I don¡¯t mind what we eat or where we eat.¡± When Wang Jing heard this, she was deeply moved. ¡°Huang Yue, with your support, I feel like I can endure any amount of pain when starting a business.¡± Then, Wang Jing held Huang Yue tightly in her arms, her head nestled against Huang Yue¡¯s neck. She spoke in a soft voice, ¡°Thepany is facing a critical phase in the development of a new drug. Sales have been slow, and it¡¯s challenging to repay our debts. We¡¯ve managed to make some progress, but now we¡¯re in a rush to invest in research and development.¡± Ever since lending money to Wang Jing, Huang Yue would asionally keep an eye on reports from biotechpanies. She understood that the development of medicine was a lengthy and time-consuming process. It wasmon to invest billions of dors, millions of hours, thousands of experiments, and hundreds of researchers before finally achieving a breakthrough in drug development.. Chapter 91 - 91: Specially Made Chapter 91: Specially Made Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, high investment and high risk often yield high returns. If one seeds, it can be likened to obtaining a golden key. Although Huang Yue was not well-versed in investment and business, she couldn¡¯t help but feel perplexed. ¡°Wang Jing, why don¡¯t you seek more investments? During our previous conversation, I heard that you have developed a unique anti-cancer medication. The market potential for such a medicine should be tremendous. It has the potential to save lives.¡± Wang Jing, still embracing Huang Yue, kept his gaze lowered. His voice was slightly muffled as he exined, ¡°The drug research can proceed with the listing application once weplete three clinical trials. We are currently in the final trial. At this stage, pursuing investments would mean relinquishing our hard-earned money to others. After thorough deliberation among the shareholders, we have opted to raise the necessary funds independently. I will use the house in Xifeng Court as coteral, and we are also exploring alternative avenues for financing.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s eyes glistened upon hearing the mention of ¡°Xifeng Court.¡± When Xifeng Court was in the pre-sales phase, her father had expressed interest in purchasing a unit, but unfortunately, he hadn¡¯t managed to secure a spot through his connections. ¡°Your family resides in Xifeng Court?¡± she asked. Wang Jing nodded and replied, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct. It was the first time in my life that I invested in a biotechnology research and developmentboratory. My parents contributed half of the investment and used their connections to secure a unit for me.¡± Huang Yue felt a sense of joy as she unintentionally learned more about Wang Jing¡¯s family background. She started contemting a visit to Wang Jing¡¯s residence at West Peak Courtyard. The disappointment she had previously felt over Wei Xiao¡¯s indifference had now transformed into anticipation. Simultaneously, Huang Yue made a firm decision to officiallymit herself to a rtionship with Wang Jing. Wang Jing noticed Huang Yue¡¯s distraction and couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit dissatisfied. He was discussing something important and herck of attention disrupted his acting. Wang Jing raised his hand and discreetly rubbed his eyes a few times, revealing a slight redness. Releasing his hold on Huang Yue, he looked at Huang Yue with a sorrowful gaze. ¡°Huang Yue, I apologize. It seems that I will take some time to pay you back.¡± Huang Yue immediately shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You have to get through this first.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s eyes, already slightly red, grew even redder upon hearing this news. He buried his head in Huang Yue¡¯s neck once again, and a single tear escaped his eyes. His voice trembled with sobs as he spoke, ¡°My parentse from a traditional industry background. They don¡¯t understand the intricacies of high-tech biotechnology research and development. They would only insist on me returning home to inherit the family business, so they won¡¯t support me at all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m left to figure things out on my own. I¡¯ve already invested the entire mortgage on the house. The money I have with me can barely cover this simple porridge for you. My dear, I know it hasn¡¯t been easy for you,¡± Wang Jing said, her voice filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. ¡°I¡¯m left to figure things out on my own. I¡¯ve already invested the entire mortgage on the house. The money I have with me can barely cover this simple porridge for you. My dear, I know it hasn¡¯t been easy for you,¡± Wang Jing said, his voice filled with a mixture of sadness and determination. When Huang Yue felt the warmth on her neck, she waspletely taken aback. However, in an instant, her heart ached. Simultaneously, she felt deeply moved. She was touched that despite giving his all to her, Wang Jing still believed it wasn¡¯t enough. The act of a man who had a million yuan to spend, but chose to spend 10,000 yuan on you, and another man who had only 10 yuan but spent it all on you, evokespletely different emotions for the person involved. Huang Yue felt that she had truly encountered love, and it was the love of a wealthy man. She couldn¡¯t help butpare herself to Cindere, as if she had finally been given the opportunity to marry a prince. Huang Yue couldn¡¯t contain her inner excitement and reached out to embrace Wang Jing for the first time. It felt like a fairy tale moment, as if she had found her own prince. ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Huang Yue asked with concern. Wang Jing shook his head and sat up straight. He picked up the porridge and handed it to Huang Yue. Suppressing his own hunger, he said, ¡°You should eat first. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± In this situation, anyone with eyes could tell if Wang Jing was hungry. Huang Yue¡¯s motherly instincts kicked in, and she felt an overwhelming surge of love. Realizing that she wasn¡¯t particrly hungry at the moment, she replied, ¡°You go ahead and eat. I had ate breakfast, so I¡¯m not very hungry yet. I can have a meal before my afternoon sses.¡± Wang Jing politely declined, knowing that the porridge they had was the cheapest option from a roadside stall. Even though it had been transferred into a take-out box from Xingyue Restaurant, it made the meal appear much more expensive. However, deep down, it was still just a five-yuan bowl of porridge from a simple roadside stall. There was uncertainty about the quality of the meat used in the dish. It could have been sourced from the cheapest cuts, like pork neck, without any guarantee of freshness. Wang Jing concealed any feelings of disdain for the in porridge and expressed concern as she spoke to Huang Yue. ¡°The burns on your face are still healing, and I know you don¡¯t have much of an appetite. I specifically asked the chef at Xingyue Restaurant to prepare it ording to your preferences. Please eat quickly and don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Huang Yue had never eaten porridge cooked by a five-star chef before, and it was specially custom-made. She no longer refused to take the meat porridge.. But she looked at Wang Jing worriedly and asked, ¡°How are you going to survive without money?¡± Chapter 92 - 92: Interest Chapter 92: Interest Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wang Jing let out a sigh of helplessness and replied, ¡°If there¡¯s truly no alternative, I¡¯ll have to consider borrowing another 100,000 yuan from a friend to buy some time. It¡¯s quite embarrassing, but it seems like the only option I have left.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve received inside information that the stock I hold in a city wall technologypany is expected to significantly increase in value next month. I n to sell it at that time and earn at least three to four million yuan. Once I sell it, I¡¯ll promptly repay the 100,000 yuan I borrowed from you. Additionally, I¡¯ll give you an additional 50,000 yuan as interest,¡± Wang Jing exined with hopeful anticipation. Within a mere month, the borrowed 100,000 yuan had transformed into 150,000 yuan. The significant returns sparked a glimmer of excitement in Huang Yue¡¯s eyes. However, she maintained her polite demeanor and responded, ¡°Why worry about interest? Can¡¯t I simply be concerned about your well-being, regardless of any troubles you may face?¡± Wang Jing was deeply moved. She held Huang Yue¡¯s hand tightly and expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Huang Yue. Lately, I¡¯ve been seeking financial assistance from various sources, and it¡¯s quite embarrassing to admit. Starting a business can be incredibly challenging, and I¡¯ve never experienced a life where I have to borrow money like this before.¡± Huang Yue pondered over the remaining 100,000 yuan in her bank ount and hesitated for a moment. However, as she reminisced about how Wang Jing had used hisst bit of money to buy her porridge and how he showed gratitude by offering interest¡­ Huang Yue pretended to ask casually, ¡°How do you know that the insider information will definitely be urate?¡± When Wang Jing heard this, he knew that there was a chance. He smiled and reached out to stroke the tip of Huang Yue¡¯s nose dotingly. He said confidently, ¡°If I can¡¯t even verify this piece of information, then all my experience in this industry would be in vain.¡± Huang Yue didn¡¯t give up and asked again, ¡°No matter what, there will always be idents. What if it¡¯s not urate?¡± Upon hearing Huang Yue¡¯s concerns, Wang Jing responded calmly, ¡°If an unexpected situation arises, I can also sell a portion of the shares. It¡¯s just a matter of earning a smaller amount. Initially, I nned to sell them this month to cover our living expenses. However, when my good friend learned about it, he advised me to wait a little longer. If I were to sell them now, I would only earn around 500,000 yuan, which I find unsatisfactory as well.¡± Huang Yue felt a sense of relief as she found a reason to exin the remaining money in her bank ount. She spoke up, ¡°Actually, I still have 100,000 yuan in my ount, but I¡¯ve been keeping it aside for my brother, which is why I didn¡¯t lend it to you before. However, seeing your current situation breaks my heart. I don¡¯t want to see you in a position where you have to rely on others. I¡¯ll transfer the money to youter.¡± Wang Jing said 100,000 yuan was just a test. He thought that he would earn 20,000 to 30,000 yuan, but he did not expect Huang Yue to really have that amount of money. Wang Jing smiled and gently declined, ¡°No need. That money belongs to your brother, and it¡¯s understandable that you didn¡¯t lend it to inc. I will just be shameless and reach out to a few more friends.¡± As Wang Jing showed her understanding and resilience, Huang Yue¡¯s conviction in choosing the right person grew stronger. Throughout her life, she had always been the one to offer emotional support and value to others. However, with Wang Jing, she found herself in the position of being cared for and the one getting this emotional support. Huang Yue took out her phone and transferred the money. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to refuse!¡± When Wang Jing saw the notification on his phone, he smiled helplessly and said, ¡°Alright, then it¡¯s a deal. Consider the 100,000 yuan as 50,000 yuan in interest. Let your future brother-inw know that his sister has found a trustworthy man.¡± Wang Jing¡¯s words brought reassurance to Huang Yue, causing her to lower her head in shyness. She yfully replied, ¡°Who said I agreed to marry you? And here you are already calling my brother your brother-inw.¡± Despite half of Huang Yue¡¯s face being covered in gauze, her cogen-treated skin still radiated a youthful and vibrant aura. The presence of the gauze enhanced her delicate appearance, causing Wang Jing¡¯s heart to warm up even more at the sight of her. Smelling the fragrance on Wang Yue¡¯s body, he leaned over and pressed Huang Yue into the car to kiss her. The atmosphere in the car was ambiguous for a moment. Wang Jing¡¯s superb kissing skills made Huang Yue, who still had her first kiss, lose her mind. If not for the fact that she still had a trace of rity in her heart and wanted to save her first time for their wedding night, she might have given her body to Wang Jing this time. When the afternoon ss was about to begin, Wen Nian noticed Huang Yue entering the ssroom through the back door. Even though Huang Yue had covered her neck with a scarf, Wen Nian could still catch a glimpse of a faint hickey on her neck. The sight piqued Wen Nian¡¯s curiosity and made her wonder what had happened to Huang Yue. As Wen Nian observed the hickey on Huang Yue¡¯s neck, her mind wandered back to her past life. She couldn¡¯t recall the exact date, but she was certain it was towards the end of the year, which happened to be the present month. Memories flooded her mind, reminding her of a man who had deceived numerous affluent and young women by promising insider information about the stock market. He took their investments and loans and vanished without a trace. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t be certain about the extent of Huang Yue and Wang Jing¡¯s involvement or whether she had transferred any money. However, this didn¡¯t deter her from stirring up Huang Yue¡¯s desires and dreams of wealth. This was not urgent. It was crucial to develop a foolproof strategy to avoid alerting the potential adversaries and arousing any suspicion in Huang Yue¡¯s mind.. Chapter 93 - 93: The Devoted Second Male Chapter 93: The Devoted Second Male Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios While Wen Nian contemted her ns regarding Huang Yue, she also recognized the pressing need to address the ongoing stalemate between her and Shen Jun. Despite a slight improvement in their rtionship, they haven¡¯t resumed their tutoring sessions. As Wen Nian realized that tomorrow was Saturday, a smile formed on her face. Seizing the opportunity, she asked, ¡°Is there anything specific you¡¯d like to have for breakfast tomorrow? I could bring you a serving when Ie over to your ce.¡± Shen Jun was silent for a few seconds before replying, ¡°There¡¯s no need to clean this week. Just focus on studying.¡± As Wen Nian heard Shen Jun¡¯s response, her heart sank. It seemed that there was no possibility of a positive oue between them. Despite her disappointment, she didn¡¯t want to push him further or be a burden to him. The sadness she felt was overwhelming, causing her breathing to be irregr. Wen Nian understood that her emotions and responses were a result of the abrupt realization that she would no longer have someone to depend on. However, after contemting the situation, she came to terms with the fact that she would have to pursue her studies independently. She acknowledged that this was part of her initial study n and epted it as her new reality. Although Wen Nian hade to ept the situation, the reality was that she now had to put in twice as much effort in her studies. The absence of external support meant that she would need to invest extra time and energy to grasp the subjects she needed to learn. Shen Jun had a deep understanding of those concepts, which allowed him to present them to Wen Nian in a unique manner. Instead of adhering strictly to the order outlined in the textbooks, he seamlessly connected the relevant pieces of knowledge and taught them to her. As a result, Wen Nian gained aprehensive and lucid grasp of the subject matter. Textbooks are typically designed to cater to the needs of the majority of students, ensuring a step-by-step progression of concepts. However, this approach often results in ack of strong corrtions between the concepts. As a consequence, if a student fails to grasp a particr concept thoroughly, they may struggle to excel inprehensive questions that require a holistic understanding of the subject matter. Over the weekend, Wen Nian chose to stay at home and utilized the time to catch up on her studies intensively. Meanwhile, Shen Jun was also facing difficulties or challenges of his own. On Sunday morning, Zhao Wu noticed the presence of a cleaningdy in the Shen family¡¯s house and couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°I thought Wen Nian was responsible for cleaning your house. Why did you hire someone else? Did yourpany start doing well financially?¡± Shen Jun loungedzily on the sofa, his long legs casually propped up on the coffee table. With a nonchnt tone, he replied, ¡°She won¡¯t being anymore.¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s face was filled with curiosity. ¡°Oh, did you two quarrel?¡± Shen Jun, unbothered by Zhao Wu¡¯s expectant expression, continued to flip through TV channels, ignoring the curiosity in the room. Growing impatient with Shen Jun¡¯s incessant channel surfing, Zhao Wu snatched the remote control from his hands. ¡°You know, if someone didn¡¯t know better, they might think you¡¯re losing your mind, ying some sort of paper-ripping game with the remote control.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s an issue, it¡¯s better to address it directly and find a solution. Your attitude won¡¯t solve anything,¡± Zhao Wu stated firmly. ¡°By the way, you do realize that your uncle is known for being skilled at resolving conflicts between couples, right?¡± Shen Jun cast a brief nce at the serious expression on Zhao Wu¡¯s face. He realized that sharing his thoughts might invite ridicule, but he couldn¡¯t deny that he felt utterly unsure of what to do in this situation. Conversations with Wen Nian had be ufortable. However, it felt even worse ignoring her. He learned all kinds of knowledge quickly, except for the knowledge of feelings. This waspletely his blind spot. In the end, Shen Jun made the decision to open up and share everything with Zhao Wu. As Zhao Wu listened, a frown creased their forehead. ¡°So, let me get this straight. You were initially upset when you found out she was joining the production team for filming. The next day, while you were intending to resume tutoring her, you unexpectedly encountered her and her boyfriend interacting lovingly at school.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed with a sharp intensity, a fleeting desire tosh out apparent in his gaze. He clenched his lips tightly before responding curtly, ¡°Yes.¡± Zhao Wu suppressed augh, and a mischievous glint appeared in their eyes. He raised an eyebrow at Shen Jun and asked, ¡°Before we continue, answer me this: Do you have feelings for her? Has your mortal heart fallen for her?¡± This was a question that Shen Jun had been evading and avoiding for the past few days. However, confronted with Zhao Wu¡¯s direct and straightforward approach, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but reflect on what oue he truly desired. Shen Jun¡¯s gaze drifted up towards the ceiling as he delved into his memories, retracing the moments shared with Wen Nian since their realization. At this point, he recognized that there were only two possible oues: either they would be together or they would part ways. However, considering his own personality, he couldn¡¯t envision himself ying the role of the affectionate second male lead from a book, quietly protecting and giving his blessings before exiting the scene. After thinking it through, Shen Jun turned to look at Zhao Wu. ¡°Uncle, I want to be in a rtionship with her.¡± Zhao Wu couldn¡¯t contain his satisfaction and reached out to pat his nephew¡¯s shoulder, his voice filled with emotion. ¡°You¡¯ve finallye to a realization! You know, your uncle here has been through the tumultuous journey of love since a young age. I started searching for a soulmate when I was only 15 years old, and even though I changed partners every few months, I couldn¡¯t find the right one. Though you may have started a bitter at 17, at least you¡¯ve taken that crucial first step..¡± Chapter 94 - 94: Thunderstruck Wood Chapter 94: Thunderstruck Wood Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun rolled his eyes at Zhao Wu¡¯sment and retorted, ¡°Unlike you, I don¡¯t have a hobby of collecting romantic partners like you collect stamps.¡± Zhao Wu observed the seriousness in Shen Jun¡¯s tone, his expression bing moreplex. He replied, ¡°Are you really considering tying yourself down at such a young age? Women are meant to be enjoyed for a few months. Her family has no power or influence, so she won¡¯t be of any help to you.¡± Shen Jun sat up straight, facing Zhao Wu with a determined expression. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m being sincere. I don¡¯t want to hear any more belittling remarks about her from you.¡± Noticing Shen Jun¡¯s resolute stance, Zhao Wu reluctantly set aside their yful demeanor and replied with a forced smile, ¡°I understand, I understand.¡± Zhao Wu considered the situation and reasoned that since it was Shen Jun¡¯s first love, it held a certain significance. However, they believed that once the initial excitement wore off, Shen Jun might want to end the rtionship. With this thought in mind, Zhao Wu decided not to say anything further, fearing that it might upset Shen Jun again and potentially lead him toin to their grandmother, which could create unnecessary trouble. Shen Jun recognized that it was unlikely for Zhao Wu to fully understand his perspective, but he also understood that this was not a matter that could be resolved with a simple conversation. Putting the issue aside for the time being, he decided to set his pride aside and humbly seek advice from Zhao Wu. As Shen Jun disyed vulnerability, a smug expression crept across Zhao Wu¡¯s face. ¡°Do you recall who mentioned the term ¡®ordinary ssmate¡¯ that night?¡± Shen Jun appeared somewhat ufortable, but he maintained a gracious attitude as he admitted, ¡°I made a mistake, Uncle. You have a keen eye for these things.¡± Zhao Wu nodded with satisfaction. ¡°Your attitude ismendable. Now, let me offer a few words of advice. It can be challenging for young couples, even those with a strong foundation, to navigate such tension. This situation is quite troublesome indeed. Without the guidance of an experienced lover like myself, you wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Wu brought up the purpose of his visit to Shen Jun. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time for you to demonstrate your sincerity. The two braised pig heads we discussed previously remain unchanged, but I¡¯m a kind-hearted person. I don¡¯t require a visit from you. There¡¯s only one thing I want.¡± Shen Jun asked, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhao Wu nced at Shen Jun with a hint of nervousness in his expression. ¡°Do you still recall the time when our grandmother gave you a wooden talisman made from thunderstruck wood? It was two years ago. You were going through a period of sleeplessness, gued by peculiar dreams and a string of bad luck. Then, my mother¡ªthe olddy¡ªtook out a wooden talisman from the basement of our house and ced it near you. Soon after, you mentioned feeling better.¡± Shen Jun looked at Zhao Wu suspiciously and took out a wooden token from his clothes. ¡°This one?¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s face lit up with joy as he noticed the wooden talisman. ¡°You still have it! That¡¯s fantastic news. I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to search for thunderstruck wood. Since you already possess it, I won¡¯t ask you to hand it over permanently. Just lend it to me temporarily, and I¡¯ll return it as soon as my contacts locate the thunderstruck wood.¡± Shen Jun reflected on the period when he wore the wooden talisman. Surprisingly, after wearing it for a while, the strange phenomena ceased to ur. While he felt it was unnecessary to continue wearing it, his parents expressed concern and insisted that he keep it on. As a result, he continued wearing the talisman up until now. Upon hearing this, Shen Jun¡¯s face registered surprise, and he couldn¡¯t help but tease Zhao Wu. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a self-proimed materialist? Why are you suddenly delving into feudal superstitions? Come on, exin it to me in detail.¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s face showed a rare hint of difort. ¡°Do you still want me to give you advice?¡± Shen Jun could sense Zhao Wu¡¯s genuine concern regarding the matter. With an indifferent expression, he responded, ¡°If you¡¯re not willing to help, I can figure something out on my own. However, finding thunderstruck wood is no simple task. This piece was given to me by Grandma. It¡¯s a thousand-year-old jujube branch that my great-grandfather acquired during his time in the war. I can assure you that there are no more than three pieces of thunderstruck wood of such exceptional quality in the world.¡± Zhao Wu realized that Shen Jun had caught onto his ulterior motive, as he had developed an interest in Shen Jun¡¯s well-being. Now, with a favor to ask, Zhao Wu could only be honest about the situation. ¡°Bai Ling has been experiencing restless sleeptely, much like you did before. Moreover, she has been facing a string of misfortunes. Justst week, she sprained her ankle, and then she happened to pass by a couple engaged in a violent argument. She was struck by an object that was thrown during the altercation. The doctor diagnosed her with a mild concussion.¡± Zhao Wu continued recounting the recent events, his concern evident in his voice. ¡°It was even worse yesterday. After work, I was walking on the sidewalk when Bai Ling was struck by a motorbike that had lost control. As I tried to protect her, my hand hit the cement guardrail of the green belt, resulting in a fracture. It¡¯s bing increasingly uncertain what awaits her next. Luckily, it¡¯s the weekend today, and I¡¯ve advised her to stay home.¡± Shen Jun frowned when he heard that. ¡°That¡¯s indeed a little unlucky..¡± Chapter 95 - 95: Hurry Up and Solve It Chapter 95: Hurry Up and Solve It Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun removed the wooden talisman from his body and handed it over to Zhao Wu. He observed as Zhao Wu delicately wrapped it in a handkerchief and ced it in his pocket. Shen Jun lightheartedly returned the teasing words Zhao Wu had used earlier. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you so devoted to your partner. It¡¯s been more than three months, hasn¡¯t it? Could it be that you¡¯re truly smitten?¡± Zhao Wu reached out to ept the wooden talisman, momentarily taken aback by Shen Jun¡¯s gesture. However, he quickly reverted to his familiar cynical demeanor. ¡°I merely found her amusing. I stuck around a bit longer and helped her obtain this thunderstruck wood because she was afraid of ghosts. She spent the whole day being fearful and crying incessantly, which irritated me. That¡¯s why I thought of you.¡± Shen Jun raised an eyebrow, withholding judgment on Zhao Wu¡¯s exnation. He smiled and refocused the conversation on the matter at hand. ¡°Alright, then what should be my next course of action?¡± With the main issue settled, Zhao Wu eased back into a more rxed posture and took a seat on the sofa. ¡°First and foremost, we need to address the tension between the two of you. You bear the responsibility for creating this awkward situation. Wen Nian might believe that you¡¯re upset with her and that she deceived you or broke her promise. Therefore, while she¡¯s still feeling somewhat embarrassed around you, it¡¯s crucial that you resolve this quickly.¡± Shen Jun asked again, ¡°Then what should I do?¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as he considered his n. ¡°Absolutely, we¡¯ll start by showcasing the unique qualities that initially caught her attention!¡± As Shen Jun processed Zhao Wu¡¯s suggestion, Wen Nian was growing increasingly frustrated as she struggled to solve her physics questions. She was on the verge of pulling her hair out in sheer exasperation. While Wen Nian made rtively steady progress in self-studying mathematics, chemistry, and biology, she found herself at a loss when it came to physics. Despite her best efforts, she struggled to grasp the concepts and apply them effectively, leaving her feeling utterly perplexed and frustrated. After releasing numerous sighs of exasperation, Wen Nian perked up at the sound of the door opening. Stepping out of her bedroom, she discovered her father, Wen Xing, returning home. ncing at the wall clock, which disyed 9:50 AM, she questioned, ¡°Dad, why are you back at this hour?¡± Wen Xing changed his shoes at the entrance. ¡°Old Mr. Wei wants toe overter, so he rushed back.¡± Wen Nian frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything to do with Wei Xiao anymore. Why is he still here?¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s question, Wen Xing¡¯s expression hardened slightly. He shot her a disapproving re and retorted, ¡°You should mind your manners. He¡¯s probably just visiting because he has nothing to do.¡± Wen Xing retrieved the tea set from the cab and carefully arranged it on the coffee table. With a pensive expression, he added, ¡°By the way, don¡¯t mention anything about your mother and me opening a shop to anyone just yet.¡± As Wen Nian listened to her father¡¯s words, her curiosity got the better of her. She swiftly approached Wen Xing, her eyes filled with intrigue. ¡°Dad, why shouldn¡¯t we talk about it? Is there a particr reason?¡± she inquired. Wen Xing evaded the question and responded dismissively, ¡°Children shouldn¡¯t ask so many questions. Go and focus on your studies. When the guests arrive, make sure toe out and greet them.¡± Wen Xing thought that Wei Feng might just be here to chat with him, so he didn¡¯t n to let his daughter join. Although Wen Nian was not eager to know Wei Feng¡¯s motive, she couldn¡¯t help but overhear themotion in the living room since the house was not particrly spacious. With the door open, she would be able to hear the sound in the living room very easily. Wen Xing had just taken out the tea leaves and ced them on the table when the doorbell rang. Wen Nian quickly stepped forward to open the door. Standing at the door was the butler of the Wei family¡¯s old residence, Wei Shi. When he saw Wen Nian, he lowered his head gently and politely. ¡°Hello, Miss Wen Nian.¡± Wen Nian nced at the man who had helped the Wei familymit crimes and replied with a smile, ¡°Butler Wei, long time no see.¡± Wei Shi lowered his eyes and stood to the side, revealing Wei Feng. Wei Feng smiled like a kind elder caring for the younger ones. ¡°Wen Nian, aren¡¯t you going out for a walk with your ssmates during your break today?¡± Wen Nian also smiled and replied, ¡°Hello, Old Mr. Wei. I¡¯m reading at home. Pleasee in.¡± When Wen Xing heard their conversation, he walked to the door and greeted, ¡°Old Mr. Wei, pleasee in.¡± Wei Feng smiled and walked into the house. ¡°Wen Xing, long time no see. Is it just you and your daughter at home today?¡± Wen Xing smiled in return and replied, ¡°Yes, Zhou Mei is at work, and Wen Yu went for tuition.¡± Wei Shi lingered by the door but refrained from stepping inside. Wen Nian caught a glimpse of Wei Shi¡¯s back and proceeded to shut the door. After exchanging greetings, Wen Nian felt the inclination to retreat to the bedroom. Wei Feng settled on the sofa and halted Wen Nian¡¯s movements. ¡°Wen Nian,e and join Grandpa Wei here.¡± Wen Xing and Wen Nian exchanged nces before seating themselves on the sofa opposite Wei Feng. Wei Feng retrieved an invitation from his coat pocket and gently ced it on the table. With a warm smile directed at Wen Nian, he spoke, ¡°Wei Lai¡¯s birthday party is in 10 days. We want to invite you to join us. Each invitation allows entry for two individuals. You can bring along that ssmate living in Xifeng Court.¡± Wen Nian sighed inwardly, realizing that Wei Feng was indeed a cunning person. He could discern that Wei Feng¡¯s intention for this invitation was to leverage her presence as a means to gather information about Shen Jun. If she could bring him along to the event, it would be ideal. If not, he could still extract valuable insights through her. Either way, he wouldn¡¯t be at a disadvantage.. Chapter 96 - 96: Investigating Chapter 96: Investigating Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian sighed. ¡°We had a conflict and we don¡¯t interact anymore.¡± Wei Feng blinked, maintaining his smile, and responded, ¡°Conflict among girls is quitemon. You could consider taking a step back and letting it go. Perhaps you can even take the initiative.¡± Wen Nian understood that Wei Feng was attempting to figure out Shen Jun¡¯s gender and contemted how best to frame her response. Wen Xing didn¡¯t grasp the details of their conversation, but he discerned that Wei Feng had encouraged his daughter to proactively seek out someone and extend goodwill. Feeling a slight unease, Wen Xing promptly set the tea in front of Wei Feng and swiftly changed the topic. ¡°Old Mr. Wei, please have some tea first. We don¡¯t have any exceptional tea leaves at home. Please don¡¯t be too particr.¡± ¡°Let the children do whatever they want. Any one of your things is more important than their little conflict.¡± Wei Feng expressed his disapproval, saying, ¡°Children are the blossoms of our nation¡¯s future, deserving of our utmost attention. Naturally, we should be concerned. Wen Nian is a young girl, and her parents should pay more attention to her dating situation. If friendships have an impact on her mood, it can also affect her studies.¡± Wen Xing wondered how Wei Feng was aware of Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate and appeared so concerned. But since Wei Feng was saying this out of concern, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t say anything. He simply replied, ¡°Alright, I will be more careful. Please have some tea.¡± Wen Xing had offered Wei Feng tea on two asions, and now Wei Feng took a sip and graciously remarked, ¡°The tea tastes delightful.¡± Afterwards, Wei Feng redirected the conversation. ¡°Wen Nian, I heard that your academic performance is not very strong. How about your ssmate? Why don¡¯t I arrange a tutor for you and your friend?¡± Observing Wei Feng¡¯s persistent approach, Wen Nian grew weary of this back-and-forth exchange and decided to be straightforward. She replied, ¡°Thank you, Old Mr. Wei. My grades have improved, and I no longer require a tutor. As for my ssmate, he has chosen to ignore me despite my innocence. I won¡¯t apologize for something I didn¡¯t do. You and my father can continue your conversation. I will go back to my room to focus on my studies.¡± As the conversation neared its conclusion, Wen Nian intentionally exhibited the stubbornness and rebellious spirit of youth. Her expression turned indignant, and with that, she swiftly turned around, making her way back to her room. She firmly closed the door behind her. Wen Xing also perceived Wei Feng¡¯s intention to inquire about his daughter¡¯s ssmate. Though he was unaware of the specifics, heprehended Wen Nian¡¯s feigned indifference. In an effort to diffuse the situation, he awkwardly addressed Wei Feng, saying, ¡°This little troublemaker, please disregard her. She¡¯s going through puberty, and she won¡¯t let us intervene her personal matters.¡± ¡°I understand that you care about her, Old Master, but she has developed strong opinions at this stage. Even if I try to talk to her, she won¡¯t listen. It¡¯s best to pretend she¡¯s not at home, to avoid any distress you may feel upon seeing her,¡± Wen Xing expressed. Wei Feng, not suspecting that Wen Nian¡¯s behavior was intentional, acknowledged that children of her age often disyed rebellion. He recognized that it wouldn¡¯t be beneficial to force a cordial rtionship between Wen Nian and her ssmate. Looking at Wen Xing, he spoke gently, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Let Wen Yu apany Wen Nian on that day. Despite the dissolution of our families¡¯ engagement, we can still spend time together and explore more when we have leisure.¡± Even though Wei Feng didn¡¯t achieve his intended objective, he considered the fact that inviting the Wen family over would mean amodating two additional individuals. Wei Feng was not someone who would feel reluctant to spend such money. Indeed, it was impractical for Wen Yu, who was in his third year of high school, to attend the event. Nheless, Wen Xing agreed to Wei Feng¡¯s suggestion. The two of them continued their conversation for a while longer, during which Wei Feng inquired about the well-being of everyone in the family. Wen Xing responded with his customary words, providing updates on their situations. After sitting for over ten minutes, Wei Feng took the initiative to mention that he had some pressing matters to attend to and took his leave. Wen Xing quickly stood up to see him off. By the time Wen Xing returned home after seeing Wei Feng off, Wen Nian had already settled back onto the sofa in the living room. Wen Xing observed Wen Nian, who was leisurely enjoying an apple with her legs crossed. Approaching her, he inquired about her ssmate. Wen Nian took a bite of the sizable apple and proceeded to exin to Wen Xing, ¡°He¡¯s referring to Shen Jun. He intends to use me as a stepping stone to gain favor with him.¡± Wen Xing nodded, looking as if he hade to a realization. Next, it was Wen Nian¡¯s turn to inquire, ¡°Dad, why did you conceal our family¡¯s situation?¡± Wen Xing naturally didn¡¯t provide an answer, offering the same perfunctory response as before. He then stood up and put on his shoes. ¡°I¡¯m going back to the shop to help out. If you don¡¯t n oning to the shop for lunch, remember to eat on time.¡± After imparting his instructions, Wen Xing departed. However, the more he concealed the truth, the stronger Wen Nian¡¯s intuition grew that something was amiss. She sat alone on the sofa, lost in contemtion.. Chapter 97 - 97: Whose Fault Chapter 97: Whose Fault Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After thinking about it carefully, Wen Nian realized that her parents¡¯ attitude towards Wei Feng seemed to have always been distant. Her parents didn¡¯t take the initiative to befriend Wei Feng, but whenever they saw Wei Feng, they remained courteous and polite. If she hadn¡¯t insisted on marrying Wei Xiao back then, the two families might not have interacted much at all. Wen Nian found this attitude to be rather peculiar. Based on Wei Feng¡¯s nostalgic tone in the past, it seemed that the Wei family and her own family had a close bond. This was evident from her grandfather¡¯s willingness to risk his life to save Wei Feng. After their reunion, even if his father initially felt a slight distance from the elder whom he hadn¡¯t seen in a long time, such an attitude wouldn¡¯t persist unless there was something more to this elder¡¯s character that wasn¡¯t as kind as it appeared. Furthermore, her father and Wei Xiao¡¯s father had been friends since their youth. However, Wei Xiao¡¯s father had mysteriously vanished ever since Wei Feng tracked them down. They didn¡¯t even show up at the engagement banquet, which was exclusively attended by close family members. It was rumored that after his wife¡¯s death, he became engrossed in consuming vegetarian meals and reciting Buddhist scriptures, yet he didn¡¯t be a monk. Even the engagement between his son and the daughter of his long-time friend couldn¡¯tpel him to make an appearance. He seemed almost ethereal, like a mythical being. Wen Nian felt as though she was trapped in a fog, with Wei Feng holding the thread that could guide her out. Wen Nian¡¯s mind was in turmoil, and although she couldn¡¯t pinpoint the exact reasons, she was certain that the Wei family was not to be trusted. She believed that the only way to protect her family from the impending ruin she had experienced in her previous life was by dismantling the Wei Corporation, which had provided support to Wei Feng and Wei Xiao. In the end, Wen Nian found sce in focusing on her studies, determined to secure admission to a prestigious school and build connections with the elite. After sshing her face with cold water, she returned to her bedroom to resume studying other subjects. She decided to leave physics forter and nned to directly approach Wen Yu for assistance in understanding the subject that night. As night descended, the tension within the Wen household escted. Wen Nian¡¯s frustration intensified as she perceived Wen Yu¡¯sck of teaching skills, while Wen Yu, in turn, grew increasingly exasperated with Wen Nian¡¯s apparent inability to grasp the subject matter. Wen Nian gazed at the concepts she had recently grasped, feeling a profound sense of mncholy. ¡°I¡¯vee to realize that you have a tendency to oveplicate simple questions while teaching.¡± Wen Yu chuckled in disbelief and responded, ¡°You im that we share the same biological mother, yet I¡¯m still puzzled. Why is your understanding so distinct from mine? I¡¯ve simplified the exnations as much as I could. Didn¡¯t I break it down for you like this before we joined thepetition tuition ss? It seemed to work fine back then, but now it doesn¡¯t. Who do you believe is at fault, you or me?¡± Wen Nian opened her mouth to retort, but she suddenly realized that Wen Yu was telling the truth. There exist various teaching methods, which is why the term ¡°great teachers¡± exists. It¡¯s not necessarily true that those with excellent grades will automatically excel at teaching. The art of teaching requires its own set of skills and approaches, and it is crucial to pay attention to these aspects as well. Shen Jun employed a teaching method that involved summarizingplex concepts and then simplifying them for better understanding. He had a knack for breaking down difficult points into more essible exnations. Throughout his teaching, he ced particr emphasis on reinforcing fundamental concepts to ensure a solid foundation of understanding. Wen Yu, on the other hand, had a contrasting teaching approach. He tended to overlook many basic details and instead focused on exining core theoretical knowledge directly. Consequently, when Wen Nian couldn¡¯t rely on her own ability to connect rted concepts, she would find herself struggling to grasp aprehensive understanding. This often led to arguments between the siblings, exacerbating the discord between them. After contemting the situation, Wen Nian let out a sigh. She came to realize that she belonged to the hardworking type rather than the naturally talented type. Without the guidance of a skilled teacher to aid herprehension, she found herself easily getting stuck at certain points. Despite their frustrations, Wen Nian and Wen Yu acknowledged that they had no other option at the moment. They understood the importance of addressing the gaps in their physics knowledge and agreed to seek Wen Yu¡¯s assistance. Determined to ovee their difficulties, they resumed their study session, focusing on other subjects before turning their attention to physics. Early on Monday morning, Wen Yu rode his bike, with Wen Nian as his passenger, to their destination. As Wen Nian caught sight of Shen Jun at the school gate, she hesitated, contemting whether to greet him. However, before she could make a decision, Wen Yu, recognizing Shen Jun, purposefully elerated on his bicycle, swiftly passing by in the blink of an eye. Wen Nian, startled by the sudden increase in speed, instinctively clung onto Wen Yu¡¯s waist to maintain her bnce. She voiced herint, ¡°Why did you ride so fast? You nearly threw me off the bike!¡± Wen Yu, with a penchant for making snarky remarks, swiftly retorted, ¡°Well, maybe it would be perfect for you to be thrown off, so you can have all the freedom to greet him as you wish!¡± As Wen Yu thought about Shen Jun¡¯s presence, he turned his head slightly and cautioned Wen Nian, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m warning you. Focus on your studies and avoid getting involved in rtionships at such a young age!¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes in response. ¡°We¡¯re just ssmates. Don¡¯t make baseless usations!¡± Wen Nian, infuriated by Wen Yu¡¯sment, swiftly jumped off the bike and yfullynded a few light hits on him. Filled with anger, she stormed off towards the school building. Meanwhile, Wen Yu parked the bike in the designated area with a mischievous smile on his face. He then strolled along the road, making his way towards the Year Three school building located at the back. Shen Jun looked at the two of them fooling around and took a deep breath. He walked towards the ssroom.. Chapter 98 - 98: Crush Chapter 98: Crush Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian took out her physics exercise book. She turned to the chapter she had studied duringst night¡¯s tutoring session and started working on it. Afterpleting the single-choice questions, Wen Nian retrieved the reference answers and prepared topare them. ¡°Five out of ten questions are wrong.¡± As Wen Nian was flipping through the answers, she was startled by the cold voice that suddenly sounded beside her. Her hand froze, and she turned her gaze to meet Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. Shen Jun, without hesitation, reached out and nced at the exorcise book in front of him. He then retrieved a pen and some draft paper, giving the impression that he was about to provide an exnation to Wen Nian. Observing Shen Jun¡¯s intention to teach, Wen Nian promptly pulled her chair closer to him and leaned forward, eager to absorb the knowledge he was about to impart. She positioned herself attentively, ready to engage in the impromptu ss. The morning¡¯s events served as a catalyst to break the ice between them. Both Wen Nian and Wen Yu chose to overlook the incident from a few days ago and instead continued their interactions as if it never urred. During the break between sses, Shen Jun seized the opportunity to inquire about the filming project. He asked Wen Nian, ¡°Where is your production team currently filming?¡± Wen Nian nced at Shen Jun and noticed hisposed demeanor. Realizing that he had likely discovered something and was no longer upset, she felt a sense of relief. Excitedly, she began sharing the details, saying, ¡°The production team is currently filming in the capital. They only have a three-day break for the Spring Festival. My family ns to go to the capital during that time, so we can celebrate the New Year there.¡± In her previous life, Wen Nian had never visited the capital. Thergest film studio in the country was situated near Heng City, the province neighboring Hai City. Most of the productions she had been a part of were low-budget films, and the scenes she had participated in were filmed within the studio premises. The capital, being the center of politics, culture, and economics in China, was a vibrant metropolis that hosted numerous grand awards ceremonies. However, Wen Nian¡¯s involvement in the entertainment industry had mostly confined her to Hai City and Hong City. The glitz and mour of the capital were far from her reach, as she had primarily focused on her career within the boundaries of those cities. After enduring the hardships of being imprisoned, the more prospect of gazing beyond the prison walls had be an extravagant hope for Wen Nian. Throughout her 30 years of life, she had only stayed in Hai City and Heng City. As a result, she held a deep yearning for this uing trip to the capital, viewing it as a chance to finally explore a new and unfamiliar environment. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t believe his luck as everything seemed to be falling into ce seamlessly. Firstly, through their shared study sessions and interactions, he managed to swiftly restore his previous rapport with Won Nian. And now, stumbling upon the information that the filming location was in the capital, it presented him with an opportunity to during winter break. A smile graced Shen Jun¡¯s face, causing the corners of his lips to curl up involuntarily. ¡°The capital has a vibrant New Year atmosphere. If your parents decide to go there for the New Year, 1 can suggest some ces for them to visit and enjoy,¡¯1 Wen Nian nodded eagerly, her anticipation evident. ¡°Absolutely! My parents have never ventured beyond Hai City before. This will be a great opportunity for us to explore the capital during this new year holiday.¡± As Shen Jun seized the moment to share intriguing anecdotes about the capital¡¯s rich history as an ancient capital of five dynasties, a captivating atmosphere enveloped the conversation between him and Wen Nian. They continued the tutoring session during lunch break and Shen Jun finally had the chance to enjoy Zhou Mei¡¯s delicious home-cooked dishes alongside Wen Nian once more. With the help of Shen Jun¡¯s effective learning methods and guidance, Wen Nian was able to catch up on the progress she had missed in the previous days. During the mixed martial arts ss on Wednesday, Wen Nian and Shen Jun continued their practice together. While it wasbeled as practice, Shen Jun consistently served as Wen Nian¡¯s sparring partner. During halftime, Wen Nian wiped the sweat from her forehead with a towel and nced at Shen Jun, who appeared refreshed and was hydrating himself with water. ¡°Have you learned this before? Why does it seem like you can grasp the content of the ss just by hearing it?¡± The corners of Shen Jun¡¯s mouth curled up slightly. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve been practicing martial arts since I was young.¡± Wen Nian nodded, understanding the importance of self-defense, especially for children from wealthy families who might be seen as valuable targets by potential kidnappers. With this in mind, she asked Shen Jun with curiosity, ¡°So, you must be really powerful, right? Even more powerful than our school¡¯s martial arts president?¡± Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m already at the eighth level. What do you think?¡± There were a total of nine levels in mixed martial arts. The first level was the most basic, and the ninth level was the most powerful. Shen Jun, usually known for his low-key personality, was unaware that he had deviated from his usual demeanor. In this moment, he resembled a male peacock disying its vibrant feathers, showcasing himself in a more assertive and high-profile manner to the person he held affection for. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s slightly agape mouth and the admiration shining in his eyes, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of satisfaction. After ss, Zheng Mo stopped Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, 1 have something to trouble you with.¡± This was thest ss in the afternoon. She still had tutoring session with Shen Jun after ss. And so, Wen Nian asked Shen Jun to wait for him in the ssroom. As Zheng Mo and Wen Nian remained in the ssroom, a faint blush graced Zheng Mo¡¯s cheeks. She looked at Wen Nian with shyness in her eyes and said, ¡°I was wondering if I could trouble you to apany me tonight to buy a dress.¡± Wen Nian looked shocked, then asked tentatively, ¡°Are you in a rtionship?¡± Zheng Mo hurriedly shook her head and said disappointedly, ¡°No.¡± Wen Nian asked again, ¡°A crush?¡± Zheng Mo nced at Wen Nian and replied in a low voice, ¡°Yes..¡± Chapter 99 - 99: Crush Chapter 99: Crush Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios With Zheng Mo¡¯s tomboyish personality, Wen Nian really could not associate her with the word ¡®crush¡¯. Wen Nian had a better understanding of Zheng Mo¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Are you thinking about confessing?¡± she asked. Zheng Mo pressed her lips together and nodded. Speaking slowly, she said, ¡°Our families are neighbors. His parents are divorced, and he¡¯s going to move overseas with his mother. I want to give myself a chance to confess my feelings. If we end up together, I will strive to get into the city where he is residing overseas for my college entrance examination.¡± Hearing Zheng Mo¡¯s firm words, Wen Nian already knew the ending of this confession. In her previous life, Zheng Mo was a prison guard in the country. This situation was mostly because she had enrolled in the country¡¯s police academy. Observing Zheng Mo¡¯s nervous and hopeful expression as she prepared for the confession, Wen Nian knew she couldn¡¯t dampen her enthusiasm. She wouldn¡¯t stand in her way. There were countless things in life that one could only truly understand by experiencing them firsthand, and it would be unfair to deny someone the chance to try. Wen Nian smiled and agreed, saying, ¡°Can you wait for me for an hour? I have an hour of tutoring with Shen Jun.¡± Zheng Mo yfully looked at Wen Nian and said with a teasing tone, ¡°You made up quite fast, didn¡¯t you?¡± Wen Nian looked at Zheng Mo in confusion and asked, ¡°Can you even tell that we had a conflict before?¡± Zheng Mo rolled her eyes at Wen Nian and replied, ¡°Last Wednesday, even though you two were still practicing together, it was evident that Shen Jun was in a sour mood. And you, well, you seemed like a downtrodden wife. I had nned to ask you about it after ss, but I got caught up in something and forgot. Nevertheless, I figured Shen Jun couldn¡¯t stay angry with you forever. I anticipated that you two would reconcile within a couple of days. Looks like I was right.¡± Wen Nian looked a little uneasy. She red at Zheng Mo and retorted, ¡°Tsk! Who are you calling a downtrodden wife!¡± Observing Zheng Mo¡¯s confident expression, Wen Nian asked curiously, ¡°How do you know that Shen Jun won¡¯t stay angry for long?¡± Zheng Mo gazed at Wen Nian, who seemed oblivious to the underlying dynamics. She wrestled with whether to express her belief that Shen Jun might have feelings for Wen Nian. As an observer, Zheng Mo recognized that Shen Jun possessed remarkable qualities from the start. She believed that Wen Nian being in a rtionship with him would contribute to her personal growth. Therefore, Zheng Mo held an optimistic outlook on their rtionship, even though it had yet to transition from uncertain to promising. However, Zheng Mo was concerned that revealing her insights might have unintended consequences, potentially damaging their rtionship. She worried that her good intentions could inadvertently sabotage things. After pondering the matter, she opted to gauge Wen Nian¡¯s perspective first. ¡°It¡¯s merely my intuition. What are your thoughts on Shen Jun?¡± she inquired. Wen Nian tilted her head and pondered for a moment before responding seriously, ¡°He¡¯s someone with a strong presence!¡± Curiously, Zheng Mo inquired, ¡°Does he align with your ideal image of a partner?¡± Wen Nian chuckled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s not really aboutpatibility. He and Ie from two different worlds.¡± Zheng Mo was determined not to give up and persisted in seeking a straightforward answer from Wen Nian. Shen Jun possessed abination of qualities that many girls would consider appealing: he was handsome, excelled academically, possessed impressive martial arts skills, had a high boyfriend potential, and came from a respectable family background. Objectively speaking, these attributes would align with the fantasies of most individuals regarding an ideal partner. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s attractive qualities, Wen Nian refrained from indulging in unrealistic fantasies. Ultimately, she responded directly, ¡°No.¡± Undeterred, Zheng Mo refused to give up and opted to make another attempt. ¡°Why don¡¯t you convince me? You¡¯ve been using rationality to ponder for a while now, but feelings are inherently emotional. How about this? Listen to my thoughts and simply nod if you understand,¡± she proposed. Wen Nian understood Zheng Mo¡¯s intention, but observing her friend¡¯s earnestness, she suppressed herughter and nodded in agreement. Zheng Mo locked eyes with Wen Nian and asked, ¡°Now, imagine someone telling you that Shen Jun is your boyfriend! When you hear this news, does your heart race faster? Nod or shake your head. Pick one! Pick one!¡± Wen Nian nodded subconsciously. Zheng Mo smiled smugly. ¡°Alright, the answer is out.¡± Wen Nian frowned and responded, ¡°This is a hint-based multiple-choice question. It doesn¡¯t count at all.¡± Zheng Mo smiled and said, ¡°Stop resisting. There are many people who like him. It¡¯s not a big deal if you are one of them. There¡¯s no need to feel embarrassed.¡± Wen Nian nced at Zheng Mo and replied, ¡°You can say whatever you want. Anyway, it doesn¡¯t count. Let me go back for my tutoring session.¡± With this, Wen Nian left. When she returned to the ssroom, Shen Jun was the only one left in the ss. The two of them then started the tutoring session for today. Shen Jun organized the textbooks ording to his lecture order and then began tutoring Wen Nian. Wen Nian was initially focused and attentive. However, as Shen Jun paused and began writing forms on a sheet of paper, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but gaze at his profile. Thoughts of Zheng Mo¡¯s hypothesis resurfaced in her mind, causing her heart to race once more.. Chapter 100 - 1oo: Opening Another Shop Chapter 1oo: Opening Another Shop Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios No! No! Wen Nian reminded herself in her heart and shook her head vigorously, trying to strengthen her rational thoughts. Shen Jun noticed Wen Nian¡¯s unusual behavior and looked at her with surprise. Blushing at the thought of Shen Jun witnessing her embarrassed expression, Wen Nian quickly came up with an excuse. She spoke earnestly, ¡°Oh, there was a mosquito just now. I shook my head to chase it away. Let¡¯s continue.¡± With her exnation given, Wen Nian shifted her focus back to the form deduction process on the draft paper. She looked down at it with a serious and determined expression. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but have a perplexed expression upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s exnation of chasing away a mosquito with her head. However, he wisely chose not toment on it. While he may not have much experience in dating, he understood the importance of not making Wen Nian feel ufortable. He knew that if he were to say something that embarrassed her, it would only reflect poorly on himself. After tutoring, Wen Nian apanied Zheng Mo to the nearestrge shopping mall. Zheng Mo, who had always been swift and decisive in the past, was dawdling for the first time. Wen Nian looked at Zheng Mo struggling with a few dresses and couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the power of love. ¡°I think that denim dress suits you quite well. Coupled with your short hairstyle, it gives you a youthful and energetic look.¡± Zheng Mo frowned slightly. ¡°But I feel that the dress with the little floral pattern and the bubble sleeves looks better. He prefers girls with a moredylike temperament.¡± Zheng Mo had always given Wen Nian the impression of being a straightforward and cool girl. Seeing Zheng Mo¡¯s desire to change herself for the other party, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel a little unfamiliar. Wen Nian smiled and patted Zheng Mo¡¯s shoulder. ¡°But that¡¯s not who you are, Zheng Mo. Just be yourself. Do you really want to pretend to be someone else for the rest of your life?¡± Zheng Mo was stunned for a moment. She looked at the few dresses in front of her and finally chose the denim dress she liked. ¡°You¡¯re right. I can only be myself.¡± The two of them left the mall. Wen Nian asked with concern, ¡°When do you n to confess?¡± Zheng Mo counted the days with her fingers and said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s Friday the day after tomorrow. I n to meet him on Friday night.¡± Wen Nian encouraged, ¡°Good luck! Regardless of the oue, consider it an opportunity to embrace your youth and gain valuable experiences.¡± Seeing the support from her good friend, Zheng Mo nodded happily and said, ¡°Yes!¡± When Wen Nian arrived at the noodle shop, Zhou Mei had just finished cooking the final dish. While eating, Wen Nian suddenly remembered that she hadn¡¯t inquired about the braised meat for a long time. She asked, ¡°Dad, Mom, how is the trial operation of our braised food series going?¡± Zhou Mei, who was initially tired and sleepy, became wide awake upon hearing Wen Nian mention it. ¡°It has been going quite smoothly. Some people are aware that our braised food is exclusively avable in the fan group, and they have even joined the group specifically for this purpose.¡± When Wen Nian heard this news, she became excited and brought up the topic of opening a physical shop. ¡°That indicates our trial operation has been highly sessful. I believe it¡¯s time for us to start considering renting a nearby shop.¡± However, Zhou Mei had her own thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with your father. We¡¯ve decided that after apanying you to the film set, we¡¯ll seriously consider opening a shop.¡± Wen Nian strongly disagreed in her heart, so she proceeded to analyze the situation. ¡°I can join the production team myself. Our shop is gaining momentum right now. If we don¡¯t seize this opportunity and open another shop while it¡¯s flourishing, I¡¯m concerned that even the business of the noodle shop will be affected when you return after apanying me for two months.¡± When Wen Xing heard this, he disapproved and said, ¡°Little girl, why are you so ambitious? Are you nning to go to the capital? And for just two months? Who knows what kind of people are in that production team? How old are you? Society can beplex and full of dangers.¡± Zhou Mei nodded and echoed, ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Wen Nian was well aware of the sinister nature of some people, but she couldn¡¯t voice her concerns. However, she didn¡¯t want her parents¡¯ business to suffer because of her. She could only persist in persuading them. ¡°How about this? Dad can apany me into the production team, while Mom, you stay here and hire someone to assist in the shop. Besides, finding a suitable nearby shop isn¡¯t easy. If Mom remains here, she can continue searching for a shop and manage both aspects effectively.¡± Seeing that Zhou Mei was about to interrupt again, Wen Nian quickly interjected, ¡°Please let me finish first, Mom. It won¡¯t be of much help if you join the production team with me. If there¡¯s any danger, Dad can handle it. If youe along, do you think it will be easier for Dad to save one person or two people? Furthermore, the filming location is in the capital, which is known for its heightened security. We are describing it like it¡¯s the demon¡¯s headquarters.¡± Zhou Mei chuckled. Hearing this, she felt that it made sense.. Chapter 101 - ioi:Wavering Feeling Chapter 101: Chapter ioi:Wavering Feeling Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian continued, ¡°Moreover, Brother will be taking the exam in the capital in January. The Shen Jun family is also in the capital. If we really encounter any trouble, I can call him and ask him.¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Xing exchanged nces and agreed that the arrangement seemed reasonable. ¡°Alright then, let your father take charge. Oh, by the way, how should we address the issue with your teacher?¡± Wen Nian had already thought of this question. ¡°I¡¯ll ask Shen Jun another day and see if he knows any teachers in the capital who want to earn extra money. I¡¯ll have to trouble him to give me his contact information.¡± Seeing that Wen Nian had considered everything, Zhou Mei did not ask further. When she woke up the next day, Wen Nian noticed that it was almostte December. Thinking of Wang Jing, Wen Nian felt that it was time for her to take action. Otherwise, Huang Yue might have escaped this cmity. At noon, Wen Nian specially asked Shen Jun to get food while she walked out of the ssroom sneakily while Huang Yue was still in the ssroom. When Huang Yue saw this, she immediately followed closely behind, wanting to see if she could catch Wen Nian with something shameful. Although Wei Xiao¡¯s n had stopped, she really didn¡¯t want to let Wen Nian off. Wen Nian looked around and found a remote corner. She pressed her phone screen. ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Huang Yue, who was not far from Wen Nian, discreetly positioned herself around the corner, straining her ears to eavesdrop on the conversation. ¡°Are you sure that Chengheng Technology will soar next month?¡± When Huang Yue heard the familiar name of thepany, she quickly realized that it was the same stock that Wang Jing had mentioned during their previous conversation. ¡°You¡¯re an internal employee, of course I believe you! How much is the increase this time?¡± When Huang Yue heard the key information, she was even more focused. After a while, she heard Wen Nian¡¯s shocked tone. ¡°More than 12 to 50 to 60 yuan?! That¡¯s several times higher!¡± ¡°Of course I want to buy it! In the previous few instances, the increase wasn¡¯t significant, and I didn¡¯t make much profit. But this time, I¡¯m aware that there¡¯s a huge earning potential, and yet I hesitated to seize the opportunity. I¡¯ve been foolish. I also know that such significant opportunities for substantial growth don¡¯te often. Tonight, I¡¯ll discreetly transfer the money from my mother¡¯s bank ount to mine. I¡¯ve made up my mind to invest 50,000 yuan and wait for a four to five-fold return!¡± Even without seeing Wen Nian¡¯s face, Huang Yue could hear the excitement in her voice. The prospect of such ie was tempting, not just for Wen Nian, but for Huang Yue as well. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I understand that disclosing this information could lead to investigations on insiders. That¡¯s why I made sure to answer your call in an isted location.¡± ¡°Alright, once I sell it, we¡¯ll split the profit with a 70% to 30% ratio as my reward for sharing the information with you! That¡¯s all for now. Feel free to reach out if you need anything.¡± As Wen Nian approached her direction, Huang Yue quickly sought refuge behind a nearby cover, hoping to remain unnoticed. ¡°Idiot, do you think you can just find a ce with no one around? I heard it and I don¡¯t even have to share any portion of the profit!¡± Huang Yue felt a sense of satisfaction for noticing Wen Nian¡¯s unusual behavior in time. Initially, she had only intended to earn some interest, but hearing about the stock¡¯s potential rise from two unrted individuals caused her previously conservative mindset to waver. Huang Yue bit her lower lip and thought for a while before calling Wang Jing. At this moment, Wang Jing had an ordinary-looking daughter of a rich family on hisp. When he saw the call, he rejected the call. When the daughter of the wealthy family noticed Secretary Huang¡¯s name on the caller ID, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you answer? What if it¡¯s an urgent business matter?¡± she inquired. Wang Jing embraced the girl tightly, a doting smile adorning her face. ¡°No matter how important it may be, it can¡¯tpare to the significance of being with you. Sweetie, have you thought about how much you want to invest in that stock?¡± she asked affectionately. When Huang Yue noticed that the call had been disconnected, she didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. Assuming that Wang Jing was busy, she figured it would be better to send a message on WeChat instead. She typed out a message ordingly. Huang Yue: ¡°Baby, I heard you say that Chengheng Technology¡¯s shares will increase greatly next month. I want to buy some too, but I don¡¯t know how to operate it. Can you teach me?¡± Wen Nian walked briskly back to the ssroom, feeling a sense of relief when she saw that Huang Yue¡¯s seat was still vacant. The trap had been set, and its sess would ultimately depend on Huang Yue¡¯s level of greed. Wen Nian acknowledged that Huang Yue couldn¡¯t be solely med for the situation. After all, if Huang Yue hadn¡¯t harbored the intention to cause harm, she wouldn¡¯t have followed her outside. Simrly, if Huang Yue hadn¡¯t been driven by greed, she wouldn¡¯t have fallen into the trap. It had been a while since Shen Jun brought the food back. When he saw Wen Nian enter the ssroom, he asked curiously, ¡°Where did you go?¡± Wen Nian smiled and sat down. ¡°I was doing something serious. Let¡¯s eat..1¡® Chapter 102 - 102: Only You Can Help Chapter 102: Only You Can Help Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun saw Wen Nian¡¯s sly smile and didn¡¯t ask further. The two of them started eating. Wen Nian turned to Shen Jun and inquired, ¡°Shen Jun, do you happen to know any trustworthy tutors in the capital? I¡¯m considering hiring one to ensure I don¡¯t fall behind during my time with the production team.¡± When Shen Jun heard the question, his heart skipped a beat. ¡°Where is the time and exact location of the tutoring?¡± Wen Nian had reached out to Xu Chang a few days ago, and he had recently signed a contract with a school to serve as the filming location. Wen Nian disclosed the name of the filming location. ¡°I don¡¯t have the exact address, but the filming will take ce at Qingyang Normal School in the capital. The hotel where they will be staying is also in close proximity. The tutoring sessions will primarily take ce in the evenings, although there may be some variations. Hence, I¡¯m hoping for the teacher¡¯s avability during the period from January to February next year.¡± Shen Jun yfully asked, ¡°Not only would the teacher have to pay a visit, but they would also have to match your schedule Your requirements are quite demanding. So, what price are you nning to offer?¡± Wen Nian adjusted the price based on the market rates in Hai City. ¡°How about 200 yuan per hour, for three hours a day?¡± Shen Jun raised his eyebrows in response. ¡°With that price, you can only afford regr teachers. The university¡¯s location is a bit remote, situated in a new development area with few middle schools nearby. Moreover, most experienced tutors are located in the old city area. Considering the travel expenses andmuting time, it¡¯s already quite good to be able to hire ordinary teachers.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s exnation, Wen Nian realized that 200 yuan might not be sufficient to attract qualified tutors. She asked, ¡°Then, how much would be a reasonable price?¡± Shen Jun extended four fingers. ¡°At least double.¡± Wen Nian understood Xu Chang¡¯s financial situation and wanted to help him save some money. However, realizing the need for a higher price, she sighed slightly and said, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll find someone at that price.¡± Shen Jun chuckled and suggested an alternative. ¡°You have other options. You can treat me instead. For the sake of being your deskmate, just cover my round-trip travel expenses. I¡¯ll fully cooperate with your schedule, or I can even offer my tutoring services for free.¡± Wen Nian thought that Shen Jun was joking and smiled in response. ¡°That sounds like a good deal. Not only can I cover the taxi fare, but I can also provide you with food and amodation.¡± Shen Jun nodded. ¡°Alright, you said it yourself. When are you joining the production crew?¡± Wen Nian was stunned. ¡°Are you serious?!¡± Shen Jun frowned slightly and raised his eyebrows in response to Wen Nian¡¯sment. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking or teasing you? Or are you trying to tease me?¡± Afraid of another misunderstanding, Wen Nian quickly shook her head and rified, ¡°I¡¯m grateful for your willingness to help, but don¡¯t you still have school in Hai City? The flight from Hai City to the capital takes over an hour. I can cover your transportation expenses by car, but it¡¯s not feasible for you to fly back and forth every day.¡± Shen Jun leaned closer to Wen Nian, his gaze focused on her eyes. He asked in a deliberate manner, ¡°Do you think my grades will be affected if I study in Hai City or the capital?¡± Seeing Shen Jun leaning closer, Wen Nian felt her cheeks blush, and she gently shook her head in response. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel amused at her blushing cheeks. He sighed inwardly, thinking that some things only got more interesting with time. He smiled and said softly, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled.¡± What do you mean it¡¯s settled! Wen Nian came back to her senses and looked at Shen Jun. After thinking for a while, she asked curiously, ¡°Why arc you offering to help me with my tutoring for free?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had mentioned being in a hurry earlier, but now he realized that his uncle had advised him to ask for something significant in return. He didn¡¯t want toe across as having ulterior motives that might scare Wen Nian away. Shen Jun quickly tried to salvage the situation. ¡°I need your help with something important, and I believe you arc the only person who can assist me.¡± Wen Nian hurriedly asked, ¡°What favor?¡± Shen Jun maintained a serious expression as he responded, ¡°I can¡¯t disclose the details at the moment, but rest assured, it¡¯s something you are capable of handling.¡± Wen Nian trusted Shen Jun. And so, when she heard this, she didn¡¯t ask anymore questions. ¡°Alright. The exact time to join the production crew hasn¡¯t been decided. I will tell you when I receive the notice.¡± When the tutoring arrangement was settled, Wen Nian felt relieved. She preferred being tutored by Shen Jun over anyone else, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a secret sense of happiness. On Saturday, Shen Jun asked Wen Nian to help braise two pig heads. He then took them to Zhao Wu¡¯s house at night. When Zhao Wu opened the door and saw Shen Jun, he teased, ¡°What a rare guest. I thought I would have to visit you to get these two pig heads.¡± Shen Jun entered and put the braised pig head into the kitchen.. When he found that Zhao Wu was the only one at home, he asked curiously, ¡°Where¡¯s Sister Bai Ling? How¡¯s the effect of that wooden sign?¡± Chapter 103 - 103: Improvement Chapter 103: Improvement Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhao Wu poured a ss of water for Shen Jun and began speaking, ¡°I went shopping with a friend earlier. Your wooden sign is truly remarkable. After wearing it for two or three days, I can finally sleep peacefully. Recently, there haven¡¯t been any strange urrences.¡± After this incident, Zhao Wu found himselfpelled to believe that there were certain phenomena that science simply couldn¡¯t exin. With a curious expression, he asked Shen Jun, ¡°How¡¯s the progress on your side?¡± Shen Jun provided a brief exnation of the matter, and upon hearing it, Zhao Wu sighed with a mix of emotions. ¡°You¡¯re having such a smooth journey. It¡¯s as if fate itself has granted you a two-month window to leave her insignificant boyfriend behind! You must seize this opportunity with utmost determination. Just keep one goal in mind.¡± ¡°Until you¡¯re certain that her affection for you exceeds 85%, hold off on confessing,¡± Zhao Wu advised. ¡°Wen Nian doesn¡¯t strike me as someone inclined towards romance. She likely prefers a steady and continuous connection. Furthermore, she¡¯s currently involved with someone else, so you must remainposed and avoid bing anxious.¡± Shen Jun reminisced about the few times he had crossed paths with Wen Nian. The dynamics between them were undoubtedly not those of an ordinary couple. Frustration crept in as he pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°They frequently go to and from school together. The other person even helps out at the Wen family¡¯s shop. They¡¯re likely childhood sweethearts,¡± he concluded. Upon hearing this weighty revtion, Zhao Wu looked at Shen Jun with surprise. ¡°You¡¯re informing me of such a crucial matter only now? This puts you in a precarious situation. It seems challenging for you to meddle in the foundation of their rtionship.¡± Zhao Wu pondered the situation, his hand gently touching his chin. His alluring eyes squinted as he conceived an idea. ¡°Why don¡¯t we consider an alternative approach?¡± he suggested. Shen Jun let out a snort of dismissal. ¡°Don¡¯t propose that idea of taking and seizing. Wen Nian is not Bai Ling. She may appear gentle and harmless on the surface, but she possesses a strong-willed nature within. Moreover, I want her to be with me because she loves me.¡± Zhao Wu responded with a roll of his eyes, seemingly unimpressed by Shen Jun¡¯s gentlemanly demeanor. ¡°Who cares if it¡¯s a ck cat or a white cat? As long as it can catch mice, it¡¯s a good cat,¡± he retorted. ¡°So what if we have to resort to force? Bai Ling is still deeply in love with me. The process itself is inconsequential. What truly matters is the end result.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t perceive himself as a gentleman because a true gentleman wouldn¡¯t try to snatch someone¡¯s girlfriend. His desire was for Wen Nian to choose to be with him willingly, not through force or maniption. Shen Jun acknowledged that his approach couldn¡¯t be entirely open and transparent, but he was determined not to stoop to the level of his uncle¡¯s schemes. Consequently, he had been listening closely to Zhao Wu¡¯s subsequent cunning tactics and intended to adapt and modify them based on the actual circumstances at hand. While packing her belongings at home, Wen Nian noticed the invitation that Wei Feng had sent over the previous week. Curiosity piqued, she opened it and discovered that the birthday party was scheduled for 8 p.m. next Wednesday. The venue was set to be the Wei family¡¯s old residence. After a brief moment of hesitation, Wen Nian made up her mind to attend the party. She wanted to test her luck and see if she could catch a glimpse of Wei Ming at the event. Despitecking the power to bring down the Wei family at present, Wen Nian was undeterred in her determination to investigate their abnormalities and gather information about them. She understood that building her case and making a significant impact would take time. After all, as the saying goes, ¡°Rome wasn¡¯t built in a day.¡± To avoid standing out at the g, Wen Nian decided to visit an affordable mall on Sunday to purchase a dress and shoes that she could wear on other asions as well. She aimed to find an outfit that would blend in and not draw excessive attention to herself during the event. On Wednesday, Wen Nian concluded her lessons at her own pace. Afterwards, she discreetly headed to the school bathroom and changed into a shoulder-length grayish-blue dress that gracefully reached her calves. Sheplemented the attire with a pair of high heels and swiftly fashioned her hair into a simple princess hairstyle using a few small clips. Applying a touch of lipstick, she then slipped on a long down jacket that she had specifically chosen for the asion. As Wen Nian stepped out of the bathroom, a chilly gust of air greeted her, causing a shiver to run down her spine. The cool air brushed against her exposed calves, making her realize the need for added warmth. Hastily, she gathered her coat tightly and embraced her bag, preparing to descend the stairs. To her surprise, she identally collided with Shen Jun, who had returned to the ssroom to retrieve the books she had missed. This was the first time Shen Jun had seen Wen Nian dressed up so carefully. He was stunned. Feeling the chill and wanting to escape the cold as soon as possible, Wen Nian¡¯s primary desire was to swiftly make her way outside, hail a taxi, and get the driver to turn on the heater. She greeted Shen Jun hurriedly and quickly went downstairs. Shen Jun quickly regained his senses and felt a pang of sadness in his heart. He briskly walked after Wen Nian, determined to catch up with her. ¡°Why are you out sote? You are freezing because you¡¯re not dressed warmly enough.¡± Unaware of the undertone of Shen Jun¡¯s words, Wen Nian continued to blow into her hands, trying to warm them up, and responded. ¡°I¡¯m actually heading to a birthday party. If I don¡¯t dress like this, I¡¯ll stand out too much at the event.¡± When Shen Jun heard Wen Nian¡¯s exnation, his jealousy disappeared. The corners of his lips curled up slightly. ¡°Where will it be held?¡± Wen Nian replied nonchntly, ¡°It¡¯s in the mountain vi area.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s expression turned slightly furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s quite a distance. It takes over an hour to drive there. How do you n on getting to the mountain vi area?¡± he inquired. Wen Nian contemted the impending cost of taking a taxi and braced herself before replying, ¡°I¡¯ll take a taxi..¡± Chapter 104 - 104: Joining the Production Crew Chapter 104: Joining the Production Crew Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun was unsure whether he should describe Wen Nian as bold ormend her for her boldness. Merely because she knew a few martial arts moves, she dared to ride a night bus alone in the suburbs, dressed as she was. Despite the excellent security measures in ce, asional incidents still urred. It was always crucial to remain vignt. Shen Jun retrieved his phone and dialed while speaking, ¡°It¡¯s nearly seven o¡¯clock now. By the time we arrive, it¡¯ll be around eight-thirty. The event will likely conclude close to ten o¡¯clock. Afterward, you¡¯ll still have to descend the mountain alone and hail a taxi. I don¡¯t even know when you¡¯ll be able to catch a bus. Let me drive you there.¡± Just as he finished speaking, the call connected. ¡°Uncle, please arrange for a car to be sent to the school gate. I¡¯m in a hurry,¡± he requested. The presence of the baton and pepper spray in her bag brought a sense of calm to Wen Nian. However, as she contemted her inability to take them with her on her descent from the mountain due to her cold leg, she realized that she had been indebted to Shen Jun on multiple asions. She resolved to seize an opportunity in the future to repay his kindness. After Shen Jun hung up, Wen Nian smiled shamelessly. ¡°Thank you.¡± The two of them stepped out of the school gate, and Wen Nian, shivering from the cold, tugged at Shen Jun¡¯s clothes, leading him towards the Sichuan restaurant nearby. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you to dinner,¡± she said. Shen Jun looked puzzled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of beingte?¡± Wen Nian replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m simply going for a stroll. I don¡¯t n to eat there. Moreover, who can truly satisfy their appetite at a banquet?¡± Shen Jun nodded in agreement. Zhao Wu spected that Shen Jun had borrowed the car because of Wen Nian. To avoid causing any embarrassment to his nephew, he arranged for a stunning limited edition red sports car to be sent over. When the car arrived, the dishes that Wen Nian ordered were just served. After handing the key to Shen Jun, the other party took it back. When the two of them finished their meal and arrived at the roadside to retrieve the car, they noticed a group of young boys taking photos of the car. ¡°Damn! There are only ten cars in the entire world! And there is actually one in Hai City!¡± ¡°We have to take a picture and post it on our social media!¡± Shen Jun looked at the sports car that blew up the street. He rubbed his forehead helplessly and pressed the control. As the car emitted the sound of unlocking, everyone present instinctively dispersed and turned their attention to the side. Their curiosity arose from wondering whether the owner of the luxurious vehicle would match the stereotypical image of a potbellied middle-aged man with thinning hair. Upon seeing Shen Jun approaching, everyone felt a tinge of surprise, but they also regarded it as the norm. After all, it was expected for children from affluent families to solely rely on their parents¡¯ wealth. They didn¡¯t have to earn it themselves. The young men watching him disyed a subtle hint of disdain in their eyes. But the girls didn¡¯t care. After all, there aren¡¯t many who could rely on their family. This was a form of invisible strength! One of the pretty girls brushed her hair and walked seductively to Shen Jun, who was just about to open the car door. She blinked with her big eyes. The voice that came out of her cherry-like mouth was also very charming. ¡°Handsome, can you give me a ride?¡± Shen Jun had encountered many girls like her before, and his heart remained steadfast. After ignoring her, he got into the car and started to warm it up. However, when he turned around and caught sight of Wen Nian standing on the side, her expression clearly indicating that she was anticipating a spectacle, he was instantly overwhelmed by a surge of emotions. As Shen Jun observed Wen Nian engaging in conversation with other guys, he experienced a sense of unease coursing through his entire body. However, when their positions reversed, he noticed that she exhibited even greater enthusiasm than the other onlookers. Shen Jun lowered the car window and fixed a firm gaze on Wen Nian. Speaking in a cold tone, he said, ¡°I suppose you¡¯re no longer feeling cold with your bare legs, huh?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t anticipate that her spectator mindset would shield her from the cold. Regaining her senses, she swiftly moved to the front passenger seat. Since the heater had just been turned on, the car was still slightly cold, but at least it provided some protection from the wind. Wen Nian promptly fastened her seatbelt and remarked, ¡°The wind is exceptionally strong today. I¡¯m on the verge of freezing.¡± The girl red at Wen Nian¡¯s appearance, feeling a tinge of indignation. Just as she was about to say something, Shen Jun pressed the elerator and drove away. The girl was left seething with anger, left only with the option to pout and stomp her feet. After staying in Hai City for a few months, Shen Jun began to familiarize himself with the route. Because he had been to the mountains once, he didn¡¯t even need to drive the navigation system this time. As Wen Nian observed Shen Jun¡¯s familiar expression, she felt a sense of relief and settled into her seat. However, just as she was about to say something, she received a message from Xu Chang. [Xu Chang: The schedule is finalized. You will be joining the production team on January 3, after New Year¡¯s Day. Please arrive at least one day in advance. I have booked a suite with two bedrooms and a living room for you.] Wen Nian nced at the confirmed date on her phone and felt a surge of excitement. If Wen Nian were asked whether she enjoyed acting, she would express that she still did. Despite having only been part of small productions and yed minor roles in the past, she recognized that in the real world, one could only experience a singr life. Regardless of the highs and lows one encountered, the range of experiences avable remained limited.. Chapter 105 - 105: Staying in a Hotel Chapter 105: Staying in a Hotel Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, as an actor, it was apletely different experience. One moment, you were ying the role of a doctor, and the next, you might find yourself portraying a teacher. In one project, you were assigned the character of a good-hearted individual, while in another, you could be portraying a powerful figure in the world of illicit enterprises. This unique life experience continued to captivate Wen Nian. Initially, filming served as a means to earn money and gain fame. However, as she delved deeper into the craft, Wen Nian found herself irresistibly drawn to the profession¡¯s distinctive allure. Wen Nian informed Shen Jun about the date of their intended enrollment. ¡°It¡¯s already December 23rd. We need to promptly request leave from school. I¡¯ll arrange for Director Xu to provide you with a written proof as well.¡± Shen Jun said, ¡°There¡¯s no need for mine. Just get yours.¡± After careful consideration, Wen Nian came to understand Young Master Shen¡¯s intention¡ªto harness the power of privilege. Wen Nian made an ¡°OK¡± gesture. ¡°Then I¡¯ll just get my own.¡± [Wen Nian: Okay, Director Xu, please give me a written proof so that my parents can apply for leave from school.] [Xu Chang: No problem, Wen Nian! You can arrive two days ahead of schedule. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to give you a tour of the capital city. There¡¯s plenty of fun to be had here.] Xu Chang, however, remained slightly anxious. In Wen Nian¡¯s absence, he harbored concerns that the Wen couple might have second thoughts. Despite having added Wen Xing on WeChat for constantmunication, he understood that circumstances could alter if there were any dys. He desired to avoid any penalties and simply wished for the leadingdy of his heart toplete the filming sessfully. Upon reading Xu Chang¡¯s message, Wen Nian discerned his concerns and intentions. With a warm smile, she replied tofort him. [Wen Nian: I¡¯ll do my best. Once I finalize my leave and purchase the ne ticket, I¡¯ll inform you of the exact details then.] Wen Nian informed Shen Jun that she had sessfully secured a teacher. Although she didn¡¯t mention specific details about food and amodation, she requested a sry of 400 yuan per hour for Shen Jun. Even though Shen Jun mentioned that food and amodation were provided, considering the average cost of a hotel booked by the production team, these expenses were likely less than a quarter of the daily tuition fees. While Wen Nian felt a pang of sympathy for the financially struggling production team, she also wished for Shen Jun to avoid excessive hardship. Although Shen Jun was wealthy, who wouldin about having an abundance of money? This price was even lower than Xu Chang had expected. He immediately agreed. After reading the reply, Wen Nian held up her phone in front of Shen Jun while waiting for the traffic light to turn green. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she eximed, ¡°I negotiated an hourly sry of 400 yuan for you!¡± In that moment, Shen Jun finally realized that the production team was covering the costs of the remedial school fees. He cast a nce at Wen Nian, who appeared as if she was seeking praise, and all his previous negative emotions dissipated. At least this cunning little fox knew how to look out for him. Shen Jun smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you, Miss Wen, for providing me with an opportunity to earn some money. Coincidentally, I am in need of funds.¡± As Wen Nian listened to Shen Jun¡¯s words, she saw this as a favorable opportunity to get closer to him. After all, there was no harm in offeringpliments for free. ¡°Certainly. I can tell who is closer to me. Are you considering staying at a hotel or returning home?¡± Shen Jun recalled that he had a house near the school, but it wasn¡¯t any closer to Wen Nian than staying in a hotel. Therefore, he replied, ¡°I¡¯ll opt for staying in a hotel. It would be too inconvenient tomute back and forth every day, considering the notorious traffic congestion in the capital city.¡± Wen Nian nodded and thought about the Shen family¡¯s amodation environment. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get the production team to book the best suite for you.¡± Shen Jun stopped her. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through so much trouble. Just book the room next to yours. It¡¯s also convenient for tutoring.¡± Wen Nian was very gratified to see Shen Jun so serious and self-aware. As they arrived at the Wei family¡¯s old residence, it was almost nine o¡¯clock in the evening. Being aware of Wei Feng¡¯s ulterior motives towards Shen Jun, Wen Nian intentionally made an excuse to get out of the car and asked Shen Jun to park and wait nearby, ensuring he wouldn¡¯t be a target for that cunning old fox. The birthday party took ce in a small banquet hall located within the main building of the Wei family¡¯s old mansion. Upon their arrival, the cake-cutting ceremony had already concluded, and guests had begun engaging in conversations and dancing, seeking potential coborations. Today, the birthday celebration was for Wei Lai, the 14-year-old daughter of Wei Feng¡¯s third son, Wei Jiang. Despite Wei Jiang¡¯s marriage being arranged through a business arrangement as per his father¡¯s instructions, marriages in wealthy families often existed in name only. The husband and wife pursued their own interests, but they had an unspoken agreement to shield their family from external affairs. Their primary objective was to secure their children¡¯s ability to inherit thebined resources of the two families. Wen Nian took off her coat and stored it at the door. She handed the gift box and invitation to the receptionist and searched the hall, but she didn¡¯t see Wei Feng. She probably believed that she wouldn¡¯t bring Shen Jun here, so she went back to work. At the venue, she only saw Wei Feng¡¯s second and third sons presiding over the situation.. Chapter 106 - 106: Gold-digger Chapter 106: Gold-digger Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Lai was chatting with Jiang Ning. When he saw Wen Nianing to his birthday party, he frowned slightly. Jiang Ning followed Wei Lai¡¯s gaze and the smile on her face faded a lot. ¡°If I had known that your family would invite her, I wouldn¡¯t havee.¡± Wei Lai was on good terms with Jiang Ning, so he naturally knew how she felt about his cousin. He hurriedlyforted her. ¡°Sister Jiang Ning, she has already broken off the engagement with my cousin. Why are you still arguing with a poor person like her? I guess after the engagement was broken off, she was unwilling to lose the golden son-inw she had. She wants to catch another rich second-generation heir for my birthday. Just you wait, I¡¯ll help you vent your anger.¡± As the engagement was only known to his family, it wasn¡¯t widely publicized. In order to save face, Wei Feng didn¡¯t mention that Wen Nian had taken the initiative to break off the engagement. Wei Lai held the belief that Wen Nian was merely seeking wealth and influence by trying to gain favor with the Wei family. Naturally, he assumed that Wei Xiao had also recognized Wen Nian¡¯s true intentions and had mustered the courage to bring it up with their grandfather. Reluctantly, Wen Nian had no choice but to acknowledge the situation. Jiang Ning had initially met Wei Xiao when he came to the old residence in search of Wei Lai. This encounter had ignited a sense of romantic longing within Jiang Ning, being a young girl yearning for love. It was because of this connection that Wei Lai had confided in Jiang Ning about theplicated rtionship between Wen Nian and Wei Xiao. One of the main motivations for Jiang Ning seeking out Wen Nian was her interest in Wei Xiao. However, as time went on, Jiang Ning discovered that Wen Nian had ended her engagement with Wei Xiao and that he had departed overseas. With no grounds for confrontation, Jiang Ning ceased troubling Wen Nian and let the matter rest. Hearing Wei Lai¡¯s words, she only said weakly, ¡°Forget it. Your cousin isn¡¯t around either. So what if I win?¡± Wei Lai said disapprovingly, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for her, you might have already gotten together with my cousin.¡± Jiang Ning let out a soft sigh and gently gripped Wei Lai¡¯s arm. She expressed her frustration, saying, ¡°If only I had met you earlier. Then, I wouldn¡¯t have be acquainted with your brother after Wen Nian did. I¡¯ve been attempting to persuade my parents to allow me to go abroad, but they refuse to grant me permission. It¡¯s so exasperating.¡± Wei Lai eximed with indignation, ¡°Perhaps my cousin went overseas to escape the menace of Wen Nian. No, I must expose her in front of everyone and humiliate her!¡± Wei Jiang¡¯s wife, Li Bing, felt a slight surprise upon seeing Wen Nian. Although she couldn¡¯t recall extending an invitation to Wen Nian, her smile remained unchanged. Approaching her, Li Bing warmly sped Wen Nian¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Wen Nian, it¡¯s been a while. Wee to my daughter¡¯s birthday party.¡± Wen Nian also smiled and replied, ¡°Hello, Third Madam Wei.¡± Li Bing felt a hint of surprise upon hearing this form of address. Previously, when she first met Wen Nian, Wen Nian had sought favor with Wei Xiao and referred to her as ¡°Third Aunt.¡± This urred before the engagement ceremony took ce. Li Bing¡¯s seemingly insignificant presence had be the subject of mockery from her second daughter-inw on multiple asions. Li Bing carefully observed Wen Nian and noticed that her demeanor had undergone a significant transformation during the few months they hadn¡¯t seen each other. However, Li Bing believed that the broken engagement was a way to make Wen Nian understand the true meaning of a perfect match. It was only then that she regained her rity. At that moment, Wei Lai approached the reception area near the entrance and confronted the receptionist. He questioned, ¡°Those who enter should possess an invitation. You allowed them in with just a few words about knowing the Wei family. Is this how you earn your sry?!¡± The three people in the reception area were stunned. Then, they immediately exined, ¡°Miss, we¡¯ve all checked. We all have invitations.¡± Observing her daughter¡¯s behavior, Li Bing understood that she was intentionally targeting Wen Nian. Since their initial meeting, Wei Lai had held the belief that Wen Nian was conceited and enjoyed causing trouble for her. However, Li Bing quickly assessed the situation and realized the nature of the asion. Thankfully, her previous words hadn¡¯t attracted much attention, and themotion at the door had gone unnoticed. She shot a discreet re at Wei Lai and instructed him, ¡°Go and socialize with your best friend. I¡¯ll keep an eye on the reception area.¡± Wei Lai remained skeptical of the staff¡¯s exnation. Observing his mother siding with Wen Nian, he concluded that she didn¡¯t wish to argue with Wen Nian at the birthday party. He believed that Wen Nian had managed to enter surreptitiously because she wanted to save face. With these thoughts in mind, Wei Lai grew even more displeased. Deliberately raising his voice, he said, ¡°Mom, I know who I gave my invitation to. Would you give your invitation to someone unrted to our family? The attendees tonight are all respected upper-ss individuals. I¡¯m just concerned that someone with ulterior motives might have snuck in, so I wanted the reception staff to verify.¡± Li Bing didn¡¯t want to escte the situation. She felt a tinge of anger towards her daughter¡¯s stubbornness and gently tugged at Wei Lai¡¯s arm. As themotion near the door caught the attention of the nearby guests, they began to turn their heads to see what was happening. In contrast, Wen Nian remainedposed and entered the venue calmly, unaffected by the disturbance.. Chapter 107 - 107: Invitation Chapter 107: Invitation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Observing the situation unfold, Wei Lai disregarded the warning in Li Bing¡¯s eyes and stepped forward to intercept Wen Nian. ¡°Hold on, you can¡¯t enter without an invitation,¡± he dered. Wen Nian regarded Wei Lai with a perplexed expression. ¡°Who said I don¡¯t have an invitation? The staff members have already epted it,¡± she replied. The staff membersprehended the situation and, in order to preempt any potential anger from Wei Lai towards themter, they decided to retain Wen Nian¡¯s invitation. Wen Nian was well aware of the tricks often employed in upper-ss society. Without hesitation, she swiftly turned around and made her way to the designated area where the invitations were ced. She picked up the topmost one, opened it, and held it in her hand. Then, she directed a smile at Wei Lai. ¡°Miss Wei, now that I¡¯ve presented it to you, are you implying that this is a counterfeit?¡± Laughter erupted from the crowd as someone found the situation amusing. The notion of counterfeit invitations seemed absurd, as such practices were typically associated with high-profile, significant events. Those invitations featured borate anti-counterfeiting measures, including special logos and expensive printing materials. In contrast, for a rtively modest birthday celebration like this one, the production cost of the invitations was likely minimal, at most a few yuan. Wei Lai could clearly perceive the sarcasm in Wen Nian¡¯s words. He hastily snatched the invitation from her hands and noticed a small, private seal on the upper left corner, indicating his grandfather¡¯s invitation. Wearing an innocent expression, he gritted his teeth and spoke in a low voice, ¡°You deliberately wanted to humiliate me, didn¡¯t you?! If you had an invitation from my grandfather, why didn¡¯t you mention it earlier?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s expression became enlightened as she responded, ¡°Ah, so you were referring to me earlier? You didn¡¯t mention my name specifically. Secondly, the situation you described, where you imed to not have an invitation, doesn¡¯t apply to me. Frankly, I¡¯m quite perplexed by what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Li Bing¡¯s expression turned slightly unpleasant as she nced at the onlooking guests. She forced a smile and said, ¡°Wei Lai, you¡¯re a year older and should be more mature. Why do you still enjoy teasing Wen Nian like this? Wen Nian, you¡¯re being excessive. Why do you feel the need to provoke her?¡± Li Bing directly downyed the situation, likening it to a childish squabble between two youngsters. The experienced individuals present, well-versed in the ways of the business world, saw through the charade but chose to y along, feigning ignorance. ¡°Kids these days really know how to y.¡± Li Bing let out a nervousugh andmented, ¡°You nearly gave me a fright. I thought I had unknowingly let in a stranger.¡± Li Bing gathered a group of affluentdies and engaged in cheerful conversation as they strolled towards the ss greenhouse she was tending to. Just before she departed, she cast a stern, cautionary gaze at Wei Lai. Feeling embarrassed, Wei Lai shot a furtive re at Wen Nian before leaving with Jiang Ning. Left alone at the door, Wen Nian feltpletely at ease. Despite not donning any renowned brands, she exuded a sense offort. She remained unaffected by the fact that she didn¡¯t fit into this social ss. Her natural and rxed demeanor drew the attention of a small group of people. Wei Chen observed the entire scene from the second floor, his eyes fixed on Wen Nian¡¯s every move. A mischievous smile yed across his face, indicating that he found her actions intriguing. Wen Nian sat at the corner table on the first floor, unnoticed by the others. Realizing that she had slipped out of everyone¡¯s attention, she made her way to the door to retrieve her belongings. Quietly, she exited through the side door and crossed the small garden, heading straight towards a standalone two-story building located at the back. In her previous life, Wen Nian was aware that Wei Ming resided here, but she had never set foot in this ce before. Among the entire building, only the small room on the left side of the first floor was illuminated, presenting a stark contrast to the bustling activity in the front and exuding an air of destion. Wen Nian rapped on the closed door, but received no answer. Undeterred, she knocked forcefully once more and called out in a loud voice, ¡°Uncle Wei!¡± After a brief period of waiting, just as Wen Nian was preparing to knock on the door again, it swung open unexpectedly. A gaunt face emerged from the darkness, its eyes as lifeless as those of a deceased person. The sight startled Wen Nian to the point that her heart seemed to momentarily cease its beating. Wen Nian steadied herself, taking two deep breaths to regain herposure. The pungent scent of alcohol wafted through her nostrils, originating from the person before her. Suppressing her unease, she cautiously spoke up, ¡°Uncle Wei? My name is Wen Nian, and I am Wen Xing¡¯s daughter.¡± When Wei Ming heard Wen Xing¡¯s name, a flicker of recognition passed through his eyes. After a moment¡¯s pause, he inquired, ¡°Why have youe looking for me?¡± Had it not been for the lingering scent of alcohol, Wen Nian might not have detected that Wei Ming had been drinking. As he spoke, she discerned a slight slurring in his voice, a subtle indication of his intoxicated state. Wen Nian found it even more peculiar that Wei Ming, being a vegetarian and a follower of Buddhism, would also be a drinker. The apparent contradiction between his lifestyle choices left her puzzled. Wen Nian pushed aside her doubts and managed a smile. ¡°Uncle Wei, I¡¯m here to attend Wei Lai¡¯s birthday party today. When my father learned of my visit to the old residence, he specifically mentioned you and asked me toe and see you.¡± Wei Ming cast a brief nce at Wen Nian, then proceeded to open the door. He turned around to switch on the lights, illuminating the surroundings. It was only at that moment that Wen Nian could clearly see theyout of the hall. Adorning the living room were several portraits of a woman. Based on her intuition, Wen Nian deduced that the woman depicted in the portraits must be Wei Xiao¡¯s mother.. Chapter 108 - 108: Mysterious Chapter 108: Mysterious Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon entering, Wen Nian noticed the absence of a Buddha statue in in sight. However, a lingering fragrance of sandalwood, often associated with the temple hall, permeated the air. She surmised that the temple hall might be arranged in another room. Wei Ming took a seat on the sofa, his hand trembling as he held a ss of water. Just as the water approached the brink of overflowing, he extended it towards Wen Nian. As Wen Nian epted the cup with both hands, she couldn¡¯t help but notice the string of prayer beads held by Wei Ming. Expressing her gratitude, she initiated a conversation, drawing upon the few details her father had shared about Wei Ming. With a warm smile, she remarked, ¡°How have you been, Uncle Wei, in recent years? My father often mentions how he misses fishing with you and admits he can¡¯tpare to your skills. Even after all these years, he still wants to challenge you again, just to see if time has affected your abilities.¡± Wei Ming¡¯s somber countenance remainedrgely impassive, though a noticeable softening could be discerned. ¡°I haven¡¯t been fishing in many years, so it¡¯s only natural that my skills might have declined,¡± he replied. ¡°The old man told me that you and your brother have been achieving impressive results.¡± Wen Nian smiled with a hint of embarrassment. ¡°My brother has excellent grades, but my grades has dropped so much.¡± When Wei Ming heard this, he revealed a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Take your time and learn. Do what you have to do.¡± Wen Nian found the conversation to be somewhat peculiar, but they continued chatting for a little while longer. Just as she was about to delve deeper into testing Wei Ming, something or someone interrupted their interaction, causing her to be abruptly dismissed or chased away. Wei Ming rose from his seat and positioned himself at the doorway. The kindness he had disyed earlier seemed to have evaporated, reverting him to his initial demeanor upon their encounter. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. You should leave now. I¡¯ve heard that your engagement with Wei Xiao has been cancelled. Since it¡¯s of no use, refrain from visiting the Wei family again.¡± Observing the situation, Wen Nian reluctantly stood up. As she approached the door, she nced back at the emotionless Wei Ming and bid him a farewell in a soft tone, ¡°Goodbye, Uncle Wei.¡± Just as Wen Nian exited the room, the door abruptly mmed shut behind her with a loud bang. Having encountered Wei Ming, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but perceive the Wei family as even more enigmatic. She gazed back at the isted building, sensing its stark divergence from what she had imagined the Wei family to be. However, she realized that remaining there wouldn¡¯t provide her with any further insights. With a sigh, she made the decision to turn away and leave the premises of the Wei family. Shen Jun had anticipated having to wait for an hour or two, but to his surprise, he noticed Wen Nian getting into the car and nced at the time, realizing that only 30 minutes had passed. Perplexed, he asked, ¡°Why are you back so quickly?¡± Wen Nian responded in a daze, ¡°I was just taking a walk.¡± Shen Jun observed Wen Nian, who appeared lost in her thoughts, and grew concerned. ¡°I sense that you¡¯re not in a good mood. What happened?¡± Wen Nian nced at Shen Jun, finding sce in the idea of confiding in someone. ¡°Typically, people who follow a vegetarian diet and engage in Buddhist practices abstain from alcohol. However, when someone embraces both aspects, it does seem contradictory. What are your thoughts on this?¡± Upon hearing the question, Shen Jun furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment. ¡°Whether it¡¯s chanting Buddha or drinking, both of these activities share amonality. They serve as means to escape from reality, as there are numerous helplessness and challenges in life that cannot be easily altered. In such situations, individuals may turn to Buddhism to seek sce and spiritual support, or they may resort to alcohol to numb themselves and temporarily forget their troubles.¡± Wen Nian repeated the phrase ¡°escape from reality¡± in a contemtive manner, as if reflecting upon its meaning. After careful consideration, Wen Nian found the spection about escaping reality to be usible. She reasoned that Wei Ming¡¯s departure from the Wei family¡¯s center of power following his wife¡¯s death might not solely be driven by the desire to avoid the painful memories associated with her passing. Her father had described Wei Ming as a cheerful person who enjoyed making friends, suggesting that he would not choose such a passive means of escape. Wen Nian shared the sentiment that there were likely multiple factors at y, stacked together, which exceeded her current understanding. These unknown elements could have contributed to Wei Ming¡¯s current state of being. As Wen Nian recalled the mention of her father¡¯s friendship with Wei Ming, she noticed a fleeting nostalgic expression flicker across his face. Despite his words discouraging her from visiting the Wei family again, her intuition suggested that Wei Ming¡¯s intentions were rooted in goodwill. If Wei Ming represented kindness, then this meant that the Wei family had malicious intentions towards her. While Wen Nian did not obtain any clear information this time, she was certain, through Wei Ming, that the Wei family had unquestionably engaged in some activity that Wei Ming knew about but was reluctant to acknowledge. Wen Nian decided to make a thorough mental note of it, as it could potentially serve as a crucial factor in dismantling the Wei family in the future. Wen Nian gazed at the illuminated Wei family¡¯s main building in the distance, lost in contemtion. Suddenly, an icy sensation enveloped her, causing her to instinctively turn around. To her surprise, Shen Jun stood mere inches away from her, his presence looming ominously. As their eyes locked, a subtle change in the air between them caused their breaths to involuntarily grow shallower. In that moment, Wen Nian noticed a flicker of amusement in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. He extended his hand and secured the seatbelt on her seat. ¡°I pretended not to hear you when we were talking earlier. I took care of it myself,¡± he confessed with a smile. As warmth surged through her cheeks, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t determine if it was due to the excessive heat from the heater. She nced at the captivating visage before her, his intense gaze igniting a fire within her. Unable to contain her flustered reaction, she extended her hand and gently pushed him away, trying to regain herposure.. Chapter 109 - 109: Intimacy Photos Chapter 109: Intimacy Photos Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Yielding to Wen Nian¡¯s gentle push, Shen Junplied and settled back into the driver¡¯s seat, as if his previous actions had been entirely unintentional. Recalling the intense exchange they had shared moments ago, Wen Nian felt a dryness in her throat. ¡°Thank you,¡± she managed to say, her voice slightly strained. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. Please start driving.¡± Shen Jun focused his gaze ahead, a subtle smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He pressed down on the elerator, propelling the vehicle down the mountain road with determination. As the clock neared midnight, Shen Jun finally arrived home. Sinking into thefort of the sofa, he rested his hands on his temples and gently massaged them. ¡°Ding!¡± sheShen Jun retrieved his phone and essed the WeChat chat page. As he scrolled through the messages, a photo of Wen Yu and Wen Nian materialized on the screen. Shen Jun stumbled upon the photo while browsing Wen Nian¡¯s Moments. He noticed that Wen Nian seldom shared posts on her Moments, and this particr photo had been uploaded two years ago, signifying its significance and rarity. [Feng Li: Young Master, I have obtained the information and details of the other party, including their background and ss. Would you like me to send it to you?] Being preupied with his recentmitments, Shen Jun had to juggle his attention between Wen Nian and hispany. Consequently, he didn¡¯t sec the need to invest time in understanding an ordinary student¡¯s background at the moment. [Shen Jun: No need. Get rid of him as soon as possible.] [Feng Li: Yes, I¡¯ll report to school tomorrow.] The following morning, as Shen Jun approached the school gate, his gaze fell upon a girl who resembled a doll. Her demeanor exuded a gentle and adorable aura, and there was a faint resemnce to Wen Nian in her features. Shen Jun looked away after one nce and walked straight to the school. The girl trailed Shen Jun from a few meters behind, but their paths diverged as they reached the school premises. One of them proceeded towards the second-year school building, while the other headed towards the third-year school building. On Friday, Xu Chang¡¯s written proof was sent to the noodle shop as nned. In the afternoon, Zhou Xing went to the school to request leave on behalf of Wen Nian. During the two-day weekend, the preliminary and semi-final rounds of thepetition took ce. Wen Yu managed to progress sessfully to the semi-finals. The announcement of the finalists¡¯ names and the examination schedule was scheduled to take ce after New Year¡¯s Day. On Sunday night, a young girl with a baby-faced appearance showed up at the residence of Shen Jun. Shen Jun asked about the progress of the n. A hint of helplessness appeared on Feng Li¡¯s face as he spoke, ¡°Young Master, that boy is nothing but a bookworm. He seems to be absorbed in his studies all day long. No matter how hard I try to express my goodwill and charm him, he remains indifferent. I even suspect that he might be averse to any romantic involvement.¡± Feng Li had always been skilled at captivating men. Her charm seemed to work effortlessly, and she had never encountered failure. With her three-day rule in ce, once she set her sights on someone, they would inevitably fall for her. However, when it came to Wen Yu, this rule proved ineffective. Shen Jun¡¯s expression tightened, and he let out a disdainful snort. ¡°If she truly is a bookworm, then how is it possible for her to have a girlfriend? You should examine your own approach before ming her.¡± Feng Li pursed her lips in dissatisfaction but couldn¡¯t contain her curiosity. ¡°Young Master, may I ask how that nerd managed to offend you?¡± Shen Jun cast a brief nce at Feng Li. ¡°Simply focus on your tasks and do them well. Since you haven¡¯t been sessful in bringing him down, think of a way to obtain somepromising photos with him before the New Year¡¯s holiday.¡± Feng Li asked in detail, ¡°How intimate?¡± Shen Juny on the sofa and said slowly, ¡°As intimate as possible.¡± The arrival of a new week also meant that Wen Nian had to fly to the capital on Saturday. On Tuesday, Shen Jun finally got the photo he wanted. The title of the post that had just been posted on the school forum of No. 1 High School was very eye-catching: The rtionship of a top student has been exposed! Shen Jun was the first to view the contents of the folder. Inside were two photos. The first one depicted what appeared to be a kissing scene between the two individuals, while the second photo captured a boy diligently doing his homework, with the girl gazing at him affectionately. With the teacher still conducting the ss upstairs, Shen Jun discreetly nudged Wen Nian with his elbow. As Wen Nian cast a suspicious nce at him, Shen Jun subtly ced his phone on her desk, implying that she should take a look at its contents. When Wen Nian saw the photo, her eyes almost popped out. She immediately opened the photo and zoomed in to take a look. Upon recognizing her brother in the photos, Wen Nian¡¯s fists clenched with frustration. The memory of her brother warning her not to engage in romance at such a young age resurfaced in her mind. It infuriated her to realize that he himself had disregarded his own advice by pursuing a romantic rtionship during such a crucial time, just before thepetition and the college entrance examinations. Wen Nian¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t rooted in her objection to dating at a young age. Rather, she recognized the critical juncture Wen Yu was currently facing. Even if they genuinely wanted to be in a rtionship, they could have agreed to start dating after the college entrance examination, which was just six months away. It was the timing of his actions that troubled her the most. In her previous life, Wen Nian had been consumed by her feelings for Wei Xiao and remained oblivious to Wen Yu¡¯s romantic journey. However, in her current life, she carried the burden of her past experience and was genuinely concerned about the impact of love on Wen Yu¡¯s studies and future. Determined to prevent him from making the same mistakes, she resolved to have a heartfelt conversation with him during their lunch break. In a hushed tone, Wen Nian requested leave from Shen Jun. ¡°I might be a bitte for the noon supplementary ss today,¡± she murmured, hoping for his understanding. Shen Jun was well aware of Wen Nian¡¯s intentions and felt pleased to witness her taking initiative. ¡°That¡¯s alright. Take care of your personal matters first,¡± he responded, expressing his support for her decision. Although their sses ended earlier in the afternoon, Wen Nian hadmunicated with Wen Yu beforehand, ensuring that they would meet at the entrance during lunchtime. Wen Nian returned to the ssroom ten minutester than usual. This was much faster than Shen Jun had expected.. Chapter 110 - 11o: New Year Chapter 11o: New Year Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Observing Wen Nian¡¯sposed demeanor, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of intrigue. ¡°Did everything get resolved so quickly?¡± he asked, his curiosity evident in his tone. Wen Nian ced the lunch box on the desk. ¡°Yes.¡± Observing the stark contrast in Wen Nian¡¯s attitude towards the person involved, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but voice his curiosity. ¡°Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± he asked, genuinely perplexed by her seemingly calm disposition. Wen Nian nonchntly opened the lid of the lunch box and responded, ¡°Of course, I was angry when I first discovered the situation. However, I¡¯ve had a chance to exin everything clearly. It was all a misunderstanding. That girl was actually pursuing him, but he rejected her because he isn¡¯t interested. I suspect someone with nosy intentions captured the situation from a misleading angle and posted the photo online.¡± Wen Nian took a satisfying bite of the braised pork and savored the vors with narrowed eyes. ¡°Come on, dig in. My mother¡¯s braised pork today is exceptionally delicious!¡± Shen Jun ignored Wen Nian¡¯s words and asked, ¡°Did you believe him just because he said it was a misunderstanding?¡± Wen Nian nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I believe him? He wouldn¡¯t lie to me about this.¡± If Wen Yu ever resorted to lying, he would limit his deception to their parents. However, if he were truly involved in an early romantic rtionship, Wen Nian would be relied upon to speak in his favor when the truth eventually surfaced. Failure to do so would likely result in their father unleashing his wrath and subjecting Wen Yu to a beating, potentially leading to the unfortunate demise of his beloved ¡°Seven Wolf¡± belt. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel surprised by Wen Nian¡¯s magnanimous attitude. Most girls, even in the case of a misunderstanding, would not be easily cated. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s increased contentment while enjoying her meal, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of mncholy. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s efforts over the past few days, their rtionship had not experienced any distance or estrangement. Instead, it only intensified his repulsion towards a bond that seemed unbreakable. The strength and resilience of their connection, which surpassed even the value of gold, left him feeling disheartened. Nevertheless, Shen Jun was not deterred by theck of immediate sess. He had already braced himself for a long and arduous struggle. Soon, it was Thursday. The next day was the new year. Wen Nian spent the night doing practice questions. Fireworks were not allowed in the city, but major shopping malls held New Year¡¯s Eve events. China may not have an abundance of certain resources, but one thing it does have in abundance is its poption. As the final countdown to the new year approached, Wen Nian could hear the resounding voices and cheers from the nearby mall, even from thefort of her own home. Her phone on the table vibrated. Wen Nian picked up her phone and saw that several people had sent New Year¡¯s wishes. Upon receiving Bai Zheng¡¯s message, Wen Nian was struck with a sudden recollection of her promise to listen to him y the piano. Regrettably, amidst the recent flurry of events, she hadpletely forgotten about it. Filled with guilt, she quickly responded to his message, extending her well wishes and offering a sincere apology for her forgetfulness. [Bai Zheng: You¡¯re really a busy person¡­ You¡¯ve been even more busy recently. I heard that Director Xu¡¯s movie will start filming in a few days.] Wen Nian could feel Bai Zheng¡¯s resentment through the screen. [Wen Nian: Filming on January 3rd. I¡¯ll go to the capital early tomorrow. When Ie back from the capital, I¡¯ll definitely wash my ears and listen!] Bai Zheng chuckled when he saw Wen Nian¡¯s yful message. [Bai Zheng: Alright, that¡¯s what you said. If you go back on your word, I won¡¯t y an interlude for your production team.] Wen Nian did not expect Xu Chang to be able to invite Bai Zheng. This had never happened in her previous life. [Wen Nian: Okay! No problem. Just this oue is enough to scare Director Xu so much that he wants to remind me every day.] After the two of them said goodnight to each other, Wen Nian exited the chat page with Bai Zheng. The next one was a WeChat message from Xu Chang and Zheng Mo. After Wen Nian replied, she saw that the person at the bottom was Shen Jun. The higher a piece of message was on the list, the closer it indicated the time at which it was received. Wen Nian nced at the timestamp of Shen Jun¡¯s message and realized it was exactly 12:00 AM. A subtle smile tugged at the corners of her lips, a gesture that she hadn¡¯t even realized. [Wen Nian: Happy New Year! I wish you all the best in your new day.] After Shen Jun sent the message, he stopped at the page where he sent Wen Nian a message. He ignored the bombardment of messages on his phone and focused on waiting for Wen Nian¡¯s reply. Upon receiving the message from Wen Nian, Shen Jun¡¯s boredom dissipated instantly. He became alert and attentive, eagerly reading her message with renewed interest and curiosity. [Shen Jun: What took you so long to reply? I thought you were resting.] Wen Nian felt guilty tonight. She coughed lightly and started to reply. [Wen Nian: No, I¡¯m doing practice questions.] [Shen Jun: You¡¯re really hardworking. You can rx for the next two days on New Year¡¯s Day. Our progress this time is a few days ahead. Treat it as a reward.] The sses for the second semester of their first year in high school had concluded two days ago. Now, they were transitioning to tutoring sessions that focused on the content from the first book of the second year of high school. However, Wen Nian still did not dare to rx. Her experience in her previous life was too painful. Only such an urgent rhythm would make her feel at ease. [Wen Nian: I¡¯ll rx after I really get what I want.] Shen Jun thought that Wen Nian was talking about getting into the university he liked. [Shen Jun: Definitely..] Chapter 111 - 111: Added Takeout Chapter 111: Added Takeout Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As their conversation continued, the time approached 12:30 AM. Despite his reluctance, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Wen Nian staying upte any longer. Knowing the importance of rest, he gently hinted that it was time for her to get some sleep. [Shen Jun: Staying upte is bad for your health. Hurry up and go to sleep. See you at the airport the day after tomorrow.] Wen Nian had approached her parents and requested 10,000 yuan to book the ne tickets. She nned to reimburse them for the expense when they traveled to the capital. This arrangement would make it more convenient for her to settle the financial matter with her parents in person. Feeling theteness of the hour, Wen Nian acknowledged her drowsiness and bid Shen Jun a goodnight. With a sleepy yawn, she settled into her bed, ready to drift off into a peaceful slumber. Shen Jun exited the page and finally had the time to reply other people¡¯s new year wishes. With a touch of disdain, Shen Jun¡¯s attention was drawn to a WeChat group named ¡°The Five Tyrants of the Capital¡± that upied the top position on the list. Curiosity piqued, he clicked on the group and was greeted by the sight of over 99 unread messages. The following morning, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei embarked on their usual shopping trip. However, they noticed a change in the shop as there were now two staff members present. With the addition of the extra help, the four of them could take turns resting during non-busy hours, alleviating some of the fatigue they had previously experienced. They were fully aware that running their own catering business meant there were no scheduled days off throughout the year. Rest days were only taken in the case of a family emergency or during the Spring Festival. As Wen Nian and Wen Xing were scheduled to depart for the capital the following day, Zhou Mei made arrangements for the two employees to take care of the shop in their absence. The couple returned home around 5 p.m., eager to have a special farewell reunion dinner together in thefort of their own home. At the dining table, Wen Nian poured orange juice for her parents and everyone clinked sses. After months of dedicated work at their noodle shop, this evening marked the first time the family gathered for a home-cooked meal. Wen Xing, in an unusually cheerful mood, raised his cup and proposed a toast.¡±Each one of us in this family is passionately pursuing our own dreams and aspirations. This spirit of hard work and determination is something truly valuable. Let us continue to uphold and nurture it. And I have some exciting news to share with all of you.¡± Wen Yu widened his eyes and immediately continued, ¡°Mom is pregnant?¡± Zhou Mei smacked Wen Yu on the shoulder. ¡°You are out of your mind! Nonsense! Don¡¯t tease me and your father!¡± Wen Yu hurriedly smiled obsequiously. ¡°I spoke too quickly. If you want to me someone, me my father. Why don¡¯t you just say it directly? Why are you talking in riddles?¡± Observing his son¡¯s attempt to shift the me, Wen Xing cast a stern re at Wen Yu. ¡°Fortunately, our noodle shop has sessfully operated for two months. After deducting all expenses, as of the final day ofst year, our profit amounted to an impressive 23,580 yuan!¡± It was already good enough that he did not incur losses when he first opened the shop. Now, he could still make so much profit. It was indeed something to celebrate. Witnessing her parents¡¯ triumphant middle-aged entrepreneurship, Wen Nian beamed with delight, her eyes nearly disappearing in her wide smile. She looked up and broke into apuse. ¡°Dad, Mom, we all need to give you a round of apuse!¡± Wen Yu trailed closely behind and remarked casually, ¡°Hey, Dad, Mom, mark my words: our noodle shop is destined to evolve into a thriving chain of stores in the future.¡± Zhou Mei chuckled, thoroughly entertained. ¡°Oh, 1 wouldn¡¯t dare dream that big. Right now, I¡¯m simply focused on finding a suitable location and opening a braised food shop. Lately, I¡¯ve been receiving numerous inquiries about catering for the uing new year. People want to reserve some pre-prepared cold dishes for their festive celebrations. What¡¯s more, we¡¯ve had over ten new customers join our group solely for the purpose of booking our delicious braised food.¡± The Wen couple had meticulously built their noodle shop, investing their utmost effort and time into its development. Now, witnessing the fruitful results, Zhou Mei¡¯s passion for entrepreneurship waspletely ignited. Wen Nian smiled and chimed in, ¡°I had a feeling from the start. With my mother¡¯s exceptional skills, sess was guaranteed. While finding a nearby shop may be challenging, the demand for booking braised food is steadily increasing. 1 suggest we consider renting a stall at the nearby market.¡± ¡°Indeed, many sessful restaurants have expanded by offering takeaway services,¡± Wen Nian eximed. ¡°We can follow their lead and recruit a few university students interested in part-time work from a nearby university. By providing delivery services within a two-kilometer radius, we can leverage our loyal customer base to spread the word and attract new customers amidst the bustling market.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right,¡± agreed Wen Nian. ¡°The most crucial factor is that the rent at the market will undoubtedly be more affordablepared to our current location. Even the stalls outside have apetitive advantage in terms of rental costs.¡± During this period, take-out apps had yet to emerge as a widespread phenomenon. Instead, businesses typically focused on expanding their in-house take-out services by assigning their employees to deliver orders to nearby customers. Generally, they limited delivery distances to within a kilometer. Wen Nian¡¯s suggestion to extend the delivery radius to two kilometers was aimed at enhancing thepetitiveness of the noodle shop. It¡¯s important not to underestimate the potential impact of this additional kilometer, as it has the potential to attract a significant number of new customers and expand our reach in the market. Wen Nian recognized that takeout services were the future of the service industry and saw this as an opportune moment to suggest it. She wanted to seize the potential opportunities it could bring. The food and beverage industry was also a service industry. The better the service, the higher the emotional value provided to the customers. Naturally, the customers would buy more readily.. Chapter 112 - 112: Sprain Chapter 112: Sprain Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As the family enjoyed their meal, they engaged in a discussion regarding the feasibility of implementing a delivery service. They acknowledged that it would entail additional costs in terms of manpower and transportation, such as acquiring a suitable vehicle for the delivery personnel. Despite initial concerns, Wen Nian¡¯s strong persuasion ultimately convinced the Wen couple to move forward withunching both the takeaway service and the braised food shop. They were now determined to take this new venture on. Additionally, they collectively decided to set the starting price for their offerings at 30 yuan. Wen Nian also devised a marketing n for the new shop. Regardless of whether she could secure a shop for filming purposes, she intended to create a tranquil filming environment there. This way, she could showcase the process and atmosphere of running the braised food shop effectively. After dinner, Wen Nian and Wen Xing started packing their belongings. Upon hearing that they could prepare simple meals in the hotel, Zhou Mei decided to bring along some small appliances and kitchen utensils. She carefully packed them and tucked them into her luggage. Concerned about Wen Xing and Wen Nian not being ustomed to the local cuisine in the capital, Zhou Mei thoughtfully packed some braised meat, cured meat, and specialties from Hai City. This way, they would have familiar and beloved vors from their hometown while staying in the capital. Initially, Wen Nian had intended to pack a single suitcase each. However, once Zhou Mei finished packing, they ended up with a total of five suitcases between the two of them. The additional luggage was likely due to the inclusion of various items and provisions they deemed necessary for their trip. With all preparationsplete, the father and daughter retired to bed early. They had an early morning ahead, as their flight was scheduled for 10 a.m. the next day. To ensure they had enough time, they set their rm for 7 a.m., considering the hour-long drive from the city to the airport. On the day of their departure, the father and daughter declined the offer from Zhou Mei and Wen Yu to apany them to the airport. Instead, they decided to hail a taxi and make their way directly to the airport without any further dy. Being their first time traveling by ne, Wen Nian and Wen Xing felt a sense of bewilderment as they entered the airport lobby. Unsure of where to go first, they were about to approach someone to seek guidance and inquire about the necessary procedures. ¡°Wen Nian, Uncle Wen.¡± When Wen Nian heard her name, she turned around and saw Shen Jun. She was pleasantly surprised. Finally, someone who knew the ropes led the way. ¡°When did you arrive?¡± Shen Jun replied, ¡°1 just arrived too. Let¡¯s go get our boarding passes and check in first.¡± Shen Jun saw that Wen Xing was pushing three suitcases in his hands. He took a step forward and took one. ¡°Uncle, let me take one.¡± Wen Xing nodded obediently. He looked at Shen Jun, who had suddenly appeared. While he was still puzzled, a suitcase was missing from his hand. Shen Jun only took one piece of luggage, so Wen Nian didn¡¯t stand on ceremony with him. ¡°Sorry to trouble you. My mother insisted on bringing some useless things. That¡¯s why we are bringing so many suitcases.¡± Shen Jun smiled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Auntie is probably worried that you might forget something important. You know how it is¡ªwhen you¡¯re at home for a long time, even a day out can feel challenging. Luckily, we have enough help, so we won¡¯t have any issues.¡± Shen Jun skillfully guided the two of them to join the queue. With Shen Jun by his side, Wen Nian only had to bring Wen Xing along and follow his lead. They entered the waiting room and patiently waited for 30 minutes before their boarding time. They had purchased three adjacent seats. Wen Nian upied the middle seat, which made it challenging for Wen Xing to inquire about Shen Jun. An hour and a halfter, they arrived at the capital. They waited at the baggage im area to pick up their luggage. When Wen Xing stood at the front, he noticed his luggage on the conveyor belt. Determined not to turn back once he had turned around, he hastily extended his hand and bent down to grab it. Unfortunately, in his haste, he inadvertently sprained his waist. Wen Nian was startled and rushed to support him. ¡°Dad, are you okay?¡± Wen Xing winced in pain, clutching his waist as he gestured towards the vanished luggage. ¡°Wen Nian, quickly retrieve your luggage.¡± Witnessing the situation, Shen Jun hastily intervened, offering an exnation. ¡°Uncle, please don¡¯t worry. The conveyor belt will loop around again. Let me assist you in finding a ce to sit down for a moment.¡± Wen Xing was relieved when he heard this. If his wife found out that he had lost his luggage, she would scold him. In the midst of the freezing cold midwinter, Wen Xing¡¯s muscles had be stiff. Despite this, he suddenly attempted to lift the luggage, which weighed around 30 to 40 kilograms. The strain on his waist muscles was so intense that it rendered him unable to even take a step forward. Fortunately, Shen Jun did not train his eight-pack for nothing. Though he appeared slender, his muscles and strength were well-developed. Shen Jun carefully lifted Wen Xing and settled him onto a nearby chair. ¡°This seems quite serious. I believe we should go to the hospital for a checkup.¡± Despite the evident pain, Wen Xing waved his hand, trying to avoid any unnecessary expenses. ¡°There¡¯s no need to go through all the trouble. We can simply go to the pharmacyter and purchase some medicinal wine to rub on it.¡± Concerned for Wen Xing¡¯s well-being, Wen Nian expressed her helplessness. ¡°Please don¡¯t be stubborn. The pain seems severe, and it¡¯s important for the doctor to examine it with an X-ray. Please sit down for now. Shen Jun and I will retrieve our luggage first.¡± Shen Jun stopped Wen Nian. ¡°1 can do it alone. You can apany Uncle.¡± Wen Nian refused Shen Jun¡¯s suggestion persistently, realizing the burden it would ce on him to carry all their luggage alone. ¡°If we add your luggage as well, it will be six suitcases, it would be too much for you to handle alone. 1 will go with you!¡± Wen Xing, still clutching his waist and unable to move, made sure to remind them, ¡°Be careful, both of you. There are two luggages that are particrly heavy..¡± Chapter 113 - 113: Splitting Up Chapter 113: Splitting Up Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian turned around and assured, ¡°Got it. Just sit tight. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡± When they arrived at the conveyor belt, Shen Jun adamantly refused to let Wen Nian move it, no matter what. After carefully maneuvering all the items down the transport belt, Shen Jun proceeded to fetch two trolleys and skillfully stacked the three suitcases onto a single cart. In the situation where two people were required to push the cart, an obstacle arose as Wen Xing had difficulty walking. Shen Jun contemted the predicament and swiftly proposed a solution, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll assist in pushing the luggage towards the exit with you initially. Once we reach there, you can stay and keep an eye on the luggage. Meanwhile, I¡¯ll personally apany Uncle and assist him out of here.¡± Unable toe up with a better solution, Wen Nian acquiesced and followed Shen Jun¡¯s instructions. Once Shen Jun had sessfully carried Wen Xing out, Wen Nian sought the assistance of a staff member to help him push the cart to the location where the taxi was waiting. Fortunately, Wen Nian was able to sessfully hail a car. Shen Jun carefully carried Wen Xing into the vehicle, and the three of them struggled to fit all six suitcases inside. After providing the address, the driver proceeded directly to their destination without any detours. Wen Nian hastily rushed Wen Xing to the hospital, all the while asking Shen Jun, ¡°Shen Jun, is there a closer hospital to the hotel where we¡¯re staying? Is there a better option?¡± Shen Jun settled into the front passenger seat and retrieved his phone, opening the map. He informed the others, ¡°On the route from the airport to our hotel, there¡¯s a branch of the military hospital. It¡¯s a decent option. It¡¯s just about a kilometer away from our hotel. Let¡¯s head to that hospital.¡± Wen Nian nodded and engaged in a discussion with Shen Jun. ¡°Shen Jun, I¡¯d like to apany my father to the doctor first. Could you assist me by taking my luggage to the hotelter?¡± Aware of the inconvenience of carrying his luggage everywhere, Shen Jun recognized that separating their tasks was the most efficient course of action, despite his desire to be with Wen Nian. He stated, ¡°Take your luggage to the hotel. I¡¯ll apany Uncle to the hospital. Assisting him with walking might exacerbate his condition.¡± Aside from family and close friends, it¡¯s umon for individuals to seek assistance from their ssmates when ites to medical treatment. Even someone as resilient as Wen Nian felt too embarrassed to make such a request. Consequently, she declined the offer, stating, ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll support my father and help him walk slowly.¡± Observing the situation, Shen Jun ceased his efforts to convince Wen Nian and turned to Wen Xing, saying, ¡°Uncle, Wen Nian may not have enough strength. Allow me to apany you to the hospital.¡± Wen Xing, burdened with despair, felt responsible for not contributing and even causing trouble since his arrival in the capital. He spoke up, addressing Nian Nian and Shen Jun, ¡°Nian Nian, Shen Jun, it¡¯s not a significant issue for me. I can simply apply some medicine and rest at the hotel. There¡¯s no need to go to the hospital.¡± Wen Xing regretted asking those questions, realizing that he had posed three inquiries. Nevertheless, Shen Jun agreed with Wen Nian¡¯s decision to bring Wen Xing to the hospital for a checkup. Considering Wen Xing¡¯s age, he recognized the importance of being cautious, especially in his forties. Failing to address any potential health concerns now could potentially lead to more significantplications in the future. Shen Jun directed his gaze towards Wen Xing and gently urged, ¡°Uncle, please don¡¯t consider it a bother for us. If you don¡¯t go for a checkup, Wen Nian won¡¯t be able to focus on her filming. You¡¯re here to take care of her, and if you neglect your health, the situation could worsen. It will only cause more worry and distraction for Wen Nian if she sees you in pain. By seeking treatment early, you can recover faster. Otherwise, you¡¯ll be confined to bed day after day, unable to engage in anything, which will only increase your anxiety.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s reasoning, Wen Xing recognized the validity of the argument and let go of his stubbornness. He cast a nce at Wen Nian¡¯s frail figure, feeling a touch of embarrassment, but still managed to smile at Shen Jun and expressed, ¡°Shen Jun, I will rely on you this time. Once I regain my mobility, I promise to cook delicious meals for both you and Wen Nian every day. While my culinary skills may not match those of your aunt¡¯s, 1 excel at making nourishing soups. I¡¯ll ensure you¡¯re well taken care of.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s lips curled up into a slight smile as he responded, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll dly drink a few more bowls of your nourishing soup when the timees.¡± Fortunately, Zhao Wu was absent from the scene at that moment. Otherwise, if he had witnessed Shen Jun¡¯s obedience and cooperation with outsiders, his jaw would have surely dropped in surprise. He might have even felt the need to capture the moment as a memento and tease Shen Jun about itter. With the matter resolved, Wen Nian no longer insisted on her initial concerns. She realized that, as always, when facing Shen Jun, she no longer needed to worry. Wen Nian addressed the driver, saying, ¡°Excuse me, driver. Could you please stop at the second affiliated branch of the military hospital?¡± Half an hourter, they arrived at the hospital entrance. Shen Jun stepped out of the car and went to the back seat to assist Wen Xing. Then, he extended his hand towards Wen Nian and requested, ¡°Could you please unlock your phone and hand it to me?¡± Despite feeling slightly puzzled, Wen Nian obediently handed over her phone to Shen Jun. Shen Jun briefly operated on Wen Nian¡¯s phone screen for a minute before returning it to her. He said, ¡°That¡¯s enough. Take care and give me a call when you arrive.¡± As the car drove away, Shen Jun took another photo of the license te number. Wen Xing expressed his contentment with Shen Jun¡¯s careful actions. Curiosity piqued, he asked, ¡°I noticed you were typing a lot of English letters on Wen Nian¡¯s phone just now. It reminded me of those codes that programmers type on television.. What was that all about?¡± Chapter 114 - 114: Change of Opinion Chapter 114: Change of Opinion Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun patiently exined, ¡°That was a tracking code. Since we took a photo of the license te, I embedded the code into Wen Nian¡¯s phone. This way, even if we can¡¯t contact her, we can periodically check her location as long as she has her phone with her.¡± Wen Xing nodded in agreement and let out a sigh. ¡°Indeed, studying is essential! It proves to be quite useful in situations like this.¡± Shen Jun smiled warmly and gently carried Wen Xing into the hospital. After checking in at the hotel, Wen Nian requested the assistance of a waiter to transfer all her luggage to her room. Once that was taken care of, she proceeded to make phone calls one by one, reassuring her loved ones of her safety. After munching on some biscuits, she began organizing the belongings she had brought along. The guest room doorbell rang. As Wen Nian opened the door to her room, she was greeted by the sight of Xu Chang apanied by a slightly reserved young man wearing ck-framed sses. Upon seeing Wen Nian in person, Xu Chang¡¯s face lit up with relief. ¡°Wee, wee! 1 hurried back from school as soon as 1 received your message.¡± Wen Nian smiled warmly and invited the two of them inside. ¡°You could have run your errands. You didn¡¯t have toe all the way here.¡± Xu Chang said jokingly, ¡°I¡¯m not at ease until I see you with my own eyes.¡± Xu Chang entered the room and realized that Wen Nian was alone. ¡°Why are you alone?¡± Wen Nian provided a brief exnation of the situation to Xu Chang. Once Xu Chang understood that the matter had been taken care of, he didn¡¯t inquire further and got straight to the point. ¡°All the main actors will be gathering today. Pleasee to my room at 7 p.m. tonight, Room 703. We will have a script reading session.¡± Wen Nian agreed. ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Chang motioned for the man standing behind him to step forward and introduced him to Wen Nian and the young man. ¡°This is our movie screenwriter, Jiang Bai. Jiang Bai, meet our female lead, Wen Nian.¡± Jiang Bai gained fame as a result of this movie and went on to coborate with Xu Chang on two more sessful films. These projects garnered significantmercial sess. By the time Wen Nian passed away, Jiang Bai had already established himself as a renowned screenwriter. However, Jiang Bai maintained a low profile throughout his career and never appeared on screen. As a result, Wen Nian had only heard his name but never had the opportunity to meet him in person. Wen Nian took the initiative to extend her hand with a warm smile. ¡°Hello, Screenwriter Jiang.¡± A slight twitch appeared at the corners of Jiang Bai¡¯s lips as he reached out and delicately held Wen Nian¡¯s fingertips. Almost immediately, he released his grip and spoke softly, ¡°Hello.¡± Xu Chang quickly reassured Wen Nian, exining, ¡°Jiang Bai is a bit introverted and not very talkative, but you can rest assured about the quality of his work!¡± Wen Nian understood Jiang Bai¡¯s social phobia, so she smiled and nodded at Xu Chang. ¡°No worries, I haven¡¯t finished tidying up either. Please have a seat. Let me make some tea for you.¡± Xu Chang hurriedly stopped Wen Nian. ¡°There¡¯s no need to trouble yourself. I¡¯m just here to greet you. The opening ceremony is tomorrow, and there¡¯s a lot to prepare for today. 1 need to rush off to confirm some details. Please feel free to call me if you need anything.¡± Wen Nian, realizing that she also had her own tasks to attend to, responded without hesitation. ¡°Director Xu, please go ahead and focus on your work. I¡¯ll reach out to you if I require any assistance.¡± After Xu Chang hurriedly visited and departed, Wen Nian resumed packing her belongings. Three hourster, Shen Jun returned from the hospital with Wen Xing. Wen Xing had regained his ability to walk normally. Although he still moved at a slow pace, he was no longer in pain with each step. Wen Nian assisted Wen Xing as he got off Shen Jun¡¯s back, and they slowly made their way to the sofa to sit down. ¡°I feel much better now. What did the doctor say?¡± Wen Nian asked, curious about the doctor¡¯s prognosis. Shen Jun ced the bag he was carrying down and retrieved the bottle of medicinal wine. ¡°The doctor confirmed that it¡¯s a muscle strain. I¡¯ve performed massages and physical therapy. The doctor prescribed this bottle of medicinal wine, which needs to be applied in the morning, noon, and night. Tomorrow, we¡¯ll go to the hospital for two consecutive days of treatment. You can focus on your filming without worry. I¡¯ll take care of Uncle,¡± Shen Jun reassured Wen Nian. Wen Xing added, ¡°Indeed, Little Shen can apany me to the hospital. You can focus on your work without any worries.¡± Little Shen? It had only been a few hours, and they were already so close? Wen Nian frowned and looked at her father in confusion. When did her father be as shameless as her? However, it was not appropriate to ask in person now. Wen Nian asked with concern, ¡°Shen Jun, have you eaten?¡± Shen Jun replied, ¡°I¡¯ve eaten. I bought food in the hospital cafeteria.¡± Shen Jun, understanding the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, decided that he had done enough for the day. He took the initiative to excuse himself, saying, ¡°You and Uncle should have a good rest in the afternoon. I¡¯ll go back to the my room to tidy up.¡± Wen Nian took out Shen Jun¡¯s room card from her bag and handed it over. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look for you for dinner at six.¡± Shen Jun pulled his luggage and said goodbye to Wen Xing. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯ll get going first. See you tonight.¡± Wen Xing quickly smiled and waved. ¡°Okay, see you tonight. Wen Nian, send him off quickly..¡± Chapter 115 - 115: Take Turns Reading the Script Chapter 115: Take Turns Reading the Script Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian sat on the sofa and regarded Wen Xing with suspicion. ¡°Don¡¯t you feel ufortable being around Shen Jun?¡± she asked. Wen Xing, sittingfortably on a pillow, smiled in response. ¡°That¡¯s because 1 didn¡¯t know Shen Jun well before. Oh, this young man is really impressive! Thest time 1 had a meal with him, 1 had the impression that he was a bit arrogant. But after spending time with him today, I realized it was all a misunderstanding. He¡¯s actually quite warm and enthusiastic.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to him that I sprained my waist this time. He tirelessly carried me up and down, took care of all the registration and waiting, and even got the prescribed medicine,¡± Wen Xing remarked. Wen Nian was silent for a moment after hearing Wen Xing¡¯s words. He muttered, ¡°Looks like 1 really owe him a huge favor.¡± Wen Xing didn¡¯t hear it clearly and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡± Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°Nothing. Let me help you to the bedroom to rest for a while.¡± Wen Xing replied, ¡°No need. I¡¯ve been lying down for more than an hour during the treatment. By the way, you said that the tutor you hired was Little Shen? Isn¡¯t this affecting his studies?¡± Wen Xing chuckled and nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s true. Shen Jun is a brilliant student, and his tutoring skills are exceptional. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll benefit a lot from his guidance. It¡¯s a win-win situation for both of you.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s casual excuse seems to have eased any concerns Wen Xing may have had about Shen Jun¡¯s tutoring arrangement. The prospect of earning a significant amount of money in just two months reinforces the notion that Shen Jun¡¯s motivation is primarily financial. With this understanding, Wen Xing epts the exnation without delving deeper into the matter. After dinner, Shen Jun helped Wen Xing back to apply the medicinal ointment. Wen Nian went to Xu Chang¡¯s room to join the script reading session with the rest of the production team. Room 703 Wen Nian was notte, but the others had arrived earlier. The script revolves around Mu Ci, the female protagonist who ispelled to abandon her education due to relentless bullying during high school. Through introspection and unwavering determination, she eventually embarks on a journey to be awyer. Ultimately, she devises an intricate n to bring those who tormented her in the past to justice, resulting in their imprisonment. The movie featured two distinct timelines. Approximately one-third of the scenes depicted the high school bullying period, while the remaining two-thirds focused on the protagonist¡¯s quest for revenge during adulthood. Due to funding constraints, the movie sought the participation of either university students studying acting or talented actors who, despite not being famous, had umted substantial experience in supporting roles. Despite the limited resources of the production team, careful consideration was given to Xu Chang¡¯s casting, ensuring that it was not done in a perfunctory manner. During the high school scenes, it was appropriate to cast university students who had not yet experienced real-world society, as it added authenticity to their portrayals. As the characters transition into adulthood, the narrative unfolds in thepetitive realm of the real world. In order to effectively portray these roles, it bes crucial to cast actors with both social experience and strong acting skills. In today¡¯s entertainment industry, there is a prevalent preference for popr celebrities, leading to frequent changes in the lineup of artists. As a result, many talented supporting actors often struggle to gain the opportunity to stand out and receive recognition they deserve. Furthermore, despite Jiang Bai¡¯sck of fame, the script itself was of high quality. There were many individuals like Jiang Bai who faced the challenge of surviving in the industry without being given the chance to showcase their talent on screen. However, Xu Chang¡¯s conditions for them were reasonable, and as a result, they managed to recruit a notable ensemble of talented actors. The moment Wen Nian, the female lead, made her appearance, she captivated everyone¡¯s attention. She was the only character in the movie portrayed by the same actor, portraying her from a young age all the way through adulthood. The moment Wen Nian, the female lead, made her appearance, she captivated everyone¡¯s attention. She was the only character in the movie portrayed by the same actor, portraying her from a young age all the way through adulthood. This unique casting choice added depth and continuity to the character¡¯s development and resonated strongly with the audience. ¡°The conditions here are modest, and I apologize for any inconvenience. Please find a ce to sit, and make yourselvesfortable.¡± In the room, there were several stic stools avable. The young actors took the initiative to upy those seats, while the sofas and chairs with backs were graciously offered to the senior members of the team. Next came the self-introduction segment, during which each member of the team introduced themselves. Interestingly, Wen Nian was the only one who had never received formal training in acting. Xu Chang, recognizing this, cast a meaningful nce at Wen Nian and deliberately arranged for her to be thest one to introduce herself. Wen Nian naturally grasped Xu Chang¡¯s intentions. Despite being an ordinary person and the youngest among the team, she had been entrusted with the pivotal role of the female lead. Understandably, there were individuals who doubted her abilities. Xu Chang wanted Wen Nian to keep a low profile and avoid excessive ostentation. Once everyone had been introduced, Wen Nian stood under the watchful gaze of her colleagues and spoke with a natural and unpretentious tone. She said, ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Wen Nian. I¡¯m still a high school student, and 1 have been cast as Mu Ci in this production. 1 am deeply grateful to Director Xu for entrusting me with such a significant opportunity. 1 must admit that I am inexperienced and have much to learn in terms of acting. 1 sincerely hope that everyone here can offer me guidance and constructive feedback..¡± Chapter 116 - 116: Address me as Your Teacher Chapter 116: Address me as Your Teacher Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Nian noticed the evident disdain reflected in the eyes of several actors, she remained unfazed. Having maintained a low profile thus far, she saw no reason to address the matter further. Regardless of the industry she found herself in, Wen Nian understood thatpetence and resilience were paramount. She recognized the need to demonstrate her adaptability before she could truly earn recognition and appreciation. Xu Chang initiated the apuse, and the rest followed suit, filling the room with the sound of pping. With the initial enthusiasm, everyone delved into reading the script, eager to immerse themselves in its contents. Wen Nian finally made her way back to the guest room at 1230 a.m., feeling the weight of exhaustion. In a rush, she quickly freshened up and eagerly climbed into bed, longing for a well-deserved rest. The following day, at precisely 9:32 a.m., marked the moment Xu Chang had sessfully enlisted someone to handle the calctions. With the ceremony executed promptly, filmingmenced, officially signaling the start of the production. Wen Nian was mainly filming a few scenes of Mu Ci being bullied in high school. Mu Ci was born into an average family residing in a county. Tragedy struck when her father lost his life in a mining ident five years prior. His unfortunate demise urred while working at an unscrupulous coal mine where hecked even a formal employment contract. The mine boss, exploiting his authority, exerted undue influence over him. Consequently, all that was offered aspensation was a meager sum of 100,000 yuan, barely enough to send Mu Ci¡¯s mother away. Following the passing of Papa Mu, Mama Mu relied on thepensation money and her meager earnings from working as a hotel cleaner to sustain Mu Ci¡¯s educational needs. It was a challenging endeavor for Mama Mu, but she persevered, doing her best to provide for Mu Ci¡¯s schooling despite the financial constraints they faced.Following the passing of Papa Mu, Mama Mu relied on thepensation money and her meager earnings from working as a hotel cleaner to sustain Mu Ci¡¯s educational needs. It was a challenging endeavor for Mama Mu, but she persevered, doing her best to provide for Mu Ci¡¯s schooling despite the financial constraints they faced. The opening scene portrayed Mu Ci, who had recently gained admission to a private high school, walking through the forest surrounding the school. As Mu Ci heard the anguished cries of a girling from within, she swiftly approached themotion. To her dismay, she discovered a group of five individuals encircling the scene. Within the circle, Mu Ci could make out a girl being forcefully pinned to the ground, while another girl, assuming a dominant position, was pping the girl kneeling on the floor. The small group, led by Bai Jing and Zhang Ju, had developed a tendency to bully their ssmates. However, it was notable that their targets predominantlyprised academically proficient students hailing from underprivileged backgrounds or individuals with less assertive personalities, who were less inclined to confront them. This perception was reinforced by the social rule they had observed throughout their upbringing: that regardless of a person¡¯s resilience, they would ultimately yield to disys of power and physical aggression. Mu Ci couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to the righteousness in her heart and tried to stop them. During the previous semester, everyone had found themselves in trouble and faced reprimands from their families. Given this recent experience, they were able to discern that Mu Ci was someone who often stirred up trouble, and they didn¡¯t want to exacerbate the situation. Nevertheless, they feltpelled not to simply dismiss the matter. They were willing topromise if Mu Ci could kowtow and break her own arm. This shocked Mu Ci. She vehemently resisted, summoning all her strength, as an overwhelming urge welled up within her to dismantle this malevolent force that had taken root. Consequently, Mu Ci¡¯s name was added to the bullies¡¯ infamous cklist, marking her as a target for their future acts of aggression and harassment. Mu Ci stood her ground, watching intently as Chen Wei departed. She remained poised and resolute amidst the confines of the small forest. The gentle rays of sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting scattered patterns on her face. Her eyes reflected a fierce determination akin to that of a wolf, refusing to acknowledge defeat. ¡°Cut!¡± With a p of his hands, Xu Chang emerged from behind the monitor, eximing with excitement, ¡°Bravo, everyone! Your performances were exceptional! This first scene was captured wlessly in a single take, setting a fantastic tone for the entire project. Mu Ci, your portrayal of an unwavering spirit unyielding to power was particrly remarkable.¡± This scene was not difficult for Wen Nian. Wen Nian imagined herself meeting the female boss when she first entered the prison. The scene that had just unfolded triggered a shback for Wen Nian, reminding her of a past incident. She recollected a time when Wei Xiao and Huang Yue paid a female boss in prison to inflict a torment far surpassing Mu Ci¡¯s present circumstances. The assistant proceeded forward, holding the trash can, while Wen Nian, following the script, expelled the contents of the blood packet from their mouth. Upon noticing the red marks on Wen Nian¡¯s wrist, Wu Gang approached Wen Nian and offered his apology. ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m sorry. I realize now that I may have exerted too much force when grabbing you earlier. It was unintentional.¡± Wen Nian smiled nonchntly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s better to be real.¡± Lin Yun also surrounded her and said in surprise, ¡°Mu Ci, you don¡¯t look like you¡¯re acting for the first time. I feel like I¡¯m really seeing the characters in the script.¡± Xu Chang nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s why I insisted on using her!¡± Bai Jing cast a disdainful nce at Wen Nian, convinced that she must have been bribed by the director or the investors. In Bai Jing¡¯s perspective, how else could a person of humble origins like Wen Nian secure such an opportunity? This assumption, however, unfairly undermined both Wen Nian¡¯s talent and the baseless spection that she had relied on her body to advance in her career. Xu Chang then filmed another short scene of the other actors. Then, it was time for lunch. Despite having already memorized her lines, Wen Nian intended to utilize the lunch break to delve deeper into the script she was scheduled to filmter in the afternoon. With that in mind, she sought out a secluded corner where she could sit and quietly immerse herself in reading while enjoying her meal. Shen Jun brought Wen Xing back from the hospital for treatment. After applying the medicinal wine and preparing lunch, he came to visit the set. He only saw Wen Nian after ncing around. He walked forward.. ¡°What happened to your hand?!¡± Chapter 117 - 117: Red Marks Chapter 117: Red Marks Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun¡¯s voice was nervous. He pulled Wen Nian¡¯s right hand and frowned as he looked at the bright red marks on his fair wrist. It was especially dazzling. Wen Nian was shocked by Shen Jun¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°You scared me!¡± As Wen Nian followed Shen Jun¡¯s gaze, she noticed the lingering prominent mark on her hand. Understanding his concern, she offered an exnation, ¡°There was a conflict scene earlier, and everyone was deeply immersed in their roles, which led to the application of slightly excessive force. It might appear rming, but my skin is quite sensitive, so even a gentle touch can leave such visible marks. In truth, I¡¯m perfectly fine.¡± Shen Jun lowered his head and tenderly rubbed Wen Nian¡¯s wrist, his brows still deeply furrowed. Concern etched on his face, he inquired, ¡°Do you often have to perform conflict scenes that involve such intensity?¡± As Wen Nian experienced the touch of Shen Jun¡¯s calloused fingers, a sudden jolt of electricity coursed through her body. The spot where his touch lingered seemed to tighten slightly. Her gaze followed the trail of his fair and slender fingers, tracing a path down his arm and reaching his Adam¡¯s apple. She then looked at her jawline, thin lips, high nose bridge, and his eyes. Wen Nian swiftly shook off her momentary trance and silently scolded Shen Jun in her thoughts for his ability to captivate others with his charm. However, after contemting for a moment, she responded, ¡°Not many conflict scenes, just a few during our school filming. By the way, have you eaten?¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s attempt to shift the conversation once more, Shen Jun chose to confront her directly. ¡°Your knack for diverting topics remains as resolute as ever.¡± Wen Nian paused for a moment, yfully teasing Shen Jun, ¡°If you can see through my tactics, don¡¯t expose me and we can continue being friends.¡± Shen Jun gazed at Wen Nian¡¯s lighthearted expression and understood the significance she ced on the filming. Despite his repeated reminders for her to prioritize her well-being, he recognized that once she immersed herself in her role, she would likely be more demanding on herself than on others. Therefore, he chose not to dwell on the matter any further and returned to the previous topic. ¡°I¡¯ve already had my meal. Your dad is fine. He was about to take his lunch break when 1 left.¡± Touched by Shen Jun¡¯s thoughtfulness, Wen Nian brought her palms together in a gesture of gratitude. ¡°Thank you so much. 1 truly appreciate your kindness, Young Master Shen. I assure you, I will do everything in my power to fulfill your request,¡± she replied sincerely. Shen Jun raised his eyebrows and said, ¡°You said it yourself. Don¡¯t go back on your word.¡± A sense of determination welled up within Wen Nian as she sensed the opportunity to repay the debt she felt indebted to Shen Jun for. Eagerly anticipating a challenging task, she expressed her unwaveringmitment, stating firmly, ¡°1 promise, as long as it¡¯s within legal boundaries, I will not go back on my word!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s smile held a hint of warmth as he responded, ¡°Very well, I will remember your words. Take your time to study the script. I¡¯ll be observing the filming process here. You don¡¯t need to worry about me.¡± Seeing this, Wen Nian stopped chatting and quickly pondered over the script. In the afternoon, there were two scenes scheduled, both of which involved daily fights. Xu Chang had nned to concentrate on filming school-rted conflict scenes in the uing days. Fortunately, Wen Nian had no scenes scheduled for the following day, allowing her a well-deserved break to rest and recharge. Before dinner, Shen Jun made a trip back to the hotel to apply medicine for Wen Xing. Afterward, he returned to the set following dinner. Xu Chang knew that Wen Nian had tuition tonight, so he specially gave Wen Nian the first scene after dinner. This scene portrays Mu Ci¡¯s descent into darkness. At this moment, Mu Ci had been bullied by the second-generation heirs of the rich and powerful for a year. The parents of the second-generation heirs were members of the school¡¯s board of directors. Under the investigation of the police and the Education Bureau, the principal directly used Mu Ci of being indecent and causing trouble outside to nder her schoolmates. After Mu Ci discovered the school¡¯s cover-up regarding her situation, she took matters into her own hands. She covertly recorded a video of herself being assaulted and promptly brought it to the attention of both the police station and the Education Bureau. Once the authorities had gathered the necessary evidence, they requested Mu Ci to return home and await further developments. However, before justice could be served, she fell victim to a brutal and intensified attack. The assault left her with two broken ribs, necessitating a two-month hospitalization period. Confronted by her mother¡¯s red and swollen eyes, Mu Ci¡¯s resolve to expose those responsible remained unshaken, even though she was aware that they had influential connections within the government. Her sole pursuit was justice, and she was determined to bring down these individuals. Unfortunately, once Bai Jing and her aplices discovered the existence of the recorded evidence, they became more cautious and started conducting body searches before initiating any further actions. Moreover, the other victims, intimidated by the consequences, were too fearful toe forward and testify, resulting in a frustrating impasse for Mu Ci¡¯s pursuit of justice. Her progress was hindered by this deadlock, leaving her with limited options to proceed. Mu Ci held onto a glimmer of hope in Chen Wei, as she recognized that Chen Wei had also endured significant bullying, perhaps even more than herself. Sensing a slight change in Chen Wei¡¯s demeanor, Mu Ci mustered the courage to ask her for a face-to-face meeting on the school rooftop after sses. It was a crucial opportunity for them to connect and potentially join forces in their quest for justice. To Mu Ci¡¯s shock and disbelief, she never anticipated witnessing Chen Wei¡¯s tragic demise as she arrived to meet her on the rooftop. Wen Nian¡¯s memories of her past life flooded back as she remembered how the actress had portrayed Mu Ci in this heartbreaking scene. Initially, the actress struggled toprehend the reality of the situation, and her immediate reaction was one of disbelief. Standing frozen in ce, she instinctively covered her mouth, letting out trembling whimpers. When the police arrived to gather statements, ovee with grief and shock, she started using the school bullies in a hysterical manner.. Chapter 118 - 118: Lost in the Role Chapter 118: Lost in the Role Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, when Wen Nian had been studying the script at home earlier, she had spent considerable time contemting how to effectively convey this particr scene. Mu Ci, known for her resilience, disyed unwavering strength even in the face of broken ribs. It seemed contradictory for her to lose control of her emotions when aposed demeanor was crucial for handling the situation. Wen Nian devised an alternative approach to portray this scene. As Mu Ci caught sight of theboratory building in the distance, a glimmer of hope flickered within her. Believing that she had a chance to persuade Chen Wei, her steps became noticeably lighter. ¡°Bang!¡± A figure was followed by a loud bang. The body that was crawling on the ground twitched a few times before falling into eternal silence. Mu Ci¡¯s gaze fixed upon the familiar figure lying on the ground, rendering her utterly stunned. After a brief moment of disbelief, she mustered the courage to take a step forward, but her attention was abruptly diverted by the emergence of several figures exiting theboratory building. Upon spotting Mu Ci, Bai Jing¡¯s pupils constricted. Zhang Ju nudged Bai Jing and the sudden interruption jolted Bai Jing back to reality, prompting her and the other four individuals to hastily depart from the scene. Mu Ci felt her legs go weak. Trembling, she took out her phone and called the emergency number before calling the police. Mu Ci took a few steps forward to help Chen Wei up, but when she saw the pool of blood on the ground and the limp body, Mu Ci didn¡¯t know how to help her up. Someone heard the noise and ran over to see what was going on. Mu Ci stood amidst a sea of people whose mouths moved without producing any sound. Memories of her visits to the morgue to identify the lifeless body shed through her mind, reigniting feelings of helplessness and despair. The weight of her emotions wrapped tightly around her, causing her to feel overwhelmed and on the verge of a breakdown. She knew that the scene would be noisy, but she couldn¡¯t hear anything. She didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. She stood up and wanted to step forward, but her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground. She could only look at them in confusion. ¡°Cut!¡± Xu Chang, contrary to expectations, disyed an unusual level of satisfaction with Wen Nian¡¯s performance. Had Wen Nian delivered a steady performance from the beginning, portraying Mu Ci, she would have carefully bnced her emotions upon witnessing Chen Wei¡¯s demise. This would have allowed her to convey the profound impact of Chen Wei¡¯s death on Mu Ci andid the foundation for her subsequent descent into darkness. After filming this scene, the prop team and makeup teacher immediately went on stage to prepare for the next scene. Wen Nian¡¯s peculiar behavior caught the attention of everyone present, drawing their focus towards her. ¡°Wen Nian! Wen Nian!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice acted as a lifeline, pulling Wen Nian back from her daze and grounding her in reality. As she met Shen Jun¡¯s gaze, she could sense the worry and concern reflected in his eyes. It prompted her to refocus her attention and take in the sight of the people surrounding them. Wen Nian forced a stiff smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s intense immersion in her character, Xu Chang grew concerned. ¡°Wen Nian, take a break for now. Let¡¯s film the scenes involving other characters first. We can revisit this scene on another day.¡± Even actors who have undergone professional training might struggle to perform for a period of time, let alone Wen Nian, who has never received any formal acting lessons. Wen Nian didn¡¯t put up a fight and allowed Shen Jun to assist her in finding a quiet corner where she could rest. Wen Nian sat silently on the chair, observing the staff in the distance as they cleaned up the pool of blood on the ground. She couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of the crime scene photos taken by the police after her parents¡¯ death¡ªa simr vast pool of blood. A cold sweat once again covered her forehead. Shen Jun was taken aback. He shifted his body slightly to shield Wen Nian¡¯s view and embraced her with concern. Speaking gently, he reassured her, ¡°Wen Nian, what you¡¯re witnessing is not real. Regardless of what happens, I¡¯ll be by your side. You¡¯re not alone. Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Wen Nian caught a whiff of the familiar scent on Shen Jun¡¯s body and nestled her head in his arms. As she listened to Shen Jun¡¯sforting words, the tight knots in her heart, which had been lingering since the tragic loss of her parents in her past life, finally unraveled with a resounding release. When faced with injustice in front of others, many people could suppress their tears and keep moving forward. However, when someone they truly trusted and relied upon unexpectedly appeared, their tears became unstoppable, flowing freely. Wen Nian extended her arms and tightly embraced Shen Jun¡¯s waist. She wept in hisforting embrace, yearning to release all the pent-up helplessness, indecision, and the lingering fear of her family¡¯s potential demise even after her rebirth. Shen Jun sensed his heart being clutched by an invisible hand. All he could do was hold the young girl in his arms tightly and tenderly press a kiss onto the top of Wen Nian¡¯s head. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t determine how long she had been weeping, but as she gradually regained herposure, her sobs diminished. Eventually, she leaned gently against Shen Jun¡¯s chest and whispered amidst soft sobs, ¡°Tissue.¡± Wen Nian burped as she spoke. Shen Jun reached into his pocket and realized that he had forgotten to put tissues and a handkerchief in the woolen coat he had changed into before leaving the house. He spoke softly in a low voice, ¡°You can just wipe your tears on my clothes..¡± Chapter 119 - 119:1 Agree Chapter 119:1 Agree Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian instinctively knew that the dress she was wearing was undoubtedly expensive. The thought of it made her feel embarrassed, so she quickly brought her hand to cover her face, attempting to hide her difort. She devised a n to discreetly return to her seat and retrieve her bag. Shen Jun noticed Wen Nian sitting up straight in his embrace. Gently, he lowered her hand and swiftly removed half of his clothes. Taking out a sleeve, he began to wipe away Wen Nian¡¯s tears and gently wiped her runny nose. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes widened as she nced at the clothes she had unintentionally soiled. Without waiting for her response, Shen Jun swiftly moved to a clean section and tenderly handed her a tissue, instructing in a soft voice, ¡°Please blow your nose.¡± Wen Nian obediently applied pressure and blew her nose several times until it waspletely clear. Shen Jun shifted to a fresh spot and gently wiped away Wen Nian¡¯s tears. As Wen Nian gazed into Shen Jun¡¯s sincere and pure eyes, observing his gentle movements as if he were tending to a precious gem, she found herself in a dazed state. She asked softly, ¡°Why are you so kind to me?¡± Shen Jun paused, his gaze tender and filled with a sense of helplessness. He looked deeply into Wen Nian¡¯s eyes and replied, ¡°Why do you think it is?¡± Wen Nian had a hunch in her heart, but she found it hard to believe. However, she recalled Shen Jun¡¯s earlier request and tentatively asked, ¡°Is it because the organs in my body meet the transnt requirements for your family?¡± Shen Junposed himself and took a deep breath, determined to convey his true feelings. He replied, ¡°Sometimes your imagination wanders too far. What if the reason is simply because 1 genuinely like you?¡± Wen Nian gasped and her eyes widened. ¡°You like me?!¡± Shen Jun firmly grasped Wen Nian¡¯s arms, his expression serious and resolute. He looked into her eyes and spoke earnestly, ¡°Wen Nian, 1 have feelings for you. I¡¯m aware that you have a boyfriend, but 1 can¡¯t control my emotions. Will you consider being my girlfriend?¡± Wen Nian attentively absorbed Shen Jun¡¯s confession. Initially, she felt a sense of excitement, but as his words progressed, confusion clouded her expression. Thetter question made her blush with shyness, and her emotions became mixed for a moment. After contemting for a moment, she felt the need to rify things first. ¡°1 don¡¯t have a boyfriend. Who has been spreading rumors about me?!¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s question, Shen Jun¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, and he swiftly retrieved a photo of Wen Nian from his social circle of friends. ¡°I¡¯ve seen you together with him, going to and from school on multiple asions,¡± he exined. Wen Nian took the phone from Shen Jun and held it up, facing him. She asked, her expression filled withplexity, ¡°Don¡¯t you think we bear a resemnce to each other?¡± Shen Jun said sourly, ¡°You¡¯re trying to say that you two look like husband and wife, right?¡± Wen Nian was perplexed. Even the brightest students have moments when their minds don¡¯t function optimally. ¡°Let¡¯s consider a different perspective. Is it possible that they are biological siblings, sharing the same mother?¡± Realization dawned on Shen Jun. Then, he was overjoyed. ¡°Yes, yes, yes. You two might be siblings!¡± Wen Nian gazed at the unusual, silly expression on Shen Jun¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. She then handed the phone back to Shen Jun. Shen Jun epted the phone with a silly smile stered on his face. However, he quickly remembered that Wen Nian had not given her answer yet, so he anxiously inquired, ¡°So, have you agreed to be my girlfriend?¡± Wen Nian observed the anxious expression on Shen Jun¡¯s face and fell silent for a moment. Logically, it would be wise not to discuss matters of love before shepleted her revenge n. However, now that she had shattered that delicate barrier, no one understood her feelings towards Shen Jun better than herself. She didn¡¯t want to let the opportunity slip away. After being reborn, shouldn¡¯t she seize every opportunity that came her way? Wen Nian raised her gaze to meet Shen Jun¡¯s eyes and offered him a warm smile. ¡°I agree.¡± Shen Jun smiled and enveloped Wen Nian in his embrace. Unable to contain her happiness, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but smile back. As Wen Nian sat at the dressing table and began applying her makeup once more, she examined her red and puffy eyes, the askew fake eyshes, and the smudged ck eyeliner in the mirror. Wen Nian felt a newfound admiration for Shen Jun. Despite her current appearance, he had bravely confessed his feelings, and it became increasingly challenging for her to doubt his affection. The makeup artist began applying makeup on Wen Nian once again, having previously used ice to reduce the swelling. Wen Nian had managed to adjust her mindset and patiently waited until it was nearly nine in the evening before resuming the interrupted scene. Mu Ci remainedposed despite the circumstances, but upon seeing the police, her face paled. She expressed her desire to provide valuable information, stating that Chen Wei couldn¡¯t have taken his own life just half a month before the college entrance examination. As she continued speaking, her agitation grew, and her eyes turned red when the police assured her that they would conduct a thorough investigation. The sinisterughter of the five demons vanished from the campus, leaving behind an eerie silence. Mu Ci had initially believed that all of this woulde at the price of Chen Wei¡¯s life, a sacrifice for the victory of the underdogs against the powerful. However, reality delivered a harsh p to her face, shattering her illusions.. Chapter 120 - 120: Crazy Chapter 120: Crazy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After half a month had passed since the college entrance examination concluded, the results of the investigation were finally released. The investigation confirmed that Chen Wei had indeedmitted suicide by jumping off a building. It was revealed that Bai Jing and the others, having witnessed Chen Wei¡¯s involvement, had deceived her by iming they wanted her to gather evidence and start afresh. They threatened to report her to the school and disqualify her from the college entrance examination if she refused. However, in a twist of events, Chen Wei, burdened with guilt, attempted to snatch her phone. Tragically, she lost her bnce and fell down the stairs. Feeling that the official investigation was absurd, Mu Ci resolved to take matters into her own hands and find a solution to the problem independently. From that point onwards, Mu Ci¡¯s darker side emerged. Wen Nian recollected the second scene in the forest from her previous life. While she didn¡¯t see anything inherently wrong with Mu Ci¡¯s character in her past incarnation, she did have reservations about the extreme level of Mu Ci¡¯s unhinged behavior and criticism. With the intention of honing her acting skills, Wen Nian watched the movie with a focused mindset. During that time, she found the scene that had garnered immense attention online to be particrly memorable and impactful. However, it was only after her own imprisonment that she truly understood the chilling reality of what it meant to be engulfed by madness. Two dayster, Mu Ci extended an invitation to Bai Jing and the others, proposing a meeting in the forest. This small group of demons disyed no fear in the face of Mu Ci¡¯s questioning. They continued to exhibit their contemptuous attitude towards Chen Wei¡¯s death, showing no reverence for human life in their indifferent tone. Instead, they questioned why they, who were born into poverty, should not resist oppression. The anger in Mu Ci¡¯s heart reached its boiling point. She persisted in provoking them, firmly expressing her determination to continue reporting their actions. Within the small group of five, Mu Ci appeared to possess an unwavering resolve to face the consequences together. Almost as if by magic, she produced a small, palm-sized knife and fiercely resisted their presence. The others quickly evaded her attack, startled by her sudden outburst. The richer and more powerful a person was, the more afraid they were of death. As Wen Nian recollected her time in prison, she remembered how she had fought fiercely, risking her life to deter others from easily provoking her. With that memory in mind, she mentally transformed herself into the determined and fierce character of Mu Ci, who stood in the forest at that very moment. Mu Ci¡¯s eyes turned bloodshot as she disyed a sinister smile. Speaking in a coaxing tone, she taunted, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid of me. There are so many of you, and 1 only have one saber. I just need a scabbard. Who among you wants to be my scabbard?¡± Mu Ci¡¯s voice echoed with an eerie calmness as she continued, ¡°Just one person needs to stand in the way of this knife, and then 1 will be at your mercy.¡± With deliberate steps, she advanced towards them, intensifying the tension in the air. Despite knowing that this was just a performance and Wen Nian was merely acting, the actors couldn¡¯t help but be overwhelmed by the sheer madness reflected in Mu Ci¡¯s eyes. The intensity of the moment made their legs feel weak, and even Bai Jing, who had a harsh line prepared, found her mind going nk, unable to utter a word. As Mu Ci inched closer and closer, the oppressive and fearful atmosphere became too overwhelming for Wu Gang¡¯s actor to bear. Unable to wait for Bai Jing to deliver her lines, he instinctively started retreating, unable to withstand the mounting tension any longer. Once one person began retreating, a domino effect ensued, with each actor following suit. None of them wanted to be the unfortunate soul who became Mu Ci¡¯s ¡°scabbard.¡± The actor portraying Zhang Ju couldn¡¯t help but feel a knot in his throat as he observed Mu Ci¡¯s deranged demeanor. Nervously, he stumbled through his lines, suggesting, ¡°Let¡¯s call it a day for now. We can handle her another time.¡± Everyone immediately nodded in agreement and fled. ¡°Cut!¡± The emotions portrayed in this scene were a rollercoaster for Wen Nian. She had to navigate through a range of intense feelings, transitioning from the initial excitement of believing progress was being made in the bullying case, to the shock of witnessing a life being extinguished before her eyes. Then, she experienced a glimmer of hope as she thought she had found a way to sessfully bring the perpetrators to justice, only to be confronted with the crushing despair of the seemingly insurmountable power of the government and the uncertainty of her future ns. In the end, she chose to fight to the death. Wen Nian¡¯s portrayal of these emotional changes was remarkably seamless, especially considering herck of formal training. Drawing upon her previous life experiences and a deep resonance with the character of Mu Ci, she was able to tap into her natural talent and instincts to bring the role to life. This kind of lifestyle performance was even more advanced. There was a scattered apuse around them, followed by a series of apuse. Xu Chang stepped forward and said with a smile, ¡°Mu Ci, what other surprises do you have in store?! I caught a glimpse of your expression on the monitor earlier and it made me a bit apprehensive.¡± ¡°Even though Bai Jing forgot to deliver her line, the spontaneous effect was even better than scripted! So 1 won¡¯t reshoot the scene. We¡¯ll keep the previous take!¡± While Xu Chang was merely making an objective statement, when Pan Jia, the actress portraying Bai Jing, heard it, she interpreted Xu Chang¡¯s words as him intentionally undermining her in order to praise Wen Nian. Pan Jia reflected on how, as someone who studied acting, she had allowed herself to be so intimidated by a fellow actor that she had forgotten her lines. Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, she discreetly rolled her eyes at the attention Wen Nian was receiving. Without saying a word, she quietly walked to the side.. Chapter 121 - 121: Talent Chapter 121: Talent Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Tian Liang, the actor ying Zhang Ju, initially had concerns about Wen Nian¡¯s ability to perform and how it might impact tonight¡¯s crucial scene, lie knew that Xu Chang would insist on reshooting the scene repeatedly until he was satisfied with the final take. lie had mentally prepared himself to stay up all night, but to his surprise, it was only n pm after they finished filming. It must be acknowledged that today¡¯s scenes were not particrly challenging. Moreover, Wen Nian had taken the initiative to seek guidance from the senior actors on set regarding various acting techniques, which contributed to the sessful filming. Tian Li believed that tonight¡¯s scene was sufficient evidence that Wen Nian possessed not only a strong work ethic but also exceptional acting talent. Not everyone possesses the ability to truly embody their characters. ¡°Mu Ci, you¡¯re a natural in this field! I was so genuinely frightened by your performance just now that it made my throat tighten, and I almost stumbled over my lines.¡± Lan Tian, the actor portraying Wu Gang, still found it hard to believe when he thought about it. The young girl standing before him was merely 17 years old, while he himself was five years older. Reflecting on his performance just moments ago, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°Luckily, 1 managed to remind myself that I was filming; otherwise, 1 might have identally dashed out of the frame.¡± Wen Nian diligently studied the script during her supplementary sses. As she recalled the nuances of the movie¡¯s performance in her previous life, she pondered whether she could find a more effective way to deliver her own performance. Having received positive feedback and witnessing everyone¡¯s approval of her performance, she couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. ¡°Thank you all for your encouragement. 1 am determined to maintain my dedication and deliver excellent performances going forward.¡± All the scenes scheduled for today were sessfully filmed ording to the n. Those who didn¡¯t have their own vehicles traveled back to the hotel in groups, taking the bus. The first group of actors departed, and among them were Wen Nian and Shen Jun, who boarded the bus. Wen Nian had skipped her lunch break and,bined with the emotional intensity of the scenes she had filmed throughout the night, she felt mentally and physically drained as soon as she allowed herself to rx. Wen Nian was overwhelmed by drowsiness, struggling to keep her eyes open. She squinted and nced at Shen Jun, who had discarded his soiled coat and was now wearing only a sweater. Wen Nian asked, albeit btedly, ¡°It was quite chilly on the set earlier. Won¡¯t you catch a cold wearing so little?¡± Although it was a dyed concern, Shen Jun felt a sense of contentment. ¡°Director Xu has a heater over there. I¡¯ll go and warm up while you continue filming. Don¡¯t worry, you should get some rest.¡± Finally, Wen Nian felt a sense of relief. Leaning her head against Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder, she found sce. Shen Jun gazed at Wen Nian¡¯s peaceful sleeping face, his emotions intertwining within him. He had closely observed all of Wen Nian¡¯s scenes on the monitor. Everyone said that Wen Nian was talented, and Shen Jun admitted it. However, Wen Nian¡¯s intense and unsettling gaze continued to haunt his thoughts. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t dismiss the notion that it wasn¡¯t merely a disy of talent but rather a glimpse into a maddening intensity, capable of obliterating the world after encountering a life-or-death crisis. The journey from the school to the hotel was a mere ten-minute drive. Upon reaching the hotel¡¯s entrance, Wen Nian was so exhausted that she began to emit soft snores. Shen Jun¡¯s heart filled with sympathy, so he decided not to disturb her slumber. He gathered their belongings and gently lifted Wen Nian, cradling her in his arms before stepping out of the car. Since today¡¯s scenes were set in the main school, the upants of the car primarily consisted of young actors. As everyone witnessed Shen Jun¡¯s tender actions towards Wen Nian, their curiosity got the better of them, causing them to steal a few more nces at the scene unfolding before them. Pan Jia nudged her assistant, Sun Yue, with her elbow. ¡°I told you to gather information about Wen Nian. What did you discover?¡± Sun Yue had followed Pan Jia¡¯s instructions and searched for information on Wen Nian. However, the avable information was limited. As Wen Nian had maintained a low-key presence since her second year of high school, most of the news avable was outdated. The news mostly revolved around Wen Nian¡¯s past reputation for being indulgent and self-centered after entering No. 1 High School. Upon hearing Sun Yue¡¯s report, Pan Jia responded as if she had anticipated the oue. ¡°1 knew something was amiss with hernding a role in this film! Her appearance is merely average, and the most crucial factor is herck of acting skills. 1 only took an interest in the script because I liked the role of Mu Ci. If it weren¡¯t for her, I wouldn¡¯t have epted the role of the second female lead!¡± Pan Jia cast a disdainful nce at the group of people walking ahead of her, and her lips curled in contempt. ¡°Only those fools who are my co-stars would believe Xu Chang¡¯s praise. If I were ying the role of Mu Ci, I would undoubtedly deliver a far superior performance to hers!¡± Sun Yue, known for her persuasive skills, quickly chimed in, echoing Pan Jia¡¯s sentiment. ¡°Absolutely! You consistently rank within the top three in your professional ss. I refuse to believe that Wen Nian secured the lead role without resorting to any tricks!¡± Pan Jia had always been cast as a female lead in previous projects. This was the first time a director had personally approached her for a role. Initially, she had intended topete for the lead role, but after the audition, she was offered the role of the second female lead instead. She reluctantly epted the opportunity only because it was a rare chance in her career. The more Pan Jia dwelled on it, the more her anger intensified. Particrly after witnessing the captivating scenes involving Mu Ci¡¯s character that day, she felt that her own opportunity had been unjustly taken away. ¡°No, 1 refuse to ept this silently.. If I can¡¯t portray Mu Ci, then she won¡¯t have it easy either!¡± Chapter 122 - 122: Secret Affair Chapter 122: Secret Affair Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun slid Wen Nian¡¯s room card into the card reader and unlocked the door to her guest room. Wen Xing, noticing that Wen Nian hadn¡¯t responded despite thete hour, was just about to give her a call when he caught sight of Shen Jun carrying her into the room. Wen Xing hurriedly approached and observed Wen Nian¡¯s peaceful sleeping face. Without wasting any time, he turned around and swiftly opened Wen Nian¡¯s door. Shen Jun carefullyid Wen Nian down on the bed and proceeded to gently remove her outer clothes and pants. Wen Xing was taken aback and swiftly intervened, putting a halt to Shen Jun¡¯s actions. He nced at Shen Jun with a cautious expression. ¡°There¡¯s a distinction between men and women. Let me take care of it. You should step outside for now.¡± Shen Jun straightened up and looked at Wen Xing¡¯s waist. ¡°Uncle, are you sure you can bend down now?¡± Wen Xing hesitated for a moment, realizing that his previously injured back had significantly improved after the treatment. However, he suddenly remembered the doctor¡¯s advice, instructing him to avoid any strenuous movements for the time being. However, a solution quickly dawned on Wen Xing. ¡°Go and find a waitress to assist us,¡± he suggested to Shen Jun. Shen Jun suppressed the irritation in his eyes and forced a smile at Wen Xing. ¡°Sure.¡± As Shen Jun maintained a smiling facade, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t shake off a faint sense of unease creeping up his spine. However, he quickly dismissed his apprehensions, attributing them to his previous back sprain and its associatedplications. Shen Jun agreed and went out to call for help. Recalling his mother¡¯s borate skincare routine before bedtime, Shen Jun rummaged through the items on the dressing table next to the bed. Although he couldn¡¯t discern the specific effects of the various bottles and jars, he knew he should at least remove Wen Nian¡¯s makeup. Shen Jun found the makeup remover and handed it to the waitress. He said in a low voice, ¡°Please help remove jer makeup.¡± The waitress, a young girl, blushed upon seeing Shen Jun¡¯s handsome face. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied shyly. Wen Xing and Shen Jun exited Wen Nian¡¯s room. Reflecting on Shen Jun¡¯s actions earlier, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t help but inquire, ¡°Young man, you seem quite knowledgeable. Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Shen Jun hesitated for a moment, then replied with a natural expression, ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Xing felt a sense of relief upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s response. Despite his appreciation for Shen Jun¡¯s assistance and growing fondness for him, Wen Xing was resolute in his determination not to let Wen Nian get involved in a romantic rtionship at such a young age. Therefore, when Wen Xing witnessed Shen Jun attentively tending to Wen Nian, his heart skipped a beat. Knowing that Shen Jun already had a girlfriend, Wen Xing felt a sense of relief wash over him. Observing Wen Xing¡¯s expression, Shen Jun could already discern his stance on Wen Nian¡¯s potential romantic interest. Understanding that it wasn¡¯t the appropriate moment to reveal his own rtionship, he decided to keep it concealed for now. ¡°Uncle, 1¡¯11 head back to my room first,¡± he said, bidding Wen Xing farewell. Wen Xing smiled warmly as he escorted Shen Jun out of the room. The following day, while Wen Nian took some much-needed rest, Shen Jun utilized the time to provide her with additional lessons and guidance. Recognizing the importance of not hindering Wen Nian¡¯s sses, Wen Xing instructed her to request Xu Chang¡¯s assistance in arranging transportation to the hospital for his final treatment. In that moment, Shen Jun was providing tutoring to Wen Nian in her room, focusing solely on their academic discussions. After two hours of intense learning, they decided to take a short break. Coincidentally, the staff members who hade to pick up Wen Xing arrived at that very moment. Prior to his departure, Wen Xing exchanged greetings with both Shen Jun and Wen Nian before taking his leave. As the door closed, Wen Nian turned to face Shen Jun and yfully remarked, ¡°This morning, my dad mentioned that you have a girlfriend and advised me to maintain some distance from you to avoid any misunderstandings on her part.¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, Shen Jun¡¯s heart tightened, and he wore a thoughtful expression. He gazed at Wen Nian and inquired, ¡°Will my girlfriend also misunderstand?¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but giggle as she covered her mouth. ¡°You know how it is in China. Parents are concerned that romantic rtionships might distract from their children¡¯s studies. How about we announce it once 1 improve my ranking?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s gaze softened as he observed Wen Nian¡¯s innocent, blinking eyes, and a smile formed on his face. ¡°It does feel like we¡¯re involved in a secret affair when it¡¯s supposed to be open and honest. It¡¯s like we¡¯re hiding in the shadows. You owe me somepensation for that,¡± he replied, teasingly. With that, Shen Jun reached out and tapped his cheek. The tips of Wen Nian¡¯s ears turned slightly red, indicating her bashfulness. In hindsight, her attraction to Wei Xiao in her previous life was mostly due to the image of the thoughtful and caring gentleman he had deliberately portrayed. She hadn¡¯t truly understood him at all. Looking back now, it all seemed hollow and unreal. It was akin to the idealized image of a prince that she had concocted in her mind after being captivated by fairy tales during her childhood. Moreover, in her pursuit of her goals, Huang Yue had manipted and further reinforced Wei Xiao¡¯s feelings, pushing her towards the notion of sacrificing everything for love. That wasn¡¯t genuine affection towards someone; she was merely infatuated with the romanticized notion of liking him. Wen Nian felt as though she had been enchanted during that period. In her misguided attempts to gain Wei Xiao¡¯s attention and affection, she had engaged in a series of foolish actions.. Chapter 123 - 123: Thank You Chapter 123: Thank You Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Regarding Shen Jun, Wen Nian likened him to a protagonist straight out of a renowned movie. In her eyes, he was like a heroic figure descending from a vibrant and mystical cloud, always appearing just when she needed him the most. He was theplete opposite of Wei Xiao. He doesn¡¯t give a lot ofpliments but he was actively involved. Their ¡°affection¡± and ¡°togetherness¡± were entirely rooted in their mutual understanding, which brought Wen Nian a sense offort within the rtionship. Upon discerning Shen Jun¡¯s subtle suggestion, Wen Nian resolved to listen to her heart and nted a gentle kisson Shen Jun¡¯s cheek. Shen Jun¡¯s body immediately tensed, evident by the rapid bobbing of his Adam¡¯s apple. Taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s unexpected actions, Shen Jun coughed softly and uttered, ¡°Focus on your studies for now. Whether 1 can openly be with you hinges on your academic performance next semester.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s reddened ears, Wen Nian¡¯s spirits lifted. With a smile, she responded, ¡°Absolutely!¡± While Wen Nian was engrossed in peaceful studying, the ss¡¯s WeChat group suddenly erupted in the evening. ¡°Students, there¡¯s big news!¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on? Lately, I¡¯ve been studying so much that I feel like my brain has turned to mush. I desperately need some sensational news to jolt my exhausted mind!¡± ¡°Is it the news about someone posing as a wealthy heir and scamming numerous affluent individuals?!¡± ¡°I just saw it on Hai City High School¡¯s campus website a moment ago! That guy is incredibly cunning. Rumor has it that not only did he deceive wealthy wives, but he also managed to charm numerous affluent female students from nearby schools.¡± ¡°Sigh, it seems that in today¡¯s society, good looks hold a disproportionate advantage. Those individuals almost invite deception! Men should recognize their own worth. Boys like us, who may have average looks but possess talent, don¡¯t find them appealing. It¡¯s disheartening that they are drawn to those deceitful scoundrels.¡± It¡¯s not solely about exploiting his appearance to deceive others; the crux of the matter lies in his pretense as a wealthy second-generation heir. Those girls, driven by their modest means and vanity, are all attempting to lend him money, hoping that by offering support in times of need, they can establish asting bond with him. It¡¯s quite amusing. If he truly were a genuine heir from a wealthy background, why would he be interested in gold diggers like them?! At this moment, Huang Yue¡¯s eyes were red as she kept calling Wang Jing. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, the number you have dialed is unavable. Please try againter.¡± The mechanical voice came from the receiver again and again. Exhausted from making over 50 phone calls throughout the night, Huang Yue finally sumbed to weariness and copsed onto the bed. Due to being underage, Huang Yue was unable to open her own stock ount. Desperate to invest, she resorted to stealing several pieces of her mother¡¯s gold jewelry and using them as coteral. She then invested the entire sum of 200,000 yuan into Wang Jing¡¯s ount. Plus the 200,000 yuan she had lent to Wang Jing, Huang Yue felt so scared that she started trembling. With her family receiving only 100,000 yuan per month for living expenses, Huang Yue dreaded the thought of the consequences she would face if her theft from her family was ever discovered. Wen Nian¡¯s tutoring session ended at 10 p.m., and once Shen Jun departed, she finally had a moment to check her WeChat messages, eager to see if anyone had reached out to her. As Wen Nian witnessed the explosive activity in the group chat, her eyes darted around, a mischievous smile forming on her lips. With a wicked grin, she dialed Huang Yue¡¯s number. Lost in a daze, Huang Yue contemted various means to obtain the money needed for reiming her jewelry. Just as she was consumed by her thoughts, a video call request from Wen Nian shed on her screen. Instantly, a realization struck her¡ªher current predicament was a direct consequence of that fateful call from Wen Nian! Without hesitation, Huang Yue swiftly answered the video call, and on the screen emerged the charming visage of Wen Nian. As Wen Nian gazed at Huang Yue¡¯s worn-out expression on the screen, she quietly chuckled to herself. Realizing her own limitations, she reluctantly relied on the assistance of others. If she was capable, Huang Yue would be in a worse state than this. Wen Nian smiled warmly and greeted Huang Yue, ¡°Huang Yue, it¡¯s been a while. I wanted to call today to express my gratitude. Although the head teacher might not have shared the reason behind my leave with everyone, 1 consider us good friends. Moreover, it was your words that made me reflect and take this filming opportunity. I wanted to reach out and inform you personally.¡± Upon hearing this, Huang Yue¡¯s initial shock faded, reced by a sense of concern. Frowning, she asked, ¡°You went to film? Did you sign a contract with Zhao Cheng?¡± Wen Nian shook her head and smiled reassuringly. ¡°Remember when the director invited me to y the female lead during ourst meal? Well, I¡¯m here to shoot that very scene now. It¡¯s a legitimate production team. You¡¯re familiar with Jiang Chao and Sun Li, right?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes gleamed with excitement as she enthusiastically divulged, ¡°Guess what? The actors who portrayed the third male lead and the third female lead in the highly popr drama ¡®Pretty Little Chef and Domineering CEO¡¯ are part of the same production team. I have numerous scenes alongside them! Filming has been an amazing experience¡ªI receive good meals,fortable amodations, and truly enjoy the whole process. They even arranged for a tutor to support my studies..¡± Chapter 124 - 124: Serves You Right Chapter 124: Serves You Right Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Undeterred by Huang Yue¡¯s dismayed expression, Wen Nian carried on, ¡°I¡¯ve truly benefited from this opportunity. 1 managed to earn 200,000 yuan in just two months. You were right, being a celebrity has its advantages. Once this movie is released, I¡¯ll be recognized as an actress, taking the first step towards bing a celebrity.¡± Huang Yue nced at the serene smile on Wen Nian¡¯s lovely face and fought back the urge to clench her teeth. Her attention shifted to the frame on the camera, revealing her skin that was now free of gauze but still adorned with remnants of dried blisters and the lingering red marks they had left behind. The strong contrast made Huang Yue so angry that her eyes turned red. However, Huang Yue swiftly regained herposure. If Wen Nian had acquired funds for filming, perhaps it could serve as a means topensate for some of her own losses! Huang Yue swiftly adjusted her mindset and, with a smile, spoke up, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m currently facing a financial shortage. Would it be possible for me to borrow 200,000 yuan from you? 1 promise to repay it as soon as I can.¡± Wen Nian gazed at Huang Yue with a sense of helplessness. ¡°Huang Yue, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to lend you money. However, I can only ess funds once the filming isplete.¡± As Huang Yue noticed that Wen Nian hadn¡¯t outright rejected her request, a glimmer of hope flickered within her. Recalling how Xu Chang had tried to impress Wen Nian by acting that day, an idea sprouted in her mind. ¡°You should consider asking the production team for an advance payment. After all, you¡¯re the female lead. If they hesitate, you can even leverage the threat of resigning.¡± Wen Nian sensed that Huang Yue might be underestimating her, yet she maintained an innocent expression. Gazing at Huang Yue with concern, she responded, ¡°But I have a genuine passion for acting.What if the director actually takes it seriously? That would be troublesome. Forget it.¡± Huang Yue gazed at Wen Nian with a pleading expression. ¡°Wen Nian, we¡¯re good friends, right? I¡¯m in urgent need of money right now, but 1 can return it to you next month. Please help me think of a solution. For instance, how much money could you lend me? I¡¯ll pay you interest, say 50,000 yuan for a loan of 100,000 yuan.¡± Huang Yue had picked up the tactic of offering interest from Wang Jing, and she couldn¡¯t deny its effectiveness. Wen Nian sighed when she heard this and deliberately changed the topic to investment. ¡°Huang Yue, it¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to, but I don¡¯t have much private money. Last month, I thought I had a chance to make a lot of money through a stock. I even managed to trick my parents into giving me money. However, 1 couldn¡¯t contact that friendter on, so I didn¡¯t manage to invest.¡± Huang Yue widened her eyes and questioned loudly, ¡°You said you didn¡¯t invest in the end?!¡± Wen Nian nodded, her expression reflecting a sense of relief. ¡°However, 1 managed to reach out to the other party yesterday. They mentioned that someone might have intentionally deceived me with false news about the holiday. I¡¯m not sure about the details of the situation at the moment.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the start of the month, and if that stock doesn¡¯t show any growth this month, there must be some foul y involved. Thankfully, I didn¡¯t invest any money in it. Otherwise, 1 would have been trapped,¡± Wen Nian remarked. As Huang Yue had been holding onto a glimmer of hope, hearing this news shattered herst traces of optimism, leaving her inplete despair. Overwhelmed by her despair, Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but question Wen Nian sternly. ¡°Wen Nian, wasn¡¯t the person who informed you about the investment news an insider at Chengheng Technology? How is it that you¡¯re unaware of the truth?¡± Wen Nian was stunned for a moment before asking angrily, ¡°You eavesdropped on my call?¡± Huang Yue mmed the table angrily. ¡°Do you know that I was scammed 200,000 yuan because of what you said!¡± ¡°Oh! I see what¡¯s going on now! Wen Nian, did you and Wang Jing conspire to set a trap for me? You deceitful person! I¡¯m going to report you!¡± Huang Yue eximed, no longer concerned about anything other than finding ways to obtain money and redeem her jewelry. Wen Nian rolled her eyes at Huang Yue and let out a chuckle. ¡°Wang Jing? Are you out of your mind? What evidence do you have to use me of defrauding you? When did I im to know an employee of Chengheng Technology? You eavesdropped on others and made wild assumptions for your investments, and now you want to me me? You¡¯re just looking for a scapegoat. Even if I had 200,000 yuan in my bank ount, I wouldn¡¯t dare lend it to you!¡± Huang Yue¡¯s face turned pale with frustration, and she wished she could physically confront Wen Nian. ¡°I don¡¯t care. You have to lend me the money! You must take responsibility for this!¡± Wen Nian cast a mocking nce at Huang Yue. ¡°You eavesdrop out of greed and now you¡¯re trying to shift the me onto someone else.. Huang Yue, what on earth are you thinking? Do you realize what others will say if they find out about your actions?¡± Chapter 125 - 125: Forming an Alliance Chapter 125: Forming an Alliance Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian, unaffected by Huang Yue¡¯s hateful gaze, felt that the situationcked excitement. The corners of her lips curled up slightly as she smiled and spoke slowly, ¡°People will say that you deserve it. You¡¯re the only one in the ss group chat who fell victim to a gold digger. Have you ever considered checking your own status? If you truly had a wealthy second-generation heir with a respectable family background, can you be certain they would choose you?¡± ¡°Consider this a friendly reminder,¡± Wen Nian said. ¡°Take a look at the marks left on your face from the blisters. If you¡¯re considering stic surgery, it¡¯s best to do it sooner rather thanter. Well, I should go get some beauty sleep now.¡± After uttering those words, Wen Nian abruptly ended the call, not giving Huang Yue a chance to counterattack! It had been several months since Wen Nian¡¯s rebirth. As she observed the persistent red mark on Huang Yue¡¯s face and reflected on how Huang Yue had deceived her emotionally and financially, a sense of satisfaction filled Wen Nian. Now, her focus shifted to thoroughly exposing Huang Yue¡¯s facade, provoking her from every angle, including her artificial stic appearance. Huang Yue tightly pursed her lips, her anger causing her whole body to go numb. ¡°Wen Nian! We cannot coexist!¡± Huang Yue gripped her phone tightly and had the urge to smash it against the ground to vent her frustration. However, her phone rang once again. Huang Yue answered the call without even ncing at the screen. Her voice emanated a chilling aura, as if it belonged to a ghost risen from the depths of hell. ¡°Wen Nian! You will pay the price for deceiving me. This time, I will stop at nothing to utterly destroy you!¡± There was a brief moment of silence on the other end of the line. Huang Yue interpreted it as a sign of Wen Nian¡¯s impending surrender, and she intended to use this opportunity to intimidate her into providingpensation upfront. This way, she could buy herself a few days to strategize and deal with Wen Nian ordingly. ¡°Hello, is this Huang Yue?¡± An unfamiliar female voice sounded. Huang Yue was momentarily taken aback. She lowered her phone and noticed that the call wasing from an unknown number. Furrowing her brow, she inquired, ¡°Who is this?¡± The female voice spoke once again, ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. What matters is that our goals align. I, too, do not wish for Wen Nian to have an easy time.¡± Huang Yue pondered the mysterious voice in her mind, but she couldn¡¯t seem to ce it with any specific person. After a brief moment of silence, she expressed her doubt, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to reveal your identity and name, how can 1 trust your sincerity? 1 even suspect that you might be a pawn sent by Wen Nian to deceive me.¡± Pan Jia could sense the skepticism in Huang Yue¡¯s voice, but as someone destined to be a prominent star in the future, she couldn¡¯t afford to disclose her personal information. Doing so would only invite potential scandals and future risks. Pan Jia contemted for a moment before responding, ¡°I came across your situation through the posts on the school¡¯s website that exposed Wen Nian¡¯s scandals. I happen to be a staff member of the production team, and 1 noticed firsthand how Wen Nian disyed her domineering behavior. That¡¯s why 1 reached out to you.¡± ¡°Wen Nian may appear pure on the surface, but I have no idea about the extent of her inner corruption. It seems she secured the female lead role by engaging in inappropriate rtionships with the director and making investments in the production.¡± Upon hearing that Wen Nian was involved in scandals, Huang Yue¡¯s interest piqued, and she eagerly requested, ¡°Please provide me with detailed evidence if you have any!¡± Under the cover of the dark night, an alliance was silently forged against Wen Nian. After a week of filming, Wen Nian¡¯s production was in progress. Wen Yu had traveled to the capital to take part in the nationalpetition finals and decided to pay a visit to the set. Wen Nian took the initiative to request half a day off. However, when Shen Jun discovered that the three of them were going to have dinner together in the evening, he couldn¡¯t escape the harsh reality that he wouldn¡¯t be able to attend the family gathering. Since she was in the capital, it was only natural for Wen Nian to indulge in some roast duck. Following the address provided by Shen Jun, she sought out a discreet shop tucked away in an alley. Wen Yu cast a skeptical nce at the recruitment notice bearing the name ¡°Qingyin Workshop¡± and looked at Wen Nian with suspicion. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we came to the capital for roast duck? People say there¡¯s a century-old shop known for it. Who gave you the address? Don¡¯t tell me we¡¯ve been tricked.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes in response to Wen Yu¡¯s suspicion. She had full confidence in Shen Jun¡¯s rmendation. After all, someone with his background must have indulged in a wide variety of exquisite dishes. How could he not know the deliciousness of roast duck? ¡°Just bring your mouth and taste it,¡± she retorted. Upon stepping inside, he quickly realized that there was a whole new world awaiting him. The entrance led to a courtyard house with three entrances and a serene back garden. The ce exuded the ancient ambiance of a northern-style architecture while also showcasing the picturesque charm of a southern courtyard. Despite Shen Jun mentioning a discounted rate for the appointment, Wen Nian still had some concerns about her finances. Upon realizing that the appointment was made by Shen Jun, Manager Wang personally extended an invitation to the three of them, leading them to a private room with a panoramic view of the beautiful backyard. As they made their way through the shop, Wen Nian noticed that it was predominantly staffed by male employees. Curiosity piqued, she couldn¡¯t help but ask about it, surprised to discover that there were indeed only male employees. Once inside the private room, the three of them nced at the extravagant menu ced before them, exchanging uncertain nces. They silently wondered if they would be able to finish their meal in time to meet their scheduled departure. The observant manager, sensing their desire to leave, quickly interjected, ¡°Please don¡¯t worry. As our esteemed guests, you have made a reservation. Feel free to order the roast duck and a few additional dishes. After applying the discount, it will amount to approximately 200 yuan per person.. While it may be slightly pricier than the ordinary roast duck shops outside, our taste surpasses anything those establishments can offer!¡± Chapter 126 - 126: Thank You Gift Chapter 126: Thank You Gift Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon hearing the transparent pricing, Wen Nian felt a sense of relief. While it might be a bit more expensive, she recognized the value of the experience. After all, it wasn¡¯t often that she had the opportunity to indulge in such high-quality cuisine. After cing their order for three main dishes, Wen Nian excused herself from the private room and made her way towards the washroom. The washroom waspact in size, exuding a subtle yet elegant fragrance that masked any unpleasant odors. It was so well-scented that one couldn¡¯t detect any typical restroom smells. Wen Nian washed her hands and prepared to leave. ¡°Youngdy.¡± As Wen Nian nced up at the mirror, she was startled to see a partially opened bathroom door and a head peering through, seemingly suspended in the air, observing her. ¡°All!¡± Wen Nian eximed in fear, her immediate reaction being to swiftly turn around and fix her gaze on the other person. Zhao Jiao, realizing the fright she had caused Wen Nian, swiftly made herself visible once more. ¡°Don¡¯t be scared. I¡¯m a human!¡± she reassured. Wen Nian gently patted her chest to calm herself down, taking a few deep breaths. After noticing that the other person was a beautiful young woman in her early thirties, sheposed herself and politely inquired, ¡°Hello, may I ask what brings you here?¡± Zhao Jiao shed an awkward smile and asked, ¡°Do you happen to have any sanitary pads?¡± Wen Nian shook her head, indicating that she didn¡¯t have any sanitary pads with her. Since her menstrual cycle was usually predictable, she didn¡¯t typically carry them in her bag. She then inquired, ¡°Are you here with a friend?¡± Zhao Jiao shook her head and gazed at Wen Nian. ¡°I came here alone today,¡± she replied. Upon witnessing the situation, Wen Nian found herself uncertain about how to initiate a conversation. After a brief moment of hesitation, she decided to probe, ¡°Would you like me to help you buy a sanitary pad?¡± Zhao Jiao expressed her gratitude immediately, saying, ¡°That would be a great help, youngdy. Thank you so much!¡± Wen Nian sensed that the other party had been anticipating her offer. However, she realized that it was a simple matter. Girl help girl! Wen Nian inquired about the brand of sanitary pads that Zhao Jiao preferred and promptly left the roast duck restaurant. Zhao Jiao and her best friend had made ns to enjoy roast duck together that day. However, to her surprise, they were left waiting as her friend failed to show up. Wen Sheng, the owner of the restaurant, had peculiar rules in ce. If someone failed to make an appointment more than three times, they were prohibited from returning. Despite being a shareholder in the establishment, Zhao Jiao hesitated to challenge these unusual regtions. However, to Zhao Jiao¡¯s dismay, her menstrual cycle unexpectedly arrived earlier than anticipated, catching herpletely off guard. With the shop being sparsely popted on a daily basis andcking waitstaff, Zhao Jiao found herself fortunate that day. It didn¡¯t take long before a kind-hearted girl entered the shop. After approximately half an hour, Wen Nian handed a sanitary pad to Zhao Jiao and kindly said, ¡°Here you go, Auntie. Is there anything else 1 can assist you with?¡± Zhao Jiao epted the items and observed the gentle and graceful young girl standing before her. In that moment, she couldn¡¯t help but find her pleasing to the eye. It¡¯s unfortunate that she had given birth to a son instead of a daughter. Zhao Jiao smiled and looked at Wen Nian. ¡°How much did you spend? I¡¯ll transfer it to you now.¡± Since Zhao Jiao didn¡¯t have any rtives or friends present, she felt it was necessary to reimburse Wen Nian for the cost of the sanitary pads. Wen Nian, however, didn¡¯t hesitate and presented the receipt to Zhao Jiao. She opened her WeChat app and handed it over, saying, ¡°Auntie, ites to a total of 28 yuan.¡± Zhao Jiao promptly transferred the money without hesitation, and with a smile, Wen Nian bid her farewell and departed. After tidying up, Zhao Jiao approached the reception desk and gestured toward the direction Wen Nian had left. She said, ¡°Which private room did that youngdye from? Please give her a 10% discount as a token of gratitude for her assistance. Let her know it¡¯s a thank-you gift.¡± With the understanding that a 10% discount would amount to saving a few hundred yuan, Zhao Jiao believed that this gesture was already a generous gift. Manager Wang quickly recognized the person Zhao Jiao was referring to. ¡°Thatdy is in a private room at Osmanthus Pavilion. It was reserved for her by your son.¡± Zhao Jiao approached the front desk and noticed the note attached behind the appointment form. As she read it, her beautiful peach blossom eyes narrowed, and a hint of intrigue flickered in her gaze. After a moment of contemtion, Zhao Jiao spoke up, ¡°Shen Jun mentioned that he would cover the cost of the meal at Osmanthus Pavilion if it exceeds 600 yuan?¡± Manager Wang nodded seriously. As Zhao Jiao left the restaurant and got into her car, she couldn¡¯t shake off her disbelief. Her normally cold and distant son had booked a private room for a girl and secretly paid for their meal without informing her. Observing how Shen Jun would asionally interact with girls around him, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t help but think that if it weren¡¯t for those fleeting conversations, she would have believed that the Shen family¡¯s lineage would end with this generation. Rolling her eyes yfully, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t help but wear a mischievous smile as she reached for her phone and dialed Shen Jun¡¯s number. Shen Jun casually picked up the call from Zhao Jiao and greeted her with a simple ¡°Mom.¡± Zhao Jiao, concealing her excitement, spoke to Shen Jun in her usual tone. ¡°Son, do you remember Auntie Ji¡¯s little sister, Tingting? She used to always follow you around and revolve around you. Her family has recently moved back from overseas. When youe back during the winter break, why don¡¯t you take her around the capital to help her get familiar with the city? The country has changed so much, and after being away for over ten years, she feels like the capital is unfamiliar..¡± Chapter 127 - 127: Evil Mother-in-law Chapter 127: Evil Mother-inw Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun noticed that since he entered high school, Zhao Jiao had been particrly concerned about his marriage. He frowned slightly and responded, ¡°Mom, please refrain from making baseless statements. I actually have a girlfriend.¡± Zhao Jiao was taken aback. She had believed that her son still held a favorable opinion of her, but now it appeared that she was perceived as being old-fashioned or conservative. It was remarkable how quickly this kid embraced new ideas. Once he became enlightened, his progress was as swift as a rocket. Despite having left the capital only a few months ago, he had managed to escape the realm of being single and found himself in a rtionship. ¡°When did you get a girlfriend? What¡¯s her name, and where is she from?¡± Shen Jun reminisced about the moment of confession and smiled inwardly. He proceeded to share some fundamental details about Wen Nian with Zhao Jiao. To Zhao Jiao¡¯s surprise, her son and Wen Nian had be a couple so effortlessly. The seamless development of their rtionship left her with a sense of tedium. She believed that love needed to be more intense in order to leave asting impression in one¡¯s heart. Zhao Jiao had a mischievous intention to create some trouble. ¡°Son, we still need to find a suitable match for our family. Listen to Mom. When you go back to the capital during the uing holidays, give it a chance with Tingting first.¡± The joy that Shen Jun had been sharing abruptly ceased, and his expression turned cold. He responded firmly, ¡°I¡¯m not going. Whoever wants to give it a try can go ahead and try.¡± As Zhao Jiao observed her son¡¯s resistance, she couldn¡¯t help but experience a sense of satisfaction in ying the role of an antagonistic mother-inw. She cleared her throat deliberately and stated, ¡°Wen Nian is at the Qingyin Workshop today, isn¡¯t she? I¡¯ve already had the pleasure of meeting her.¡± Shen Jun, who had been casually reclining while taking the call, abruptly sat up straight, his demeanor alert. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t y games. What did you say to her?!¡± he eximed with concern. Zhao Jiao¡¯s penchant for dramatics resurfaced, and she responded nonchntly, ¡°Well, if you promise to take Tingting shopping, 1 won¡¯t say a word about it.¡± While Shen Jun typically wouldn¡¯t hesitate to make others aware of the consequences of provoking him, he restrained himself this time because it was his mother on the other end of the phone. Shen Jun pressed his lips together and let out a sigh. ¡°Mom, can you please consider my feelings? Asking me to spend time with your best friend¡¯s daughter when 1 already have a girlfriend. I recall that Tingting is two years younger than me. She is only 15 years old!¡± Confronted with her son¡¯s usation, Zhao Jiao maintained herposure and continued to y the role of the wicked mother-inw. ¡°I¡¯m currently at the entrance of the shop,¡± she calmly stated. ¡°Make a decision quickly, or I can¡¯t guarantee that this day next year won¡¯t be your breakup anniversary.¡± Shen Jun was well aware of Zhao Jiao¡¯s tendency to be dramatic, but he also understood that the marriages within the Zhao and Shen families typically urred within the same social circle. Therefore, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Zhao Jiao wanted him to find a spouse who belonged to a simr social status. Indeed, within this social circle, it would be considered unusual if one¡¯s family background did not hold significance. Understandably, Shen Jun was reluctant to take any risks. If his rtionship were to be exposed, even if Wen Nian remained steadfast, the involvement of Wen Xing could potentially lead to significantplications and further trouble. After contemting the situation for a moment, Shen Jun reached a decision. With a stern expression, he dered, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll only entertain her for a day. This is my greatest concession. You¡¯re aware of my way of doing things.¡± Sensing her son¡¯s genuine anger, Zhao Jiao patted her chest lightly and refrained from further provoking him. ¡°Okay,¡± she acquiesced cautiously, not daring to push his buttons any further. After ending the call, Shen Jun lowered his gaze and absentmindedly rubbed his fingers. After a brief pause, he picked up the nearbyputer and promptly issued urgent instructions to the team below, demanding the swift release of the product. Upon Wen Nian¡¯s return that day, she couldn¡¯t help but notice that Shen Jun had be significantly busier. Even during his visits to the set, he was constantly apanied by hisputer and phone, seemingly preupied with work. On January 16th and 17th, the final exams took ce at Hai City High School. The results of these city-wide exams needed to be documented in the students¡¯ records. Wen Nian and Shen Jun couldn¡¯t miss the exams, so they had no choice but to request four days off and rush back for the exams. Unbeknownst to Wen Nian at that moment, she remained oblivious to the immense whirlwind that awaited her upon her return¡ªa vortex eager to engulf her in its relentless grip. It was noon when they returned to Hai City. Having been away from home for half a month, Wen Nian anticipated receiving various forms of care and concern from Zhou Mei upon her return. As Zhou Mei caught sight of the father and daughter entering the shop, she pped her thigh in delight and eximed, ¡°1 was just concerned that there wouldn¡¯t be anyone here. I¡¯ve found a suitable shop for you both to assist in. I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± After saying that, Zhou Mei did not wait for the two of them to respond. She took her bag and rushed out. Immediately after disembarking from the ne, Wen Xing and Wen Nian resumed their roles as waiters, jumping right back into work. On the morning of the 16th, Wen Nian arrived at school at seven o¡¯clock, two hours before the exam was scheduled to begin at nine. Following her usual routine, she utilized the time for revision, reading through study materials, solving practice questions, and reviewing her notes. Undeterred by the tense atmosphere surrounding the exams, Wen Nian proceeded with her second year of high school, focusing on her studies and progressing ording to her academic schedule.. Chapter 128 - 128: No Score Manipulation Chapter 128: No Score Maniption Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The examination halls were arranged based on the results. Shen Jun found himself in the first examination hall, while Wen Nian was assigned to the twelfth examination hall. Wen Nian gazed longingly at the ssroom where Shen Jun was situated. Shen Jun chuckled and reassured her, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll give it my all this time. During the midterm exams next semester, I¡¯ll make sure to be in the same examination hall as you.¡± Wen Nian immediately refused. ¡°No! Test yourself well and get first ce. You¡¯re not allowed to control your scores!¡± Shen Jun raised his eyebrows, realizing that he had spoken too impulsively. If he had known, he wouldn¡¯t have revealed his intention to Wen Nian. ¡°Alright.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s nonchnt demeanor, Wen Nian grew concerned that he might genuinely test her based on her current level of knowledge. After all, Shen Jun was intimately familiar with her academic abilities. Furthermore, a true top student had the skill to strategically manage their scores. Wen Nian furrowed her brows and gazed at Shen Jun with a serious expression. ¡°I mean it. If you intentionally try to change your examination hall, I will be extremely upset!¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s earnestness, Shen Jun responded with equal seriousness, ¡°Alright, I promise you.¡± Observing the softening of Wen Nian¡¯s gaze, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t resist gently touching the top of her head. ¡°Little girl, you¡¯re starting to exhibit the demeanor of a capable housekeeper.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯sment, a faint blush colored Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks. She cast a yful nce at Shen Jun and responded, ¡°I¡¯m heading to the examination hall now.¡± As Shen Jun watched Wen Nian¡¯s departing figure, a smile lingered on his lips. He then turned and made his way towards his own examination hall. Not far away, Huang Yue witnessed the intimate exchange between Shen Jun and Wen Nian, and a cold smile crept across her face. Her eyes widened as she closely observed their interactions, contemting how long Wen Nian could continue to enjoy such a blissful existence. The first day of the exams proceeded smoothly for Wen Nian. Despite having progressed to the content of the first year of high school, she was able to confidently tackle all the knowledge points that she had previously supplemented. In the evening, while Wen Nian was receiving tutoring, she received an unexpected call from Zheng Mo, urging her to immediately attend the high school forum in Hai City. Sensing the urgency in Zheng Mo¡¯s voice, Wen Nian wasted no time. She swiftly ended the call and promptly opened the webpage as instructed. ¡®Shocking! The former top student of No. 1 High School has be the director¡¯s bed partner!¡¯ ¡®Is it the loss of morals or the destruction of human nature? A teenage girl willingly descends into moral degradation in pursuit of fame!¡¯ The number of replies to the two most popr headlines continued to climb rapidly. Wen Nian¡¯s intuition told her that something was amiss. Then, she clicked on the article and started browsing through its contents. The two posts she came across did not mention her by name. Instead, they insinuated that after entering No. 1 High School with outstanding academic results, the girl gradually revealed her vain and self-centered nature. Allegedly, she shamelessly sought the favor of affluent peers, resulting in a decline in her academic performance. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of someone trying to curry favor with a rich kid, but based on the description, it seems like she hit rock bottom after achieving a high score. Why do I have a strange feeling that she resembles our school¡¯s Wen Nian?¡± ¡°To the previousmenter: The description in those posts seems to align perfectly with Wen Nian.¡± ¡°But the idea of currying favor with a rich kid seems unfamiliar. It¡¯s possible that it¡¯s not Wen Nian after all. Maybe it¡¯s another student from No. 1 High School,¡± spected another user. ¡°I have some news to share! It turns out that Wen Nian was indeed engaged to a young master from the Wei Corporation in Hai City. The engagement stemmed from Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather saving the CEO of the Wei Corporation over a decade ago. After discovering this, Wen Nian reportedly tried to coerce the young master into marrying into her family. However, for unimown reasons, the engagement was eventually called off.¡± ¡°That could exin a lot. It seems that Wen Nian had ambitions of bing a celebrity and ascending the socialdder. The CEO of the Wei Corporation may have recognized her gold-digging tendencies and saw through her true character. It¡¯s possible that the engagement was called off due to her questionable behavior and intentions.¡± ¡°I agree with the previous poster. If Wen Nian¡¯s intentions were truly driven by personal gain and a desire to climb the socialdder, it casts doubt on the quality of her work. 1 wouldn¡¯t want to watch that!¡± ¡°Hehe, it seems like the entertainment industry is lowering its standards more and more these days. When Wen Nian first entered No. 1 High School, she was hailed as the school¡¯s belle and many of us idolized her. Looking back, it¡¯s clear how blind we were! 1 recently spoke to some students in her ss and they confirmed that she took a long leave. Little did they know that Wen Nian was actually off filming.¡± ¡°Indeed, it appears that Wen Nian resorted to improper means to secure an acting opportunity. It¡¯s understandable that she would refrain from publicizing her involvement in the industry until it was confirmed.¡± As Wen Nian scrolled through thements, she couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. The words being directed at her didn¡¯t evoke much anger in her. Having experienced worse criticisms in her previous life, she had developed a thicker skin. Moreover, she noticed that the current attacks were mainlying from fellow students, and their words were rtively restrainedpared to what she had encountered before.. Chapter 129 - 129: No Response Chapter 129: No Response Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After leaving the forum, Wen Niany on her bed, contemting the situation. Naturally, Huang Yue became the first person she suspected. Their recent falling out and the fact that Huang Yue had been observing their interactions made her a prime candidate for spreading rumors. She knew that Huang Yue¡¯s intention was to disturb her and create chaos in her life. However, due to her past experiences and growth, she was able to maintain a level ofposure and resilience. She realized that if she hadn¡¯t gone through the trials and tribtions of her previous life, she would have been greatly affected by these rumors and attacks on her character. And now, this was mere child¡¯s y to her. Wen Nian ultimately made the decision to disregard it. Regardless, she intended to proceed with her ns of going to the capital after the exam. By not responding, she believed this issue wouldn¡¯t gain poprity and would instead persist. The next day, Wen Nian went to school as usual. As Wen Nian approached the entrance of ss Two, the once bustling ssroom suddenly hushed into silence. Despite the appearance of everyone engrossed in their books, Wen Nian could sense the subtle gazes directed towards her. Wen Nian brushed off those curious and prying gazes, paying them no mind. When he noticed Huang Yue provocatively looking at him, a faint smile formed at the corners of his lips as he calmly made his way to his seat. As the time for morning reading approached, Shen Jun entered the ssroom punctually. Instantly, everyone averted their gaze from the back row. Even though their eyes had already shifted, Shen Jun still sensed a peculiar atmosphere lingering in the room. Shen Jun turned his gaze towards Wen Nian, his curiosity evident as he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something peculiar about the atmosphere in the ssroom?¡± Wen Nian, not wanting Shen Jun to be distracted, responded in their usual tone, ¡°No, you¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Having learned her lesson from previous experiences, Wen Nian refrained from changing the topic. After uttering those words, she shifted her gaze to her textbook, focusing on memorizing Chinese and poetry. Seeing this, Shen Jun also began to do his own thing. Uponpleting the final test at 530 pm, everyone rushed back to the ssroom with excitement to pack their schoolbags. From this moment onward, the high school students of Hai City officially embarked on a winter break period of over a month. ¡°I feel suffocated. My mother has set a rule that I can only y games during the holidays. So, tonight, 1 must indulge in gaming all night long!¡± ¡°It¡¯s finally the holidays! My parents told me that we¡¯re going to Yangcheng for a vacation this year! The mere thought of it fills me with excitement!¡± ¡°Tang Tang, let¡¯s head to University Town tonight for a snack. Let¡¯s not go home.¡± ¡°Good suggestion! 1¡¯11 call home and tell them!¡± People were either standing or sitting together, engrossed in packing up their belongings while discussing their ns for the winter break. The ssroom was filled with a lively and bustling atmosphere. In the midst of it all, a woman and two men suddenly emerged at the front door of ss Two. ¡°Hello, students. We are reporters from the school newspaper. My name is Shen Xin. 1 would like to interview Wen Nian. Could you kindly let me know where Wen Nian is seated?¡± Shen Xin¡¯s clear voice cut through the mor of the crowd. All eyes turned towards Shen Xin, and then instinctively shifted their gaze towards Wen Nian. A sense of anticipation filled the air as they had a collective premonition of what was about to unfold. Having done her homework beforehand, Shen Xin followed the collective gaze and immediately recognized Wen Nian at a nce. Shen Xin swiftly approached, wearing a smile, and said, ¡°Hello, Wen Nian. I would like to conduct an interview with you.¡± Wen Nian returned the smile and responded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯m in a rush to go home after the exam. I won¡¯t be able to grant you the interview.¡± Shen Jun observed Shen Xin silently from the side, his gaze shifting to Wen Nian with a sense of unease. A foreboding sensation crept over him as he noticed theposed demeanor of Wen Nian. It was a rare urrence for No. 1 High School to have such significant news, and Shen Xin didn¡¯t want to miss out on it. If she could uncover more information, she might even be the next editor of the school newspaper. Shen Xin, aspiring to join the journalism department at Media College, recognized the value such a school-rted experience would add to her resume. Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s rejection, her immediate response was to persuade her. ¡°I¡¯ll only need 10 minutes of your time. If the information on the forum is false, you can use our school newspaper to set the record straight. Wouldn¡¯t that be beneficial for you?¡± Huang Yue leaned forward and added, ¡°Reporter Shen Xin has a point, Wen Nian. If you refuse to be interviewed, it might raise suspicions about the validity of the ims made on the middle school forum. Is there any truth to those rumors?¡± As soon as she said this, the ssroom fell silent. Everyone¡¯s attention heightened, their ears perked up with anticipation. They hadn¡¯t anticipated such amotion right before the school holidays. Curiosity surged among them as they eagerly yearned to uncover the truth. Wen Nian rose to her feet and met the gaze of Huang Yue, whose face was filled with malicious intent, and Shen Xin, who sought to extract more sensational news from her. A smile unexpectedly emerged on Wen Nian¡¯s otherwise expressionless face. Li Xiang, who had been attentively observing the conversation between the two parties and eagerly waiting to capture the moment, swiftly pressed the shutter of his camera. As Li Xiang looked at the vibrant and lively young girl captured in his camera, he found it difficult to associate her with the allegations of engaging in sexual favors with the director.. Chapter 130 - 130: Treating Me Like An Outsider Chapter 130: Treating Me Like An Outsider Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian remainedposed, showing no signs of fluster. ¡°I have observed the attacks on the forum as well. However, the article in question was crafted with the intention of inciting spection and prompting those who were following the thread to engage in conjecture.! don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything to respond to such an obvious rumor.¡± Wen Nian paused briefly, directing his gaze towards Huang Yue before resuming his statement. ¡°The orchestrator behind these events simply aims to exploit my reaction in order to amplify the situation¡¯s notoriety. They intend to exploit people¡¯s curiosity and connect me to baseless gossip. If you possess the means, I implore you to produce the evidence. The power of a few words on the inte can swiftly tarnish one¡¯s reputation, as we have seen in numerous past instances.¡± ¡°That¡¯s indeed urate. The post in questioncked any substantial evidence to support its ims. It merely made baseless assertions about Wen Nian¡¯s actions without presenting any concrete proof or substantiating information.¡± ¡°The inte provides a tform where rumors can be easily spread without any significant repercussions. With a simple keystroke, anyone can create a post filled with false information. As a result, we witness the proliferation of various baseless rumors in the present day. Personally, 1 share your sentiment in believing that Wen Nian does not exhibit the traits or behavior associated with the kind of person described in these rumors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true. It¡¯s a fact that Wen Nian¡¯s grades have decreased. Her mind is obviously no longer on her studies. Then where do you think she is?! My seat was not far from her at that time. She held her phone in ss all day and read those fashion magazines in ss. These trends are enough to show that she has started to change from studying to those vain things.¡± The surrounding students discussed softly. Shen Xin swiftly absorbed the information disclosed and wasted no time inquiring, ¡°You mentioned a mastermind behind all this. Could it be someone with ill intentions towards you? Do you have any suspicions regarding the identity of the individual responsible for spreading the news? Why¡­¡± Shen Jun¡¯s gaze fixated on the post disyed on his phone, his lips pressed together in a firm line. The darkness etched across his face was so intense that it seemed as though water could drip from it. Rising from his seat, he cast his eyes upon the group of school newspaper students and Huang Yue gathered around the table. His voice pierced through the air like shards of ice as he interjected, ¡°How can she address such a tantly false rumor? She has explicitly said that she do not wish to be interviewed. Do you notprehend simple humannguage?Also, I¡¯m warning you not to write anything about what happened today.¡± As Shen Jun¡¯s gaze swept over Shen Xin, she felt an immobilizing sensation, as if her entire body had been nailed in ce. Unable to move, her throat tightened, and the words she had intended to continue with became lodged in her throat, rendering her unable to speak. The others were no better than Shen Xin. Huang Yue¡¯s lips twitched, but in the end, she did not dare to provoke Shen Jun directly. Shen Jun retrieved Wen Nian¡¯s school bag and firmly grasped her wrist as they departed from the school premises. While Huang Yue observed the departure of Shen Jun and Wen Nian, a glimmer of cunning flickered in her eyes. Mockingly, she derided Wen Nian for her apparent disregard of the situation by choosing not to respond. Huang Yue considered the possibility that her past benevolence towards Wen Nian had led Wen Nian to interpret her actions as maniptive tactics. Contemting the uing arrangements for the following day, Huang Yue felt a gradual release of the anger she had been harboring, as it dissipated slightly. Wen Yu stood patiently beneath the shelter, his cart at the ready, as Wen Nian hurriedly approached. Finding a pretext, she quickly dismissed him and heeded back to Shen Jun¡¯s side. The two of them walked side by side, exiting the school grounds. Wen Nian noticed that Shen Jun had remained silent since their earlier encounter. She gently reached out and tugged at the corner of his shirt, urging him, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s not worth jeopardizing your well-being. As long as we know the truth, it¡¯s enough. Information spreads rapidly, and tomorrow might bring something that captures everyone¡¯s interest and divert their attention away from me.¡± Shen Jun frowned slightly and looked at Wen Nian. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me immediately after you found out?¡± Wen Nian told Shen Jun her thoughts and exined, ¡°If we simply ignore it, this matter will pass in two days. There¡¯s nothing much to say.¡± Shen Jun took a deep breath and pulled Wen Nian all the way home. Shen Jun pressed Wen Nian against the back of the door and looked at her solemnly. ¡°Do you really treat me as your boyfriend? I know you have many secrets.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered when she heard this. Seeing this, Shen Jun continued, ¡°I want to know everything about you. If you don¡¯t want to tell me what happened before we got together, I respect you. I don¡¯t have to ask, but now that we¡¯re already together, you¡¯re always thinking of relying on yourself to solve whatever problems you encounter. Then why do you still want me as your boyfriend? You still treat me as an outsider in your heart, right?¡± Wen Nian noticed Shen Jun¡¯s intense gaze fixed upon her, causing her to swallow nervously. Despite her reluctance to burden him, she realized the need to address the situation promptly, even if it meant denying any perceived distance between them. She still had to say a few good words to coax him.. ¡°Of course not! Other than my parents and brother, you¡¯re the closest person to me!¡± Chapter 131 - 131: Confession Chapter 131: Confession Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon hearing the mention of being ¡°closest,¡± a flicker of unease briefly crossed Shen Jun¡¯s countenance. However, a sweet sensation welled up within his heart, and he found himself no longer harboring anger towards Wen Nian for keeping something hidden from him. Wen Nian observed the noticeable softening of Shen Jun¡¯s expression. She also took note of his previous words. It dawned on her that couples should avoid hiding too much from each other, as doing so would blur the distinction between being mere friends and being in a romantic rtionship. Nevertheless, delving into the topic of rebirth seemed imusible and unnecessary. Wen Nian gently took hold of Shen Jun¡¯s arm and guided him towards the living room. ¡°Let¡¯s have a seat on the sofa. 1¡¯11 exin what happened before,¡± she proposed. An hourter, Wen Nian divulged every detail she could recall. As she recounted her past actions from their first year together, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of disdain towards her own behavior. After saying that, Wen Nian felt a mixture of relief and concern. Wen Nian cast her gaze downward, hesitant to meet Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, fearing that she would encounter disappointment and disdain reflected in his gaze. After a brief pause, just when Wen Nian was consumed by uneasiness, Shen Jun gently embraced her, pulling her into his arms. Shen Jun¡¯s calm voice resonated in her ears,forting her. ¡°Everyone makes mistakes at times, and what matters is that you¡¯re making efforts to rectify the situation. Regardless of how others may attack you, 1 will always stand by your side.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s heart quivered slightly. Prior to this confession, Shen Jun had be the person who possessed the most intimate knowledge of her actions since her rebirth. Following their in-depth conversation, Wen Nian once again experienced a profound sense of being chosen and valued. The feeling of having someone by her side during moments of solitude and vulnerability provided her with a profound sense offort and security. Wen Nian lifted her head slightly, meeting Shen Jun¡¯s gentle gaze as he lowered his head. ¡°Thank you,¡± she uttered, gratitude and sincerity evident in her voice. As Shen Jun gazed into Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, he perceived her expressions of gratitude and politeness as mere formalities, treating him as an outsider. In response, he softly but assertively replied, ¡°Don¡¯t thank me in the future.¡± Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°Okay.¡± Due to their early morning flight the next day, Shen Jun escorted Wen Nian home before 9 p.m. Reluctantly, they bid farewell behind arge tree downstairs, their parting filled with a tinge of sorrow. ¡°Can you stop following me?! I already said that I don¡¯t like you. 1 just want to focus on studying. I¡¯m not in the mood to date anyone.¡± Wen Nian found the male voice familiar. She tilted her head and followed the voice. She realized that her brother was talking to a sweet-looking girl with a curvy figure. Feng Li looked at Wen Yu, who wanted to chase her away, and felt defeated. She said angrily, ¡°Does your family own this road? What right do you have to say that I¡¯m following you? Can¡¯t 1 be taking a walk here?¡± Wen Yu gazed at Feng Li, who had been persistently pursuing him for the past half month, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of helplessness. He had never encountered someone as challenging and resistant as her before. Other than enjoying a few days of peace and quiet when he went to the capital to prepare for the exam, Feng Li was like a little bird, chattering beside him all day. Wen Yu possessed a striking appearance, with well-defined features, and excelled academically as a straight-A student. He had received numerous suitors, both from outside and inside the school, who quickly retreated after he firmly and coldly rejected them. However, unlike anyone else, Feng Li seemed to be the only one who persisted and caused such amotion in his life. It was a level of persistence he had never experienced before. As Wen Yu observed the pouting and irate girl standing before him, he couldn¡¯t help but let out a soft sigh. ¡°Fine, you can go wherever you please. However, I have one request. Please refrain from visiting my house again to avoid any misunderstandings with my parents. You would leave safely but I would receive a beating from my father!¡± Feng Li looked at Wen Yu¡¯s helplessness and frustration. She lowered her eyes to hide the sadness that surged up. Then, she looked up and smiled casually. ¡°As long as you promise me one thing, I promise I won¡¯t pester you anymore.¡± When Wen Yu heard this, he looked at Feng Li suspiciously. ¡°Really? What is it?¡± Ever since the incident on the forum, Wen Yu had deliberately kept a one-meter distance from Feng Li, which made it difficult for her to evenplete the photo shoot, leading to further misunderstandings. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s absence from Hai City and hisck of inquiries about her situation, Feng Li felt a sense of urgency and couldn¡¯t afford to dy matters any longer. With today being thest day before the holidays, she knew she had to seize this final opportunity. Feng Li looked at Wen Yu and said seriously, ¡°My treat. Apany me to the amusement park for a day tomorrow. 1 promise 1 won¡¯t pester you anymore.¡± Wen Yu¡¯s eyes lit up. He would even agree to two days, let alone one! ¡°No problem! Then it¡¯s settled. You¡¯re not allowed to go back on your word!¡± Feng Li looked at Wen Yu¡¯s happy expression and felt as if her heart had been pricked by a needle. However, she still smiled and said, ¡°We agreed to meet at the entrance of Changhu Amusement Park at nine tomorrow morning..¡± Chapter 132 - 132: Interview Chapter 132: Interview Trantor: As Studios Editor: Attas Studios Shen Jun¡¯s heart skipped a beat when he saw Feng Li. Only then did he remember that he had forgotten to ask her to stop moving. Seeing how anxious Wen Yu was to get rid of Feng Li, Shen Jun did not dare to let his future brother-inw know that he was behind this. After Wen Yu and Feng Li made an agreement, the two of them went home separately. Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian, who was still watching the show at the side. He coughed lightly. ¡°Wen Nian, hurry up and go upstairs. I¡¯m going back too.¡± Wen Nian nodded excitedly. She also wanted to quickly go back and find out about Wen Yu¡¯s love history in his third year of high school. ¡°Then I¡¯ll leave first. Be careful on the way back. Send me a message when you get home.¡± When Shen Jun saw Wen Nian go upstairs, he immediately chased after Feng Li. The amusement park was a little far from the Wen family¡¯s house. If they arrivedte, the queue would have to line up on the road. Hence, Wen Yu bade farewell to his father and sister at 8 am and left early in the morning. Because Zhou Mei did not send Wen Nian and Wen Xing off when they first went to the capital, she nned to send the father and daughter off personally this time. At nine o¡¯clock, the family packed up and prepared to leave. Before Wen Nian left, she suddenly wanted to go to the toilet. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯m going to the toilet. It¡¯s not easy for us to get a taxi here. Head downstairs first and try to find one.¡± Zhou Mei, who was already wearing her shoes, turned her head and responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. We¡¯ll wait for you downstairs. Honey, 1 just realized that I forgot to pack the chili sauce. Can you go to the kitchen and get it?¡± Wen Xing agreed and pulled his luggage to the kitchen door to get his things. As Zhou Mei prepared to leave, she opened the door and was startled to find over ten people standing on both sides of the corridor, all of them gazing intently at her door. The sight of such arge gathering left her stunned and taken aback. A young man in a cap reacted quickly. He took a recording pen and rushed to the door. ¡°Hello, is this Wen Nian¡¯s house?¡± Zhou Mei nodded nkly. ¡°Who are you?¡± The others also squeezed to the entrance of the Wen family¡¯s house. The narrow corridor seemed even more crowded. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m a reporter from Daily Entertainment. My name is Zhou, and I would like to interview Wen Nian. Are you her mother?¡± the reporter introduced herself, but immediately followed up with a provocative question. ¡°Do you know that your daughter secured the lead role in the movie through improper means?¡± As other reporters witnessed the first interview being conducted, they didn¡¯t want to be left behind and immediately interjected. ¡°I¡¯m a reporter from Zhou Ping Entertainment. Is it true that Wen Nian was engaged to Young Master Wei? There are rumors circting on the inte that the Wei family called off the engagement upon discovering her ambitions to enter the entertainment industry and climb the socialdder. As Wen Nian¡¯s mother, could you please provide a direct response to this question?¡± Overwhelmed by the sudden usations and pressure, Zhou Mei, who was an ordinary person with no experience dealing with reporters, frantically waved her hands and responded, ¡°These are all false usations! nder! Rumors! Director Xu personally approached my daughter for the role. After filming, my daughter realized that she and Young Master Wei were notpatible and made the decision to end the engagement herself. It was not the Wei family who called off the engagement.¡± Upon hearing themotion, Wen Xing quickly rushed to the door of the house and positioned himself protectively in front of his wife. With a frown on his face, he confronted the cameras and expressed his anger, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting?! Do you think 1 won¡¯t sue you for spreading rumors?! Stop filming!¡± These seasoned entertainment reporters were ustomed to dealing with individuals like Wen Xing. They were fearless and unwilling to back down easily. They had encountered celebrities and managers with far worse attitudes in the past. This situation was nothing new to them. One of the reporters, undeterred by Wen Xing¡¯s reaction, directed a question towards him. ¡°You¡¯re Wen Nian¡¯s father, correct? Earlier, your wife mentioned that Director Xu approached her daughter. Is it possible that Wen Nian found a sugar daddy who influenced Xu Chang to cast her as the female lead in exchange for securing investment for the movie?¡± Overwhelmed by the provocative insinuations, Wen Xing became visibly agitated, clutching his chest in frustration. He pointed at the reporters, his voice trembling with anger. ¡°Nonsense! You people in the news industry don¡¯t report the truth; you just make up baseless rumors. Are you even worthy of your profession?!¡± Startled by themotioning from outside the house, Wen Nian hastily emerged from the bathroom. As she caught sight of the crowd gathered at the door, she hurriedly made her way towards them. ¡°Wen Nian is out!¡± A voice shouted from the crowd. The reporters waiting tried their best to squeeze forward. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei blocked the door. Zhou Mei turned her head slightly and shouted anxiously, ¡°Wen Nian, go back to your room!¡± Wen Nian knew that these people¡¯s target was her. If she left them, they wouldn¡¯t leave either.. She had initially believed that Huang Yue was solely focused on her, but she hadn¡¯t anticipated that Huang Yue would involve her parents in the situation as well! Chapter 133 - 133: Reverse Scale Chapter 133: Reverse Scale Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios She can tolerate anything, but when ites to her family, that¡¯s touching her reverse scale. Wen Nian pursed her lips and gently pressed her parents¡¯ arms down. ¡°Dad, Mom, you cannot stop them. 1 have to resolve this myself.¡± Then, she looked at the entertainment reporters from these small newspapers in front of her. Wen Nian regarded them with a hint of mockery and stated, ¡°These individuals are only concerned with poprity and clicks. They won¡¯t cease until they obtain the answer from me.¡± These individuals indeed prioritized the poprity of their reports. They disyed no concern for the fact that Wen Nian had peeled back this superficialyer. Furthermore, it was evident that they had received undisclosed payments, highlighting theirck of principled integrity. Their actions were solely motivated by personal gain rather than amitment to their profession. Soon, theyunched a new round of attacks. ¡°Wen Nian, as a minor, you made a sudden decision to enter the entertainment industry due to your parents¡¯ guidance, correct? Is it due to family hardships or because your parents are facing financial difficulties and arepelled to sell yourself¡± ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯ve heard that you have an older brother. Will your parents assign the burden of ¡®selling your body¡¯ and handling your filming remuneration to your older brother? How do you feel about that?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯re the only actor in the production team whocks training and experience in performing. May I inquire how you secured the role of the female lead?¡± ¡°Wen Nian¡­¡± ¡°Wen Nian¡­¡± Seven to eight people bombarded Wen Nian simultaneously, thrusting microphones and recording pens in front of her. Each question wasced with malice, designed to misdirect and provoke. They arrogantly passed judgment on Wen Nian¡¯s actions, as if they possessed superior knowledge of the truth. Their attempts to target everyone in the Wen family were evident, casting a shadow over the entire situation. Wen Nian was well aware that these individuals aimed to provoke her, even going so far as to provoke her into physical aggression to capture it in a photograph. They intended to rely on these images as a means to amplify their ability to craft a narrative through visual evidence. Wen Nian managed to restrain her anger and spoke up with a raised voice. ¡°I am willing to grant an interview, but 1 have one condition. You must faithfully and fully report every word of my response. Can we agree on that?¡± The observers felt a sense of satisfaction as they witnessed Wen Nian¡¯s apparent shift in attitude. They believed that if the readers could perceive Wen Nian¡¯spliant demeanor during the interview, the resulting photos and reports would possess a greater sense of authenticity. Reporter Zhou, who was the first to ask a question, made a new request with a seemingly kind expression. ¡°It might not be appropriate for us to block the doorway with so many people. Could we conduct the interview in your living room instead? I¡¯m concerned about inconveniencing your neighbors. You wouldn¡¯t want them to speak ill of you behind your back, would you?¡± Wen Nian lowered her gaze momentarily and agreed to the request. Reporter Zhou concealed the delight in his eyes, gratified by the fact that Wen Nian was still new to the industry. As long as they gained ess to the Wen family and showcased Wen Nian¡¯s cooperative demeanor, they knew that their reports would carry even more credibility. They anticipated that many readers,cking critical thinking skills, would unquestioningly believe whatever they wrote. Due to the limited size of the Wen family¡¯s house, everyone had to stand in the living room. Wen Nian discreetly pulled her parents to a corner and sent a message on her phone. Then, she stood alone, facing the row of reporters, and spoke calmly, ¡°I have a flight to catch today, and 1 only have an hour. 1 have noticed that there are eight reporters from eight different newspapers here. Each newspaper will have the opportunity to ask two questions. Let¡¯s begin from the left and proceed to the right.¡± Wen Nian¡¯sposed demeanor instantly seized the advantage on her home turf. These reporters had consistently regarded her as an easily manipted high school student. Now, faced with her evident experience andposure, they were genuinely taken aback. Once they regained theirposure, everyone began to make use of the time to ask their questions. The inquiries focused on the most trending topics on the inte. Wen Nian responded to each question one by one, providing a total of 16 answers. Only after that did the group depart, content with the interview session. Wen Nian watched as the reporters made their way downstairs and closed the door behind them. Mrs. Wen and her parents wore expressions of concern, their worry evident on their faces. Zhou Mei approached and gently pulled Wen Nian to sit on the sofa. Concernced her voice as she asked, ¡°Does this interview help clear up the misunderstanding?¡± Wen Nian gazed at her parents. She could sense their concern and she really wanted to tell them her n. However, to ensure the best possible oue, she reluctantly shook her head and shared only her analysis. ¡°There must be someone orchestrating this situation. Only a few people are aware of my uing film project. It¡¯s astonishing how well they know our family¡¯s circumstances and even provided the reporters with our home address. Let¡¯s wait and see what these reporters publish before taking further action..¡± Chapter 134 - 134: Attempted Pursuit Chapter 134: Attempted Pursuit Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Xing sat on the sofa opposite Wen Nian and let out a soft sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve always been aware of the gossip that circtes in the entertainment industry. If 1 had known earlier, your mother and I would have strongly advised against epting Director Xu¡¯s invitation. Your intention was to make a meaningful film and bring hope to those who are being bullied. But now, you are being cyberbullied!¡± Zhou Mei felt a surge of anxiety when her husband mentioned cyberbullying, causing tears to well up in her eyes. She nervously asked, ¡°What should we do? Will the cyber bullying be really severe? But those reports are all false! Will no one believe us?¡± Wen Nian harbored suspicions that these individuals were being paid to carry out their actions. If that were the case, they wouldn¡¯t care about the truth. No matter how much she tried to exin, they would twist her words and craft reports that were misleading and taken out of context, all in an effort to deceive others. Observing her mother¡¯s anxious expression, Wen Nian realized that revealing the truth would only cause more distress. Quickly, she sought tofort her. ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t worry. Maybe once these reporters help us rify the situation, this matter wille to an end. Even if it turns into a big issue, we can handle it gradually and let it go.¡± When Zhou Mei heard Wen Nian¡¯s words, she calmed down a little. Wen Xing nced at the wall clock and noticed that it was almost ten o¡¯clock. Reacting swiftly, he stood up and urged everyone, ¡°Let¡¯s hurry to the airport and ask the driver to speed up so that we can catch our ne on time.¡± As the situation unfolded, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but conceal a subtle smile on her lips, knowing that the real show was about to begin. Wen Nian raised her head once more, a slight frown appearing on her face. ¡°Dad, I¡¯ve been thinking about it, and I think we shouldn¡¯t leave today. I¡¯m concerned that they might return to harass Mom again. Moreover, 1 want to uncover the mastermind behind all of this. Otherwise, the narrative portrayed in these reports will undoubtedly be controlled by others.¡± Wen Nian convinced Zhou Mei and Wen Xing to return to the shop while she decided to stay home alone, awaiting Huang Yue¡¯s next move. She believed that by staying behind, she could potentially confront Huang Yue and uncover the truth behind the orchestrated attacks. Wen Nian convinced Zhou Mei and Wen Xing to return to the shop while she decided to stay home alone, awaiting Huang Yue¡¯s next move. She believed that by staying behind, she could potentially confront Huang Yue and uncover the truth behind the orchestrated attacks. Wen Yu reached for his phone, intending to make a call, but then he realized that he didn¡¯t even have the transfer student¡¯s contact number. Feeling a bit foolish, he could only wait at the entrance, unsure of what else to do. Suddenly, a young girl who appeared to be around 11 or 12 years old approached Wen Yu. ¡°Older Brother, are you waiting for your girlfriend? Buy her a cotton candy! It¡¯s delicious, and it only costs five yuan,¡± she eximed with a cheerful smile. Wen Yu nced down and noticed the little girl holding up a cotton candy that was twice the size of his face. It appeared fluffy and round, with a gentle pink hue. He shook his head politely and replied, ¡°I¡¯m just waiting for my ssmate.¡± That should be an attempt at courtship. She was well aware! The little girl yfully rolled her eyes and spoke mischievously, ¡°Oh, I see! It must be a beautiful female ssmate then. Brother, girls love sweet treats. Buy her one. Boys need to be more attentive, you know!¡± Her mischievous grin hinted at her yful advice. The little girl¡¯s words brought to mind Feng Li¡¯s breakfast habits. Every day, she would enjoy various sweet cream cakes, leaving Wen Yu perplexed as to how she managed to maintain such pristine teeth. The thought lingered in his mind, leaving him curious about Feng Li¡¯s dental hygiene secrets. Amused by the thought, Wen Yu couldn¡¯t help but smile helplessly. As he looked up, he noticed two girls around the same age as the little girl working at the cotton candy stall nearby. Curiosity piqued, he approached them and asked, ¡°Are you helping your family with the stall?¡± The girl responded with a proud tone, ¡°Yes, we¡¯re making use of the winter break to work and study!¡± Wen Yu smiled and raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the girls¡¯ dedication. He extended his hand to ept the cotton candy and said, ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll take one.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes sparkled with excitement as she swiftly presented the QR code for payment. Her grin widened upon hearing the sound of the transaction beingpleted. ¡°Thank you, Brother! I hope your confession goes well!¡± After those words, the little girl dashed away, leaving Wen Yu blushing in embarrassment. He raised his voice and hastily exined, ¡°I purchased it because I know how challenging it can be to juggle part-time work and studying. We¡¯re simply regr ssmates!¡± In the distance, a small figure, disguised with sunsses and a cap, observed the unfolding scene from a distance. Despite the disappointment of Wen Yu¡¯s continued animosity towards her until the veryst moment of her departure, Feng Li couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of happiness as she stole a nce at him before leaving. Wen Yu had been her final mission before embarking on her overseas studies. Having taken on numerous missions, this was the first instance when Feng Li truly understood the meaning of being emotionally affected. Last night, she had nearly confessed impulsively to Young Master about her desire to remain in the country for further studies. However, when she considered how Wen Yu had been avoiding her, she ultimately chose to keep silent. Upon her return to the country to work for the Shen Corporation, Feng Li spected that Wen Yu would likely have forgotten about her very existence. Feng Li gently wiped away the tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. With onest lingering gaze at Wen Yu, she reluctantly turned away and walked off.. Chapter 135 - 135: Unscrupulous Media Chapter 135: Unscrupulous Media Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian dialed Xu Chang¡¯s number to provide an update on the situation and requested an additional two days of leave. Before it was noon at her location, Wen Nian noticed that public opinion on the Inte was once again brewing and gaining momentum. It originated from the Hai City secondary school forum and rapidly disseminated across various online tforms. The news propagated so swiftly that Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but wonder if someone had hired paid posters to elerate its spread. ¡°It appears that Huang Yue possesses significant financial resources,¡± she mused, contemting the situation. Wen Nian chose not to retaliate immediately. She maintained herposure and patiently waited until after four in the afternoon when she received a call from Li Fang. Wen Nian answered the call with aposed demeanor, though her voice betrayed her true feelings of despondency. ¡°Teacher Li,¡± she uttered, her tone heavy with sadness. Li Fang¡¯s voice took on a serious tone. ¡°Wen Nian, are you still in Hai City? We need to meet.¡± Confused, Wen Nian responded, ¡°I¡¯m at home. Ms. Li, what happened?¡± Li Fang frowned and did not say much. ¡°Let¡¯s talk when we meet. Call your parents too.¡± Wen Nian immediately agreed and called her parents. At this moment, there was amotion at the entrance of the house. When Wen Yu caught sight of Wen Nian emerging from the bedroom, he momentarily forgot his initial frustration and widened his eyes in surprise. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be on the noon flight?¡± he asked, his voice tinged with astonishment. As Wen Nian recounted the events of the morning, Wen Yu¡¯s expression grew increasingly grim. ¡°1 happen to know some university students who specialize in information technology,¡± he said, his frown deepening. ¡°Let me pay someone to trace the IP address of the person who posted it.¡± Wen Nian reached out and gently tugged at Wen Yu¡¯s arm. ¡°Brother, Shen Jun is already aware of the situation. The posts were made anonymously, from different inte cafes in Hai City. They were even using temporary ID cards. He¡¯s currently investigating those locations and reviewing the surveince footage.¡± Wen Yu was stunned for a moment. ¡°Shen Jun is the deskmate who was tutoring you?¡± Wen Nian nodded in acknowledgment. As Wen Yu processed the information, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that his sister¡¯s ssmate was unusually dedicated. He had never witnessed such wholehearted support for a fellow ssmate. Just as he was about to inquire further, their parents arrived, apanied by Li Fang. Wen Nian took a few steps forward. ¡°Hello, Dad, Mom, Teacher Li.¡± Li Fang nodded with a serious expression. Zhou Mei, concerned that Li Fang might be influenced by the negative rumors online and develop unfavorable thoughts about Wen Nian, mustered a forced smile on her previously anxious face. She greeted Li Fang with exaggerated warmth and said in a fawning tone, ¡°Teacher Li, please have a seat.¡± Then, she shifted her gaze towards Wen Xing and gave him a meaningful look. ¡°Darling, please fetch the tea leaves for our esteemed guest and prepare a cup of tea for Teacher Li.¡± Wen Xing promptly responded to his wife¡¯s request and rushed over to the television cab to retrieve the tea leaves. Li Fang hurriedly stopped them and said, ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s parents, you don¡¯t have to go through so much trouble. Just give me a ss of water.¡± Upon noticing Li Fang¡¯s slight frown, the Wen couple exchanged a nce, sensing his preference for simplicity. Wen Xing promptly poured a ss of warm water and delicately ced it on the coffee table in front of Li Fang. Li Fang settled onto the single sofa, while the Wen couple anxiously upied the long sofa on the opposite side. Wen Nian and Wen Yu stood together in the vacant space between the coffee table and the television. Observing the expressions on the family members¡¯ faces, Li Fang let out a soft sigh of understanding. Having taught Wen Nian for a year and a half, Li Fang was well acquainted with her situation. Throughout their time together, starting from the first year of high school until the final year of their cohort, Li Fang had attempted to engage Wen Nian in conversation on multiple asions. However, Wen Nian¡¯s persistent silence had left Li Fang feeling helpless. Just when Li Fang had almost resigned herself to the belief that Wen Nian, this promising student, was on the verge of being stifled, she was pleasantly surprised to witness a remarkable transformation in the early stages of their second year of high school. It became evident that Wen Nian had shed her previous vanity and instability, emerging as a changed individual. Wen Nian had rekindled the same spirited determination that had initially caught Li Fang¡¯s attention. Furthermore, during the afternoons when she stayed in the ssroom to study, Wen Nian would diligently im her spot, bing an exemry presence among her peers. Other teachers, upon witnessing hermitment, even praised her for her dedication and focus. Li Fang cast a discreet nce at the members of the Wen family and posed her question in a hushed tone, ¡°Earlier today, several newspapers and online media outlets reported that your family granted an interview. I just wanted to confirm if the statements attributed to you in those reports were indeed made by your family?¡± Wen Xing and Zhou Mei had been upied with their business matters throughout the day and had not had a chance to check their phones. However, upon seeing the serious expression on Li Fang¡¯s face, they harbored a sense of apprehension and swiftly retrieved their phones to ess the inte. Wen Yu, having already been informed about the day¡¯s events by Wen Nian beforehand, furrowed his brows and expressed his anger, saying, ¡°Mr.. Li, my sister didn¡¯t utter any of those words today! The versions circting on the Inte are all fabricated by unscrupulous media, twisting the truth!¡± Chapter 136 - 136: Investigation Team Chapter 136: Investigation Team Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios In each grade, there were only a handful of top students, and Li Fang was aware of exceptional students like Wen Yu, who consistently held the top position in their cohort. However, it was only today that she discovered the biological sibling rtionship between Wen Yu and Wen Nian. Wen Yu possessed a low-key and sensible nature, apanied by excellent academic performance. As a teacher, it was natural for Li Fang to hold a favorable bias towards such a student. Consequently, she had developed a positive impression of Wen Nian as well. Subconsciously, Li Fang believed that if the Wen couple had raised such amendable son, their daughter would likely possess simr qualities. Wen Nian had temporarily strayed from the right path during her first year of high school, but now she had managed to correct her course and return to the right track. After viewing numerous reports about the alleged interview, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were filled with agitation. Zhou Mei eagerly grabbed Li Fang¡¯s arm and eximed, ¡°Teacher Li, you must believe Wen Nian! The truth ispletely different from what those reports have depicted!¡± Wen Xing¡¯s anger surged within him, causing his hands to tremble with indignation. ¡°This is shameless!¡± he eximed vehemently. ¡°Everything they imed in those reports is aplete fabrication! During the interview today, we never uttered any of those things!¡± Wen Nian rushed forward, attempting to calm down her agitated father. ¡°Dad, please don¡¯t get too worked up! The more agitated we appear, the more satisfaction they will derive from it. They might even seize the opportunity tounch further attacks and use us of being embarrassed and defensive!¡± Observing the earnest response from the Wen family, Li Fang felt a growing sense of confidence. Compared to external sources, she was inherently inclined to trust her own student. ¡°I understand that you have seen the online reports. If this were about Wen Nian during her first year, I might have been more inclined to believe them. However, considering the remarkable changes in Wen Nian this semester¡­¡± Li Fang stared intently at Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, I want to hear it from you.¡± Wen Nian had mentally prepared herself to face doubt from people other than her family and close friends. While she acknowledged Li Fang as a responsible teacher, she understood that the detailed nature of the online ims might lead Li Fang to have suspicions. If Li Fang genuinely doubted her, Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t me her for not immediately trusting her. After all, she had nearly tarnished her image as a diligent student. It was precisely due to Wen Nian¡¯s mental preparedness that she felt deeply moved when she witnessed Li Fang¡¯s willingness to give her the benefit of the doubt. Despite the doubts surrounding her, Li Fang¡¯s decision to offer her a chance stirred a sense of gratitude within Wen Nian. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered with a hint of determination. She offered a slight bow to Li Fang, her supportive head teacher. ¡°Thank you for believing in me, Ms. Li. I will show you something that will help you understand.¡± Wen Nian retrieved a video from her phone and handed it to Li Fang. ¡°Teacher, this is the surveince footage captured by my family¡¯s security camera today.¡± Coincidentally, the Wen family had recently installed the surveince cameras in their home. The decision was prompted by Wen Nian¡¯s filming activities in the capital and Wen Yu¡¯s uingpetition, which would take him away from home. Concerned about leaving Zhou Mei alone, Wen Xing had purchased and installed the cameras, strategically positioning them in the living room to capture a clear view of the front door. Li Fang watched the video starting from the time when the Wen Family was blocked from leaving the house until the time when Wen Nian dyed the flight to the capital because she was worried for Zhou Mei¡¯s safety. As Li Fang realized that her trust had been well ced, a sense of relief and satisfaction washed over her, evident in the gratified smile that adorned her face. However, her anger quickly surfaced as she voiced her frustrations, ¡°These reporters are utterly unprofessional! They took your words out of context and deliberately distorted them. If it weren¡¯t for the fortunate instation of surveince cameras by your family, you would have been defenseless against this malicious attack. You are forced to bear this unjust loss!¡± Seeing this, Wen Nian said firmly to Li Fang, ¡°Teacher Li, I¡¯ve decided to call the police!¡± Li Fang paused briefly, nodding in agreement. ¡°I stand firmly behind you. 1 visited your home today because this issue has escted far beyond what is eptable. The Education Bureau¡¯s leadership is already aware of the situation. Earlier this afternoon, I personally contacted the principal. Without this video evidence that proves your innocence, Wen Nian would have undoubtedly faced expulsion from the school.¡± ¡°This is nothing short of ruining a student¡¯s life! These individuals are shamelessly prioritizing website click rates and generating traffic at the expense of someone¡¯s well-being. They have even gone as far as attacking Wen Nian¡¯s character, attempting to destroy her reputation. Their actions are nothing short of ruthless! It¡¯s as if they want to utterly destroy her!¡± In that moment, Li Fang realized that this whole debacle had been fueled by idle inte users spreading rumors and creating a massive uproar. She had not anticipated that another one of her students would be caught up in the turmoil. Wen Nian¡¯s voice was resolute as she spoke, her gaze fixed on the ground. ¡°I simply seek justice. Those who spread rumors must face the consequences of their actions. I want them to realize that the inte is not awless realm where they can freely harm others without repercussions.¡± With their resolve firm, the five of them wasted no time and quickly hailed a taxi to head straight to the police station, determined to report the case. They understood the importance of taking legal action against those responsible for spreading false rumors and causing harm. Given the gravity of the situation, which involved minors and had far-reaching implications for the reputation of all middle schools in Hai City, the leaders of the Education Bureau orded it significant attention. They promptly initiatedmunication with the police station¡¯s leadership, discussing the details of the case over the phone. Upon reviewing thepelling video evidence provided by Wen Nian, the leaders of the police station swiftly made a crucial decision. Recognizing the significance and urgency of the matter, they immediately organized themselves into four dedicated police teams, each tasked with specific responsibilities rted to the case. As it was a special investigation, the reporters who went to Wen Nian¡¯s house to interview in the morning were quickly arrested at the police station. After two hours of separate interrogation, the team leader in charge of this case, Officer Liu, came out of the interrogation room.. Chapter 137 - 137: Motive Chapter 137: Motive Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian and the rest walked forward. ¡°Officer Liu, how¡¯s the situation now?¡± Officer Liu¡¯s face grew even more serious as he ryed the information. ¡°ording to their statements, they all imed to have received an anonymous envelope a few days ago. Inside the envelope was 3,000 yuan in cash, along with a letter instructing them to follow the trending post on the school¡¯s online forum on the 16th day and report ordingly. They were promised a reward of 7,000 yuan once the task waspleted.¡± Wen Yu quickly asked, ¡°Where did they receive it? Are there any surveince cameras that can be found?¡± Officer Liu¡¯s frown deepened as he provided more details. ¡°Upon receiving the initial information, we promptly dispatched officers to investigate the residential area of the person who reported it. However, the individual responsible for delivering the envelope was well-prepared. They wore a ck sports cap, a mask, andpleted the task swiftly in just half a minute. Their actions disyed a high level of counter-surveince awareness.¡± Wen Nian pursed her lips and opened her mouth slightly. In the end, she remained silent. Officer Liu, being an experienced investigator, noticed Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor and decided to inquire further. ¡°Wen Nian, given your involvement in this case, do you have any additional information or clues that could help us in our investigation?¡± Wen Nian nodded and said, feeling helpless, ¡°1 have a ssmate named Huang Yue. We¡¯ve been very close ever since we met in high school. She has taught me many things that 1 had never experienced before, such as how to dress fashionably and how to pursue my former fiance. 1 fell in love with him at first sight, but I am well aware that he doesn¡¯t feel the same way about me. Huang Yue has been exceptionally kind, advising me to strive to understand that social circle better so that I can integrate myself more effectively.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why my first year of high school was quite distracting, resulting in a significant decline in my grades. However, as 1 entered my second year, 1 came to the realization that I couldn¡¯t continue down that path. I also understood that the love I had at that time was simply an adolescent¡¯s naive infatuation. Consequently, 1 took the initiative to end my engagement with the Wei family and shifted my focus towards my studies. As a result, I wasn¡¯t as close to Huang Yue as I had been in my first year of high school. It appeared that she was quite unhappy with my transformation.¡± ¡°We even had a few arguments because of this. In fact, she was the one who suggested that I enter the entertainment industry. She went so far as to propose that I drop out of school and focus solely on filming. However, when I declined her suggestion, our rtionship deteriorated even further.¡± Wen Nian revisited the incident at the school anniversary, wearing a perplexed and remorseful expression. ¡°I genuinely can¡¯tprehend how our once strong friendship ended up like this.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor, the adults understood that it was only natural for a 17-year-old like her to be bewildered by Huang Yue¡¯s behavior. They expressed theirment, acknowledging that Wen Nian¡¯sck of experience prevented her from recognizing Huang Yue¡¯s malicious intentions. However, upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, everyone¡¯s expressions turned grave. While Huang Yue¡¯s deceit might have been effective in fooling her peers, the adults, who possessed over a decade more life experience, regarded it as a transparent trick that could be easily seen through in an instant. Li Fang immediately asked, ¡°Does Huang Yue know your address?¡± Wen Nian nodded and intentionally brought up the fact that Huang Yue appeared to have been deceived out of her money. She revealed that some time ago, Huang Yue had asked her to lend her money, which left her feeling sorrowful. ¡°If she was the mastermind behind this, it might be due to her hatred towards me for not listening to her and threatening the director to get my pay in advance.¡± The various things Wen Nian mentioned made Huang Yue¡¯s motive very obvious. With the investigation taking a new direction, Officer Liu promptly made arrangements for someone to visit Huang Yue¡¯s residence. As there was ack of solid evidence at the moment, he could only extend a temporary invitation for someone to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Overwhelmed by the realization of Huang Yue¡¯s malicious nature at such a young age, Li Fang was consumed by anger and mmed her hand on the table in frustration. As another student was implicated, Li Fang, as an ordinary teacher, definitely could not handle it. She adjusted her emotions and immediately called the principal of No. 1 High School to exin the situation. The principal hurriedly approached to inquire about themotion and fell into a brief silence upon learning the details. Despite being a public school, No. 1 High School boasted superior infrastructurepared to other schools, thanks to the principal¡¯s adeptness at attracting talented individuals and securing sponsorships from prominentpanies and organizations. Upon Huang Yue¡¯s enrollment in the school, her father had even sponsored 300,000 yuan worth of experimental equipment for the biologyboratory. Moreover, just two months ago, he had graciously agreed to donate 800,000 yuan towards the construction of a new music hall scheduled for the uing semester. At this critical juncture, if Huang Yue were found to be involved in any wrongdoing, it would not only result in the loss of 800,000 yuan but also trigger a wave of nder and rumors regarding harm to her ssmates. The reputation that No. 1 High School had meticulously built over the years would be irreparably tarnished. Furthermore, if such a situation were to unfold, it would significantly jeopardize his prospects of transferring to the Education Bureau next year. The implications of the incident would likely cast doubts on his leadership and management abilities, potentially hindering his career advancement.. Chapter 138 - 138: Big Sponsor Chapter 138: Big Sponsor Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As the principal contemted the fact that Wen Nian was only harboring suspicions about Huang Yue at this moment, he cast a quick nce in her direction before stepping forward. Speaking in a hushed tone, he cautioned, ¡°Wen Nian, are you absolutely certain about this? It¡¯s advisable not to make any unfounded ims without concrete evidence.¡± Wen Nian raised her gaze to meet the principal¡¯s eyes, perceiving the warning conveyed within them. She offered a bitter smile and replied, ¡°Principal, I¡¯m simply providing the police with a lead to investigate. Even if Huang Yue is not the culprit, she might possess information that could offer new clues to the authorities and help clear my name swiftly, thereby preventing any harm to the school. Without concrete evidence, the police won¡¯t arrest her. Huang Yue has been my closest ssmate throughout high school, and 1 find it hard to believe that she would be the one to betray me.¡± Having heard Wen Nian¡¯s response, the principal realized that there was no need for him to speak further at this moment. The police were already taking action by initiating a conversation with Huang Yue, making his earlier remarks somewhat unnecessary. All that remained for him to do was wait patiently. Wen Nian nced at the visibly uneasy principal from the corner of her eye and a mocking smile curled on her lips. In her previous life, Wen Nian was aware that the principal had managed to establish all the facilities in No. 1 High School in Hai City without heavily relying on funds from the Education Bureau. One of his notable aplishments was the uing construction of the auditorium, for which Huang Jian, coincidentally, served as a significant sponsor. Once the auditorium waspleted, it quickly gained recognition as the most sophisticated music venue among all the middle schools in Hai City. The principal even secured a contract to host a music festival in the city during the second half of the year, solidifying his reputation further. This aplishment yed a crucial role in his potential transfer to the Education Bureau as the director the following year. In a disheartening turn of events, Wen Nian, as the victim, not only failed to receive any sympathy from the principal but also perceived a subtle suggestion from him to exonerate Huang Yue as a suspect. At that very moment, Huang Yue arrived at the police station. From a logical standpoint, she was merelyplying with the investigation. It was within her discretion to either respond to the police summons or not, but she chose to present herself at this critical juncture. Upon entering the police station and spotting Wen Nian and the school teacher, Huang Yue hastily approached them, offering a dutiful greeting. ¡°Wen Nian, I knew you would suspect me. You¡¯ve always been so suspicious, but 1 can assure you that I have no involvement in these matters. I¡¯m here because I am innocent, and 1 have nothing to hide or say.¡± Huang Yue adopted an air of nobility and magnanimity, which led those present to waver in their judgment about whether she could be the mastermind behind the incident. When Wen Nian observed Huang Yue¡¯s fearless expression, she realized that the situation was even more troublesome than she had initially anticipated. She grew concerned about the progress of Shen Jun¡¯s investigation. In response to Huang Yue¡¯s firm statement, Wen Nian feltpelled to provide a reply. She offered a faint smile and spoke, ¡°It seems that I misunderstood you. By the way, has the issue of the money you were scammed been resolved? As a student, I don¡¯t have the means to lend you 200,000 yuan at the moment. I hope you can understand my situation and not be angry with me anymore.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s tone carried a sincere undertone as she spoke, reminding Huang Yue of something that she perhaps wished to forget the most. Huang Yue refrained from calling the police out of fear. She understood that doing so would inevitably lead the authorities to contact her guardian for further investigation. If her mother were to discover the truth, she would definitely be beaten to death. Upon hearing Wen Nian bring up the topic, Huang Yue¡¯s anger surged within her. However, as she encountered the suspicious gazes of Li Fang and the police, she quickly regained herposure. Even if she wants to clear her name as a suspect, she couldn¡¯t let the truth of the matter be revealed. Huang Yue fixed a sharp gaze on Wen Nian and raised her voice to exin, ¡°1 wasn¡¯t cheated out of any money. It was actually my friend who borrowed money from me. However, due to unforeseen circumstances and my urgent need for the funds to make a purchase, I asked to borrow money from you. Rest assured, the other party has already returned the money to me!¡± With no other individuals present who could verify the truth of Huang Yue¡¯s statement, everyone in the room could only rely on their own judgment and temporarily ept her exnation as true. In the absence of concrete evidence or further information, they had no choice but to believe her ount, at least for the time being. At that moment, the technicians at the police station made progress in their investigation and sessfully traced the IP address to the Inte cafes involved. After concluding his phone call, Officer Liu gathered the Wen family and school representatives to update them on thetest developments. ¡°The individuals captured in the surveince footage have purposefully concealed their faces, making it extremely challenging for the police to identify them. Furthermore, it seems that these individuals are acting as leaders, prompting others to spread rumors after seeing hints on the inte. Many of thements areing from virtual IPs, which makes the investigation even moreplicated. We will continue to pursue this case, but locating the true mastermind may prove to be quite difficult.¡± Officer Liu presented an option to Wen Nian and her parents, suggesting that they consider closing the case and releasing the investigation¡¯s findings. This would allow Wen Nian to take the official results to the media to rify the situation. Furthermore, the police¡¯s official online ount would cooperate by issuing a statement.. Chapter 139 - 139: Virtual Address Chapter 139: Virtual Address Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Given the increasing intensity and widespread poprity of the rumors surrounding Wen Nian¡¯s case in Hai City, it became imperative to take swift action to counter and refute these rumors officially. This should be done as soon as possible! It is true that sensationalized news and the private lives of public figures tend to capture people¡¯s attention more easily. Such news tends to spread quickly and widely. Over time, most people may even ignore mundane or ordinary truths. The police recognized the importance of safeguarding Wen Nian¡¯s reputation. If they solely relied on identifying the mastermind as the criterion for closing the case, it would dy Wen Nian¡¯s ability to obtain an immediate and credible statement to refute the rumors. The principal recognized the interconnection between protecting Wen Nian¡¯s reputation and safeguarding the school¡¯s reputation as a whole. He agreed with Officer Liu¡¯s suggestion and emphasized the significance of providing a clear rification to address the rumors. He turned to Wen Nian and expressed his agreement, stating, ¡°Wen Nian, rification is of utmost importance. Officer Liu¡¯s suggestion is excellent. Let us proceed with it.¡± If not for the fact that this matter could only be decided by the person involved, the principal would have told the police directly. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei found themselves uncertain about the course of action, unsure of what steps to take next. Meanwhile, Wen Yu, after a brief moment of contemtion, expressed his concern, acknowledging the possibility that if the mastermind behind the rumors was not identified and confronted, they might continue to lurk in the shadows, waiting for another opportunity to strike. Wen Nian subconsciously turned to look at Huang Yue. Huang Yue, being at a distance from the conversation, could not hear the specific content but could sense from the reactions and expressions of the others that the case was not proceeding smoothly. She carefully considered the situation before acting, ensuring she had a n to extricate herself. Upon noticing Wen Nian¡¯s gaze, a self-assured expression flickered in her eyes. Wen Nian¡¯s original intention was to quietly pursue her studies without engaging in any conflict. She had not nned on confronting Huang Yue so soon, but Huang Yue¡¯s persistent aggression over the past few months left her with no choice. This time, Huang Yue had involved Wen Nian¡¯s family, making the situation more serious. If Wen Nian were to back down now, she would likely face difficulties in focusing on her studies at No. 1 High School for the remaining year and a half. Wen Nian didn¡¯t answer the principal. She turned her back to Huang Yue and whispered to Officer Liu, ¡°Officer Liu, I have a ssmate who¡¯s good at information technology. He sent me a message just now and said that he had sessfully traced the virtual IP address.¡± Wen Nian handed the phone to Officer Liu. On the chat page was an address sent by Shen Jun. Officer Liu¡¯s eyes lit up. They had a question and now the answer was found. The remaining process should be easy. ¡°I¡¯ll take this address to the technical department for verification. Once it¡¯s confirmed, we¡¯ll arrest the culprit immediately.¡± The principal reached out and grabbed Officer Liu¡¯s arm. ¡°Hey, hey, hey, Officer don¡¯t be in a hurry to leave.¡± Then, he turned to look at Wen Nian with a tough attitude. ¡°Wen Nian, this matter ends here. The most important thing now is to salvage your reputation and the school¡¯s reputation!¡± Wen Nian gazed at the principal, her expression nk. ¡°Principal, unless we address the underlying cause, these incidents will persist. This time, it¡¯s me. But next time, it could be other students.¡± The principal reprimanded harshly, blurting out, ¡°There wouldn¡¯t be any other ssmates. If you hadn¡¯t created a topic for them, would they have found the way to attack you? You need to take some time to reflect on your own actions!¡± As soon as the principal made that statement, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei¡¯s expressions shifted immediately. ¡°Principal, there¡¯s an old saying about fabricating things out of thin air. You¡¯ve read more books than us. Do we really need to exin such a basic logic to you?! Just because my child¡¯s grades dropped and she ended the engagement, does that give others the right to concoct baseless rumors?!¡± The principal was aware that he had uttered words in the heat of the moment that he shouldn¡¯t have. Seeing this, he could only stand by angrily. Wen Nian bravely stepped forward and positioned herself as a shield in front of her parents. With unwavering determination, she fearlessly dered, ¡°Principal, I strongly refute the usations made against me as the victim. I will pursue this matter relentlessly until my name is cleared!¡± ¡°Officer Liu, sorry to trouble you!¡± Officer Liu could sense the resolute determination of the Wen family. Combined with the new developments, he naturally feltpelled to uncover the truth. A sessful investigation like this could undoubtedly enhance his resume. Officer Liu could sense the resolute determination of the Wen family. Combined with the new developments, he naturally feltpelled to uncover the truth. A sessful investigation like this could undoubtedly enhance his resume. Huang Yue, who had initially remainedposed, experienced a series of changing expressions. This time, she hadn¡¯t captured a small-time aplice. However, she recollected that during their face-to-face encounter, she had been wearing a mask. Regaining herposure, Huang Yue resumed a neutral expression. After pondering for a moment, she retrieved her phone and contacted her temporary ally.. Chapter 140 - 140: Notice of Detention Chapter 140: Notice of Detention Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After everyone was brought into the interrogation room, the police station hall returned to silence. Wen Xing and Shen Jun were already very familiar with each other. Seeing this, he knew that Shen Jun was the ssmate Wen Nian had just told the police about. He pulled his wife forward excitedly to thank him. ¡°Little Shen, I¡¯ve really troubled you again this time!¡± Shen Jun smiled and replied, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, there¡¯s no need to be formal. Although the situation is indeed a bitplicated, it¡¯s fortunate that we managed to locate these individuals in the end.¡± Finding those virtual addresses didn¡¯t pose much of a challenge. The real difficulty lied in extracting information from those individuals, which demanded Shen Jun¡¯s time and effort. Nheless, he regarded these tasks as mere child¡¯s y. However, he recognized the importance of receiving recognition for his efforts. These things were done to ensure that the Wen family wouldn¡¯t oppose his rtionship with Wen Nian when they publicly announce it. Shen Jun was hoping that the Wen Family could owe him more favors. Wen Yu cast a nce at Shen Jun and recognized him as the ssmate he had previously forbidden Wen Nian from interacting with. While he still didn¡¯t understand the reason behind Shen Jun¡¯s behavior back then, he realized that this ssmate had helped his family so many times, as mentioned by his father and Wen Nian. A sense of unease crept over Wen Yu¡¯s expression. When it came to matters involving Wen Nian, Shen Jun had always been amodating. He smiled warmly and took the initiative to greet Wen Yu. ¡°Hello, Older Brother.¡± Wen Yu nodded awkwardly. ¡°Hello.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s ability to set aside his privileged status and establish a good rapport with her family, Wen Nian felt a sense of warmth and sweetness deep within her. About an hourter, Officer Liu had sessfully interrogated all the people he had captured. A young police officer who had recently joined the force trailed behind Officer Liu as they exited the interrogation room. He wore an expression of disbelief on his face. ¡°Are we lucky today? Why does it feel like I¡¯m just tagging along? I simply asked, and they spilled everything.¡± Upon hearing the young policeman¡¯s words, Officer Liu swiftly nced at Shen Jun. He then ced a meaningful hand on his colleague¡¯s shoulder and advised, ¡°Remember this feeling. You don¡¯t always have someone paving the path for you in every case.¡± Before the young policeman could react to the meaning behind his words, Officer Liu had already walked straight towards Huang Yue, who was sitting at the side and making a call. Upon spotting someone approaching, Huang Yue hastily ended her phone call. She then noticed Officer Liu holding a detention notice in his hand. ¡°Huang Yue, you have been used of instigating the dissemination of false information online. Please apany us to the police station and cooperate with our investigation. Huang Yue hurriedly stood up, her face filled with panic. ¡°nder! I didn¡¯t do it! It has nothing to do with me! You can¡¯t arrest me!¡± Huang Yue was still young. She was not the ruthless adult that Wen Nian had encountered in her previous life. Just the 24 hour notice of detention had made her feeling flustered and guilty. Officer Liu did not say much and gestured for her to leave. ¡°Huang Yue, if you don¡¯t move on your own, we will have to move you.¡± Huang Yue nced at the police officers who had positioned themselves on both sides of her. Her face turned pale, but she understood that resisting would only worsen the situation. With a heavy heart, she walked towards the interrogation room. As she passed by Wen Nian, she caught sight of her smiling face and red at her with a mixture of indignation and frustration. The police officer behind her saw Huang Yue stop in her tracks and gave her a gentle push from behind. Huang Yue staggered a few steps before continuing forward. When the principal saw this situation, he knew that the matter was no longer under his control. He left Li Fang behind to wait for the final oue and left first. He had to find another investor quickly topensate for the 800,000 yuan. Otherwise, the construction of the building woulde to a halt after the vacation. With such an incident urring at the school, he couldn¡¯t allow it to disrupt other ns. Li Fang¡¯s emotions were the mostplex among everyone present. Upon witnessing Huang Yue¡¯s behavior, she had already discerned the truth. Upon Huang Yue¡¯s initial entry into the interrogation room, she continued to voice her grievances incessantly. However, her continuousints came to a halt when sheid eyes on the photos presented by the police. Witnessing the evidence, her psychological defenses crumbled entirely. The photos disyed the moment when Huang Yue met with the head of the cyberbullying team. They also depicted her entering a taxi after leaving the location. Upon exiting the vehicle, she removed her disguise, revealing herself through her clothing and hairstyle. It was evident from these visual cues that she was the same person. Pan Jia had only cautioned Huang Yue to be cautious about potential surveince, but Huang Yue, not being a professional, believed that she had been careful enough. The head of the cyberbullying team also harbored concerns about not receiving the final payment once the task waspleted. To ensure they could secure the payment, they had sent individuals to follow Huang Yue. Their intention was not to extort her after the matter concluded, but rather to guarantee the sessful acquisition of the final payment.. Chapter 141 - 141: Understanding Chapter 141: Understanding Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Officer Liu took out another testimonial that the taxi driver had fingerprinted, proving that the person before and after getting into the car was indeed Huang Yue. With the presence of undeniable evidence and a thorough chain of evidence, it became apparent that Huang Yue¡¯s involvement was indisputable. If she persisted in denying her wrongdoing, it would only disy herck of remorse. Understanding the potential consequences, she chose to obediently confess her role in the plot to defame Wen Nian. Huang Yue entertained the idea of exposing Pan Jia¡¯s involvement, but as she recalled their previous conversation, she ultimately decided to keep her silence. Officer Liu asked Huang Yue to sign and fingerprint the testimony before calling Wen Nian into the interrogation room. Officer Liu said to Huang Yue, ¡°Next, you have to try your best to obtain the victim¡¯s forgiveness. This will be beneficial to your sentence!¡± When Huang Yue heard this, she was stunned on the chair. She nced at Wen Nian, who was smiling at her. At the thought that she had to lower herself to Wen Nian now, Huang Yue was furious. She didn¡¯t get any benefits this time and had to apologize to her?! Huang Yue responded with unwavering determination, ¡°I won¡¯t apologize. Let them impose whatever fines they want on me!¡± Officer Liu couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration upon hearing Huang Yue¡¯s defiant response. He found himself torn between thinking whether Huang Yue¡¯s fearlessness stemmed from her ignorance of the truth or herck of understanding of thew. ¡°Huang Yue, your actions have caused significant harm to Wen Nian¡¯s reputation. The local website in Hai City is inundated with the false rumors you disseminated. You have already vited thew, and the consequences go beyond merepensation. You may face legal sentencing.¡± Huang Yue waspletely dumbfounded when she heard the word sentence. She suddenly thought of something and stood up excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m still underage! The country has juvenile protectionws. Why would I be sentenced?¡± When Wen Nian heard this, she interrupted calmly, ¡°I¡¯m also underage. The protectionw should still protect me, the victim.¡± Despite Huang Yue¡¯s limited legal awareness, she was aware of the existence of the juvenile protectionw. Officer Liu nced at her stubborn expression and sighed, feeling helpless. ¡°Remember, the juvenile protectionw is not a free pass to escape all consequences.¡± Huang Yue was stunned for a moment when she heard this. Then, she stood up reluctantly. ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Wen Nian remained silent and instead turned to the police officer standing beside her, seeking rification on questions rted to the potential sentencing. Huang Yue frowned. ¡°Wen Nian, what do you mean? I¡¯m apologizing to you sincerely. Is this your attitude?¡± Wen Nian turned her gaze towards Huang Yue, her voice tinged with anger. ¡°Huang Yue, the inte is still flooded with rumors about me being a social climber and tarnishing my reputation. Do you think your indifferent apology can restore my reputation?¡± ¡°Why should I forgive you the moment you apologize?¡± Wen Nian retorted sharply. ¡°I have called several reporters to gather outside. If you truly mean your apology, then apologize to me in front of the media!¡± Huang Yue naturally refused toply with Wen Nian¡¯s demand. In response, Wen Nian sneered and said, ¡°I consulted with the police earlier. Given your circumstances, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for you to spend a few years in jail. Whether you confess or not is irrelevant to me. The police station has official findings, and I have evidence to prove that all the online rumors are false.¡± Huang Yue refused not only because of her pride, but also because of her father. Huang Yue hesitated as she contemted the potential consequences. Being an illegitimate daughter, she had made asional public appearances, and many people were aware of her connection to Huang Jian. If she were to confess in front of the media, it could lead to severe repercussions. Her father might disown her, and her confession could implicate her mother and brother as well. Huang Yue realized that if she dared to publicly shame her father to such an extent, she would be left with no way out. However, she reasoned that as long as she avoided showing her face, even if the newspapers obtained her photos, they would likely pixte them. Furthermore, there were many individuals named Huang Yue, so she wouldn¡¯t immediately be an abandoned child or face immediate repercussions. Huang Yue, despite her previous behavior, was notpletely ignorant of thew. She understood that criminal charges could still proceed even if the victim did not pursue the matter. After making up her mind, Huang Yue took a deep breath,posed herself, and sat back down on the stool. Observing Huang Yue¡¯s reaction, Wen Nian remained unfazed. Whether or not Huang Yue chose to refute the rumors was inconsequential to her. She knew that the evidence she possessed was sufficient to debunk the false allegations. The verdict would be tomorrow at the earliest, but Wen Nian had to respond to the report first. Wen Nian had already contacted a few official newspapers in Hai City. Those reporters had been waiting at the door for thetest results. Wen Nian was determined to shield her family from the spotlight. She understood that a life in the public eye wouldpromise their privacy and potentially expose them to unwanted attention. It took considerable effort to convince her family to remain at the police station and entrust her with handling the situation alone. Although Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t be facing those inferior media outlets, Shen Jun was still worried. He watched as Wen Nian walked forward and followed closely behind. He whispered to her, ¡°If you don¡¯t let me go with you, I won¡¯t let you go out..¡± Chapter 142 - 142: Exclusive Report Chapter 142: Exclusive Report Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun with a sense of helplessness in her eyes. Ultimately, she couldn¡¯t resist his determined gaze. ¡°1 will go out first, and you stay by my side silently. Just be cautious not to get photographed.¡± Shen Jun nodded in satisfaction. ¡°Okay!¡± Only then did Wen Nian walk out of the police station. It was approaching midnight. The reporters who had been waiting by the roadside caught sight of Wen Nian, and they immediately swarmed towards her. The scene was chaotic, with a flurry of camera shes going off from ail directions. Amidst the chaos of shing cameras, a reporter managed to shout out, ¡°Wen Nian, what is thetest progress in the investigation?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, we witnessed the police bringing in several groups of individuals tonight. Are those people involved in this case?¡± ¡°Wen Nian¡­¡± Wen Nian raised her hand to signal for everyone to be quiet. ¡°Please be quiet!¡± Observing the sudden silence, everyone paused momentarily, but the they still pressed forward, extending their microphones towards Wen Nian. Wen Nian felt as though the reporters were about to stuff the microphones into her mouth. With a conflicted expression, she stepped back slightly and began with a polite acknowledgment. ¡°First and foremost, 1 would like to express my gratitude for everyone¡¯s concern. Thank you for waiting outside at thiste hour.¡± ¡°The investigation has yielded results, and 1 have ess to a video captured by my family¡¯s surveince camera. This footage captures the entire interview process I underwent earlier today. 1 can share it with all of you directly, allowing you topare it and witness how the truth has been distorted.¡± ¡°In addition, 1 would like to inform you that the mastermind behind this incident has been apprehended by the police. Tomorrow, the official police station website will release a statement regarding this matter. It will include the official investigation results as well as the sentencing of the suspect.¡± Wen Nian only briefly exined the results. Of course, the reporters were not satisfied. They wanted something explosive. ¡°Wen Nian, is the mastermind someone you know? What kind of grudge do you have with each other? Why would the other party be so ruthless?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, when did you call the police? Is this speed of handling cases because you know an insider?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, did you deliberately take a video of them interviewing you? Was all of this within your prediction?¡± If she answered one question, there would still be thousands of questions waiting. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to answer the same questions again tomorrow. ncing at the media in attendance, Wen Nian informed them about the n she had just discussed with Xu Chang. ¡°Reporters, 1 won¡¯t be avable for interviews today. Once the police report is released, Director Xu will hold a press conference to address the matter. The specific time for the conference will be announced soon.¡± Some reporters were eager to gather more details, understanding the significance of being among the limited few local first-tier media outlets and newspapers present. While they couldn¡¯tpete with exclusive reports, they recognized the value of obtaining any lead they could. They continued to persuade Wen Nian, urging her to consider answering a few additional questions. Wen Nian maintained a serious demeanor and refrained from providing direct answers. Instead, she firmly stated, ¡°It¡¯s already quitete. 1 kindly request everyone to return for now. 1 assure you that all your questions will be addressedprehensively during the uing press conference.¡± A sharp-eyed female reporter interjected, perceiving Wen Nian¡¯s intention in inviting their families and acknowledging the influence and authority they held. ¡°Wen Nian, it seems you understand the power and influence our families possess. 1 believe the information we release in our publications will be the most effective in providing rification. Likewise, we also require exclusive internal news to capture the attention of our readers.¡± ¡°If other third-rate tabloids report the same content as us, aren¡¯t you concerned that they might employ ambiguousnguage to obfuscate the facts and diminish the impact of your rification? 1 don¡¯t intend to underestimate them, but 1 believe you understand that tabloids often prioritize poprity over objectivity. Their reports can be subjective at times and may not present an entirely unbiased perspective.¡± Given their expertise in writing, schrs have long been recognized for their abilities. When ites to the objectivity of news reports, Wen Nian undoubtedly ces her trust in prominent newspapers backed by official endorsements and possessing a high level of credibility. Indeed, the words of the female reporter struck a chord with Wen Nian, addressing her most pressing concern. After a brief moment of contemtion, Wen Nian raised her gaze. ¡°You¡¯re right, it is gettingte. My family is also deeply concerned about this issue. While I cannot grant immediate interviews at this moment, I promise that after the press conference, 1 will set aside half an hour on that day to conduct interviews with your three newspapers.¡± The reporters expressed their satisfaction with this arrangement, understanding that securing an exclusive interview would provide them with more substantial material for their reporting than the current situation. After the reporters dispersed, the Wen family and Li Fang walked out.. Chapter 143 - 143: Statement Chapter 143: Statement Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian took a few steps forward. ¡°Teacher Li, thank you for apanying us today.¡± Li Fang pursed her lips, attempting to force a faint smile. With a touch of emotion in her voice, she remarked, ¡°Indeed, appearances can be deceiving. Huang Yue may have seemed obedient and her results consistently good, ording to our teachers. But the truth remains the truth. Thankfully, we conducted a thorough investigation and have now brought you the justice you deserve.¡± Wen Nian did not respond in agreement to Li Fang¡¯s words. Instead, she shifted the topic and asked, ¡°Mr. Li, what actions will the school take?¡± Li Fang pondered for a moment and replied, ¡°Given the gravity of this character issue, there is a high probability that she will face expulsion.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s brows eased slightly as she spoke, ¡°Teacher, Huang Yue has shown no remorse during the police investigation. I will never forgive her for what she has done. As the victim, I urge the school to take strict disciplinary action against her. Furthermore, I request that the school¡¯s official website publish a rification to convey the truth on my behalf.¡± Li Fang contemted the youthfulness of Huang Yue and feltpelled to plead on her behalf. However, she couldn¡¯t dismiss the fact that Wen Nian, as the victim, was also young. If it hadn¡¯t been for Wen Nian¡¯s fortunate circumstances, how many young girls would have been able to endure such an invasive online exposure? The potential consequences of waiting for Wen Nian might have led to an unimaginable oue, possibly even suicide. After careful consideration, Li Fang gazed at Wen Nian with a serious expression and reassured her, ¡°Rest assured, 1 will personally convey your request to the school leaders on your behalf.¡± This matter then came to an end. Due to the presence of their families, Wen Nian felt apprehensive about getting too close to Shen Jun. After the Wen couple expressed their gratitude once more, Shen Jun swiftly nced at Wen Nian, his hidden resentment caught by her keen observation. Wen Nian pursed her lips and let out a subtle chuckle. She casually raised her phone and covertly exchanged a meaningful look with him. Only then did the corners of Shen Jun¡¯s mouth curl up slightly. He bade farewell to the Wen family and left. Wen Nian nced at her family and heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that their small actions had not been discovered. Then, she thought of the word ¡®affair¡¯ and chuckled. Wen Yu was drawn to Wen Nian¡¯sughter. Sensing her brother¡¯s attention, Wen Nian swiftlyposed herself and spoke earnestly, ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel a sense of joy when 1 think about the arrest of the culprit.¡± At noon the following day, the police issued an official statement through their official website. The statement explicitly outlined that Huang Yue had orchestrated the dissemination of rumors and nder against Wen Nian. The gravity of her actions,bined with herck of remorse, led to a significant penalty. However, due to her status as a minor, she would be sentenced to a year in a detention center as the final punishment. No. 1 High School¡¯s official website promptly responded and released a school statement, which stated that Huang Yue had been expelled from the school, and all the awards she had previously received were revoked. Even though Xu Chang was in the capital, he maintained regr contact with Wen Nian, staying updated on the unfolding situation. He closely followed the developments because he didn¡¯t want the opportunity to be with the female lead he had longed for to slip away so easily. Capitalizing on the prevailing attention and public interest, Wen Nian and Xu Chang made the decision to schedule the press conference for the following day. Xu Chang wrapped up his filmingmitments for the day and promptly boarded a ne that night to join Wen Nian in preparation for the press conference. In the past two days, Wen Nian had also received many messages from Bai Zheng and Zheng Mo encouraging and asking if she wanted help. However, she politely declined them. After all, this was a battle between her and Huang Yue. She didn¡¯t want to involve innocent people, but she would keep these genuine friendships in mind. Realizing that it was still winter break and she had nned to fly to the capital after the press conference the next day, Wen Nian took the initiative to ask the two of them out for a hangout. At the milktea shop. Zheng Mo nced at Bai Zheng, the skinny man beside her, and a slight twitch appeared at the corners of her mouth. If she had known that he would be joining them, she would have preferred to arrange a meeting with Wen Nian alone tonight. Bai Zheng looked at Zheng Mo, this violent girl, and felt unhappy. However, on ount of Wen Nian, he still endured it. Sensing the slightly unusual atmosphere, Wen Nian didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. She presumed that the two of them were simply unfamiliar with each other and proceeded to introduce them with a warm smile. ¡°This is Zheng Mo, the vice president of the mixed martial arts club. And this is Bai Zheng, the head of the Arts Department in the Student Union.¡± The two of them nodded at each other with fake smiles and greeted each other indifferently. Fortunately, Bai Zheng and Zheng Mo were very concerned about the rumors about Wen Nian. Everyone still chatted harmoniously for more than an hour. As Bai Zheng heard the introduction, he recalled that Huang Yue had been a member of several music-rted clubs that fell under the jurisdiction of the Literature and Arts Department. He shook his head in disbelief andmented, ¡°1 never expected her to be that kind of person. She always seemed gentle and polite on the surface.¡± Zheng Mo sneered with a hint of cynicism. ¡°Men are easily fooled by innocent appearances and virtuous facades. It¡¯s no surprise that they can¡¯t see through the deception.¡± Bai Zheng recognized the sarcastic tone in Zheng Mo¡¯sment but chose not to engage in a response. He cast a brief nce at Zheng Mo and refrained from adding anything further to the conversation.. Chapter 144 - 144: Change of Opinion Chapter 144: Change of Opinion Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Despite Wen Nian¡¯s rtive obliviousness, she couldn¡¯t help but sense that something was amiss. They continued chatting for another half hour before bidding farewell. Wen Nian and Zheng Mo found themselves walking in the same direction after parting ways with Bai Zheng. However, Bai Zheng took a different route, heading off in another direction as he bid them farewell. Wen Nian nudged Zheng Mo with her elbow and asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Bai Zheng?¡± Zheng Mo snorted. ¡°There¡¯s nothing going on. He¡¯s very elegant. How can he have anything to do with a violent person like me?¡± Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°Is this Bai Zheng¡¯s impression of you?¡± When Zheng Mo heard this, she raised her fist and gestured. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± ¡°I simply can¡¯t tolerate his pretense of being noble and virtuous. What¡¯s the big deal about his fame? He ims that 1 create works solely based on my personal preferences, but behind closed doors, isn¡¯t it all about making profits? It would be better if he just admitted it outright; at least that would show some honesty. I would actually have more respect for him in that case.¡± Wen Nian was perplexed by these words. While she didn¡¯t have a particrly close rtionship with Bai Zheng, her interactions with him had revealed a side of him that was both reserved and passionate. Wen Nian spoke in a soft voice to defend Bai Zheng. ¡°Is there a misunderstanding between the two of you? From what I¡¯ve observed, Bai Zheng doesn¡¯t strike me as someone who is two-faced.¡± Zheng Mo ced her hand on Wen Nian¡¯s shoulder, expressing a mix of concern and frankness. ¡°You¡¯re incredibly innocent and kind-hearted, which is why someone like Huang Yue was able to deceive you. 1 had the opportunity to meet Huang Yue at a g before, and within just a few minutes, I could sense her adeptness at feigning vulnerability to manipte others and achieve her own objectives.¡± Drawing from her past life experiences, Wen Nian had developed a sense of trust in her own judgment in this life. Observing Zheng Mo¡¯s strong bias against Bai Zheng, she realized that further discussion might be futile. She recognized that even individuals with good character might not necessarily get along well with one another. Due to thete filming schedule, Xu Chang could only board the ne close to midnight. As a result, he could only arrange to meet Wen Nian at the hotel where the press conference was scheduled to take ce, three hours prior to the event. The limited time frame left them with little opportunity for leisurely interaction before the press conference began. At 9 a.m., the press conferencemenced, and an impressive turnout of 50 to 60 mediapanies was present. For a student like Wen Nian, who had recently entered the entertainment industry, this level of attention and coverage was undoubtedly a significant milestone and an awe-inspiring experience. Wen Nian made a deliberate choice not to dress up and instead attended the press conference in her usual student attire. This decision aligned with her current status and allowed people to perceive her as approachable and unassuming. By maintaining the image of a pure and harmless female student, she tapped into the inclination of people to sympathize with the vulnerable. It was a strategic move, as individuals tend to be more patient and tolerant towards those they like and empathize with. In this day and age, there were no live broadcasts. Instead, they used traditional interview methods such as video recording and taking photos. The press conferencested for two hours, followed by the promised exclusive interview time. By the time the press conference concluded, it was already noon. In an era where efficiency equated to valuable time, thetest news surrounding Wen Nian had rapidly spread across the inte by 5 p.m. Thebination of the press conference¡¯s revtions and the release of the surveince video footage from the previous night had propelled Wen Nian¡¯s poprity to new heights. [Some media outlets can be truly distasteful. Wen Nian expressed her belief in the significance of portraying the theme of anti-school bullying through her acting. The director recognized the suitability of her image and proactively approached her to y the lead role. However, when certain media outlets reported on it, they twisted her words, implying that Wen Nian found bullying entertaining and that the director approved of her acting as herself. It is truly remarkable how these outlets can distort facts with such skill. They make me, a student majoring in Mandarin Chinese, feel ashamed of my writing skills.] [Hahaha, to the student majoring in Chinesenguage: One must lose their conscience before engaging in such acts of distorting the truth.] [The most disgusting person is still that person called Huang Yue. She really stabbed Wen Nian in the back!] [Some people are evil for no reason! They are born evil!] [That¡¯s right! My heart aches for Sister Wen Nian!] [Wen Nian¡¯s encounter with such a ssmate was truly unfortunate. This individual led her astray for a whole year, but fortunately, she managed to find her way back. Otherwise, her entire life could have been irreparably ruined by the influence of that malicious woman!] [As someone who was in the same ss as Wen Nian, it¡¯s surprising to discover such insider information. Back in our first year of school, 1 remember noticing that while Wen Nian had a slightly fiery temper, she was also a straightforward person. Reflecting on it now, 1 realize that Huang Yue subtly influenced our perception of Wen Nian, painting her as violent and unsociable.] As soon as this insider news was released, everyone started to change their opinion of Wen Nian, the victim. At this moment, Wen Nian and the others had already returned to the capital. As Xu Chang checked the trending topics on his phone while on the way to the set, he couldn¡¯t help but feel relieved by the positive response on the inte. A smile adorned his face as he turned to Wen Nian andmented, ¡°It seems that everyone¡¯s discerning eye has recognized the truth. Fortunately, this incident didn¡¯t cause any harm, and it¡¯s a pleasant bonus that you¡¯ve gained some poprity in the process..¡± Chapter 145 - 145: The Era of Information Technology Chapter 145: The Era of Information Technology Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian looked at Xu Chang, who was smiling wretchedly, and said angrily, ¡°1 don¡¯t need the public to know what 1 look like. You are doing this to promote the movie.¡± Xu Chang, undeterred by being caught out, acknowledged that Wen Nian¡¯s determination to pursue a career in the entertainment industry remained steadfast. He stated, ¡°Wen Nian, the truth is, you possess the qualities that are well-suited for this industry. Your appearance and your ability to adapt in your acting skills make you a natural fit.¡± Wen Nian,cking confidence in her acting abilities, attributed it to herck of professional training and her previous experience in which her acting skills were never recognized by the audience in the entertainment industry. Whether it was the minor roles she portrayed or the asional appearances, she was often met with criticism in thements. However, the director had said that thest two scenes had improved, but that was all. Since joining the current production team, Wen Nian had received more praise for her acting skills. However, she humbly attributed this sess to Xu Chang¡¯s guidance and support. Despite her ability to draw upon her previous life¡¯s experiences to empathize with characters, Wen Nian acknowledged that there was still much room for improvement in order to deliver apelling performance in a high-quality film. In her spare time, Wen Nian humbly sought guidance from other actors. Even if the other person was new to the industry, she would take the initiative to engage in conversations and listen to their perspectives, allowing her to gain valuable insights and apply the theoretical knowledge those people had learned in their acting sses. This was why many senior actors saw great potential in Wen Nian. Xu Chang was not lying when he said that Wen Nian had great potential. Senior actors who like giving advice do prefer such diligent and talented actors. However, Wen Nian credited Xu Chang and the actors who had taught her well for her ability to portray this role. Apetent director ys a crucial role in training actors. Besides her passion for the industry, Wen Nian was also motivated to work on this film due to Xu Chang¡¯s exceptional directing skills. She hoped that by getting to know him, she could secure further opportunities to coborate with him in the future. But then, Wen Nian thought of her experience in the entertainment industry in her previous life. In the end, she shook her head and said, ¡°I still want to live like a normal person.¡± Xu Chang regarded it as a pity, considering that finding such a talented individual was a rare urrence. However, if he were to give up under such circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t truly be Xu Chang! Considering that Wen Nian still had a year and a half before her college entrance examination, Xu Chang devised a n to deeply influence her and ¡°persuade¡± her to join this industry. The online debate was still ongoing. [Starting this semester, Wen Nian has been diligently studying every day after sses. I truly admire her ability to persevere despite falling behind for over two years. Although her rank in the final exam this time didn¡¯t even reach the middle level of the grade, she has made significant progress. While submitting her homework to the teacher, I overheard the teacher mentioning that Wen Nian has already covered the first-year high school curriculum.] [Completing two semesters¡¯ worth of material in just one semester! I love a hardworking queen! ] [I like people who are down-to-earth. 1 have already started following Wen Nian¡¯s social media ount. If she manages to seed in hereback journey, 1 will undoubtedly be her biggest fan!] [I don¡¯t think you have to seed to be an idol. The process and journey are often more valuable than the final oue. As long as Wen Nian maintains her positive learning attitude, even if she doesn¡¯t reach the pinnacle of her academic achievements, her spirit and dedication are trulymendable!] [I have a different perspective. What 1 truly admire about Wen Nian is her calmness andposure when facing the camera. She possesses a remarkable boldness that remains unchanged, even if Mount Tai were to copse before her.] [Hahaha, I¡¯m different from you guys! I love her looks.She looks sexy and pure. She¡¯s my type!] [I misunderstood her previously and said a lot of things to attack her. I¡¯m repenting! I announce that I owe her a movie ticket!] [I¡¯ll watch it too when it¡¯s released! The movie Wen Nian filmed is really worth watching. Just as she said, this theme is very meaningful.] The movie is meaningful. I just searched for the movie online, and it seems that promotional photos have been released. Although there were only nine photos, the image of the bullied victim falling from the building has left a profound impression on me. [I am also paying attention to this movie because of Wen Nian. Actually, I¡¯m also a victim of school bullying and have stood on the roof countless times. Fortunately, I met a very good ssmate. Otherwise, I might have ended up just like the girl in the photo that the previousmenter mentioned.] [My heart aches for the little brother above. Those bullies in school are the type of people that beat you up just because they don¡¯t like the way you look when you pass by!] [Replying to the previousmenter: That is what¡¯s happening at my school. However, a newly appointed dean just reorganized the school structure and things are better now!] This was the era of information technology. One could be destroyed within three days and one could be lifted high up within three days.. Chapter 146 - 146: Finding a Sugar Daddy Chapter 146: Finding a Sugar Daddy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian emerged victorious in this battle. Besides Huang Yue, who faced the repercussions of her own actions, Wen Nian also garnered significant attention. Her social media ount went from having a dozen followers to 10,000 followers. On the set. Pan Jia, who stood waiting at the side, observed with a smile as Wen Nian and Xu Chang entered the set. While she harbored hidden resentment towards them, she refrained from acting impulsively. Thankfully, she had managed to convince Huang Yue to take the me. Otherwise, her own reputation would have been irreparably tarnished! Pan Jia felt a pang of regret as she recalled the money she had paid Huang Yue to hire the Inte Water Army. She had saved it diligently for the purpose of filming and had even borrowed a significant amount from her boyfriend. Initially, she had hoped to use this scheme to destroy Wen Nian¡¯s reputation. However, now she realized that her n had nearly backfired, putting herself in jeopardy instead. Pan Jia straightened her cotton clothes and cast a nce at her assistant, Sun Yue, who stood beside her. She appeared slightly uneasy, clearing her throat a couple of times before inquiring, ¡°You mentioned that you used to work at a bar and had connections with influential individuals. Are you still in touch with them?¡± Sun Yue was momentarily taken aback. Some wealthy individuals she knew had seen her post on the production team¡¯s WeChat Moments, showcasing her role as an assistant. Some time ago, they had reached out to her, requesting assistance in connecting with actresses. It had turned into a sort ofmission-based arrangement, where she received benefits in exchange. Upon hearing the mention of ¡°benefits,¡± Sun Yue hesitated and evaded the topic when discussing it with Pan Jia. At that moment, Pan Jia disyed a cold and distant attitude. Not only did she decline the proposal, but she also reprimanded Sun Yue for even considering such a proposition. As Sun Yue observed Pan Jia¡¯s feigned reserve and heard her ask in a hushed tone, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of disdain within her heart. Nevertheless, she maintained a sycophantic smile and responded, ¡°Yes, there is a wealthy individual from a privileged background who has expressed a keen interest in the circle of actresses. Just a few days ago, upon learning that 1 work as a celebrity assistant, he reached out to me personally and expressed his desire to meet some friends of actresses and engage in casual conversations with them whenever he has the opportunity.¡± She couldn¡¯t say it too explicitly, but those who had been in this circle knew what was going on. Pan Jia didn¡¯t want to find a sugar daddy, but it had been almost two years since she received her first role. Unfortunately, she was still limited to ying minor characters, often receiving scenes that amounted to no more than the fifth female lead. However, Pan Jia couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of indignation when she saw that many female leads in the industry were not even as talented as her. She couldn¡¯t help but notice that some actresses secured prominent roles simply by getting involved with the director or the investors. This fact left her feeling frustrated and resentful. As Pan Jia observed the inexperienced Wen Nian in the distance, who seemed to rely on luck to secure leading roles, she grew increasingly impatient. At that point, she felt that she couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. Regardless of whose bed it might be, as long as it guaranteed her the opportunity to y the female lead, she was willing to ept it now, setting aside her previous reservations. Pan Jia yearned to prove to Xu Chang that selecting Wen Nian over her had been a grave error. With determination in her eyes, Pan Jia removed the mask from her face and fixed her gaze on Sun Yue. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with those wealthy second-generation heirs seeking frivolous encounters. Instead, focus on finding CEOs with significant investment power. Once they achieve sess, they will naturally offer you substantial benefits.¡± Sun Yueprehended Pan Jia¡¯s intentions. It was clear to her that Pan Jia¡¯s aim went beyond mere financial gains through illicit means. She was seeking a sugar daddy. Sun Yue responded promptly and candidly, ¡°Sure, no problem!¡± The subsequent days resumed their usual rhythm. Before long, January 27th arrived, marking the 30th day of the lunar year. Wen Yu and Zhou Mei had arrived in the capital the previous day, while Shen Jun had returned to his own home to celebrate the new year. Noticing that there weren¡¯t enough sleeping arrangements for all four of them, Xu Chang considered booking another room for Wen Yu to rest in. However, Wen Yu believed that it would be morefortable for the family to stay together and declined the offer. Fortunately, the spacious sofa in the living room of the suite was sufficient for him to sleep on alone, so it was not a problem. It was a rarity for Wen Nian to sleep until nine o¡¯clock. As she opened the door, she discovered that her parents and brother had already begun putting up window flowers and ¡°blessing¡± stickers around the hotel. This marked Wen Nian¡¯s first New Year after her rebirth. Despite being thousands of miles away from her hometown in the capital, she couldn¡¯t help but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment as she saw her family by her side. Wen Nian smiled warmly and approached them, offering her greetings. ¡°Good morning, Dad and Mom. Good morning, Brother.¡± Wen Xing, who was cleaning the table, turned around and responded. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing noticed that their daughter was wearing pajamas, her hair slightly tousled from just waking up. Her appearance exuded a gentle and obedient demeanor, prompting them to shower her with affectionate doting. Zhou Mei smiled tenderly and spoke softly, ¡°Mommy fried your favorite radish cake today. Go ahead anddle a bowl of millet porridge. We can have whatever we desire for breakfast and lunch today. We¡¯ll indulge ourselves with avish feast for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner tonight!¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement. She made a mental note to hurry to the market after breakfast. Otherwise, by 3 pm, most shops would already be closed. Only after the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner would somerger shopping malls briefly reopen for business.. Chapter 147 - 147: A Minor Setback Chapter 147: A Minor Setback Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Spring Festival was the most grand festival for Chinese people. It represented the day when every family was reunited. Many people had been busy for a year and were looking forward to these seven days of reunion. Zhao Jiao woke up a bitter than usual today. Upon realizing that it was nearly ten o¡¯clock, she hastily roused her husband from bed. Despite the limited number of people at home, it was essential to uphold the festive atmosphere! Zhao Jiao dabbed her face with numerous bottles, seeking that perfect glow. As she nced into the dressing mirror, she caught sight of Shen Mo meticulously selecting a coat for her. Overwhelmed by her joy, she felt the urge to share the news with someone. ¡°Darling, I have some happy news to share with you!¡± When Shen Mo heard this, he quickly turned around. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant?¡± When it came to pregnancy, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t help but find it perplexing. She and Shen Mo had undergone several tests, confirming that they didn¡¯t have any fertility issues. Shen Mo, in particr, was so full of vitality that it was hard to believe. Yet, despite all this, they had only conceived Shen Jun after so many years without taking any contraceptive measures. Zhao Jiao yfully rolled her eyes at the handsome man reflected in the mirror, who, despite being over 40 years old, still possessed the youthful appearance of someone in their thirties. ¡°I wish I could get pregnant,¡± she teased, ¡°But you¡¯re not exactly helpful.¡± Shen Mo retrieved the jacket he had selected and approached Zhao Jiao. He reached out and tenderly lifted her chin, arching an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m useless, huh?¡± he remarked. ¡°Seems like 1 shouldn¡¯t have been so lenient and spared youst night. Just you wait, little one. Tonight will be a different story.¡± As long as they were not in bed, Zhao Jiao would never admit defeat. After all, this was not the matter at hand. They would talk about it at night. Zhao Jiao proudly shrugged her shoulders and responded provocatively, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Shen Mo gazed at his wife¡¯s delicate figure, and a mischievous desire ignited within him. With a surge of intensity, he lifted Zhao Jiao and yfully tossed her onto the bed beside him. ¡°All!¡± Startled, Zhao Jiao let out a surprised shout. She gently patted her husband, who was leaning over her, and spoke coquettishly, ¡°We still have many New Year¡¯s Eve preparations to take care of. Let¡¯s stop fooling around for now. 1 want to discuss something important with you.¡± Shen Mo looked at his wife, who was frowning and ring at him. He could only sit up and mutter, ¡°This is clearly the most important thing.¡± Zhao Jiao got up and knelt on the bed, wrapping her arms around his arm. With a mysterious tone, she revealed, ¡°Our son is in a rtionship! I¡¯ve been keeping this news to myself for a while now, but I have to tell you today!¡± Shen Mo didn¡¯t show much interest upon hearing the news. Instead, he was more preupied with the fact that his wife seemed to be preupied with something other than him during such a significant moment. Shen Mo responded nonchntly, ¡°So what?¡± Zhao Jiao expressed her dissatisfaction with Shen Mo¡¯s casual attitude and red at her husband. ¡°Pay more attention to him. Our son¡¯s personality is different from that of a yboy like you. I¡¯ve always worried that he would end up alone. Thankfully, God has blessed us, and he found someone at the age of 17. The girl¡¯s name is Wen Nian. Just by looking at her, 1 can tell she¡¯s a good girl.¡± Shen Mo felt indignant upon hearing those words and quickly retorted, ¡°yboy? Once 1 got to know you, 1 became loyal. Don¡¯t try to use me falsely.¡± Zhao Jiao quickly tried to soothe the situation, saying, ¡°Yes, yes, my apologies for misspeaking. Let¡¯s move past that quickly and focus on the matter at hand. I have set up a small challenge for the two of them. Initially, 1 nned to initiate it in a few days. However, 1 recently learned that Wen Nian¡¯s family will be visiting the capital for the New Year. Now, I¡¯m in a dilemma. Should I proceed with my n or invite my future inws to our house as guests?¡± Shen Mo, still feeling disgruntled by the interruption, didn¡¯t hesitate to express his opinion when faced with Zhao Jiao¡¯s question. ¡°Of course, there should be obstacles. The more challenges they face, the more they will learn to appreciate each other.¡± With excitement, Zhao Jiao sped her hands together and gazed at Shen Mo with adoring eyes. ¡°Just as I expected, my dear husband understands me!¡± However, shortly after, Zhao Jiao¡¯s worry resurfaced. ¡°But I do think it¡¯s crucial to meet my future inws!¡± Shen Mo quickly proposed a solution, saying, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. Let¡¯s make time to visit Hai Cityter.¡± After a moment of consideration, Zhao Jiao nodded in agreement. ¡°Yes, we can definitely find a way to squeeze out a day or two for the visit.¡± Unaware of the twists and turns his rtionship path had taken due to the pit dug by his father, Shen Jun continued to lie on the bed in the adjacent room, engrossed in a cheerful conversation with Wen Nian. Little did he know that their journey together had encountered unexpected detours. The Shen family had a modest number of members. Apart from Old Mr. Shen, who had retired from the Shen Corporation, there were Shen Mo, the current head of the family, Zhao Jiao, and Shen Jun, making a total of four individualsprising the household. Since it was the Spring Festival holiday, aside from the butler, there were five servants present in the vi. The vast estate appeared particrly deserted during this time, entuated by the absence of bustling activity.. Chapter 148 - 148: The Moon During Springtime Chapter 148: The Moon During Springtime Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The New Year¡¯s Eve dinner began at six o¡¯clock. The four members of the Shen family sat around the dining table. Shen Guo gazed affectionately at his grandson. ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve made quite a few friends in Hai City this time. You were on vacation for such a long period and only returned yesterday.¡± Shen Jun smiled. ¡°1¡¯11 bring my friend back for you to see next time.¡± Uncertain about his grandfather¡¯s stance on their rtionship, Shen Jun hesitated to reveal his connection with Wen Nian too soon. If his grandfather were to object, he knew that his approach might not be as gentle as his mother¡¯s. Shen Guo smiled and nodded in response. Observing this, Zhao Jiao swiftly interjected, ¡°Dad, Ji Xiang¡¯s family has recently returned from overseas. 1 was thinking, on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, we could have Shen Jun bring Tingting to the capital for some fun. Shen Jun is already 17 years old and it would be beneficial for him to have more interaction with girls instead of always being surrounded by boys.¡± Shen Guo¡¯s heart was touched by his daughter-inw¡¯s words. Not only was Zhao Jiao concerned about her granddaughter-inw, but she also cared for his well-being. He was quite content with this n. ¡°1 still remember Tingting, that lovely and delicate little girl. Shen Jun, bring her home for a meal. It¡¯s been many years since I¡¯ve seen her. It will be a wonderful opportunity to meet her.¡± Zhao Jiao was inplete control of the situation, and she intended to create this illusion for Shen Jun. The entire family shared the hope that he would find a partner of equal social status to marry. It was their desire that Shen Jun¡¯s future spouse would align with their expectations and meet the family¡¯s standards. She wanted her son to experience the exhrating sensation of defying the world for love. This was a passionate love! Zhao Jiao secretly nced at her husband and raised her eyebrows slightly. Shen Mo immediately looked at her encouragingly. Shen Jun felt a sense of impatience upon hearing about the n, but he also realized that hispany¡¯s crucial project was at a critical stage. It was not the right time to make any mistakes. Therefore, he looked up at his grandfather and mother, putting on a smile, and agreed to do as they say. The meal consisted of the four of them. While Shen Jun seemed slightly troubled, the rest of the family appeared genuinely joyful. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the hotel room dwelled by the Wen Family was also remarkably harmonious and pleasant. On the night of Chinese New Year¡¯s Eve, as most people gathered at home to watch the g on the official channel, Wen Nian found herself continuously texting Shen Jun on her phone. After midnight, as the Chinese lunar calendar ushered in the new year, Wen Nian made sure not to miss Shen Jun¡¯s blessings this time. Shen Jun: I can finally be the first one this time. It¡¯s a pity that 1 can¡¯t see you with my own eyes. Wen Nian: You will always be the first one in the future. Shen Jun felt a great sense of satisfaction upon hearing these words. The unreasonable and stubborn side of his personality that had emerged since falling in love resurfaced once again. Shen Jun: 1 suddenly remembered something. 1 said that I like you, but you say it to me. Wen Nian pursed her lips and smiled. She looked out of the window and thought for a while. Wen Nian: ¡°Go to the window now.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s heart started pounding with anticipation, contemting the possibility of Wen Nian showing up at his doorstep. However, he quickly realized that she didn¡¯t know his address. His heart gradually settled, and he obediently walked towards the window, refocusing his attention on the present moment. Shen Jun: I¡¯m at the window. Wen Nian: ¡°Do you see the moon in the sky during this springtime?¡± Shen Jun looked up at the moon and carefully thought about what Wen Nian meant. He suddenly thought of something and understood what Wen Nian didn¡¯t say out loud. He chuckled. When Wen Nian heard Shen Jun¡¯s smile, she knew that the other party understood what she meant. The corners of her lips could not help but curl up. Wen Nian and Shen Jun chatted for a while before saying goodnight to each other. Then, she took a photo of the next bright moon by the hotel window and posted it on her social media ount. The photo had this caption: The moon hung high in the sky. It was spring. Shen Jun had set a special focus on Wen Nian, ensuring that he would receive a ringtone notification whenever she posted something or sent a message. As Shen Jun observed thetest update, a deeper smile graced his face. He, too, took a picture of the bright moon in the sky. He didn¡¯t post the picture with a caption. Then, he leaned against the window and allowed himself to immerse in the serene beauty of the moonlit night. When Wen Nian saw this, she exited the page with a smile and began to reply to the others¡¯ New Year¡¯s blessings. When Wen Nian woke up the next day, she was taken aback to find that there were over 9,999 replies on her social media ount. Her initial reaction was one of fear, assuming that she had once again be the target of online attacks. She hastily opened thements section. [Sisters, 1 feel that there¡¯s a hidden meaning behind these words! Can anyone interpret it?] [I¡¯ll do it! There¡¯s also the second half of the sentence. ¡®You are in my mind. My heart isplete.¡¯ 1 can already smell sweet love through the screen.] [Oh my! My little sister is definitely in love. Congrattions!] [My goddess is taken so quickly! Despair, 1 can¡¯t ept it¡­] [Previous poster, don¡¯t worry. There¡¯s no point in worrying. She¡¯s already showing off. This means that it¡¯s a foregone conclusion. Hahaha.] In short, thements section was predominantly filled with well-wishes and blessings. As Wen Nian scrolled through the replies, she couldn¡¯t help but feel the powerful and vibrant energy of the heartfelt love expressed by everyone.. Chapter 149 - 149: You Are Dating Young Chapter 149: You Are Dating Young Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian got up as she read thements. She reached out to open the door and prepared to wash up. ¡°You¡¯re in love at a young age!¡± A sinister voice sounded from the door. Wen Nian was so startled that she nearly jumped up in fright. When she realized that it was Wen Yu leaning against the door, looking at her with narrowed eyes, she pped his arm forcefully. ¡°Are you trying to give me a heart attack on the first day of the Lunar New Year?!¡± Wen Yu snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the topic. I saw your postst night.¡± Wen Nian had to deny the implication. She spread her hands and exined, ¡°I was merely expressing my feelings about the beauty of the spring moon. It was a literal statement. If you interpret it too deeply, there¡¯s nothing I can do about it.¡± Wen Nian directly made Wen Yu speechless. After all, just from the literal meaning, there was really no hint of romance. Wen Nian smiled and gently pushed Wen Yu away. With her hands behind her back, she walked to the living room to greet her parents and get red packets. Wen Nian had to start work on the third day of Lunar New Year and scheduled to start the tutoring session on the fourth day of Lunar New Year with Shen Jun. As it was still the New Year period, Shen Jun began to offer his New Year greetings as soon as he entered the house. ¡°Happy New Year, Uncle and Auntie. 1 wish you both good health and prosperity in theing year.¡± Zhou Mei, with a smile on her face, promptly handed Shen Jun a red packet. ¡°Little Shen, Happy New Year! I wish you great sess in your studies and hope your wishese true!¡± Shen Jun took it and thanked her. Wen Nian led her into the bedroom. From 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., they had already covered approximately one-third of the knowledge covered in the first semester of their second year of high school. Despite Director Xu¡¯s efforts to prioritize shooting Wen Nian¡¯s scenes, it significantly disrupted the progress of the supplementary ss. Shen Jun furrowed his brows, feeling concerned. ¡°At most, we can only catch up with thest semester¡¯s material before taking a break. There¡¯s hardly any point in considering the second semester of our second year of high school.¡± Wen Nian understood that there were inevitable trade-offs. Despite being mentally prepared, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a twinge of disappointment. Letting out a soft sigh, she said, ¡°Well, I guess we¡¯ll have to rely on this year¡¯s summer vacation to catch up.¡± The uing summer break before their third year of high school presented theirst opportunity to catch up on their studies. When Shen Jun heard this, a sense of delight washed over him. Didn¡¯t this mean that they could spend the summer break together without any constraints or hidden agendas? Shen Jun spoke with a serious tone, fullymitted to their academic goals. ¡°If there¡¯s no other option, then we¡¯ll have to do it this way. If we dedicate ourselves to daily studying, two months should be sufficient for us to catch up.¡± Wen Nian nodded. ¡°By the way, I have holiday tomorrow. What time are youing over?¡± Shen Jun was taken aback by the coincidence of the timing. He had promised his mom that he would take Tingting sightseeing tomorrow. He forced a stiff smile and lied, ¡°There will be guests at my house tomorrow, so I won¡¯t be able to tutor you.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t think too much about it. She smiled and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll stay in the hotel and work on the practice papers tomorrow.¡± The second day was the fifth day of Lunar New Year. To prevent Shen Jun from running away, Zhao Jiao specially asked the Shen Family¡¯s chauffeur to drive Shen Jun and Tingting around. Shen Jun got into the car with a cold expression. Zhao Jiao observed his demeanor and couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased. ¡°Son, make sure to entertain Tingting well. Remember to bring her back for dinner tonight.¡± Jin Ting was already waiting at the entrance of her vi when Shen Jun arrived. She got into the Shen family¡¯s car with a cheerful smile, greeting Shen Jun warmly. ¡°Brother Shen Jun, it¡¯s been at least ten years since west saw each other. I¡¯ve missed you so much during my time overseas. How about you? Did you miss me?¡± Jin Ting, having been exposed to Western culture, was unreserved in expressing her emotions and showcasing her fondness for Shen Jun. Shen Jun chuckled awkwardly. He swiftly responded, attempting to divert any suspicions. ¡°You know, Jin Ting, I¡¯ve always considered you like a sister to me. So, of course, I miss you too.¡±. When Jin Ting heard this, she looked at Shen Jun shyly. ¡°Brother Shen Jun, we¡¯re not biological siblings. Do you still remember that I said 1 would marry you when 1 grow up?¡± Shen Jun couldn¡¯t handle Jin Ting¡¯s straightforwardness. He knew he needed rify their rtionship to avoid any future confusion. ¡°Tingting, you are still young. When you grow older, your thoughts will naturally change.¡± Jin Ting remained undeterred by Shen Jun¡¯s tactful rejection, maintaining her cheerful demeanor. She persisted, saying, ¡°I understand that you may not believe me, but that¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll prove it to you. Brother Shen Jun, I want to visit the Forbidden City. Could you take me there?¡± Upon seeing this, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything more. Adolescent children always seemed more determined to prove themselves when faced with objections. Regardless, he had already expressed what he needed to say and cared little about the remainder. Observing that Jin Ting had a particr destination in mind, Shen Jun instructed the driver to take them to the Forbidden City. As far as he was concerned, it made no difference to him where someone he disliked chose to go- Chapter 150 - 150: Winning Chapter 150: Winning Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At the hotel. Zhou Mei looked at the message and shouted excitedly, ¡°I think 1 won a prize!¡± Wen Xing leaned over curiously and took a look. ¡°Tickets to the Forbidden City? A family trip of four?¡± Zhou Mei nodded with excitement. ¡°A few days ago, 1 received a registration link that mentioned a lucky draw taking ce at the Forbidden City. 1 decided to sign up for it, never expecting to actually win! Today is the day we need to go ording to the notification. Coincidentally, Wen Nian doesn¡¯t have any filming scheduled for today. Let¡¯s pack up and head out quickly!¡± Wen Yu had also never been to the Forbidden City. It was particrly challenging to secure tickets during the New Year period. Numerous families visiting the capital for the holiday season would opt for the Forbidden City as one of their destinations. Initially, the Wen family was unaware that advance booking was necessary. By the time they intended to purchase tickets, it was already toote. They had assumed they wouldn¡¯t have the opportunity to visit this renowned attraction on this asion. However, they were pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Wen Yu rushed into Wen Nian¡¯s room, brimming with excitement, to share the good news. When the family finally arrived at the Forbidden City, it was already close to noon. Zhou Mei promptly headed towards the designated location mentioned in the message to obtain the tickets. In a small room adjacent to the Forbidden City, a middle-aged woman could be found. She was breathing heavily and stomping her feet to ward off the cold. ¡°When did the Forbidden City organize a lucky draw? There wasn¡¯t any news at all. And they chose this ce that doesn¡¯t have a heater as the prize exchange venue. I¡¯m freezing. When will that family arrive?¡± ¡°Hello, do we redeem our prize here?¡± Upon hearing the word ¡°prize,¡± the woman¡¯s reaction was akin to hearing the call of nature. She hurriedly approached the window, clutching the ticket. ¡°Yes, this is the location. Please present me with the details of the winning information!¡± Zhou Mei swiftly retrieved her phone and, upon verifying that the information matched what the organizer had presented, the woman eagerly handed over the tickets. ¡°Please proceed inside quickly. There¡¯s a tour guide room at the main entrance. Once you show them the winning information, the organizer will assign you a tour guide for the Forbidden City. It¡¯s one of the prizes for this event.¡± Zhou Mei did not expect it to be so simple. She happily took the tickets and confirmed again worriedly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t cost anything to be a tour guide, right?¡± The woman replied affirmatively, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s free.¡± With that, she closed the door and windows and ran back to the office. Initially, Wen Nian had thought it was a scam. However, when she witnessed Zhou Mei actually holding the tickets, she couldn¡¯t help but remark on her mother¡¯s rare stroke of good luck. The family entered from the front and sessfully received their assigned tour guide. The tour guide was a young girl in her twenties. She had a Bluetooth earpiece in her ear and a small microphone at her cor. It was obvious that she was a professional tour guide. The little girl revealed a sweet smile. ¡°Wee to the Forbidden City. My surname is Li, and I¡¯m your tour guide this time.¡± Every door and wall within the Forbidden City bore the weight of history. From the moment their tickets were checked and they stepped inside, it felt as though everything before them became a scenic attraction. After Tour Guide Li introduced herself, she began the exnation, starting from the front door, with the Wen family. The Forbidden City spanned an expansive area of 720,000 square meters. Despite numerous restricted sections, it was impossible to explore the entire open area in a single day. Typically, tour guides would lead tourists to the most renowned and ssic destinations. After two hours, Tour Guide Li led the Wen family to the imperial garden. ¡°This area was exclusively designated for the Emperor and his concubines to rx and enjoy themselves. The prominent feature here is the Panxiu Mountain, a 14-meter-tall rockery. During the annual Double Yang Festival, the Empress would ascend this rockery pavilion to admire the picturesque views of the imperial garden.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Nian yfully teased her parents. ¡°Come on, Dad and Mom, let¡¯s hurry up and climb to the top to experience what it feels like to be treated as the emperor and empress.¡± Zhou Mei smiled when she heard that. She held her husband¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Let¡¯s all climb up and enjoy being the rulers of a feudal society.¡± As Wen Nian walked towards the back, she eventually reached the top. To her surprise, she heard Wen Xing¡¯s astonished voiceing from the front. ¡°Little Shen? 1 never expected to encounter you here in the Forbidden City. What a remarkable coincidence!¡± Shen Jun was also dumbfounded when he saw the Wen couple. ¡°Uncle, Auntie?!¡± Just as Shen Jun was feeling fortunate that he had only encountered these two individuals¡­ Wen Nian rushed to the front with a smile. ¡°Shen Jun.¡± When Jin Ting saw Wen Nian, she took a step forward and held Shen Jun¡¯s arm. She looked at Shen Jun and asked curiously, ¡°Brother Shen Jun, is this your friend?¡± Shen Jun swiftly withdrew his arm and cast a nce at Wen Xing and Zhou Mei. He could only respond, ¡°This is my ssmate, Wen Nian.¡± Upon witnessing this, Jin Ting promptly wrapped her arms around Shen Jun¡¯s arm. Shen Jun attempted to pull away once more, but Jin Ting persistently held on and embraced his arm again. As Shen Jun noticed the teasing expression in Wen Xing¡¯s eyes, he began to feel that his and Jin Ting¡¯s actions resembled those of a couple having a yful argument. The more he tried to exin, the more awkward the situation seemed to be. Shen Jun paused his actions and proceeded to exin verbally, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, what a coincidence to run into you here today. My mother¡¯s best friend¡¯s daughter has recently returned to the country, and she wanted to visit the Forbidden City. So, I brought her here.¡± Shen Jun exined to Wen Xing and his wife, but his eyes drifted to Wen Nian from time to time.. Chapter 151 - 151: Declaration of Her Possession Chapter 151: Deration of Her Possession Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Shen Jun offered his exnation, the smile on Wen Nian¡¯s face faded to the point where it was nearly imperceptible. While she remained silent and avoided direct eye contact with Shen Jun, she couldn¡¯t help but be constantly aware of the arms clinging tightly to Shen Jun. The situation began to feel suffocating. Jin Ting hugged Shen Jun¡¯s arm tightly and greeted everyone with a smile. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Brother, Sister, Happy New Year.¡± Looking at this cute girl, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei also smiled and replied, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Wen Yu also smiled and nodded. Although Wen Nian was ufortable, she still smiled and responded. Jin Ting tugged on Shen Jun¡¯s arm, gently urging him forward. ¡°Shen Jun, I would like to explore some other ces too. My aunt mentioned that she¡¯s preparing my favorite dishes for dinner tonight. We should make sure to sightsee swiftly, or we might not have enough time to visit your house.¡± Realizing that it wasn¡¯t an opportune moment to exin further, Shen Jun decided that it would only make things more awkward if they stayed. He bid farewell to the Wen family and apanied Jin Ting as they descended the rockery. The tour guide who had brought them to the location followed closely behind. Watching Shen Jun and Jin Ting disappear, Wen Nian took a deep breath. The Wen family remained oblivious to theplexities between Wen Nian and Shen Jun. They continued their sightseeing with enthusiasm and high spirits. After being forcefully pulled down from the rockery, Shen Jun¡¯s patience wore thin. He forcefully removed Jin Ting¡¯s hand from his arm and spoke with a cold tone, ¡°1 don¡¯t like being touched by others. 1 will take you home. Right now, immediately!¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s expressionless face, Jin Ting¡¯s heart trembled slightly. She didn¡¯t dare to express her desire to continue sightseeing and obediently followed behind Shen Jun. Upon hearing Shen Jun instructing the driver to take them to her home, Jin Ting gathered her courage and softly protested, ¡°Auntie and Grandpa invited me to your house for dinner.¡± Shen Jun leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed. He didn¡¯t respond. Seeing this, Jin Ting did not dare to say anything else. She obediently got out of the car in front of her house. As Jin Ting noticed that the Shen family¡¯s car had vanished from sight, she released the breath she had been holding and let out a sigh of relief. She reached out and gently patted her racing heart. ¡°I truly risked my life this time. I crossed the line of danger repeatedly. Shen Jun, the older you be, the more intimidating you are. I can¡¯t handle it. That youngdy is incredibly courageous.¡± Unable to visit the Shen family, Jin Ting retrieved her phone from her bag and dialed Zhao Jiao¡¯s number. After Zhao Jiao picked up the call, Jin Ting proceeded to provide a detailed ount of the day¡¯s events and oues. After Jin Ting got out of the car, Shen Jun immediately sent a message to Wen Nian to exin his rtionship with Jin Ting again. However, upon arriving home, Shen Jun did not receive any response from Wen Nian. He let out a sigh of relief. Upon entering the house, he noticed Zhao Jiao sitting on the sofa, watching television with a contented expression. Shen Jun took a seat beside Zhao Jiao and spoke with a serious tone, ¡°Mom, I have fulfilled your request. You are not allowed to arrange any more matchmaking attempts with her in the future!¡± Pretending to be oblivious, Zhao Jiao nced around and inquired curiously, ¡°Where is Tingting? Didn¡¯t I ask you to bring her back for dinner?¡± Shen Jun said without changing his expression, ¡°She¡¯s busy. She will visit some other day.¡± Understanding that she had pushed Shen Jun to his limit for the day, Zhao Jiao decided not to push further. She responded, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then let¡¯s forget about it for now. 1¡¯11 invite her to our house another day.¡± Even after dinner, Shen Jun continued to receive no response from Wen Nian. Unable to wait any longer, he decided to directly call Wen Nian. ¡°Hello,¡± came Wen Nian¡¯s slightly cold voice from the other end of the receiver. Shen Jun paused for a moment and probed carefully, ¡°Are you angry?¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t think too much about it. 1 just saw your message and was about to reply when your call came.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voicecked any trace of emotion. Shen Jun¡¯s intuition told him that Wen Nian was currently angry. Before Shen Jun could devise a n to appease Wen Nian and improve the situation, Wen Nian¡¯s voice interrupted again. ¡°Let¡¯s not discuss it for now. 1 have wasted half of my day already, and I need to hurry now.¡± With that, Wen Nian abruptly ended the call without waiting for Shen Jun¡¯s response. Shen Jun stared at the abruptly ended call and felt a sense of anguish. He would have preferred it if Wen Nian had expressed his anger directly instead of leaving him in this state of indifference. On the other end, Wen Nian was also experiencing a great deal of difort. The image of Jin Ting¡¯s arm around Shen Jun kept reying in his mind, almost as if it was a deration of her possession. Wen Nian understood that Shen Jun had denied their rtionship in the past due to his concerns for Wen Xing, Zhou Mei, and their mutual decision to keep it private for the time being. Despite being Shen Jun¡¯s true girlfriend, Wen Nian found herself unable to confront the situation where she had to witness other girls holding onto her boyfriend while remaining silent. This overwhelming sense of powerlessness left Wen Nian feeling deeply frustrated.. Chapter 152 - 152: Coaxing Herself Chapter 152: Coaxing Herself Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Feeling somewhat helpless due to Wen Nian¡¯s negative attitude, Shen Jun knew that things couldn¡¯t remain stagnant. After some thought, he decided to send Wen Nian a message. Shen Jun: Wen Nian, I promise that I will inform you in advance the next time 1 hang out with someone of the opposite sex. Please don¡¯t be angry. Wen Nian: I¡¯m not angry. Wen Nian¡¯s response remained concise, indicating that this issue would not be resolved easily. Shen Jun realized that he needed to find an indirect way to address the situation and resolve their differences. Shen Jun: Then let me put it another way. What can I do to make you happy now? Wen Nian was even angrier when she saw this. She still needed her toe up with ideas?! Should she be coaxing herself?! Wen Nian chose not to respond to Shen Jun¡¯s message and instead immersed herself in practice tests, her anger festering inside her. Shen Jun waited anxiously until he eventually fell asleep, but he didn¡¯t receive a reply from Wen Nian. The following morning, as soon as he woke up, he immediately reached out to Zhao Wu and called him. Yesterday, Zhao Wu resorted to forceful measures to bring Bai Ling to the capital. Bai Ling was filled with anger throughout the night, while Zhao Wu spent the entire night coaxing her. Just as Bai Ling began to calm down and Zhao Wu could finally get some sleep, Shen Jun¡¯s call abruptly woke him up. Zhao Wu, suppressing his anger, reluctantly answered the call. ¡°You¡¯re disturbing my sleep so early in the morning. Do you believe I¡¯ll curse you and Wen Nian to argue every day?!¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s words happened to touch upon Shen Jun¡¯s greatest concern at the moment. Shen Jun¡¯s usually charming ck eyes turned cold, and he furrowed his brows slightly. ¡°Do you think I won¡¯t go to Grandma right now and retrieve the wooden tablet?¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s temper instantly improved. He nced at the still sleeping Bai Ling, got up from the room, and then replied with a touch of helplessness, ¡°Young master! What¡¯s the matter?¡± Shen Jun exined the situation to Zhao Wu, who felt a sense of strangeness after listening. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder when Zhao Jiao had started expressing her opinions about family background and being rebellious. However, still feeling groggy and not fully awake, Zhao Wu couldn¡¯t be bothered to think too deeply. He responded, ¡°So, what did you say to her on WeChat? Just send me the conversation.¡± Shen Jun hesitated for a moment, his face turning slightly red with embarrassment, as he sent a screenshot of his conversation with Wen Nian to Zhao Wu. When Zhao Wu saw the content of the conversation and Shen Jun¡¯s attempts at coaxing, he frowned and sighed softly. ¡°There will be a next time? You¡¯re just stirring up trouble with that statement. Even if there is a next time, you can¡¯t just say it casually like this. Look at yourst sentence. It seems like you¡¯re just going through the motions toplete the mission, right?¡± Shen Jun, feeling defensive, tried to exin himself. ¡°I asked her to know the way to make her happy more urately. Otherwise, if 1 can¡¯t coax her properly, she might get even angrier.¡± Zhao Wu rolled his eyes in exasperation. ¡°You¡¯re not using your brain here. First of all, you need to understand that she¡¯s your girlfriend, not your client! And what¡¯s with the uracy of knowing the method¡­ You¡¯re just being insincere! Plus, can you not keep messaging her if she¡¯s ignoring you?¡± ¡°Let me exin, it¡¯s not just about posting it at a specific time, but you also need to submit a brief essay of at least 200 words within a timeframe of 30 minutes to an hour. In this essay, express the impact her disregard has had on you. You couldn¡¯t sleep at all! You were restlessly tossing and turning throughout the night.¡± Bai Ling was typically an obedient girl who seldom threw tantrums. However, Zhao Wu had some experience, albeit limited, in pacifying girls and often found himself being persuaded by them. He reminisced about these instances and shared them with Shen Jun, leaving Shen Jun utterly amazed. Nevertheless, Zhao Wu personally taught him a few techniques. Shen Jun was content with the method and allowed his uncle to rest and go to sleep. Wen Nian¡¯s scenes for the day were scheduled to be filmed during daylight hours. The school scenes had already beenpleted. Shen Jun inquired about the filming location for the day from Wen Xing and packed his belongings before driving over to the designated spot. When Shen Jun arrived, it was lunchtime. Wen Nian found a chair and sat down, engrossed in reading the script. Shen Jun grabbed a small stool and positioned himself to the side, fully focused. He retrieved a thermos and opened the lid. ¡°Don¡¯t you enjoy wontons? I discovered a person from Hai City who owns a shop in the capital. Their Hai City wontons are incredibly tasty and truly authentic. Give them a try and let me know if you like them.¡± Initially, Wen Nian had been quite angryst night. However, after spending a few hours writing, her anger had subsided significantly. Knowing Shen Jun¡¯s nature and understanding that he wasn¡¯t skilled at pacifying others, she expected him to figure things out on his own. However, when she realized that Shen Jun hadn¡¯t sent a single message during this time, her anger reignited once again! If she didn¡¯t reply, Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t send anymore messages. If she never responded, their rtionship would eventually end like this! It was a technical issue that Shen Jun didn¡¯t know how to effectively coax Wen Nian, which could be worked on and improved. However, the problem with his attitude, if he chose not to continue coaxing her, was much more significant. Upon waking up this morning and not seeing Shen Jun making any effort to reach out to her, Wen Nian felt like she was suffering in this rtionship. With Shen Jun¡¯s sudden appearance, Wen Nian¡¯s previously adjusted mood for filming was once again disrupted. While she felt a tinge of happiness at seeing him, she didn¡¯t want to forgive him easily.. Chapter 153 - 153: Taste Test Chapter 153: Taste Test Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian cast a quick nce at Shen Jun and responded calmly, ¡°No need. My father will be sending food overter.¡± Shen Jun was momentarily taken aback, but then he proceeded to take out the prepared bowls and chopsticks, pouring the wontons from the bucket into the bowl. ¡°I informed Uncle and Auntie that someone from the production team will treat us to lunch since they are wrapping up production,¡± he exined. Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun suspiciously. ¡°My parents didn¡¯t doubt anything?¡± Shen Junughed awkwardly. ¡°I said that you were filming. And so, you asked me to make the call for you.¡±¡± Wen Nian snorted, ¡°Why didn¡¯t 1 realize you were so skilled at lying before?¡± Confronted with Wen Nian¡¯s sarcastic remark, Shen Jun raised an eyebrow and replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a bit forced? If you persist in ignoring me, I can show you even more things that you¡¯ve never seen before.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at Shen Jun, but she couldn¡¯t help but notice the slight curl of his lips. He handed the bowl to her and said, ¡°It¡¯s not worth starving yourself out of anger towards me. You still have filming in the afternoon. Give it a try and see if it¡¯s better than the restaurant in Hai City you often go to.¡± Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t do anything to harm her stomach. She reluctantly took the bowl and decided to give it a taste. Shen Jun anxiously observed Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, awaiting her response. As he noticed her eyes light up with delight after tasting the food, a smile formed on his face in response. The wontons made in Hai City possessed a distinct vor, and they required precise cooking to achieve the desired taste. It was a slightly challenging task. Being in a foreign city, Wen Nian didn¡¯t hold high expectations before tasting the wontons. However, after taking the first bite, she was pleasantly surprised and quickly finished the rest of them. ¡°Burp!¡± After letting out a burp, Wen Nian¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. She nced at Shen Jun and swiftly shifted the conversation, asking, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Shen Jun delicately took the empty bowl from Wen Nian¡¯s hand and responded softly, ¡°Your words of concern reassured me that my morning spent tasting the rmended wontons from so many restaurants wasn¡¯t in vain.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun in surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve been tasting wontons all morning?¡± Shen Jun nodded and spoke calmly, ¡°There are over a dozen wonton ces with excellent reviews on the Inte. Each one ims to be the best in the capital. Don¡¯t you think I should try them all, one by one, to select the absolute best for you?¡± Shen Jun modestly downyed his achievements. Wen Nian no longer felt like he was being ignoredst night. He bit his lower lip and nced at Shen Jun. Observing this, Shen Jun realized that it was his turn to offer the other person an opportunity to step back. He held Wen Nian¡¯s hand and gazed into her shimmering eyes. ¡°This is my first time being in a rtionship, and I¡¯m not adept at understanding a girl¡¯s thoughts. Please don¡¯t mind if I¡¯m slow toprehend. If you believe I¡¯ve done something wrong, don¡¯t hesitate to let it out. If you feel any anger, direct it at me. It hurts me deeply when you turn cold towards me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t reach out to youst night because you didn¡¯t reply. I was afraid that continuously sending messages while you were angry would only further annoy you and lead you to block me. I truly felt helpless and didn¡¯t know where to turn.¡± Sometimes, a boy can disy vulnerability even better than girls. Wen Nian gazed at Shen Jun¡¯s pitiful demeanor, and her heart softened. Suddenly, she realized that her reaction towards him the previous day might have been somewhat unfair. She slightly raised her gaze towards Shen Jun and responded softly, ¡°Okay.¡± Sensing the opportune moment, Shen Jun seized the chance to make another request. ¡°Promise me that no matter how much we may argue in the future, we won¡¯t resort to a cold war. We must stay in touch with each other at all times, and you won¡¯t cklist me. A cold war won¡¯t solve our problems; only throughmunication can we find resolutions.¡± Wen Nian, who had been sessfully appeased, became more receptive and easy to converse with. She nodded earnestly and replied, ¡°Yes, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Shen Jun felt a sense of relief as he heard Wen Nian ask, ¡°Did the girl you apanied that day have feelings for you?¡± Although Shen Jun found Jin Ting¡¯s affection somewhat peculiar, he maintained aposed smile and responded, ¡°She¡¯s only 15 years old, still a young girl. In her heart, she sees me as nothing more than an older brother figure.¡± As Wen Nian thought about how Jin Ting had tenaciously held onto Shen Jun¡¯s arm, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that such an action didn¡¯t appear to be that of a sisterly affection. No matter how she interpreted it, it seemed to go beyond a sibling rtionship. Wen Nian cast a skeptical nce at Shen Jun, but decided not to dwell on that particr question. Instead, she inquired, ¡°Do you still have ns to take her sightseeing?¡± Shen Jun swiftly responded, ¡°Even if my mom wanted me to, I wouldn¡¯t bring her along. My girlfriend is far more important to me than anyone else.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but smile, a genuine smile that emerged for the first time since the previous night. After wrapping up the day¡¯s filming, Shen Jun drove Wen Nian back to the hotel.. Chapter 154 - 154: First Kiss Chapter 154: First Kiss Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios During the seven-day holiday of the Spring Festival, Zhou Mei found herself constantly preupied with thoughts of her noodle shop. Despite being the boss, she allowed herself only a single additional day off. The Wen couple and their son, Wen Yu, were in the process of packing up their belongings in the hotel, getting ready to return to Hai City the next day. Zhou Mei had managed to secure a suitable shop for rent before the start of the new year. Taking into ount the shortage of staff and the need to save costs, Zhou Mei made the decision to have Wen Xing apany them back to Ii City and lend a hand at the noodle shop. When Zhou Mei arrived in the capital this time, she felt a sense of relief upon witnessing Wen Nian¡¯s satisfactory working and living conditions. Additionally, the presence of Shen Jun, her ssmate and mentor, further solidified her decision. When Shen Jun found out about Zhou Mei¡¯s ns, he became extremely enthusiastic and offered to help them prepare the ce for their arrival. Today, he bid them farewell, expressing his eagerness to assist. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, what time is your flight tomorrow? I¡¯ll be happy to drive you to the airport.¡± Wen Yu observed Shen Jun¡¯s attentive demeanor and cast a suspicious nce in his direction. Wen Yu sensed that something was off about this individual, but he refrained from voicing his concerns aloud. Shen Jun frequently visited to tutor Wen Nian, often ingratiating himself with Wen Yu¡¯s parents, causing his son to feel sidelined in recent times. Zhou Mei gazed at Shen Jun and responded with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not toote. I purchased a ne ticket for 10 o¡¯clock. Please don¡¯t trouble yourself. We find it convenient to drive ourselves. However, if there¡¯s anything Wen Nian needs assistance with after we return, please lend a hand. Once you¡¯re back in Hai City, Auntie will prepare delicious meals for you every day.¡± Shen Jun noticed Qin Gang¡¯s suspicious gaze, which made him quickly regain hisposure. He became more cautious and refrained from behaving unusually. With a smile, he replied, ¡°Sure, Auntie, don¡¯t worry. 1¡¯11 take care of everything.¡± Even though the family had only been together for seven days, Wen Nian had grown ustomed to the warm and lively atmosphere. Therefore, when she returned to the hotel the following day, she couldn¡¯t help but feel that the suite was unusually empty. Observing the loneliness in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, Shen Jun extended aforting gesture by gently patting the top of her head. He cleared his throat softly before speaking, ¡°Why don¡¯t I move in with you after the New Year?¡± Wen Nian let out a chuckle and turned to face Shen Jun, amused by his serious expression. Teasingly, she remarked, ¡°How did you manage to say such shameless things with such a serious face?¡± Shen Jun yfully raised Wen Nian¡¯s chin with his hand, shing a slight smile. ¡°Not only do I want to say it, but I also want to act on it. Since you¡¯ve made such a request, 1¡¯11 shamelessly express it.¡± Since their rtionship began, Shen Jun had been mindful of Wen Nian¡¯s outsider status and the presence of the Wen family in the hotel. Despite being together for almost a month, the most intimate gestures they shared were hugs and hand-holding. Shen Jun gently pulled Wen Nian onto hisp, their faces now at eye level. This sitting position made Wen Nian feel a hint of embarrassment, causing her cheeks to flush. She blushed and instinctively attempted to get up from hisp. Shen Jun¡¯srge hand firmly encircled Wen Nian¡¯s waist, exerting a gentle yet firm grip. Despite her efforts, Wen Nian found herself unable to break free from his hold. Wen Nian gazed into Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, her own eyes filled with a flirtatious re. She retorted yfully, ¡°Who said 1 made a request? Don¡¯t go using me falsely.¡± As soon as Wen Nian finished speaking, Shen Jun swiftly covered his mouth, stifling any further words from escaping. Shen Jun, noticing Wen Nian¡¯s slightly widened eyes, raised his hand and gently covered her eyes. Drawing closer, he pressed his lips against hers and spoke in a soft,manding tone, ¡°Close your eyes and let¡¯s kiss.¡± Wen Nian smiled and closed her eyes. In contrast to the insincere and transactional kisses she had observed between her seniors, this kiss with Shen Jun represented Wen Nian¡¯s true understanding of a first kiss. It was the first time she experienced the sheer bliss of kissing someone she genuinely liked. After a while, the two of them parted from the kiss. Wen Nian sensed something pressing against her and suddenly had a realization. She looked up in surprise, her eyes filled with curiosity and intrigue. Upon noticing the desire in Shen Jun¡¯s gaze as he looked at her, Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks flushed with heat, and the blush spread to the tips of her ears. She had the intention to get up, but Shen Jun held her tightly in his embrace. His voice, maic and slightly husky, resonated in her ears. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Allow me to hold you,¡± he whispered. Wen Nian snickered and buried her face in Shen Jun¡¯s arms, not daring to move. Wen Nian straddled Shen Jun¡¯s body, her head resting beside his ear, where she could hear the rhythmic beat of his heart. A sense of tranquility washed over her, and she was on the verge of drifting off to sleep when she suddenly heard Shen Jun¡¯s voice break the silence. ¡°You¡¯ll be filming during the daytime for the next few days, won¡¯t you?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice reverted to its customary coldness. Wen Nian opened her eyes in a daze and replied gently, ¡°Yes.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯spliance, Shen Jun managed to suppress his hormonal urges and spoke with sincerity. ¡°1 have a gathering the night after tomorrow. It¡¯s with my childhood friends, like brothers to me. I want to bring you along.¡± Realizing the significance of meeting Shen Jun¡¯s family and friends, Wen Nian quickly regained herposure and sat up straight. ¡°Are all your friends¡¯ families quite affluent?¡± she asked. Shen Jun was taken aback, realizing that he hadn¡¯t shared much about his family background despite their long time together. ¡°Let me tell you about my family first. My family is simple. It consists of only four members: my grandfather, my parents, and myself,¡± he exined.. Chapter 155 - 155: The Shen Family in the Capital Chapter 155: The Shen Family in the Capital Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun paused for a moment, being cautious not toe across as boastful. He asked tentatively, ¡°My family is involved in business, and it¡¯s quite prominent.¡± Feeling that the current sitting position was a bit peculiar for discussing serious matters, Wen Nian moved to sit on the sofa. She asked with genuine curiosity, ¡°How extensive is your family¡¯s business?¡± Shen Jun asked, ¡°Are you familiar with the Shen Corporation?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s pupils contracted in disbelief as she asked, ¡°The Shen Corporation, owned by the Shen family in the capital?!¡± The Chinese culture, with its rich history spanning thousands of years, had witnessed the existence of numerous aristocratic families across the vastnd. Among these noble lineages, there were four families that held a tacit recognition as the foremost leaders among the aristocracy. Their power and influence were on par with each other, and the Shen family in the capital was counted among these esteemed families. The Shen Corporation, established by the Shen family, epassed diverse industries and stood as an exceptionalpany across various fields. As an ordinary individual, Wen Nian had onlye to know about thepany through bits and pieces of information she had gleaned from cocktail parties she attended in her previous life. As Shen Jun nodded in affirmation, Wen Nian remained slightly stunned. The wealth of the Shen family could be described as immense, almostparable to that of a country. While she was aware that Shen Jun¡¯s family was rich, she had never fathomed the extent of their wealth to be so vast. As Shen Jun noticed Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, he gently reached out to caress her head and shed a smile. ¡°Remember when you were surrounded by reporters and targeted by Huang Yue? You didn¡¯t let that faze you at all. But now, a seemingly trivial matter left you dumbfounded.¡± Wen Nianughed awkwardly and said, ¡°Is this a small matter?¡± Being aware that Wen Nian was not a materialistic person, Shen Jun also feared that his family background might impose undue pressure on her and cause her to withdraw. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s internal concerns, he maintained aposed demeanor and spoke casually, ¡°I didn¡¯t earn any of that wealth. In the end, I¡¯m still just a poor student.¡± Shortly after, he reassured her, saying, ¡°But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve started my ownpany. Although it¡¯s still in its early stages and hasn¡¯t achievedplete sess yet, I promise you that 1 won¡¯t let you live a difficult life.¡± Despite Shen Jun¡¯s attempt to level the ying field with his words, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t ignore the fact that she wasn¡¯t truly 17 years old. Even if Shen Jun were just an ordinary wealthy second-generation heir, they couldn¡¯t truly be on equal footing. However, due to the deep feelings of love she held for Shen Jun, she agreed to his pursuit, willing to navigate the disparities that existed between them. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s outwardly calm expression, Wen Nian noticed that his gaze lingered on her, indicating his underlying nervousness about her reaction. Wen Nian¡¯s heart melted, and a gentle smile adorned her lips. She yfully lifted Shen Jun¡¯s chin and teased, ¡°If you haven¡¯t achieved sess, then of course you won¡¯t have a difficult life. I¡¯ll be the one to earn money and support you.¡± Having made her decision in the past, Wen Nian was determined not to give up easily. Even in the face of a more prosperous family background than she had anticipated, Wen Nian had no intentions of retreating from her chosen path. Upon seeing this, Shen Jun felt a sense of relief. A smile graced his face as he replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Jin Ting had initially believed that by helping Zhao Jiao once, the matter would be resolved. However, to her surprise, she received another phone call. Upon hearing Zhao Jiao¡¯s words, Jin Ting¡¯s expression turned troubled. ¡°Auntie Zhao, it¡¯s probably best if I don¡¯t get involved again. I¡¯m afraid that if 1 were to appear in front of them once more, Brother Shen Jun might hire someone to kill me.¡± ¡°He wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Zhao Jiao responded immediately, her tone resolute. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, as long as I¡¯m here, he wouldn¡¯t dare to act so arrogantly!¡± Jin Ting had been deeply frightened by Shen Jun¡¯s actions that day, and it took her two days to fully recover from the shock. Naturally, she had no desire to get entangled in that messy situation any further. ¡°Auntie Zhao, to be honest, 1 will be busy that day.¡± Despite Zhao Jiao¡¯s understanding of Jin Ting¡¯s hesitation, she continued to express her thoughts. Speaking slowly, she said, ¡°I understand that your mother¡¯s attitude has softened recently, but I can¡¯t help but feel that her concerns are valid. The entertainment industry is incrediblyplex, especially for a young girl like yourself¡­¡± Jin Ting felt trapped, as if her vulnerabilities were being exploited. ¡°Actually, my previous engagement isn¡¯t that pressing. Could you remind me of the time and location?¡± Knowing that everything is now under her control, Zhao Jiao responded with a smile, ¡°Perfect, 10 p.m. at Yn Clubhouse.¡± Jin Ting responded promptly, ¡°Okay! Auntie Zhao, what about my mother?¡± Zhao Jiao said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Jin Ting had always harbored dreams of bing a celebrity, but due to Ji Xiang¡¯s objection, she was still engaged in an ongoing battle to pursue her aspirations. In contrast, Zhao Jiao had a more open-minded perspective on children pursuing careers in the entertainment industry and bing celebrities. She believed that everyone had the right to choose their desired profession. asionally, she would assist Jin Ting in persuading Ji Xiang. It was precisely due to this understanding that Zhao Jiao sessfully sought Jin Ting¡¯s help. Once the Wen family returned to Hai City, Wen Nian and Shen Jun finally had the opportunity to be alone together, and their rtionship quickly intensified and became more passionate.. Chapter 156 - 156: Going All Out Chapter 156: Going All Out Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios On the day of the gathering, unforeseen circumstances caused the scheduled scenes, which were supposed to conclude by 7 p.m., to be dyed until 9:30 p.m. As a result, Wen Nian and Shen Jun hurriedly made their way to the gathering directly from the set. Yn Clubhouse. Shen Jun took the lead and guided Wen Nian into the private room. The private room was spacious, spanning a few hundred square meters. While it wasn¡¯t divided by walls, it was adorned with various appealing decorations. The room was segmented into distinct entertainment areas, allowing for different activities without obstructing the line of sight or causing too much interference. There were dedicated areas for ying darts, billiards, karaoke, mahjong, and poker. However, the private room wasn¡¯t crowded with many people. Inside, there were four boys and only one girl, who happened to be Jin Ting. Lin Yang, sitting in a position facing the entrance of the private room, noticed Shen Jun¡¯s arrival and immediately raised his voice, eximing, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, the protagonist has arrived!¡± Everyone¡¯s gaze shifted to the door. A boy with silver-dyed hair stepped forward, reaching out to grab Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder whileughing boisterously. ¡°You¡¯re bing quite elusive these days! Hard to catch a glimpse of you!¡± he eximed. Two boys, one overweight and the other slender, descended from the pool table and made their way toward Shen Jun. The chubby boy¡¯s name was Jiang Zhen, and he chimed in, ¡°Zhou Xi is absolutely right. It¡¯s like trying to ascend to the heavens to catch a glimpse of you! Thest time I saw you was during the winter break, and it feels like ages since then. You¡¯ll have to punish yourself by drinking three cupster!¡± The tall and thin boy did not say anything and only smiled at the side. Shen Jun knew that he was in the wrong and said helplessly, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll drinkter.¡± Jin Ting stood beside Jiang Zhen and smiled brightly. ¡°Brother Shen Jun!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s gaze involuntarily shifted towards Wen Nian. Although there was a gentle smile on her face that remained unchanged, Shen Jun¡¯s heart raced like a drum. Jiang Zhen, who was the organizer of the gathering, had initially intended for it to be a gathering with Shen Jun alone. Jin Ting¡¯s presence came as a surprise to him. Excitedly, he turned to Shen Jun and eximed, ¡°Shen Jun, do you have any idea who this is?¡± Understanding the importance of maintaining a joyful atmosphere, Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to dampen everyone¡¯s spirits. With a smile, he replied, ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve already had the pleasure of meeting Jin Ting a few days ago.¡± Jiang Zhen pped his hands and grinned. ¡°What a coincidence! Jin Ting arrived here unexpectedly, feeling a bit down, and we happened to run into each other at the entrance. It¡¯s been years since west saw her, especially since she went abroad. Now we can finally enjoy a good time together!¡± As Jin Ting noticed the smile on Shen Jun¡¯s face, she spoke in an attempt to rify her presence. ¡°Well, it¡¯s mainly because I missed you guys, my dear brothers. It¡¯s such a remarkable coincidence that 1 ran into all of you as soon as 1 returned.¡± Upon hearing Jin Ting¡¯s words, Lin Yang¡¯s eyes flickered with mischief. He nced back and forth between Jin Ting and Shen Jun, teasingly remarking, ¡°Oh, do you all recall who once dered their desire to marry our beloved Brother Shen Jun?¡± Observing the situation, Jin Ting immediately lowered her head, feigning shyness. Shen Jun¡¯s expression seemed slightly off. Sensing the tension, Xue Jiang, who had been silent until now, interjected with a light-hearted remark, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s all take a seat. We¡¯re standing so upright that someone might mistake us for guards on duty.¡± Shen Jun said, ¡°Let me introduce you all. This is my girlfriend Wen Nian.¡± Everyone already saw Wen Nian, who was beside Shen Jun. Shen Jun had mentioned a few days ago that he had found a girlfriend in Hai City. It would be disingenuous to im that they weren¡¯t intrigued by the girl who had managed to capture the attention of the usually aloof Shen Jun. However, upon discovering that Wen Nian came from an ordinary family background, they considered her as a passing figure in the early stages of Shen Jun¡¯s dating experience. It is like the role yed by certain maidservants who were well-versed in worldly matters in the presence of young masters in ancient times. When everyone saw Wen Nian¡¯s delicate features and her gentle and obedient demeanor, they couldn¡¯t help but marvel at how Shen Jun had a preference for this type. However, they didn¡¯t pay it much mind, and naturally, they didn¡¯t even bother to greet her. The scene that just unfolded was something Wen Nian had anticipated in advance. Every social group has its own barriers, and this small circle was no exception. Even though they may appear warm and amodating in front of Shen Jun, their true thoughts and perceptions in private could be entirely different. There are only two ways to change this situation. One is for Shen Jun to genuinely protect her, as they wouldn¡¯t want to lose him as a loyal and trusted friend. The other is for Wen Nian to enhance her own abilities and make these young masters genuinely change their perspectives from the depths of their hearts. Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s introduction, Lin Yang took the initiative to greet Wen Nian, smiling as he said, ¡°Hello, Wen Nian. I¡¯m Lin Yang.¡± The others didn¡¯t show much on their faces, but they still greeted Wen Nian with friendliness, even if their attitudes were not overly enthusiastic. Lastly, it was Jin Ting who spoke up. She stepped forward, gently taking hold of Wen Nian¡¯s wrist and wore an innocent smile on her face. ¡°Hello, sister. I¡¯m Jin Ting. You can call me Tingting, just like Shen Jun does,¡± she said. Jin Ting felt that she had truly gone all out in order to enter the entertainment industry.. Chapter 157 - 157: On the Way Chapter 157: On the Way Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian smiled as she responded, ¡°Hello.¡± Wen Nian was not ustomed to such intimate gestures from unfamiliar people, but before she could withdraw her hand, Shen Jun forcefully pulled Jin Ting¡¯s hand away and frowned, saying, ¡°Do you have no sense of personal space? Must you stick so closely everywhere you go?¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t believe in coincidences. He was convinced that Jin Ting¡¯s appearance was somehow rted to his mother. In his mind, he silently cursed himself for not being more vignt even during phone conversations at home, resolving to be more cautious in the future. Shen Jun¡¯s tenderness and care were reserved solely for Wen Nian. As he forcefully pulled Jin Ting¡¯s hand, she felt as if her arm might break, a mix of grievance and a hint of flirtatious petnce in her expression. She narrowed her eyes at Shen Jun, but in reality, she had already scolded him harshly in her mind. She wished Wen Nian could torment Shen Jun whenever she¡¯s free. The atmosphere in the private room immediately turned slightly awkward. Sensing the tension, Jiang Zhen quickly stepped forward to ease the situation. Jiang Zhen draped his arm around Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder and settled onto the sofa. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s all take a seat. We¡¯re not leaving until we¡¯re allpletely drunk tonight!¡± Shen Jun guided Wen Nian to take a seat beside him. The five of them hadn¡¯t seen each other for half a year. As Shen Jun engaged in conversation with the others, it was inevitable that he couldn¡¯t fully include Wen Nian in every interaction. Taking advantage of the moment, Jin Ting sat next to Wen Nian. She retrieved her phone and proactively suggested, ¡°Sister, let¡¯s exchange WeChat. Since you¡¯re with Brother Shen Jun, it¡¯s inevitable that you¡¯ll be joining gatherings like ours in the future. We¡¯re friends now, so if you have any questions or need help, feel free to ask me.¡± The love rival is asking to add her on WeChat?! Unaware of Jin Ting¡¯s intentions, Wen Nian briefly lowered her gaze before retrieving her phone with a smile. After all, exchanging pleasantries was amon courtesy. She smiled and responded, ¡°Sure, 1 appreciate your help in the future. Thank you.¡± Jin Ting¡¯s primary objective for the day was to sessfully add Wen Nian as a friend on WeChat. Once aplished, she felt a sense of satisfaction and her mood improved. She even went on to sing a few songs together with Wen Nian, fostering a more cheerful atmosphere. As Shen Jun noticed that it was already past midnight, he informed the group, ¡°I have somemitments tomorrow, so 1 need to leave now.¡± Xue Jiang cast a knowing nce at Shen Jun. He had been observant since the beginning, noticing that even while Shen Jun engaged in conversation with them, his gaze would asionally drift towards Wen Nian. Xue Jiang had a hunch that Shen Jun¡¯s decision to leave early had something to do with Wen Nian. Although Shen Jun had provided a reason, he sensed that there was an underlying connection between them that prompted his early departure. Jiang Zhen checked the time and couldn¡¯t help butin, ¡°You¡¯ve only been here for an hour, and now you¡¯re leaving already?!¡± Zhou Xi, too, nced at Shen Jun with surprise. ¡°Come on, have some more fun. You¡¯ll be heading back to Hai City in a few days,¡± she suggested, urging him to stay a bit longer and enjoy himself. Lin Yang, who was enjoying himself, couldn¡¯t help but sound disappointed upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s decision. He eximed, ¡°Exactly! Why are you leaving so early?¡± In order to keep Wen Nian apanied, Shen Jun had declined their invitations many times. He responded to his friend, ¡°I do have something important tomorrow. But before I leave, 1¡¯11 make it up to you by setting up a gathering soon.¡± Only after Shen Jun made his promise did they reluctantly let him go. Jin Ting also bid farewell to everyone and rushed out of the private room, chasing after Shen Jun. When Lin Yang saw this, he scratched his head. ¡°This situation is quite confusing.¡± Jiang Zhen grinned and teased, ¡°Don¡¯t strain your little piggy brain. Even if you scratch your head bald, you won¡¯te up with anything worthwhile.¡± Not backing down, Lin Yang yfully ced his arm around Jiang Zhen¡¯s neck and fired back, ¡°You tubby guy. Can¡¯t you go a day without insulting me? Are you that bored?¡± Zhou Xi grabbed a handful of potato chips from the coffee table and threw them at the two of them. ¡°Enough, you two. Can¡¯t you see that Shen Jun¡¯s behavior this time is quite unusual?¡± Lin Yang was taken aback for a moment. ¡°Are you suggesting that he has been avoiding our gatherings since he returned? But didn¡¯t Shen Jun mention that he was quite busy during the winter break?¡± Zhou Xi yfully rolled his eyes at Lin Yang¡¯s response and turned to Xue Jiang, nudging him with his elbow. ¡°Hey, Old Xue, what¡¯s your take on this?¡± Xue Jiang looked up at Zhou Xi and offered his spection. ¡°1 have a feeling that it has something to do with that girl, Wen Nian.¡± Lin Yang¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Shen Jun wants to have a serious rtionship with that girl? 1 find it hard to believe. Given his family¡¯s prestigious background, it¡¯s unlikely that a girl from a modest family could fit into his future ns.¡± Xue Jiang raised his eyebrows and offered a piece of advice. ¡°I suggest we focus on the present and treat Wen Nian with respect, regardless of what might happen in the future.¡± Lin Yang remained skeptical of Xue Jiang¡¯s perspective, and Jiang Zhen had joined forces with Lin Yang, sharing the same doubts on the matter. Zhou Xi was deep in thought as he recalled the phone call he received from Zhao Jiao two days ago. Since Shen Jun couldn¡¯t drive after drinking, he took the responsible step of hiring a designated driver from the parking lot. Prioritizing safety, he ensured that he and Wen Nian would have a safe ride back home. Jin Ting hurriedly caught up with Shen Jun and Wen Nian. ¡°Brother Shen Jun, can you give me a ride too? My house is on the way.¡± Shen Jun turned towards Jin Ting, his expression serious and his voice low. ¡°Go find the person who sent you here to give you a ride..¡± Chapter 158 - 158: Shield Chapter 158: Shield Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jin Ting couldn¡¯t contain her anger and frustration, and she stomped her feet in frustration, In her mind, she thought resentfully, ¡°You¡¯re not a gentleman at all. Once 1 be close with Sister Wen Nian in the future, you¡¯ll regret it!¡± Wen Nian misunderstood Shen Jun¡¯s intention, thinking that he wanted Jin Ting to find Jiang Zhen instead. Concerned that Shen Jun might disregard Jiang Zhen¡¯s feelings and strain their rtionship, Wen Nian was about to speak up. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t this Young Master Shen? Have youe back from exile to celebrate the New Year?¡± Shen Jun could recognize the owner of this voice even if he turned into ashes. He let go of Wen Nian¡¯s hand and turned to look. The provocative tone caught Wen Nian¡¯s attention, causing her to turn around and face the source of the remark. A dozen meters away, two young men in their early twenties were standing by a car, casually smoking. One of them had a striking appearance, but the coldness in his eyes detracted from his otherwise attractive features, giving him a sinister aura. The other young man had an unremarkable appearance, the type that would easily blend into a crowd. Shen Jun responded with a faint smile, his voice calm. ¡°Zhang Lin, 1 see that even after all this time, your way of speaking hasn¡¯t changed. Still as crude as ever.¡± The boy with the exquisite facial features remained unfazed. He approached Shen Jun with a smile, speaking in a casual tone as if discussing a trivial matter. ¡°Oh,e on now. I¡¯ve always been consistent in my ways, unlike you. Going to Hai City has taught you to juggle women on both sides now that you¡¯re back.¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s attention shifted to Wen Nian, who was previously holding Shen Jun¡¯s hand. He raised an eyebrow and smiled. ¡°Is this your girlfriend? She¡¯s quite a beauty!¡± Shen Jun took a deliberate step forward, moving closer to Zhang Lin and positioning himself between Zhang Lin and Wen Nian, subtly blocking her from view. There was no emotion in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes; he simply stared at Zhang Lin indifferently. ¡°When did Young Master Zhang be so free that he would go out of his way to greet me just to say this?¡± Zhang Lin shrugged. ¡°Look, you¡¯re overthinking things. It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you, and I happened to run into you, so I said hello. Oh, by the way, I also wanted to meet your girlfriend.¡± Shen Jun was currently with Wen Nian and didn¡¯t want to be entangled with Zhang Lin for too long. However, he was aware of Wen Nian¡¯s importance in Zhang Lin¡¯s eyes. If he didn¡¯t handle the situation carefully, it could easily lead to trouble. Shen Jun wasn¡¯t afraid of Zhang Lin, and Zhang Lin didn¡¯t dare to harm him. However, Zhang Lin was repulsive. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t physically harm her, but he could certainly make her feel disgusted. Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to involve Wen Nian in these troubles. Zhang Lin had always been a rule-breaker in his actions. The word ¡°perverse¡± aptly described his personality. However, he was not without weaknesses. Shen Jun smiled. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Older Sister Ling since I returned this time. Interestingly, my mother recently received a pot of orchids. In a couple of days, 1 n to invite Older Sister Ling to my ce to have a look and seek her advice on how to care for them properly.¡± Hearing the underlying implication in Shen Jun¡¯s words, Zhang Lin paused briefly and cast a nce at Wen Nian and Jin Ting. Then, he smiled and replied, ¡°A fleeting moment in a spring night is precious beyond measure. 1 anticipated that 1 would provoke you by bringing this up. Well, I won¡¯t bother you any longer. Until we meet again.¡± Despite Zhang Lin¡¯s teasingced with ill intentions, Shen Jun maintained aposed expression. ¡°Until we meet again,¡± he replied calmly. With that, Shen Jun turned around and pulled Jin Ting into the car. Wen Nian and Jin Ting were both stunned. Shen Jun and Jin Ting got into the car and closed the door with a bang. After lowering the window, Shen Jun said calmly to Wen Nian, who was still outside the car, ¡°You¡¯re standing there and not getting into the car. Do you want me to invite you into the car?¡± Wen Nian snapped back to reality and noticed that Shen Jun was driving a five-seater car. Since both of them were already seated in the back, it felt a bit cramped for her. So, she decided to take the front passenger seat instead. ¡°Start driving.¡± The designated driver, who was eager toplete the task and head home for some rest, wasted no time upon hearing the owner¡¯s words. Without hesitation, he pressed down on the elerator and drove away swiftly. Zhang Lin gazed at the car fading into the distance and chuckled. ¡°Peng Can, care to specte about the rtionship between those two girls and Shen Jun?¡± Peng Can adjusted his sses and lowered his gaze thoughtfully. ¡°Those who can make Shen Jun willingly engage with them must have a profound connection,¡± he replied. Zhang Lin clicked his tongue a few times, expressing his surprise. ¡°I never thought that Shen Jun would ovee his issue of not getting close to women during his time in Hai City. I¡¯m curious about what his weakness is. Furthermore, I¡¯m really intrigued by the rtionship he has with those two girls! Last time, he assisted my brother andpromised my connections. 1 can¡¯t retaliate against him directly, and it frustrates me.¡± The corners of Peng Can¡¯s lips curled up slightly. ¡°It¡¯s true that someone may not have a weakness for a while, but it¡¯s impossible for them to remain invulnerable forever.¡± After a few minutes of driving, Jin Ting finally reacted. Her eyes widened as she stared at Shen Jun.. ¡°You used me as a shield just now?!¡± Chapter 159 - 159: Fare Chapter 159: Fare Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun cast a chilly nce at Jin Ting and stated, ¡°Consider this as fare collection. You ventured here on your own, and it¡¯s already the middle of the night. If 1 drive you back, you won¡¯t have to worry about getting caught in an illegal taxi.¡± Jin Ting couldn¡¯t shake off the feeling that she owed this mother and son from a past life. She rolled her eyes in annoyance at Shen Jun, crossed her arms defensively across her chest, and gazed out the window with frustration. In the wee hours of the morning, the capital city had shed its bustling daytime atmosphere. Within less than half an hour, the car arrived at Jin Ting¡¯s house. By that time, Jin Ting was so ovee with drowsiness that she began to snore softly. Shen Jun regarded Jin Ting with disdain and kicked her shoes lightly. ¡°Jin Ting, wake up. We¡¯ve arrived at your house!¡± Jin Ting jerked awake, but her mind was still groggy. She nced out of the window, confirming that it was indeed her house. Letting out a tired yawn, she stepped out of the car and began to speak, ¡°I¡­¡± Before Jin Ting could bid farewell, she caught a whiff of exhaust fumes. Jin Ting¡¯s anger surged as she nced at the rear of the car, prompting her to cover her mouth and nose to shield herself from the unpleasant exhaust. Determination welled up within her, and she swiftly walked to the side, muttering under her breath, ¡°If I don¡¯t give you a taste of trouble, then my name isn¡¯t Jin Ting!¡± It was almost half past one when Wen Nian and Shen Jun arrived back at the hotel. Wen Nian observed Shen Jun dismissing the designated driver and couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously, ¡°Do you n on driving back yourself?¡± Shen Jun draped his arm around Wen Nian¡¯s shoulders and guided them towards the elevator. With a tired sigh, he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s already sote, and I haven¡¯t had a proper rest. Don¡¯t you have any sympathy for me? Let me stay for the night.¡± Observing the weariness in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t bear to add to his exhaustion. She chuckled softly and said, ¡°Well then, don¡¯t press the elevator button just yet. I¡¯ll arrange another room for you at the front desk.¡± After Wen Xing and Zhou Mei returned to Hai City, Wen Nian felt ufortable staying alone in such arge and expensive room. She decided to make a change and requested a single room with a separate living area, opting for a more cozy and suitable amodation. Upon hearing this, Shen Jun swiftly guided her into the elevator. ¡°I don¡¯t mind sleeping on the sofa and saving Director Xu some money. He¡¯s been through a lot as well.¡± At that moment, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but see through Shen Jun¡¯s intentions. She smiled mischievously and replied, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then. But remember, you can only sleep on the sofa. No weird thoughts allowed.¡± Shen Jun yfully teased, ¡°Why do I get the feeling that it¡¯s you who has the crooked thoughts? Otherwise, why would you bring up such things out of nowhere? I wasn¡¯t thinking about anything like that.¡± Wen Nian yfully reached out and pinched Shen Jun¡¯s arm, a hint of coyness in her gesture. She then turned her attention to the floor disy inside the elevator. Since it wasn¡¯t convenient to talk outside, Wen Nian only asked about the situation at the parking lot earlier when they were in the room. Shen Jun proceeded to provide Wen Nian with an exnation of the animosity between himself and the individuals in question. ¡°The person who approached me is Zhang Lin, and the one standing beside him is Peng Can, his military advisor. Don¡¯t underestimate Peng Can just because he appears unremarkable. When ites tounching attacks, he can be incredibly sly and cunning.¡± ¡°The Zhang family is another prominent family in the capital, but Zhang Lin is actually an illegitimate child. The true eldest son and grandson of the family is Zhang Feng. For families like ours, smuggling is considered a major taboo. However, Zhang Lin developed crooked ambitions for making money and got involved in smuggling. When Zhang Feng discovered this, he approached me to help investigate the dealers involved. Eventually, we managed to dismantle the entire smuggling operation. As a result, Zhang Lin harbors intense resentment towards me now.¡± Shen Jun and Zhang Feng didn¡¯t have a particrly close rtionship; they were merely friends. He didn¡¯t help Zhang Feng for free. He did this in exchange for capital. It was the reason why he was involved. Wen Nian nodded inprehension. Cutting off someone¡¯s financial resources could be likened to severing their lifeline, and it was a matter of significant gravity. She acknowledged that the situation held serious implications and potential consequences. As Wen Nian contemted the situation, a sense of worry crept into her thoughts. ¡°By involving Jin Ting today, is there a risk that she might face danger?¡± Shen Jun responded with a nonchnt tone. ¡°The Jin family¡¯s power is not inferior to that of the Zhang family. Even though Jin Ting¡¯s family is a branch of the Jin family, their strength isparable to the direct branch of the Zhang family. As long as Jin Ting doesn¡¯t personally provoke Zhang Lin, she should be safe from any trouble caused by me.¡± The rtionships among these aristocratic families were indeed intricate and multifaceted. It was due to Shen Jun¡¯s involvement that Wen Nian had the opportunity to delve into their world. Shen Jun gently pinched the tip of Wen Nian¡¯s nose, his yful gesture apanied by reassurance. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I know what I¡¯m doing. Now, go and take a shower. Remember, you have to be on set before n tomorrow.¡± Observing the situation, Wen Nian decided not to say anything further. She realized that this circle of aristocratic families hadpletely departed from the people and things she was ustomed to. She acknowledged her limited ability to offer any assistance at this point. After both of them freshened up, Shen Jun settled in to sleep on the living room sofa. As he nced at the closed door of Wen Nian¡¯s room, his mind wandered to Zhang Lin¡¯s ominous disposition. Ultimately, he couldn¡¯t shake off his worry and decided to arrange for two individuals to discreetly monitor and protect Wen Nian. As the Lantern Festival passed, the filming for Wen Nian was nearing its conclusion. In less than two weeks, she would be the first among the main cast members toplete her part in the production.. Chapter 160 - 16o: Stealing Chapter 16o: Stealing Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun had initially hoped to spend the Lantern Festival with Wen Nian, but she yfully chased him away. With the production team having a half-day break, Wen Nian made ns to explore the capital on her own. In the capital, one of the most renowned cultural aspects was the alley culture. Intrigued by it, Wen Nian hailed a taxi and directed the driver to take her straight to the eastern suburbs, where she hoped to immerse herself in the charm of the city¡¯s alleyways. The alley in the eastern suburbs predominantlyprised the former residences of notable individuals. The street was lined with numerous houses that encapsted the essence of modern Western architecture.There were also shops that specialized in selling antiques, calligraphy, and paintings. As Wen Nian strolled through the alley in the afternoon, she came across several couples who were taking their wedding photos. Observing the radiant smiles on the faces of the newlyweds, even as a passerby, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but be touched by the happiness they exuded. Witnessing their love and joy, she felt a longing within herself, yearning for a deep and mutual love like theirs. Enthralled by the unique architectural style of the area, Wen Nian found herself captivated, capturing numerous photos along the way. Unbeknownst to her, she continued walking until she reached a deste alley. Just as she was about to retrace her steps, her attention was drawn by the sound of an argument. ¡°You seem like a fine youngdy. What made you resort to thievery in this ce? Let me make it clear, you won¡¯t be able to deceive us today. You¡¯ll have topensate us for the distress caused to us mentally!¡± ¡°Ah¡­ All!¡± Wen Nian turned her attention towards the side alley and noticed two men gripping a young girl, who appeared remarkably beautiful, not too far away from her position. Wen Nian, unable toprehend the situation, decided to contact the police. ¡°Hey! Who are you calling?!¡± a middle-aged bald man eximed as he noticed Wen Nian¡¯s actions, immediately bing alert. He approached Wen Nian, intending to intervene and prevent her from making the call. Looking up, Wen Nian responded calmly, ¡°I overheard you mentioning that she stole something. I¡¯m calling the police with good intentions. Is there an issue?¡± Wen Nian maintained a steady gaze at the bald man. Sensing that Wen Nian might not be easily swayed, he decided againstplicating matters further. With a generous tone, he stated, ¡°Never mind. She¡¯s young, and having a criminal record from a trip to the police station will make things difficult for her in the future. Let her learn a lesson by paying somepensation. If she targets someone else next time, they might not be as willing to engage in a conversation like us.¡± The young woman waved her hand anxiously, emitting a series of monosybic sounds, ¡°All¡­ Ah¡­¡± Wen Nian discerned that the girl was unable to speak. She casted a nce at the two tall men from the north and said, ¡°Miss, If you stole something, you should pay for it. Otherwise, the situation could escte further, potentially leading to involvement from the police station.¡± Wen Nian became Weng Ling¡¯s sole beacon of hope in the current situation. She retrieved her phone, intending to type a message for assistance when a thin man abruptly grabbed it from her. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Weng Ling red at the man angrily and took out a pen and paper from her bag to write. However, the man tried to snatch the pen and paper. Wen Nian stepped forward and smiled. ¡°Uncle, why are you so nervous? She¡¯s the one who stole something. She should be the one to feel nervous.¡± Seeing this, the tall and thin manughed dryly and exined, ¡°I¡¯m afraid that she has aplices. If she called her aplices, we will be in trouble.¡± Seeing the two men¡¯s actions, Wen Nian made her own judgment. She raised her voice and said to Weng Ling, ¡°Miss, I can understand signnguage.¡± In her previous life, Wen Nian had filmed movie about deaf and mute people. Although there were only a few lines in signnguage, thepany had asked her to curry favor with the male lead and ride on his poprity. In the end, she was scolded to a new height by the male fans and almost left the industry. However, she had really learned a lot of signnguage that was used daily. She did not expect to be using that knowledge here. Weng Ling smiled happily. Her bright appearance made the afternoon sun pale inparison. Even Wen Nian, a girl, was stunned. Weng Ling walked up to Wen Nian and gestured. She exined that she had just passed by this alley and identally bumped into the two men. After that, they grabbed her arms and said that she had stolen something. Wen Nian looked at Weng Ling¡¯s face and was even more certain of her judgment. At this moment, two men surrounded Wen Nian and Weng Ling. Wen Nian nced at the two men, offering them an opportunity for resolution. ¡°She doesn¡¯t admit to stealing. Why don¡¯t you try searching for the item you lost?¡± After all, she would have to protect a girl who had no martial arts skills. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to do anything unless she had no choice. If they really fought, it would be a 1V2. It was not that Wen Nian was afraid that she would not be able to win. However, she has a hard time controlling her strength and was afraid that she would not be able to control herself. If the two men were to use her of being too defensive, Shen Jun would have to go to the police station to rescue her during the festive season. Seeing that the legs of the two girls were not as thick as his arm, the bald man stopped pretending and said to Wen Nian, ¡°I advise you to mind your own business. Leave quickly while we¡¯re merciful. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be toote to escapeter..¡± Chapter 161 - 161: Fight Chapter 161: Fight Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The tension escted, indicating that a physical altercation was imminent. It seemed that they were unwilling to find a peaceful resolution and instead opted for a confrontation. Wen Nian swiftly pulled Weng Ling towards the safety of the wall, positioning themselves defensively. She wetted her lips with the tip of her tongue, assessing the man¡¯s stance and contemting her strategy for the uing confrontation. Wen Nian¡¯s fair face transformed with a determined smile. Swiftly removing her backpack, she discarded it onto the ground, revealing her preparedness for the altercation. Extracting her baton, she took a few brisk steps towards the bald man in close proximity. With a swift motion, she swung the baton, targeting his neck with precise force. The bald man staggered back, clearly in pain from Wen Nian¡¯s strike. Observing this, the tall and thin man swiftly retrieved a butterfly knife from his waist, his gaze turning fierce and menacing. ¡°Bitch, 1 see why you are not scared of death! You have a weapon!¡± The tall and thin man gripped the butterfly knife tightly, drawing it back and expanding his range of attack, preparing to stab at Wen Nian with heightened aggression. As the air behind her seemed to slice open, Wen Nian swiftly sidestepped, pivoting to face her assant. With her staff held high as a defensive measure, she closed the distance between them in an instant. Expertly blocking the attack, Wen Nian wasted no time and retaliated by swiftly raising her leg, delivering a powerful kick aimed at the man¡¯s groin. This kick was not as merciless as the previous time she taught Chen Xiang a lesson, but it held the same level of strength. Despite her busy schedule with filming and learning, Wen Nian always found a way to dedicate time for practice, even if it meant utilizing the half-hour allocated for strength training each day. Despite her petite frame, Wen Nian¡¯s appearance might have given the impression of slightness, particrly in contrast to her muscr physique. However, her physical stature did not equate to weakness. Furthermore, she was well aware of her opponent¡¯s vulnerability, aiming for the man¡¯s weakest spot with her kick. The tall and thin man crumbled to the ground, preupied with protecting his sensitive area, rendering him incapacitated and unable to pose a further threat. Meanwhile, the bald man regained hisposure and retrieved a butterfly knife once again. Wen Nian¡¯s brows furrowed, and she muttered to herself, ¡°He¡¯s using the same weapon. Are they attempting to form a butterfly knife duo?¡± While the bald man spoke, he swiftly wielded the knife, shing horizontally in an attempt to strike Wen Nian. Reacting swiftly, Wen Nian bent down and stepped back, evading the attack. However, just as the bald man swiftly transitioned to a different grip and prepared to sh again¡­ Reacting with agility, Wen Nian swiftly gripped her rod and deftly shed at the man¡¯s upper arm. Without hesitating, she swiftly withdrew, avoiding any potential danger of him targeting her wrist with the knife. As the man leaned over, shing horizontally once more, Wen Nian reacted swiftly. She seized his arm firmly while simultaneously using her staff to block his attack. Lowering her waist and swiftly maneuvering, she skillfully positioned herself behind the man. With a burst of strength, she raised the staff and delivered a powerful swing aimed at the back of his neck, putting all her might into the strike. The man swayed a few times and finally fell to the ground. Wen Nian looked at the tall and thin man and smiled kindly. ¡°Another round?¡± The tall and thin man, witnessing hispanion¡¯s unconscious state, quickly shook his head in disbelief. The pain in his groin, which was still being held, intensified. Wen Nian, being someone who preferred to avoid trouble whenever possible, retrieved her bag and gently guided Weng Ling, who seemed disoriented, out of the alley. Weng Ling¡¯s mouth slightly agape, her captivating peach blossom eyes widened in admiration as she gazed at Wen Nian. Expressing her gratitude, she raised both thumbs in a gesture of appreciation and silently mouthed her thanks. Wen Nian¡¯s smile remained nonchnt as she spoke, offering a piece of advice. ¡°It was just a minor issue. In the future, try to avoid secluded ces like this. Even if you can shout for help, it might not always be effective.¡± Weng Ling nodded in understanding and exined that she had left a friend¡¯s house and inadvertently took a wrong turn. Weng Ling expressed her desire to treat Wen Nian to a meal as a gesture of gratitude. However, Wen Nian waved her hand in a generous manner, dismissing the notion. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so formal. Martial artists are always ready to help when they witness injustice.¡± As Weng Ling contemted a response, her phone suddenly rang, diverting her attention. Lowering her head, she read the message and decided not to insist on treating Wen Nian to a meal. Instead, she agreed to let Wen Nian go, but not before exchanging contact information by adding her on WeChat. After the two of them separated, Wen Nian strolled around for a while before returning to the hotel. At the side building of the Zhang Family. After Zhang Lin finished perusing the information in his possession, he raised his gaze to meet Peng Can¡¯s. ¡°One of them is the sole daughter of the prominent Jin family, holding the top position within the branch, while the other is a vige girl hailing from a humble background. Based on the current information avable, if you were in Shen Jun¡¯s shoes, which one would you choose?¡± Peng Can swiftly made his decision, opting for Jin Ting without a moment¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Considering their history as childhood sweethearts and the long-standing friendship between the matriarchs of both families, it seems highly unlikely that Shen Jun would choose the vige girl. In marriages within influential families, personal choice often holds little weight.¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s gaze shifted to Wen Nian¡¯s information, and a subtle smile emerged on his lips. ¡°That¡¯s precisely why people enjoy ying their own games. True love, at times, lies beyond the confines of a marriage certificate.¡± Peng Can shrugged, not attaching much significance to the idea. ¡°Even if it was a smokescreen, it doesn¡¯t matter. Once Shen Jun and Jin Ting are together, and we have Jin Ting under our influence, Shen Jun will have no choice but toply with our requests in order to maintain the rtionship between the two families.¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s gaze turned disdainful as he regarded Peng Can. ¡°People think you are my advisor when your suggestions suck.¡± Peng Can raised an eyebrow in response. ¡°It can¡¯t be helped. I look smart and you keep pushing the me to me, making it seem like 1 am the executor,¡± he retorted. ¡°The praise I receive makes me feel somewhat smug. It almost made me believe that my intelligence had somehow evolved..¡± Chapter 162 - 162: Drinking Chapter 162: Drinking Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As footsteps resonated from the wooden stairs, Zhang Lin exchanged a significant nce with Peng Can. Sensing the need to leave, Peng Can tactfully stood up. ¡°In that case, 1¡¯11 head to thepany first. Feel free to reach out if you have any further instructions.¡± As Peng Can approached the study¡¯s door on the second floor, he inadvertently collided with someone. Reacting swiftly, he offered a slight bow and greeted the individual respectfully, ¡°Miss.¡± Weng Ling smiled and nodded. Peng Can turned around and went downstairs. Zhang Lin rose from his seat and approached the scene, wearing a smile on his face. He inquired, ¡°How is Elder Bai¡¯s new orchid doing?¡± Weng Ling eagerly recounted her encounter with the jade orchids she had seen earlier in the afternoon. As she spoke, Zhang Lin¡¯s earlier somber expression vanishedpletely, reced by a warm and joyful gaze. In that moment, he looked at Weng Ling with a genuine smile on his face. After their discussion about orchids, Weng Ling pondered for a moment and made a series of gestures to convey her message to Zhang Lin. With her hand movements, she warned him against getting involved with any illegal activities. Zhang Lin¡¯s expression paused briefly, but his smile remained intact. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of resignation. ¡°My older brother has already extinguished any possibilities for me. Even if 1 wanted to, I can no longer pursue such matters. It happened a long time ago. Who would still trouble you with these matters?¡± Weng Ling carefully observed Zhang Lin¡¯s expression, sensing that despite the absence of anger on his face, he had not truly let go of the matter. She could discern a lingering sense of unease or unresolved emotions within him. Weng Ling disregarded Zhang Lin¡¯s question and conveyed her message with a solemn gesture. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry and don¡¯t me your eldest brother. You should never have gotten involved with this matter in the first ce. If your family can¡¯t protect you, you might end up at the police station. It will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on your future prospects and development.¡± Upon witnessing Weng Ling¡¯s protective stance towards Zhang Feng, Zhang Lin struggled to suppress the anger bubbling within him. His smile faded slightly as he responded with seriousness, ¡°Alright, 1 won¡¯t be angry and 1 won¡¯t me him.¡± When Weng Ling saw Zhang Lin¡¯s serious expression, she was relieved. On the night of the Lantern Festival, Wen Nian opted for a more rxed approach and decided not to engage in any specific activities. Instead, she ordered food to be delivered to her hotel room. There, she leisurely enjoyed her meal while engrossed in watching a drama. In this moment, she felt a sense of contentment and embraced a carefree state of mind. As it neared nine o¡¯clock, Wen Nian finished watching the television drama she had been engrossed in. Picking up her phone, she noticed with a hint of disappointment that Shen Jun had not reached out to her since theirstmunication, which confirmed her safe return to the hotel. Wen Nian was a little disappointed. She opened her WeChat Moments to see everyone¡¯s new posts today. The first thing she saw was that Jin Ting¡¯s post. Wen Nian clicked on the two photos she had posted. The first was a panoramic photo. It was obvious that two families were gathered together for a barbecue. The second photo was of Shen Jun focused on roasting meat. Jin Ting leaned over and made a peace sign. The two of them were very close. Jin Ting even posted a caption: ¡°On Lantern Festival, let¡¯s all be as happy and united as we are!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s previously cheerful mood from watching the drama dissipated. Her lips tightened as she felt a sense of suffocation engulfing her once again. She now firmly believed that Jin Ting had intentionally posted that message, specifically targeting her. However, Shen Jun was not cooperating with Jin Ting in the picture. If she was angry about this picture, she would be overreacting. Wen Nian took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. After careful consideration, Wen Nian concluded that she needed to express her anger. In her view, Shen Jun was the one who had provoked this situation. As Wen Nian seethed with anger and prepared to send a message to Shen Jun, her phone suddenly rang. The screen disyed the name ¡°Bai Zheng.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s surprise momentarily overshadowed her anger, and she quickly answered the call with a smile. ¡°Happy Lantern Festival, Bai Zheng.¡± Bai Zheng¡¯s gentle voice sounded from the receiver. ¡°Happy Lantern Festival. Are you on set now?¡± Wen Nian replied, ¡°I¡¯m at the hotel. Director Xu gave everyone half a day off.¡± Bai Zheng chuckled and expressed his desire, ¡°After trying to reach out to a few people, 1 realized there¡¯s no one avable for a chat. 1 happen to be in the capital as well. Are you free to meet up? Join me for a drink.¡± Wen Nian was taken aback for a moment, detecting a trace of loneliness in Bai Zheng¡¯sughter. Without hesitation, she responded, ¡°Sure, it has been a while since west met. Why don¡¯t youe directly to my hotel? I¡¯ll make sure we have plenty of alcohol!¡± Wen Nian had concerns about going to a bar to drink, considering the potential trouble that could arise in such a public setting. Additionally, being in the capital meant there were numerous individuals with powerful backgrounds. You could throw a bottle into a crowd full of people and it could hit someone with a powerful background. After Bai Zheng agreed, Wen Nian sent the address and got someone to send a box of beer. She also specially ordered some snacks and side dishes. In less than half an hour, Bai Zheng arrived at the entrance of the hotel. Bai Zheng entered and nced around at Wen Nian¡¯s amodation. He yfully remarked, ¡°Director Xu is quite generous towards you. Look at this, you have a suite specially arranged for you.¡± Wen Nian sat cross-legged between the coffee table and the sofa, responding with a smile, ¡°I may have the most scenes, but my sry is still rtively low. 1 am the cheapest female lead in history. Of course he has to treat me better..¡± Chapter 163 - 163: Two Drunk People Chapter 163: Two Drunk People Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Bai Zheng sat cross-legged on the opposite side of the coffee table, facing her. ¡°I never imagined that the two of us would end up spending a reunion night like this, just the two of us.¡± Bai Zheng¡¯s expression carried a hint of self-mockery. Wen Nian asked curiously, ¡°Why did youe to the capital during the new year?¡± Bai Zheng opened a bottle of beer for himself and raised his eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯m from the capital. You didn¡¯t expect this, did you?¡± Wen Nian nodded, acknowledging the truth in Bai Zheng¡¯s words. In her previous life, Wen Nian never knew that Bai Zheng was from the capital. Bai Zheng¡¯s absence from his family during the holidays, despite being from the capital, suggested that there were likely unresolved issues and unpleasant experiences between them. She didn¡¯t ask any further questions and simply responded with a smile. ¡°1 really didn¡¯t expect it, especially since 1 had already prepared to celebrate this festival alone today. Yet here you are, apanying me.¡± Bai Zheng downed half a bottle in one gulp. ¡°That¡¯s not right. 1 must thank you for being here with me.¡± Inadvertently, Bai Zheng nced at the full moon through the window, a symbol of reunion, and spoke with heartfelt emotion, ¡°Why do you think people are always discontented?¡± Wen Nian was taken aback by the profound topic and took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, ¡°Perhaps it is inherent to human nature.¡± Upon hearing her response, Bai Zheng turned to gaze at Wen Nian. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡¯ he said. ¡®Humans possess an inherent greediness. However, certain individuals manage to restrain it through their morals, whereas others consciously indulge in it.¡± Wen Nian sensed a deeper meaning behind Bai Zheng¡¯s words. She pondered whether the current troubles weighing on him would eventually be one of the straws that could potentially crush him in the future. Bai Zheng asked, ¡°Do you know why I like to y the piano?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s thoughts were interrupted. She shook her head and guessed, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because you like listening to the sound of the piano?¡± Bai Zheng downed the remaining half of the bottle in one gulp. ¡°Because through ying the piano, I can escape,¡¯ he said. ¡®It transports me to a pure realm, even if only momentarily, offering me a respite. Let me share with you a particrly poignant story.¡± ¡°My father had a deep love for my mother, who was fond of art and sought a life of romance and freedom. They never intended to have children. My existence came about due to my grandmother¡¯s insistence, and thus my upbringing was taken care of by her. The reason my mother grew fond of me was my piano talent at the age of three. My father loved me just as dearly as he loved my mother.¡± ¡°To earn their approval, 1 dedicated myself to relentless piano practice. However, when I was six years old, my mother eloped overseas with another man. My father believed that my existence had worn my mother out and made her weary of married life. She hated me and only showed concern for my piano education. My father never hesitated to support my desire to hire a teacher or purchase a piano, regardless of the cost.¡± ¡°I believed that living in such a manner was for the best. Little did 1 expect my mother to return. Can you guess why she came back?¡± Wen Nian, considering the mention of melodrama, contemted a highly dramatic twist and inquired, ¡°Did shee back for you?¡± Bai Zheng chuckled with a touch of self-deprecation. ¡°Indeed, she fought for my custody. My father readily granted it to her, only requesting that she spend three months each year with him. And just like that, I was handed over. I believed that my mother had discovered a newfound maternal love, but little did I know she saw me as a cash cow, a means to produce money for her husband and three children living overseas.¡± At this point, Bai Zhengughed. ¡°Three children! She willingly gave birth to them!¡± Wen Nian let out a soft sigh, realizing that everyone¡¯s aplishments were often disyed solely for the benefit of others. Taking the initiative, Wen Nian seated herself beside Bai Zheng and gently patted his shoulder to offer sce. ¡°Consider it from another angle,¡± she said. ¡°From what I¡¯ve observed, you have numerous devoted fans. While their affection may differ from that of family, they all share amon goal.¡± With that, Wen Nian opened a bottle of wine for herself. ¡°Cheers! Let¡¯s drink our sorrows away!¡± Wen Nian had initially intended to have a drink with Bai Zheng to alleviate his burdens, but due to her preupations, she inadvertently consumed more than intended. Chinese alcohol, known for its high potency, proved challenging for Wen Nian, who had not yet developed a tolerance for it, let alone Bai Zheng. The two of them beckoned the waiter to bring two cases of beer to their room, embodying the appearance of two intoxicated individuals. As they continued to indulge in their drinks, the conversation between the two gradually shifted towards the topic of love, driven by an inexplicable impulse. Wen Nian pouted with a sense of vexation. ¡°Do men have no defenses against women whoe knocking on their doors?¡± Despite feeling a bit dizzy from the drinks, Bai Zheng swiftly straightened his posture and responded with a hint of indignation, ¡°Who said that! I have principles when ites to such matters!¡± Wen Nian nced at Bai Zheng and said impatiently, ¡°Except you!¡± Bai Zheng thought about it with his slow brain. ¡°Then it¡¯s hard to say.. Why did you ask this question?¡± Chapter 164 - 164: Breakup Chapter 164: Breakup Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian was not someone who could hide her words. She had never told Zheng Mo about these things, but now, under the influence of alcohol, she couldn¡¯t help but let them spill out. She sipped her wine, mustered the courage, and began narrating the whole story to Zheng Mo. Fueled by her emotions, she even pulled out her phone, showing him a photo as evidence to support her argument. ¡°Tell me, Zheng Mo, should I be angry?¡± Bai Zheng leaned in closer, examining the blurry photo carefully. Memories of his mother¡¯s past infidelity and the subsequent pain it caused his family flooded his mind. He turned his gaze towards Wen Nian, his expression firm as he responded, ¡°Yes! This is uneptable. The proximity between them is no more than half a meter. He¡¯s married and should be aware of maintaining appropriate boundaries.¡± Wen Nian felt a sense of relief, finding sce in the understanding and support she perceived from Bai Zheng. Despite her spinning head and the urge to vomit, she couldn¡¯t hold back her words any longer. ¡°Exactly! I¡¯m not trying to be controlling. I¡¯m okay with normal friendships between men and women. If that girl genuinely treated herself as a sister, I wouldn¡¯t be angry. But the reality is that she has ulterior motives towards my man! I refuse to believe that Shen Jun is oblivious to her feelings and still gave her an opportunity, knowing full well what she wants. He¡¯s a scumbag!¡± As Bai Zheng opened another bottle and prepared to finish it, his attention was immediately captured by Wen Nian¡¯s words. The intensity of her emotions distracted him, causing him to echo her sentiments. Scumbag! Listen to me! You must break up with him as soon as possible. If you dy the breakup, there¡¯s a risk that he may have already cheated on you!¡± In their state ofplete intoxication, Wen Nian¡¯s vulnerability reached its peak. When she heard the word ¡°cheated,¡± she couldn¡¯t contain her emotions any longer and burst into tears. ¡°He was my first love, the first man 1 truly loved. And now he wants to betray me! I feel so devastated!¡± Bai Zheng started panicking. After pondering for a moment, he proposed a strategy to Wen Nian, hoping to alleviate her distress. ¡°Don¡¯t panic,¡± he reassured her. ¡°If he¡¯s having these thoughts, we need to act swiftly and break up with him first. That way, he won¡¯t have the chance to betray you!¡± Wen Nian was stunned when she heard the word ¡®break up¡¯. Then, she cried even louder. ¡°1 don¡¯t want to. My heart hurts when I hear that word.¡± Bai Zheng¡¯s head throbbed as Wen Nian¡¯s cries continued. Seeking sce, he opened another bottle of liquor and took a few sips, hoping to ease his own distress. Letting out a soft sigh, he spoke with a touch of bitterness in his voice. ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s better to shorten the pain. Just look at my father. He¡¯s spent all these years deceiving himself, ming my very existence for my mother¡¯s departure. How tragic is that? Now, instead of ending this toxic rtionship, he prefers engaging in polyandrous affairs with other men outside.¡± Wen Nian repeated the phrase in a dazed manner, ¡°Polyandry?¡± Bai Zheng nodded and said, ¡°But in your case, it would be called polygamy. You would have to share him with other women.¡± With red and swollen eyes, Wen Nian shed a few more tears. ¡°1 don¡¯t want that. 1 don¡¯t want to share him. You¡¯re right. It¡¯s better to minimize the pain rather than prolong it. I will break up with him!¡± Bai Zheng pped the table with a mix of relief and enthusiasm. ¡°Exactly! There¡¯s no positive oue for being a pushover like my father! Send him a message right now and end the rtionship!¡± In her groggy state, Wen Nian fumbled for her phone, eventually locating it and opening the chat page. With a heavy heart, she began typing out the word ¡°breakup,¡± reliving fragments of their past interactions in her mind. However, she found herself unable to bring herself to send the message. Upon witnessing Wen Nian¡¯s hesitation, Bai Zheng grew impatient. He impulsively grabbed the phone from her hand and pressed the send button, finalizing the breakup message. Then, he tossed the phone aside and grabbed a bottle of beer, offering it to Wen Nian. ¡°Drink up! Tonight, we won¡¯t stop until we¡¯repletely drunk.¡± At that moment, the sound of the ringing phone filled the air. Wen Nian¡¯s reflex was to reach for it, but Bai Zheng firmly stopped her hand and spoke with conviction, ¡°He must be trying to make amends. My mother¡¯s usual tactics always work on my father. You must steel your heart. The message you sent just now was our way of bidding him farewell. The next person you encounter will be even better!¡± Wen Nian was stunned by Bai Zheng¡¯s words. In a daze, she reached for the wine bottle, taking it from him and downing its contents in one swift gulp. The next morning. Wen Nian was jolted awake by persistent knocks on the door. Her head throbbed with a splitting headache and she instinctively punched her own head a few times. She sat up and realized she was lying on the floor of the living room. Bai Zhengy spread-eagled beside her. The floor and coffee table were filled with empty liquor bottles. When she looked at the clock on the wall, it was almost 10:30 a.m. The doorbell and knocks all rang simultaneously. ¡°Wen Nian? Wen Nian? Are you inside?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s anxious shout echoed from beyond the door. Catching sight of Bai Zheng once more, Wen Nian found himself only partially lucid. Overwhelmed with fear, he hastily roused Bai Zheng, urgently pleading, ¡°Quickly, hide! Shen Jun has arrived!¡± Bai Zheng, still groggy, sat up. ¡°Shen Jun? So what? Let me sleep a little longer.¡± Wen Nian grabbed Bai Zheng and pulled him up with force, swiftly fetching a ss of water and drenching his face.. ¡°Wake up! This is my room! If Shen Jun walks in and finds us like this, we won¡¯t be able to exin it properly!¡± Chapter 165 - 165: Where Should I Hide? Chapter 165: Where Should I Hide? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The cold water jolted Bai Zheng awake, instantly heightening his senses. He scanned the room anxiously but couldn¡¯t spot a suitable hiding spot. He urgently inquired, ¡°Then where should I hide?!¡± The curtains, although capable of concealing most people, fell short by about 30 centimeters from the ground. The living room offered no viable hiding ce. In a sh of inspiration, Wen Nian recalled the dramatic scenes from television dramas and hastily led Bai Zheng into the bedroom. While Shen Jun waited outside the door, he inadvertently dozed off. He was abruptly awakened by a phone call from Xu Chang, who informed him that Wen Nian had a filming schedule at 1 p.m. and was supposed to be at the production team by 10 a.m. for makeup. However, it was already past 10:30 a.m., and Wen Nian hadn¡¯t shown up, nor could Xu Chang reach her. Aware of Shen Jun¡¯s rtionship with Wen Nian, Xu Chang assumed that the couple had stayed upte celebrating the Lantern Festival and decided to contact Shen Jun directly. Initially, Shen Jun assumed that Wen Nian had overslept, so he simply knocked on the door. However, as time went by without any response from Wen Nian, a sense of worry enveloped him. Concerned that something might have happened, he resorted to kicking the door open and rushed inside. Shen Jun became even more worried when he saw the bottles on the floor. He immediately rushed to Wen Nian¡¯s room. In that moment, Wen Nian was in the midst of pushing Bai Zheng into the wardrobe when she noticed Shen Jun¡¯s sudden presence at the door. Reacting quickly, she instinctively closed the wardrobe door, trying to hide Bai Zheng. She forced an awkward smile and hastily exined, ¡°It¡¯s just a coincidence, everything is just a coincidence. I can exin!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he attempted to speak, but it felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around his heart, making it hard for him to breathe. Shen Jun¡¯s expression frightened Wen Nian, causing her to rush forward and grasp his hand tightly, her eyes filled with anxiety. ¡°Nothing happened between us!¡± Shen Jun took a deep breath and revealed a self-deprecating smile. ¡°This is why you broke up with me, right?¡± Bai Zheng felt that he was also responsible for causing this scene. At this moment, he had to go out and say something. Hence, he pushed the wardrobe open and revealed his upper body. ¡°I can also exin that everything was a misunderstanding.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s hands trembled, and the veins on his clenched fists protruded prominently. With gritted teeth, he took a determined step forward, seizing Bai Zheng by the cor and forcefully pulling him out of the wardrobe. In a fit of anger and frustration, Shen Jun delivered a punch to Bai Zheng¡¯s face. Bai Zheng, being a frail schr whose primary physical activity was limited to running, was ill-prepared for the impact of Shen Jun¡¯s powerful blow. He copsed to the ground, the force of the punch causing his teeth to loosen. Aware of Shen Jun¡¯s strength and concerned about the escting situation, Wen Nian hastily positioned herself between Shen Jun and Bai Zheng. She quickly exined, ¡°Shen Jun, we were both intoxicatedst night. Bai Zheng only slept in the living room. Nothing inappropriate happened between us!¡± Shen Jun struggled to put into words the overwhelming mix of emotions he was experiencing at that moment. The difort he felt was unlike anything he had ever felt before. He gazed at Wen Nian and spoke with a heavy tone, saying, ¡°If you step aside right now, I will choose to believe you.¡± Realizing that giving in now might provoke a violent reaction from Shen Jun, Wen Nian swiftly approached and wrapped her arms around his waist, attempting to calm him down. ¡°Let¡¯s step outside and have a conversation. I¡¯ll exin everything that happenedst night, okay?¡± Shen Jun gazed down at Wen Nian, his expression stern. ¡°Your attempts to divert the topic are still so awkward. Step aside.¡± As she observed the coldness in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian clung onto him even tighter, refusing to let go. She then turned her attention to Bai Zheng and spoke with determination, ¡°You should leave now. I will handle the situation and exin everything to him.¡± Bai Zheng, fully aware of Shen Jun¡¯s strength and concerned for Wen Nian¡¯s safety, expressed his worries. He refused to leave, emphasizing the role he yed in their shared circumstances. ¡°I cannot leave you alone in this situation. If 1 hadn¡¯t invited you to drinkst night, none of this would have happened. What if he doesn¡¯t believe you and resorts to violence? I would be inhumane to abandon you now.¡± Bai Zheng, consumed by his own infatuation, couldn¡¯t fathom the consequences of following Wen Nian¡¯s suggestion and leaving. By staying and refusing to abandon them, he saw himself as a hero protecting his beloved. However, his presence further provoked the already furious Shen Jun, pushing him to the brink of madness. Shen Jun¡¯s temples pulsed with prominent veins as he spoke with icy disdain. ¡°Wen Nian, I am still alive and breathing. How dare you unt your affection in front of me? Let me make one thing clear: even if it costs me my life, you will never be with another man!¡± In a surge of rage, Shen Jun forcefully pulled Wen Nian¡¯s hand away and swiftlynded two punches to Bai Zheng¡¯s stomach. Overwhelmed andcking the strength to mount any counterattack, Bai Zheng instinctively attempted to shield his vulnerable areas as best he could. Shen Jun, observing Bai Zheng¡¯s battered state and nearing the brink of realization, gripped him from behind in a forceful embrace. With an intense outburst, he eximed, ¡°Shen Jun! You only focus on using me, but what about yourself? Last night, you were taking photos with Jin Ting. Our families have been intertwined for so long. Did you ever consider how I felt in that moment?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s raised arm gradually dropped, his strength waning. He cast a lingering gaze at Wen Nian, a wistful smile forming on his lips, before he turned away and departed.. Chapter 166 - 166: Afraid to Face Chapter 166: Afraid to Face Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Wen Nian watched Shen Jun¡¯s retreating figure, a profound ache gripped her heart, tempting her to chase after him. However, Bai Zheng, clutching his stomach and writhing in pain, fell to the ground, his cries echoing through the air. Initially, Wen Nian intended to apany Bai Zheng to the hospital for a medical examination, but he adamantly refused, insisting on leaving alone while still clutching his aching abdomen. The lock on the outside of the hotel was broken, but there was an old-fashionedtch lock on the inside. Wen Nian locked the door and sank onto the sofa, her gaze fixated on the chaotic scene strewn across the floor. A throbbing headache began to surface, and she gradually started to piece together the fragments of the previous night¡¯s events. Wen Nian massaged her temples, letting out a heavy sigh. It struck her that she had been the one initially angered, expecting Shen Jun to be the one to console and appease her. Yet, because of what happened just now, the roles werepletely reversed, leading to a tangled mess of emotions and circumstances. Wen Nian noticed the phone resting on the table and leaned down to retrieve it. As she unlocked the screen, her eyes widened at the sight of over ten missed calls from Shen Jun, spanning from 11 p.m. the previous night to 3 a.m. Wen Nian reopened WeChat and found Shen Jun¡¯s message, exining the situation. Shen Jun, burdened with work assigned by Zhao Jiao, had been upied throughout the entire night. When he finally had a moment to check his phone, he was greeted with the breakup message from Wen Nian. In a state of panic, Shen Jun hastily dialed Wen Nian¡¯s number, his mind in a fog of confusion. Upon realizing that she wasn¡¯t answering, he swiftly switched tactics and resorted to both sending messages and making repeated calls. He even entertained the thought that bombarding her with abination of messages and calls might serve as a double assault to capture her attention. Although he didn¡¯t send one message every hour like Zhao Wu said, Shen Jun had sent more than ten messages in total. Shen Jun, enraged by Jin Ting¡¯s post that he stumbled upon in the middle of the night, impulsively hacked into her social media ount and promptly deleted the offending post. Filled with a mix of determination and anxiety, he made his way to Wen Nian¡¯s door at around four or five in the morning, resolved to be present when she woke up, hoping to confront her directly. The final message from Shen Jun revealed a photo he had taken of himself standing outside Wen Nian¡¯s room. When Wen Nian saw the message, she muttered, ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± However, on second thought, Wen Nian felt that she had thought wrongly. ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat on him. The problem now should be how to make him believe that this is a misunderstanding.¡± However, before Wen Nian could figure it out, Xu Chang¡¯s call came. Wen Nian had no choice but to rush to the production team first. During this period, she sent a message to Shen Jun to ask him to meet her tonight. Shen Jun sped all the way to the racecourse owned by Xue Jiang. When Xue Jiang heard the people below inform him, he immediately rushed over. The racecourse had been built in the mountains and was veryrge. Xue Jiang looked around before he saw Shen Jun speeding away. He chased after him on his horse and shouted, ¡°Shen Jun, do you want to die riding so fast?¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t respond. He continued at the same speed. Fortunately, Shen Jun had been running for an hour and had already exhausted a lot of his stamina. Finally, he stopped beside the pomegranate tree by the stream that he usually liked to stay by. Xue Jiang rode his horse to a halt and reclined on the grass next to Shen Jun. Concern etched on his face, he ryed what his staff had informed him. ¡°They said you arrived today with an incredibly somber expression. You went straight to the stable, mounted Lightning, and dashed off at full speed. What happened, Shen Jun?¡± Shen Jun rested his head on his arm and thought for a moment before replying, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xue Jiang chuckled and said, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling to tell me, I¡¯ll guess. You had a fight with her, right?¡± Shen Jun fell into a momentary silence, deep in thought. Eventually, he spoke slowly. ¡°Sometimes, I truly question whether she holds a ce for me in her heart.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s vulnerable confession, Xue Jiang regarded him with surprise, noting the stark contrast to the once-arrogant and confident Shen Jun he had known. Intrigued, he inquired further, his voiceced with curiosity. ¡°What has Wen Nian done to make you doubt yourself to this extent?¡± Shen Jun struggled to find the right words as he began to recount the events of the previous night and that day. ¡°She was drinking in the room with another guy. In the midst of it, she sent me a message expressing her desire to break up. I¡¯m not sure if it was the influence of alcohol, her state of mind at the time, or if it had something to do with that guy.¡± Xue Jiang frowned and probed with the worst-case scenario, ¡°What if it¡¯s because of that guy¡± Shen Jun closed his eyes and clenched his arms under his head. He replied calmly, ¡°Then he¡¯s dead for sure.¡± Xue Jiang:¡­ Xue Jiang narrowed his eyes and looked at the specks of light falling from the gaps in the leaves. ¡°Actually, you¡¯ve already thought about what to do. You¡¯re just afraid of facing the oue.¡± Shen Jun opened his eyes, meeting Xue Jiang¡¯s gaze with a newfound determination. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± he acknowledged. ¡°In anticipation of the worst possible oue, I¡¯ve already devised a n of action.¡± Xue Jiang smiled knowingly and shared his perspective. ¡°Love can be a tumultuous journey, and 1 have no desire to endure perpetual suffering in matters of the heart.¡± As Shen Jun contemted Xue Jiang¡¯s words, memories of the joyful moments he had experienced with Wen Nian flooded his mind. He cast a fleeting nce at Xue Jiang before offering his response. ¡°Once you have tasted the sweetness of love, you be willing to embrace the risks and challenges thate with it..¡± Chapter 167 - 167: Baby Chapter 167: Baby Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun¡¯s sudden change in perspective, from expressing doubts to defending love, left Xue Jiang slightly amused and bemused. He yfully rolled his eyes at Shen Jun¡¯s seemingly contradictory stance, recognizing the unpredictable nature of love that often led people to lose their rationality. After wrapping up her filming, Wen Nian exited the set, the time already past eight in the evening. As she made her way outside, she noticed Shen Jun¡¯s car parked along the roadside, catching her attention. As Wen Nian approached the car, she noticed Shen Jun holding a cigarette in his hand. It was mostly consumed, and the vibrant red glow of the cigarette butt stood out prominently in the darkness of the vehicle. Wen Nian opened the passenger door and entered the car. The confined space was filled with the pungent odor of smoke, which immediately caused her to cough ufortably. Shen Jun threw the cigarette into the car ashtray and opened the four windows to ventte. Wen Nian turned around and said in a low voice, ¡°Smoking is not good for your health.¡± Shen Jun paused in the act of drinking water and replied in a low voice, ¡°Only asionally.¡± Shen Jun would only smoke when he was very annoyed. He didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to bump into him this time. The two of them returned to the hotel room. Perhaps because of their argument, Wen Nian felt a little ufortable. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the washroom to remove my makeup first.¡± After washing her face, Wen Nian looked at herself in the mirror and swallowed nervously. She told herself again about tonight¡¯s conversation. ¡°I didn¡¯t cheat. Don¡¯t look guilty! 1 just need to exin clearly.¡± Wen Nianposed herself and walked towards the living room. She took a seat on the sofa, settling down beside Shen Jun. Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian expressionlessly. Wen Nian¡¯s recently summoned courage waned. ¡°You see,st night I had a bit too much to drink. 1 never intended to break up with you. 1 identally typed that message.¡± Shen Jun then asked, ¡°And you identally sent that message? It was all an ident?¡± Wen Nian forced herself to nod. Although it sounded ridiculous, this is better than saying that she really wanted to break up at that time. Shen Jun asked again, ¡°This morning, you said that 1 didn¡¯t care about your thoughts. Was that an ident as well?¡± Wen Nian exined anxiously, ¡°I was drunkst night. 1 only woke up when you knocked on the door, so I didn¡¯t see your message.¡± Shen Jun leaned against the back of the sofa. ¡°Ha, I was standing so close to Jin Ting. You¡¯re so angry that you didn¡¯t even want to give me the time to exin. But when it¡¯s you, you are allowed to not see my messages and drink with someone of the opposite gender.¡± ¡°Wen Nian, do you have a heart? Don¡¯t you know how 1 treat you?! Do you trust me so little? It was like thisst time, and it¡¯s the same this time.¡± Wen Nian scratched her head, feeling overwhelmed by theplexity of the situation and unsure of how to start exining the series of events. Recognizing her own fault in the situation, Wen Nian could only focus on the aspects she could exin and responded with a feeble retort. ¡°It¡¯s not that 1 sought him out. He was feeling down and wanted to have a drink with me. I simply agreed to apany him. 1 didn¡¯t intend to get drunk¡ªit was an idental oue.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s anger intensified, his breaths growing heavier. ¡°Even if he was in a bad mood, why did you not think about how I would feel if I found out that you and him were alone together in the same room?¡± Shen Jun turned the tables by using the same question Wen Nian had asked him earlier and directed it back at her. Upon hearing his response, Wen Nian fell into a contemtive silence, unsure of how to respond. The atmosphere became even stiffer. Wen Nian¡¯s mind recalled an unconventional method she had shamelessly inquired about from another actress in the same group earlier that day. While it felt somewhat embarrassing, she feltpelled to give it a try in this moment. Wen Nian rose from her seat and moved closer to Shen Jun, wrapping her arms around his arm in an affectionate gesture. With sincerity and gentleness in her voice, she spoke directly to him. ¡°Please don¡¯t be angry. I acknowledge my mistake, and 1 promise 1 won¡¯t do it again.¡± As Shen Jun observed Wen Nian¡¯s sincere approach, the anger within him began to dissipate to some extent. However, he recognized the need to address the underlying trust issue directly and convey the gravity of the situation. Shen Jun pulled his hand away and remained silent. Noticing that Shen Jun remained unaffected by her previous attempt, Wen Nian recalled an upgraded version of reconciliation that her colleague had suggested. Blushing, she mustered her courage and clung tightly to Shen Jun¡¯s waist. Oveing her shyness, she adopted a coquettish tone and pleaded, ¡°Baby, 1 was wrong. Please don¡¯t be angry, alright?¡± Shen Jun was a little surprised, but he forced himself to remain calm on the surface. He asked lightly, ¡°What did you call me just now?¡± As expected, the focus had sessfully shifted. Wen Nian gazed up at Shen Jun, her eyes fixed on his profile. Maintaining aposed demeanor, she softly coaxed him, ensuring her words carried sincerity. ¡°My love, 1 promise that 1 will never be so impulsive again, and 1 won¡¯t find myself alone with someone of the opposite sex in a confined space. Please, don¡¯t be angry with me, okay?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s focus sharpened on the first two words spoken by Wen Nian. As he continued to listen to the rest of her sentence, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. ¡°You and Bai Zheng¡­¡± Wen Nian swiftly interjected, eager to rify any potential misunderstandings. ¡°Shen Jun, Bai Zheng and 1 are just schoolmates and friends. There is absolutely nothing ambiguous or inappropriate between us..¡± Chapter 168 - 168: Eating Chapter 168: Eating Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon carefully considering Wen Nian¡¯s earlier exnation, Shen Jun gleaned that she did not have any romantic feelings towards Bai Zheng. However, in order to find true peace of mind, he felt the need to confirm it explicitly. The two of them cuddled for a while. Wen Nian found it difficult to believe that the tense situation had dissipated so swiftly. Just as Shen Jun was preparing to do something else, Wen Nian suddenly stood up and took hold of his hand. ¡°I didn¡¯t get a chance to study or work on my practice test papers during the holiday yesterday. Come on, let¡¯s make up for it tonight!¡± Shen Jun let out a resigned sigh butplied with Wen Nian¡¯s request. He walked into the room, ready to serve as a tutoring tool to help her catch up on her studies. Before retiring for the night, Wen Nian sent a heartfelt thank-you message to her female colleague who had offered advice earlier. The response from her colleague made it apparent that she was well-versed in matters of love and rtionships. Jiangyan: ¡°Well, it¡¯s not necessarily unbelievable, you know? Rtionships between men and women can beplex, and there are certain things that can¡¯t always be exined rationally. Sometimes, as long as it¡¯s not a matter of principle, using emotional tactics can be effective. Being too reasonable might not always work. It¡¯s about finding a bnce and understanding each other¡¯s emotional needs. Building afortable and harmonious rtionship often requires this gradual process of learning and adapting to one another.¡± As Wen Nian smiled and humbly sought advice, she was interrupted by a sudden message notification from Weng Ling. Weng Ling: Wen Nian, are you free tomorrow? 1 want to treat you to a meal. Wen Nian could tell that Weng Ling was a somewhat serious-minded girl, and if she didn¡¯t treat her to a meal, she would likely reach out again in a few days. Wen Nian: I¡¯m not free tomorrow. Can we do it the night after tomorrow? Weng Ling: I¡¯m just an idle person. I¡¯m free anytime. You can set the time and address. Wen Nian: How about 8 p.m. tonight? I¡¯m not familiar with the capital, but anywhere near Qingyang Normal School would be fine. Despite having lived in the capital for only 10 years, Weng Ling had explored many ces thanks to Zhang Lin¡¯spany. As a result, she was quite familiar with the city and its surroundings. She swiftly selected a nearby restaurant for their meeting. The two of them set a time and ce and chatted for a while before saying goodnight to each other. As the filming neared its conclusion, Wen Nian¡¯s scenes became less frequent, leaving her with more spare time on her hands. Naturally, she dedicated this free time to receiving tutoring from Shen Jun. On the day of her date with Weng Ling, Wen Nian decided not to mention the incident of her confronting a pervert with a stick to avoid causing worry to Shen Jun. Instead, she found an excuse to exin that she had a meal with a colleague. Shen Jun reluctantly returned home after their tutoring session. Spring River Fish Restaurant. Wen Nian arrived early and found a seat by the window. Not long after, Wen Nian caught sight of a handsome bespectacled boy arriving at the entrance of the fish restaurant, carrying Weng Ling on a bicycle. They exchanged gestures, and the boy rode away on his bicycle. As soon as Weng Ling entered the restaurant, she quickly approached Wen Nian and began apologizing in signnguage for her tardiness. Wen Nian smiled and shook her head. ¡°No need to apologize, I arrived early myself. 1 was worried about not being able to find you since I¡¯m not familiar with the area, so I came out early. By the way, was that your boyfriend?¡± Weng Ling quickly shook her head and gestured. ¡°He¡¯s a very talented painter friend of mine.¡± Weng Ling was very familiar with the fish restaurant. She ordered a few signature dishes and wanted to continue ordering. Wen Nian had seen how generous the northerners were and quickly stopped her. ¡°Miss Weng, there¡¯s only the two of us. Let¡¯s order this much first. It¡¯ll be a waste if we don¡¯t finish it.¡± Observing Weng Ling¡¯s response, Wen Nian sensed her reluctance to continue the topic. Weng Ling smiled and made a gesture, indicating, ¡°No need to be so formal. You can just call me by my name instead of Miss Weng, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± Wen Nian knew that Weng Ling was 24 years old, so she was too embarrassed to call her by her name. ¡°You¡¯re older than me. I¡¯ll call you Sister Ling.¡± Weng Ling nodded and said casually, ¡°Judging from your ent, you¡¯re a southerner. Are you here to travel or study?¡± Wen Nian replied, ¡°I¡¯m here to film.¡± Weng Ling was a little surprised, so she started talking about this topic. The meal continued for a duration of two hours. Initially, the two of them were not acquainted, but as they engaged in conversation, they quickly discovered a natural rapport. They realized that they could converse effortlessly. As they bid farewell, Weng Ling expressed her regret through gestures. ¡°I hope you can visit the capital soon. There are so many exciting things to do here. My cousin owns a hot spring resort that would be perfect for a day like this. It has a collection of rare animals as well. Unfortunately, you¡¯re busy. Otherwise, I would have taken you to visit my orchid shop!¡± Wen Nian chuckled and yfully remarked, ¡°Your cousin may not have been physically present tonight, but his presence seemed to permeate our entire conversation. Even though he wasn¡¯t mentioned explicitly 100 times, it certainly felt like he was brought up at least 80 times!¡± Weng Ling blushed slightly and hastily gestured to rify her point. ¡°It¡¯s just that the topic I happened to bring up happened to be rted to him. I didn¡¯t intentionally mention him so many times. Let¡¯s stay on topic. We were talking about the orchid shop, remember?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t think too much about it. She just felt that the two of them had a better rtionship than ordinary siblings.. Chapter 169 - 169: Adolescence Chapter 169: Adolescence Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian noticed that despite Weng Ling being only 24 years old, she possessed a charming innocence and an aura of youthful vitality. She exuded a carefree and lighthearted nature, akin to a student in school. It was effortless to feel rxed and joyful in herpany, appreciating the genuine connection with someone who possessed a yful disposition. Wen Nian smiled warmly and responded, ¡°Your orchid restaurant isn¡¯t going anywhere. The next time I visit the capital, 1 promise to make a point of visiting it.¡± The two bid each other farewell, and Wen Nian hailed a taxi to make her departure. Meanwhile, Weng Ling patiently waited by the roadside, and after a short while, she spotted a familiar car approaching. As Weng Ling opened the backseat door and swiftly entered the car upon seeing Zhang Lin, she couldn¡¯t help but inquire curiously, ¡°Weren¡¯t you quite busy today? Why did you suddenly find the time toe pick me up?¡± Feeling the joyful atmosphere from Weng Ling, Zhang Lin¡¯s mood also lifted considerably. ¡°Well, I realized that I won¡¯t be able to finish my work in a short time, so I decided to drop by.¡± Zhang Lin continued saying, ¡°It seems like you had a good time talking to this friend of yours.¡± Weng Ling nodded and said that she nned to invite Wen Nian to the Orchid Pavilion next time. A hint of fondness flickered in Zhang Lin¡¯s eyes, though he swiftly concealed it. He nced at Weng Ling and offered a warm smile. ¡°Sure, the next time you visit the club, I¡¯ll personally make all the arrangements for you. I promise you won¡¯t be disappointed.¡± Wen Nian had been filming for almost two months and was used to the life of the production team. Sometimes, she even felt like she had returned to the life of running around the production team in her previous life and doing what she was interested in. She felt tired, but she felt even happier. After what happenedst time, every time Shen Jun saw Jin Ting, he acted as though he was looking at the God of gue. However, Jin Ting did not cause any substantial harm. Shen Jun could not do anything to Jin Ting for Zhao Jiao¡¯s sake. He could only find an excuse to slip away after seeing her from afar, which made Zhao Jiaough. Ji Xiang brought Jin Ting into the living room. When she saw the corner of Shen Jun¡¯s clothes disappear, she said in confusion, ¡°Why is this kid running away whenever he sees me?¡± Zhao Jiao covered her mouth andughed. ¡°Ignore him. It has nothing to do with you. His adolescent personality has be strange. Sit down and I¡¯ll go to the kitchen. I specially made some snacks just now.¡± Jin Ting let go of Ji Xiang¡¯s hand. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ll help Auntie Zhao.¡± Jin Ting entered the kitchen and immediately recognized its familiaryout. She cast a quick nce at the servant who was busy preparing dinner. Making her way towards Zhao Jiao, she leaned in and whispered, ¡°Auntie Zhao, 1 can¡¯t seem to find an opportunity to get close to Brother Shen Jun. It¡¯s as if he¡¯s on high alert around me, as if he¡¯s encountered a zombie!¡± Speaking of this, Jin Ting was even angry. He not only hacked into her social media app but also went as far as deleting all the posts on her WeChat Moments, fueled by a desire for revenge. Among those posts andments were precious memories that held significant value to her. It left her feeling determined to retaliate with an even more ruthless action. Zhao Jiao found amusement once again and advised, ¡°Let¡¯s pause for now. There¡¯s no need to rush. If we push too hard, I may not be able to restrain him if he truly bes furious. Remember, the sea is eerily calm before a storm. I have one final significant move to make, but it won¡¯t happen hastily. You¡¯ll need to exercise patience and wait.¡± Only then did Jin Ting nod in relief. A scheming smile appeared on her face. Shen Jun had been overwhelmed with his recent workload, forcing him to promptly return to Hai City. Thepany affairs in the capital required him to engage in onlinemunication once again. With limited time avable, he had to hastily convey the strategic direction for the uing six months before departing from the capital. As a result, he usually only managed to meet Wen Nian when she was attending her sses. The filming was scheduled to conclude the following day. However, Wen Nian unexpectedly had to shoot a few scenes on that day, resulting in the cancetion of her supplementary ss. By the time filming wrapped up, it was already 11:30 PM. The production team would continue working until 1 AM. Exhausted and impatient, Wen Nian decided not to wait and opted to take a taxi back. As soon as they reached the roadside, Wen Nian felt someone approaching from behind and quickly turned around warily. As Wen Nian listened attentively, a hissing sound pierced her ears, apanied by the appearance of a dense fog before her eyes. In a panicked response, Wen Nian swiftly brought her hand to her nose, attempting to shield herself. However, her efforts proved futile as it was already toote. She copsed lifelessly. The mysterious figure dressed in ck, donning a distinctive mask, quickly stowed away the spray and rushed forward to aid Wen Nian. From a distance, a car approached rapidly. The man in ck swiftly scooped up Wen Nian and hurriedly carried her into the waiting van. Inside the car, another man produced a small box, a sinister smile creeping across his face. ¡°Put her phone in here,¡± he instructed. ¡°With this little device, even if the other party possesses exceptional skills, they won¡¯t be able to establish a connection to the phone and trace its location. The boss said that the anticipation can often be more excruciating.¡± Wen Nian regained consciousness and found herself in what appeared to be a hotel room. Feeling a lingering dizziness, she shook her head twice to clear her senses. As her vision cleared, she noticed a man dressed in a suit seated on the sofa near the window. He was engrossed in his work, typing on theptop positioned on hisp, his head slightly bowed. Wen Nian took a closer look and recognized Zhang Lin. With his gaze fixed on theputer screen, Zhang Lin greeted Wen Nian calmly, ¡°Miss Wen, did you have a restful night?¡± Chapter 170 - 170: Missing Chapter 170: Missing Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Despite her weakened limbs, Wen Nian mustered the strength to sit up, albeit with some difficulty. Gazing out of the window, she noticed that the sky had already brightened, indicating the start of a new day. ncing at the wall clock, she saw that it disyed 9:30. Wen Nian furrowed her brow in confusion and asked, ¡°Young Master Zhang, there¡¯s no animosity between us. Why have you kidnapped me?¡± Zhang Lin was focused on reading the email message. After a while, he looked up and replied, ¡°You have to ask yourself that question. Why did you have to date such a troublesome boyfriend?¡± When Wen Nian heard this, she knew that Zhang Lin had probably investigated her thoroughly. She started to pretend to be confused. ¡°He has many girlfriends. Are you going to kidnap them all?¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s smile reappeared, reminiscent of the first time Wen Nian had encountered him. ¡°All, I never anticipated that our Young Master Shen would be such a yboy. But it doesn¡¯t concern me. You hold a special ce in his heart. As long as he favors you, everything will be alright.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t know what Zhang Lin was up to, so she simply kept quiet. Seeing this, Zhang Lin didn¡¯t appear impatient. After dealing with some work in the guest room, he took hisputer and left. When Wen Nian saw the door close, she pushed herself up and moved to the sofa beside the coffee table. She opened her bag and realized that all the lethal weapons had been taken away. Her phone had also been confiscated, leaving only her textbooks and some stationery. Zhang Lin returned to his room in the club. Peng Can closed the door and reported, ¡°We¡¯ve already destroyed that mute¡¯s studio.¡± Zhang Lin poured himself a ss of water and asked calmly, ¡°What about the paintings?¡± Peng Can smiled and said, ¡°Not a single one was left. All of them were sshed with paint.¡± ¡°By the way, Shen Jun has already realized that something is wrong. Our people saw him mobilizing all his subordinates to search for Wen Nian.¡± Leaning against the desk, Zhang Lin leisurely took a sip of water, relishing the moment. His eyes closed, a contented smile graced his refined features. ¡°I¡¯m in such a delightful mood. Even in water tastes exquisite to me right now. Make sure to find a reason to prevent Tingting froming over for the next two days.¡± The morefortable Zhang Lin was now, the crazier Shen Jun was. Upon waking up in the morning, Shen Jun immediately sent Wen Nian a WeChat message. However, an uneasy feeling washed over him as his eyelids incessantly twitched, giving him a foreboding sense that something unfavorable might befall Wen Nian. As Shen Jun attempted to call again, there was still no response from Wen Nian. Worried that she might have had an early morning call time for filming with the production team, he hurriedly made his way there. After meeting Xu Chang, Shen Jun realized that she was indeed gone. Shen Jun proceeded to check the IP address associated with Wen Nian¡¯s phone. Upon discovering that thest recorded time and location were when he departed from the production team, he realized that the individual responsible for abducting Wen Nian was no ordinary kidnapper. This situation went beyond a spur-of-the-moment idea. Despite the general rule that missing persons would typically not be reported until 24 hours had passed, the presence of Shen Jun would necessitate an immediate response, even if it was only for an hour. During the early stages of Operation Sk, public camera instations were still limited in many ces. Only a few cameras were sporadically ced within the vicinity of the film crew¡¯s area. With all possible leads seemingly severed, Shen Jun had no choice but to rely on sending someone to investigate based on the limited camera records avable. However, progress was frustratingly slow in piecing together the necessary information. Trapped in the guest room, Wen Nian found herself with nothing to upy her time. The windows were made of soundproof ss, rendering her unable to seek help from the outside. Her gaze drifted towards the beautiful flowers and nts beyond the window. ¡°The scenery here is quite captivating. I even spot a smallke. Could this be some sort of club?¡± she pondered. As Wen Nian was lost in her thoughts, contemting the nature of her surroundings, a knock on the door interrupted her musings. In came Peng Can, pushing a dining cart and wearing a wless smile. ¡°Hello, Miss Wen. It¡¯s lunchtime. Knowing that you are from Hai City, I¡¯ve prepared a meal with vors familiar to your hometown,¡± he announced cheerfully. Upon hearing Peng Can¡¯s words, Wen Nian approached the dining cart and took a few nces at the spread before her. The assortment consisted of three meals and a soup, with a well-bncedbination of meat and vegetables. A smile adorned her face as she quipped, ¡°Did you bring me here just to indulge me with delicious food?¡± Peng Can maintained hisposure as he lied, his expression unchanged. ¡°It¡¯s a rare asion for you to visit the capital. Our boss has always enjoyed a good rtionship with Young Master Shen. We want you to just stay here for two daysJust keep calm and stay here.¡± ¡°By the way, I have also prepared a game console for your entertainment,¡± Peng Can added. ¡°If there¡¯s anything specific you desire to eat or drink, simply knock on the door and inform the attendant outside. We will make every effort to amodate your requests to the best of our abilities.¡± Upon hearing Peng Can¡¯s words, Wen Nian deduced that Zhang Lin didn¡¯t intend to keep her captive for an extended period. She surmised that within the next two days, negotiations wouldmence between Zhang Lin and Shen Jun. Aware of her value to Zhang Lin, Wen Nian understood the importance of maintaining her physical strength. Thus, she diligently consumed the food and drink provided to replenish her energy. She recognized that, should any harm befall her, it would diminish Zhang Lin¡¯s leverage during potential negotiations. By 3 a.m., a total of 28 hours had psed since Wen Nian¡¯s disappearance. The police had meticulously positioned themselves at all the intersections leading out of the capital, conducting thorough surveince. However, their efforts had yielded no trace of her whereabouts.. Chapter 171 - 171: Condition Chapter 171: Condition Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun had a strong intuition that Wen Nian was still in the capital, but he remained clueless about the identity of the kidnapper. Feeling utterly helpless and frantic, he was akin to a headless fly, aimlessly searching and overwhelmed by panic that had reached its zenith. Shen Gang forcefully pushed open the study door, only to be greeted by a dense cloud of smoke. Noticing the multitude of cigarette butts scattered on Shen Jun¡¯s side, he realized the urgency of the situation. Without wasting any more time, he promptly approached and spoke, ¡°Young Master, we have examined all the vehicles captured by the surveince cameras during that time and there were three cars with their license tes covered.¡± Only someone with malicious intent would go through the trouble of concealing their license te! This is undoubtedly a valuable clue. Shen Jun swiftly raised his gaze, his sense of urgency apparent as he inquired, ¡°Have you managed to trace the whereabouts of the three cars?¡± Shen Gang handed over the gathered information and exined, ¡°These cars vanished from areas without any surveince camera coverage. However, we were able to locate the driver of one of the cars and have brought him here. He should have valuable information regarding the situation.¡± ¡°Third Brother, bring him in!¡± Upon receiving the instruction to bring in a middle-aged man, the individual outside was met with a middle-aged man who was already terrified by the sudden intrusion into his life in the middle of the night. The few thousand yuan was indeed not easily earned. The middle-aged man¡¯s legs trembled as he encountered Shen Jun¡¯s fierce and menacing gaze. Overwhelmed by fear, he crumbled to the ground,cking theposure to inquire about the other party¡¯s identity. Gasping for breath, he pleaded, ¡°Please, spare my life¡­ I¡¯ll tell you everything, just spare me¡­¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he realized that this matter might be directed at him. He looked down at the driver and gritted his teeth. ¡°Speak.¡± The man trembled as he said everything that the other party wanted him to say. Shen Jun casually picked up the ruby paperweight on the table and threw it hard on the ground. The gem fragments sttered all over the ground. ¡°Zhang Lin!¡± 3:30 A.M. Zhang Lin was woken up by someone. He yawned, got out of bed, and casually put on a pair of long pants. Then, he walked to the study with his upper body bare. Zhang Lin observed Shen Jun¡¯s presence in the study, a malevolent expression adorning Shen Jun¡¯s face. Undeterred, Zhang Lin greeted him with a smile. ¡°Good evening. You arrived sooner than I anticipated. It seems I underestimated the significance of Wen Nian,¡± he remarked. Shen Jun didn¡¯t say anything else. He stared at Zhang Lin and asked, ¡°Where is Wen Nian?¡± Zhang Lin, who had been in a deep slumber, awakened groggily. To shake off the drowsiness, he nonchntly lit a cigarette, taking a drag and exhaling a leisurely smoke ring. Shen Jun rushed over and grabbed Zhang Lin¡¯s neck. He exerted some strength and asked word by word, ¡°Where is Wen Nian!¡± Zhang Lin¡¯s men immediately rushed forward to pull Shen Jun away. Unfazed by the situation, Zhang Lin calmly waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to withdraw. Indifferently, he uttered, ¡°I am easily overwhelmed by pressure, and if you continue to press on, I may be too nervous to recall anything.¡± The veins on Shen Jun¡¯s forehead pulsated with intensity, yet he reluctantly loosened his grip. ¡°Will you tell me now?¡± he demanded. Only then did Zhang Lin¡¯s smile widen, and he responded, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Out of respect for your Eldest Young Master, I would never allow any harm to befall your woman. She has been taken care of with utmost care. In fact, I¡¯m afraid she won¡¯t be willing to leave with you anymore.¡± He could fool around with Zhang Lin for an entire day. Confronted with Zhang Lin¡¯s repugnant demeanor, Shen Jun contained his anger and inquired, ¡°Tell me, what must I do to secure her release?¡± Zhang Lin took two more puffs before saying slowly, ¡°You destroyed my entire business. It¡¯s not too much to break one of your hands, right?¡± Aware that Zhang Lin was unlikely to have just one demand, Shen Jun pressed further, insisting, ¡°Tell me all the conditions at once. What other terms are there?¡± Zhang Lin nced at Peng Can, a smirk ying on his lips. ¡°Tsk, did you witness that? It¡¯s truly invigorating to engage with individuals who possess intelligence!¡± he remarked. With a smile on his face, Zhang Lin directed his gaze towards Shen Jun. ¡°You obstructed my most lucrative avenue. Surely, you mustpensate me, correct? Yournd in the western suburbs¡­¡± Zhang Lin, donning a self-assured expression, dered, ¡°I am willing to offer a bid of 300 million for it. I assure you, 1 won¡¯t allow you to suffer any losses.¡± Following Shen Jun¡¯s initial sessful investment in thend in the western suburbs, he utilized the 300 million yuan he earned to participate in a substantial bid for a futurerge-scale amusement park. Two years ago, thend was deemed a barren wastnd with little optimism. However, to everyone¡¯s surprise, the government formted a development n for the area the following year. Consequently, various infrastructure projects were initiated, and construction efforts were in full swing. As a result, the initial investment of 300 million yuan had since grown to a valuation of 500 to 600 million yuan. Shen Jun sneered. ¡°Anything else?¡± Zhang Lin spread out his hands and raised his eyebrows with a smile. ¡°That¡¯s all. Am I especially easy to talk to?¡± Shen Jun locked eyes with Peng Can, who had already prepared a steel pipe. Without uttering a single word, Shen Jun seized the steel pipe and forcefully struck his left arm with it. Crack! The crisp sound of bones breaking rang out. Beads of sweat instantly formed on Shen Jun¡¯s forehead as he spoke through gritted teeth, his voice strained, ¡°Release her. Tomorrow, I will arrange for thend to be transferred to your name.¡± Zhang Lin immediately apuded and said in admiration, ¡°Young Hero Shen is gentle and loyal. 1 admire you! I know that you have always kept your word in the business world. I believe you, but you have to sign the agreement first..¡± Chapter 172 - 172: Missing Chapter 172: Missing Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After seeing Shen Jun¡¯s signature, Zhang Lin smiled and said, ¡°Invite Miss Wen over.¡± The Lanlin Association was situated halfway up the hill, serving as an exclusive haven for the affluent and influential. Known for its privacy and strict security measures, it offered a luxurious and entertaining environment for its members. Uncertain of Zhang Lin¡¯s true intentions, Shen Jun refrained from forcefully storming into the Lanlin Association with his men. He understood that without precise knowledge of Wen Nian¡¯s whereabouts, he couldn¡¯t afford to take any risks that might jeopardize her safety. If this lunatic Zhang Lin goes crazy, who knows what he might do? As thirty minutes ticked by, Shen Jun grew increasingly impatient. A person rushed into the room and discreetly whispered into Zhang Lin¡¯s ear, ¡°Miss Wen has gone missing. Despite searching extensively, we have been unable to locate her.¡± Despite the low volume of the conversation, Shen Jun managed to hear every word. Filled with anger, he rose to his feet and confronted Zhang Lin. ¡°Zhang Lin! Is this how you fulfilled your end of the deal?¡± he demanded, his voiceced with fury. Zhang Lin¡¯s gaze turned fierce as he scolded his subordinates. ¡°Quickly, gather a team and search for them! If you can¡¯t even handle such a simple task, what use are you?!¡± he eximed in frustration. Unable to contain himself any longer, Shen Jun decided to join the search effort, following them in their pursuit. Frustration consumed Zhang Lin, and he expressed his anger by kicking the table in frustration. Peng Can was still holding the transfer agreement in his hand. He frowned and asked, ¡°Then is this agreement still useful?¡± A dark and sinister aura emanated from Zhang Lin as anger gripped him once more. He retorted furiously, ¡°What good is it now? 1 should beughing in secret if they manage to find her unharmed. But if she ends up losing an arm or a leg, you can prepare to attend my funeral next year!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe an underage girl managed to escape from my confinement. If news of this spreads, it will tarnish my reputation! Once this matter is resolved, 1 want the head of security gone, and spare no expense in finding me a more capable recement!¡± Zhang Lin eximed, his frustration evident. Throughout the day, Wen Nian consumed food and beverages and even took a nap in the afternoon. At midnight, she settled herself on the bed, feigning sleep until nearly 3 a.m. Seizing the opportune moment when everyone¡¯s vignce was at its lowest, Wen Nian retrieved a concealed wire from her stationery box. Stealthily, she made her way towards the bathroom and managed to infiltrate the exhaust pipe. Due to the distinguished status of the guests present, the pipes connecting the rooms were secured with iron windows and locks for enhanced safety. Grateful for her past diligence and studiousness, Wen Nian appreciated the specialized locks. It took her half an hour of meticulous effort to sessfully maneuver through the interconnected rooms. Once she confirmed that the rooms below were unupied, she cautiously extricated herself from the exhaust pipe. Typically, at this hour, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone present outside. However, Wen Nian cautiously pressed her ear against the door, listening intently before cautiously opening it. To her surprise, she heard footsteps and conversations, indicating that she had been discovered. Puzzled as to why these individuals were still diligently active in the middle of the night, she pondered their motives. Wen Nian exercised caution, waiting for a brief moment to ensure there was no immediate activity before swiftly making her escape. Along her path, she discreetly passed by a botanical garden where the words ¡°Orchid Pavilion¡± caught her attention. The name felt strangely familiar, but she pushed aside any thoughts for now, knowing that her priority was to focus on escaping. As Wen Nian approached a three-way junction, she relied on her intuition to select a path. Utilizing her luck and instincts, she managed to evade a few search efforts. However, her luck ran out as she reached the iron fence surrounding the club, catching the attention of guards who swiftly detected her presence with their searchlights. Just as Wen Nian was waiting to be locked up in despair, Shen Jun appeared. Wen Nian ran forward excitedly. ¡°Shen Jun!¡± Zhang Lin, who had been trailing behind, was surprised. ¡°Good Lord! You¡¯re so good at escaping. You almost managed to escape.¡± Shen Jun sized Wen Nian up. Although Wen Nian didn¡¯t seem to be injured, Shen Jun still asked worriedly, ¡°Are you injured?¡± Aside from the confinement and the resulting boredom, Wen Nian was fortunate to have remained physically unharmed during her ordeal. Wen Nian shook her head and reached out to hold Shen Jun¡¯s hand, intending to say something. However, she abruptly noticed a peculiar expression on his face, causing her to pause. Shen Jun grabbed Wen Nian¡¯s arm with his right hand. ¡°Let¡¯s talk when we get back.¡± As Shen Jun walked past Zhang Lin, he cast a significant and meaningful nce in his direction. Zhang Lin opened his mouth, but in the end, he shouted at Shen Jun¡¯s back self-righteously, ¡°1 treat her very well! There¡¯s even a game console in the room!¡± As soon as the two of them left the club, more than ten people surrounded them. Shen Jun took Wen Nian to his subordinate¡¯s car. ¡°To the hospital.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun¡¯s pale face and asked worriedly, ¡°Where are you feeling unwell?¡± Shen Jun casually recounted what had just happened. Wen Nian was so angry that she cursed Zhang Lin fiercely. Observing Wen Nian¡¯s vibrant and lively demeanor, Shen Jun¡¯s tense expression gradually eased, and a faint smile formed at the corners of his mouth. Wen Nian furrowed her brow and gazed at Shen Jun with concern. ¡°Why are you still smiling? You should have rushed to the hospital as soon as you found out I was missing. He has already taken a piece of flesh that should have been yours. If he finds me, he¡¯ll send me back anyway..¡± Chapter 173 - 173: Stay At Your Place Chapter 173: Stay At Your ce Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun knew deep down that Zhang Lin wouldn¡¯t harm Wen Nian, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling anxious when he didn¡¯t see her for a brief moment. He decided not to bring up the subject again with Wen Nian. Instead, he asked her, ¡°How did you manage to escape?¡± Wen Nian shared the details of her escape with Shen Jun and expressed her disappointment, saying, ¡°I fled because 1 had a hunch that he would manipte me to force some unreasonable demand from you. Sadly, 1 was a little toote. Are you genuinely considering selling thend to him?¡± Shen Jun chose not to disclose to Wen Nian that he no longer had to sell thend due to her escape. He harbored concerns that if a simr situation arose in the future, she might once again escape for the sake of money. Shen Jun¡¯s expression turned serious as he addressed Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, moving forward, I forbid you from engaging in such perilous actions once you ascertain your safety. 1 am capable of earning money, and you need not jeopardize your well-being.¡± Recognizing Shen Jun¡¯s genuine concern, Wen Nian understood his perspective. Although she didn¡¯t fully agree, she chose not to argue and nodded earnestly. ¡°Understood.¡± Wen Nian approached Shen Gang and requested his assistance in finding a reputable orthopedic hospital in the vicinity. Shen Gang promptly arranged for her to undergo a scan, receive appropriate medical treatment, and have a cast applied to her injury. By the time the procedures werepleted, it was already dawn. As they exited the hospital, Wen Nian nced with concern at Shen Jun¡¯s injured hand, which was hanging loosely. ¡°You don¡¯t need to apany me. I¡¯ll take a taxi. Go home quickly and get some rest.¡± Despite the fatigue evident on his face from staying awake the entire night, Shen Jun was determined not to let Wen Nian walk alone, regardless of the circumstances. The situation involving Zhang Lin had left him feeling somewhat uneasy, causing him to choose brevity in his response. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me to send you back to the hotel, then we¡¯ll both stand here.¡± Wen Nian had no choice but to allow Shen Jun to send her back to the hotel. Wen Nian sensed that if she didn¡¯t stop Shen Jun, Shen Jun would stubbornly insist on apanying her all the way to the bed. She halted Shen Jun at the entrance. ¡°You¡¯re already inside the room. There¡¯s no need to worry. Go back and get some sleep already!¡± Reluctantly, Shen Jun gazed at Wen Nian, his concern evident in his expression. He reminded her with worry, ¡°Alright, 1¡¯11 head back now. Remember to give me a call when you wake up.¡± Wen Nian smiled with a hint of helplessness and stood on her tiptoes, gently pulling Shen Jun¡¯s head down. She ced a soft kiss on the tip of his nose. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure to reach out to you when I wake up and before I leave. I will tell you everything I do.¡± ¡°No, my phone and bag are still with Zhang Lin!¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s chattering mouth. He pressed Wen Nian against the back of the door and lowered his head to kiss her. The kiss between the two of them was more passionate and crazy than before. After a while, the two of them leaned their heads against each other and looked at each other. Wen Nian¡¯s face burned from the desire in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. She had totally forgotten about her phone. She gently nudged Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder and said coquettishly, ¡°Will your parents be worried if you didn¡¯t go home for the entire night?¡± Shen Jun observed Wen Nian¡¯s blushing face and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He affectionately kissed the top of her head and released his embrace. ¡°Actually, 1 made up an excuse yesterday to avoid going home tonight, so 1 can stay here with you.¡± After proposing the idea, Shen Jun realized how appealing it sounded. He gazed at Wen Nian with a slightly pitiful expression. ¡°Nian Nian, I¡¯m feeling really tired now. My hand is also aching a bit. 1 would love to lie down and rest.¡± Shen Jun had so much energy when they were kissing. However, when the time came for him to depart, he suddenly insisted on the immediate need to rest. Wen Nian found herself torn betweenughter and sympathy, her heart aching for Shen Jun¡¯s injury. Unable to resist his pleading gaze and noticing the fatigue evident in his dark circles, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to reject him once more. ¡°Alright, go inside and lie down now.¡± Shen Jun immediately hurried into the room, followed by Wen Nian. Before getting into bed, Shen Jun said, ¡°Nian Nian, I want to take a shower. Why don¡¯t you help me scrub my back?¡± Wen Nian lifted the nket and looked at Shen Jun mercilessly. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two choices. One, go to bed, or two, go back to your own house to sleep.¡± Shen Jun immediately took off his shoes and went to bed. ¡°What about you? You didn¡¯t sleepst night either.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun¡¯s honest expression, which rarely happened, and exined, ¡°1 can wrap up after filming for half a day today. 1¡¯11 catch up on my sleep when Ie back.¡± Seeing that Shen Jun had not taken off his clothes, Wen Nian knew that it was inconvenient for him. And so, she helped him take off his cotton shirt and pants. Shen Jun was still wearing long undergarment. He felt a little embarrassed and the tips of his ears turned slightly red. Suppressing herughter, Wen Nian assisted Shen Jun in settling down on the bed, taking care to do so slowly and with gentleness. She tenderly pulled the nket over him, ensuring he wasfortable. As she nced at his wide, innocent eyes, she proceeded to draw the curtains, instantly enveloping the room in darkness. Wen Nian covered Shen Jun¡¯s eyes with her hand and said softly, ¡°Hurry up and sleep.¡± In the darkness created by Wen Nian, Shen Jun blinked twice. ¡°Can you wait until I fall asleep before leaving?¡± Wen Nian felt her hand tickled by Shen Jun¡¯s eyshes. She whispered back, ¡°Then hurry up and sleep..¡± Chapter 174 - 174: Filming Completed Chapter 174: Filming Completed Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun smiled contentedly and obediently closed his eyes. Before fully drifting off to sleep, he managed to say, ¡°The car is still waiting for me downstairs. The driver¡¯s name is Shen Gang. Ask him to drive you around.¡± Wen Nian replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Initially, Shen Jun didn¡¯t feel particrly drowsy, but as he caught a whiff of Wen Nian¡¯s alluring fragrance, a sense of tranquility washed over him. Gradually, sleepiness engulfed him, and before long, he sumbed to a deep slumber. As she listened to the rhythmic sound of Shen Jun¡¯s peaceful breathing, Wen Nian gradually rxed. She discovered Shen Jun¡¯s phone in his pocket and switched it to vibrate mode. cing it gently on the bedside table, she ensured it would not disturb his sleep. Quietly, she proceeded to freshen up before quietly leaving the room. As Wen Nian reached Shen Gang¡¯s car downstairs, she introduced herself politely. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Wen Nian. Shen Jun is feeling quite exhausted and is currently resting at the hotel. I would appreciate it if you could kindly drive me to the filming location.¡± Despite not receiving any prior notice from Shen Jun, Shen Gang had already recognized the significance of Wen Nian in his master¡¯s life over the past 24 hours. Acting swiftly, he stepped out of the car and courteously opened the door for her with a warm smile. ¡°Miss Wen, there¡¯s no need to be formal. It¡¯s no trouble at all. Please, get into the car.¡± Wen Nian was initially thinking that she would take a cab if Shen Gang doubted her. However, her surprise was evident when she noticed Shen Gang¡¯s caring smile. Returning the gesture, she smiled back at him. In the midst of settling into the car, she identally stumbled upon her bag and phone. Shen Gang saw Wen Nian¡¯s expression in the rearview mirror. As he drove, he exined to Wen Nian, ¡°Miss Wen, Zhang Lin sent your bag and phone over just now.¡± Wen Nian nodded. This efficiency was reallyparable to catching her. As the final scenes were wrapped up within the allocated time, Xu Chang approached the cast and crew, holding a bouquet of vibrant summer sunflowers and wearing a bright smile on his face. ¡°Congrattions! We have sessfullypleted the first round of filming. I sincerely hope that we will have the opportunity to coborate again in the future.¡± Observing Xu Chang¡¯s persistent efforts, Wen Nian yfully teased, ¡°Once you be a renowned director in the future, you won¡¯t be interested in me anymore. There will be plenty of talented actors waiting for you to cast them.¡± Xu Chang¡¯s face brightened with a joyful smile. ¡°In that case, 1¡¯11 cherish your blessings and strive to be a great director. However, regardless of my own sess, 1 genuinely hope that you continue on this path. You might achieve even greater sess than me.¡± Xu Chang¡¯s expectations for the movie¡¯s box office sess had been tempered by the realities of the industry. He had experienced his fair share of setbacks over the years. His aspirations had evolved from seeking instant fame to more practical goals. As long as the film could recover its costs and provide him with the necessary funds to continue making movies, he would be content. The desire for financial stability and the opportunity to pursue his passion remained his primary focus. Wen Nian smiled and said nothing. ¡°Wen Nian, congrattions on sessfully wrapping up the film. Director Xu was right in recognizing your talent. Even though 1 may not be a seasoned actor, I¡¯ve been in this industry for over a decade, and I truly believe it would be a waste if you didn¡¯t pursue this path¡± ¡°Indeed, you possess that special quality that is bestowed by destiny. When I act alongside you, I don¡¯t perceive you as a neer at all. Your skills and presence on screen are remarkable.¡± ¡°Remember to keep in touch once you¡¯re back! 1 enjoy conversing with well-behaved youngdies like you. It makes me feel youthful.¡± Throughout the filming period, Wen Nian had developed a strong rapport with the majority of the production team, forging positive rtionships with them. As the filming concluded, numerous team members came forward to congratte and offer their well wishes to Wen Nian. The scenes filmed on that day revolved around the interactions between the female lead, Wen Nian, and the five viins. As the viins grew older in the storyline, actors in their thirties were cast for those roles. Due to Wen Nian¡¯s sensible and polite nature, she would often approach them from a distance to greet them. Her diligent attitude allowed her to actively participate in scenes with them, asionally improvising alongside them. She fearlessly embraced their asional improvisations, creating an enjoyable atmosphere where fellow actors who shared a passion for acting could have fun together. Wen Nian was not like those good looking A-list celebrities who primarily rely on their appearance. When acting with these celebrities, they couldn¡¯t portray their roles exceptionally well. If they portrayed their roles exceptionally well, there might be criticism from fans suggesting ack of unity and cooperation, using them of overshadowing their fellow actors with their exceptional acting prowess. The actors found amusement in the irony of the situation. They recognized that those who criticized them were actually poor actors with an unjustifiably inted sense of self-importance. Despite the good actors¡¯ genuine efforts to propose alternative acting methods in order to enhance the overall performance, they were met with mockery and criticism. This infuriated them, prompting them to decide against engaging in such endeavors that only led to undesirable oues. Because of this, when Wen Nian first started seeking guidance and asking questions, she encountered a lot of obstacles. However, she disyed humility and a willingness to serve tea, demonstrating her dedication to her craft. Over time, they realized her sincere desire to excel and started taking the initiative to teach her. Although these actors may not be widely famous, they are highly acimed within the industry for their talent and skills. However, the current trend among directors is to cast good-looking celebrities with existing fan bases as the main leads in order to maximizemercial sess. This preference for marketable stars sometimes overlooks the expertise and abilities of other aplished actors. So, in addition to being surprised by their recognition, Wen Nian was even more grateful for their enthusiastic responses when she asked questions.. Chapter 175 - 175: Protecting Herself Chapter 175: Protecting Herself Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian bowed deeply to everyone, expressing her heartfelt gratitude. ¡°Thank you, seniors, for your guidance and care throughout this period. I sincerely wish each and every one of you great sess in the industry!¡± Wen Nian embraced the actors who had shared the screen with her. Xu Chang went the extra mile and personally apanied Wen Nian to the roadside. As Xu Chang nced back at the actors who were preparing for the uing scene, he couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Time flies by so swiftly. It¡¯s a shame that 1 don¡¯t have enough funds for publicity. Otherwise, there would be another chance for us to gather together.¡± Wen Nian observed Xu Chang¡¯s pained expression and couldn¡¯t help but smile, yfully teasing him. ¡°Are you resorting to emotional tactics now, hoping that I¡¯ll help you with free promotion?¡± Xu Chang remained unfazed by being seen through and maintained his thick-skinned demeanor. ¡°Even without popr celebrities, we still need to strive and work hard. Box office sales matter, and it¡¯s worth the effort to achieve better results.¡± Wen Nian yfully rolled her eyes at Xu Chang and teasingly remarked, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I still have to prioritize my studies and catch up on the sses I¡¯ve missed. Besides, I¡¯m just an ordinary person. Whether I¡¯m present or not, it won¡¯t make much of a difference. Save your deep emotions for the other actors.¡± Xu Chang let out a soft sigh and responded, ¡°Alright, I knew you would say that. Please make sure to return safely. Remember to give me a call once you arrive in Hai City. Your sudden disappearance yesterday truly had me scared to death. 1 almost had to call your parents. Just the thought of it still makes my legs tremble. If anything were to happen to you, even if 1 were to be sold, the price would not be enough topensate even half of the loss your parents would feel.¡± After his previous remarks, Xu Chang couldn¡¯t help but express his curiosity. ¡°What does your boyfriend do? Yesterday, I followed him to the police station, and the highest-ranking police officer came out to receive him! Even the surveince cameras at the police station seemed to be adjusted just for him!¡± Wen Nian yfully nudged Xu Chang a few steps toward the studio. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my personal matters. I promise 1¡¯11 call you once I reach home! Now go focus on filming your scene!¡± Having grown ustomed to one another, their interactions had developed a rxed and casual tone. Their rtionship had evolved into that of old friends. Seeing this, Xu Chang reminded her as an elder, ¡°It¡¯s fine for you to fall in love, and it¡¯s fine for me to keep it a secret. There are some things you shouldn¡¯t do before you reach adulthood. You have to be careful. Girls have to know how to protect themselves.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s ears turned red and she waved her hand. ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you. I¡¯m leaving!¡± Seeing Wen Nian get into the car, Xu Chang smiled and shook his head. He turned around and entered the studio. When Wen Nian arrived back at the hotel, it was slightly after 12:30 PM. She opted for a light meal, having some bread, and then proceeded to take a rxing shower. Afterward, she changed into herfortable pajamas and settled herself on the bed, ready to unwind and rest. As Wen Nian opened her eyes once more, the room was enveloped in darkness. The faint daylight that had filtered through earlier had vanished entirely. She extended her hand towards the bedside table, seeking the touch of themp in an attempt to bring some light back into the room. ¡°Snap!¡± Wen Nian noticed the bedsidemp on the opposite side flicker to life, and the sudden brightness caused her to reflexively squint her eyes. As her vision adjusted, she saw Shen Jun sitting at the head of the bed, gazing at her with a gentle smile on his face. Wen Nian slowly sat up. ¡°What time is it? When did you wake up?¡± Wen Nian had just woken up and her voice was even softer than usual. As Shen Jun observed Wen Nian¡¯s expression of confusion, he couldn¡¯t help but envision a future married life with her. A deep sense of contentment washed over him, filling his heart with satisfaction and happiness. Shen Jun looked at his phone and said gently, ¡°7:23 pm. I just woke up not long ago.¡± Upon noticing Shen Jun¡¯s bound arm, Wen Nian quickly expressed her concern. ¡°Did you sleep without putting any pressure on your arm?¡± Shen Jun couldn¡¯t resist teasing Wen Nian, captivated by her gentle and adorable demeanor. ¡°I¡¯m a still sleeper. Didn¡¯t you notice that this afternoon?¡± Wen Nian red at Shen Jun. ¡°Hurry up and get up to eat!¡± Of course, it was up to Wen Nian to help Shen Jun put on his clothes. While the process of dressing him went smoothly for the most part, both of them blushed slightly when it came time to put on his pants. Because they didn¡¯t have time to buy groceries, the two of them finally asked the hotel to send food into the room. Due to Shen Jun¡¯s fracture, he needed to adhere to a diet consisting of mild and light food. Spicy and greasy dishes could potentially hinder his recovery process. Therefore, Wen Nian ordered dishes that Guangzhou cuisine, known for its light and delicate vors, was famous for. Both Shen Jun and Wen Nian had a fondness for spicy food, so when they saw the array of steamed dishes, they wrinkled their brows. ¡°Having it once or twice is fine, but eating like this every day? Our taste buds will be dull. How long do we have to eat like this?¡± Wen Nian ced a bowl of pork bone soup in front of Shen Jun and said, ¡°It takes a hundred days to heal bones and tendons. You¡¯ve already fractured your arm, so don¡¯t you want to recover quickly? ¡®Like cures like,¡¯ so drink it quickly.¡± Shen Jun took a few sips. Seeing the situation, Wen Nian expressed her concerns. ¡°We¡¯re returning to Hai City the day after tomorrow, and it won¡¯t be feasible for you to eat out like before. How about hiring a cook to prepare dinner for you? I can bring breakfast for you, and I¡¯ll have my mom make all the lunches light. However, 1 won¡¯t be able to help you with dinner..¡± Chapter 176 - 176: United Front Chapter 176: United Front Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun quicklymented his financial situation, eximing, ¡°1 barely make ends meet with my monthly ie. The cost of vegetables and hiring a cook would exceed my entire month¡¯s budget. 1 won¡¯t even have money to buy underwear. How about you cook at my ce tonight? I can continue to tutor you, and it would save us some expenses.¡± Wen Nian yfully saw through Shen Jun¡¯s intentions and responded, ¡°Heh, 1¡¯11 make sure to have Director Xu transfer the tuition fees to you within the next couple of days.¡± This was still not a problem for Shen Jun. ¡°Then 1 will hire you as the cook. I¡¯ll give you all the money!¡± Wen Nian was amused by Shen Jun. ¡°You said it yourself!¡± Shen Jun nodded seriously. ¡°I¡¯ll transfer the money to you as soon as it arrives.¡± Wen Nian agreed reluctantly. ¡°We agreed that you will be tutoring me. You¡¯re not allowed to touch me all day like how you have in the hotel.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t answer directly. He only said, ¡°Look at my hand. 1 can¡¯t move it even if I want to.¡± Wen Nian blushed and red at Shen Jun. ¡°Let¡¯s eat.¡± After finishing their meal, Shen Jun didn¡¯t linger any longer. He knew that when he returned the day after tomorrow, he would have to spend the next two days at home, feigning obedience like a well-behaved child. After bidding farewell to Wen Nian, he made his way back to the Shen house. It was already io p.m. Old Mr. Shen had already fallen asleep. Zhao Jiao and Shen Mo were lounging in the living room, watching TV, when they saw Shen Jun entering with his arm in a cast. Zhao Jiao immediately rushed forward with a look of shock and concern, eximing, ¡°Son! What happened to your arm?!¡± Shen Mo followed behind and frowned slightly when he saw Shen Jun¡¯s arm. Shen Jun said nonchntly, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m fine. I identally bumped into it when 1 was ying yesterday. It looks serious. 1¡¯11 be fine after a month or two.¡± Zhao Jiao¡¯s face was filled with anxiety. ¡°What does a child like you know? It¡¯s already in a cast. It must be very serious. Hubby, quickly call Doctor Wang over for another checkup.¡± Shen Mo didn¡¯t receive any calls from any hospital under the Shen Corporationst night, so he knew that Shen Jun must have found a random hospital. He also felt that it was better for his own people to take a look. Dr. Wang arrived at the Shen family¡¯s house in a car carrying mobile inspection equipment. After a round of examination, he frowned. The bone was broken directly. There were no broken pieces. Moreover, from the angle of the fracture, it looked like it was done by Shen Jun himself. ¡°But nobody would hit themselves for no reason,¡± Dr. Wang looked at Shen Jun in confusion and said hesitantly, ¡°This wound¡­¡± Zhao Jiao hurriedly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your wound?!¡± Shen Jun nced at Dr. Wang, sensing the hesitation in his voice. The words that were about toe out of Dr. Wang¡¯s mouth seemed to be forcibly twisted. ¡°It¡¯s not a major issue,¡± Dr. Wang finally managed to say, ¡°He will just need to recuperate for about two months, and it¡¯ll be fine.¡± Zhao Jiao persisted with her question, her concern evident. ¡°Will this injury have any long-term impact on his strength? You know that Niuniu has been practicing martial arts since he was young, so this is crucial.¡± Dr. Wang waved his hand dismissively. ¡°There are no broken bones. As long as you follow the doctor¡¯s instructions and avoid any external force until the bone fully recovers, it will heal naturally. It won¡¯t have any impact on your strength in the future. The doctor¡¯s technique is highly professional, and his bone reconnection skills are excellent. Rest assured, Sir and Madam, there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± Relieved to hear the reassurance directly from Dr. Wang, Zhao Jiao personally escorted him to the door. Before parting ways, she inquired about Niuniu¡¯s daily dietary care, wanting to ensure his recovery would be well-supported. Shen Mo watched as Zhao Jiao walked to the door before he said, ¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice you threatening Dr. Wang. What happened?¡± Shen Jun knew that he couldn¡¯t hide it from his father, so he briefly exined the matter. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about this matter. I¡¯ll settle my own matters.¡± Shen Mo looked at Shen Jun¡¯s slightly immature face and sighed softly in his heart. However, he still chose to respect Shen Jun¡¯s decision. In the Shen family, adulthood was never the standard to judge whether one could be independent. However, his face was still cold. ¡°Children have to tell their parents if there¡¯s something they can¡¯t solve. Don¡¯t be so shameless all day.¡± Shen Jun hated it the most when Shen Mo always treated him like a child. He rolled his eyes in his heart, but there was really something he couldn¡¯t solve. He coughed lightly and said, ¡°I¡¯m injured now. My mother definitely won¡¯t let me leave the capital, but I have to go to Hai City. Help me solve this issue.¡± Shen Jun said this matter confidently. After all, other than his father, no one else could deal with his mother. Of course, Shen Mo knew the reason. He didn¡¯t want another third wheel at home. This matter had to be settled. ¡°You can go, but I have a condition. You have to bring Shen Gang and Auntie Jiang along. They¡¯lle back when you¡¯re better. If you don¡¯t agree, you can stay in the capital.¡± Shen Jun thought for a moment. It was fine to bring Mother Jiang along. He would tell Wen Nian that she only knew how to clean and not cook. ¡°Sure.¡± Father and son formed a united front, sessfully concealing the truth from Zhao Jiao.. Chapter 177 - 177: Transfer Student Chapter 177: Transfer Student Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios With Shen Mo¡¯s help, Shen Jun sessfully obtained Zhao Jiao¡¯s permission to leave the capital. Before entering the airport lobby, Shen Jun stole a quick nce at Shen Gang and Auntie Jiang. Finally, he turned to Mother Jiang and said, ¡°Auntie Jiang, as a long-standing member of the Shen family, 1 want to share something with you beforehand. 1 have a strong aversion to those who im loyalty to Cao Ying but are secretly aligned with Han.¡± Strictly speaking, Auntie Jiang was in a rtionship with Zhao Jiao, and Shen Jun had no intention of keeping a close watch on her, not even on his own mother. Auntie Jiang was well aware that her role was a thankless one. Shen Jun was the sole heir of the Shen Group and would eventually be its future leader. In the grand scheme of things, she would undoubtedly align herself with Shen Jun. However, in the present circumstances, her own survival still depended on Zhao Jiao¡¯s control. Sighing, Auntie Jiang knew that she could only rely on her years of experience as a confidante and supporter to navigate the intricate challenges and survive in the midst of power struggles. High sry! High challenge! Auntie Jiang nodded timidly and replied, ¡°Young Master, please don¡¯t worry. Lately, I¡¯ve been experiencing some signs of aging, and my senses aren¡¯t as sharp as before. I apologize for any inconvenience caused.¡± In the face of Auntie Jiang¡¯s secret loyalty, Shen Jun nodded in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s fine. As long as you remain loyal to me, I¡¯ll be particrly understanding. By the way, Auntie Jiang, please keep in mind your role here. Your primary responsibility is cleaning, not cooking.¡± Auntie Jiang, who was good at cooking, didn¡¯t quite understand, but it wasn¡¯t important. She just did as she was told and replied loudly, ¡°Okay, Young Master.¡± Wen Nian was sent over by the production team¡¯s driver. Shen Gang tactfully approached and offered assistance to Wen Nian with her luggage. Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun in confusion as she noticed the sudden appearance of the two individuals. Shen Jun provided Wen Nian with a brief introduction. Although Wen Nian was puzzled about why the Shen family would hire someone whocked cooking skills to take care of Shen Jun, she refrained from asking such a question in front of Mrs. Jiang. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate and might give the impression that they looked down on Shen Jun for not being capable in all aspects. Regardless, they had already discussed the dinner matter beforehand. After returning to Hai City, life resumed its normal course. Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s simultaneous disappearances and appearances inevitably drew attention. Moreover, as adolescent students, their close proximity led others to assume they were a couple. The onlookers seemed to have an unspoken agreement about their rtionship. On the first day of school, Wen Nian prepared porridge and egg pancakes for Shen Jun. After their morning ss, the two of them sat down to enjoy their breakfast together. ¡°Hello. I¡¯m Jiang Chun, a transfer student this semester.¡± A gentle female voice interrupted Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s conversation, causing them to look up in surprise. They noticed an unfamiliar face sitting in front of Wen Nian. The girl had waist-length ck hair that flowed down like a cascade of water. One side of her hair was casually tucked behind her ear, allowing the left side of her face to be seen, which appeared remarkably fair and radiant. Her eyes held a captivating expressiveness, and her petite oval-shaped face was adorned with a warm smile. Thebination of her facial features evoked the image of an ancient courtdy, emanating a sense of grace, elegance, and ack of aggressiveness. Her gentle demeanor made it effortless for people to form a favorable impression of her. In her previous life, Wen Nian had already ventured into the entertainment industry by this time and was unaware of the presence of this transfer student. Hence, it was their first encounter. Smiling warmly, Wen Nian introduced herself, saying, ¡°Hello, my name is Wen Nian.¡± Shen Jun cast a brief nce at Jiang Chun and felt a sense of familiarity, yet he kept his response concise. ¡°Shen Jun,¡± he stated simply. Jiang Chun smiled and spoke, ¡°1 heard that a ssmate was taking a leave when school started. When 1 saw you today, I wanted toe over and introduce myself, so we won¡¯t be strangers in the hallways. We¡¯re sitting at the front and back tables. If you ever need any assistance in the future, we can support each other.¡± Wen Nian nodded. Seeing this, Jiang Chun did not say anything else. After greeting him, she turned around. Wen Nian looked at the other party¡¯s back in a daze and retracted her gaze to continue eating breakfast. Jiang Chun¡¯s presence didn¡¯t leave asting impression in Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s hearts. After the afternoon ss, as Wen Nian still had a few practice questions toplete, Shen Jun went to the guard¡¯s office to retrieve his lunch box. Jiang Ning walked straight into ss Two. ¡°Chunchun, let¡¯s go. 1¡¯11 take you out to eat delicious food!¡± Jiang Chun smiled and said gently, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I¡¯m tired of eating outside food these days. I made some myself and brought it to school to eat today. Do you want to eat with me?¡± Jiang Ning sat down on the empty seat beside Jiang Chun and said in admiration, ¡°Chunchun, you¡¯re too awesome. You¡¯re beautiful, have a good personality, and know how to cook. Whoever can marry you is really lucky..¡± Chapter 178 - 178: Losing the Title of School Beauty Chapter 178: Losing the Title of School Beauty Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun smiled gently. ¡°I¡¯m not as good as you make me out to be.¡± When Jiang Ning turned around and saw Wen Nian, she was stunned for a moment. She didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to have already returned to school. She rolled her eyes at her and said to Jiang Chun sarcastically, ¡°Chunchun, 1 advise you to change seats quickly so that you won¡¯t be led astray.¡± Wen Nian knew that Jiang Ning was scolding her indirectly, but as long as the other party did not name her, there was no need for her to refute anything. Seeing that Wen Nian did not dare to respond, Jiang Ning raised her head proudly. Jiang Chun looked at Jiang Ning in confusion. ¡°My deskmate is quite good. She¡¯s very helpful.¡± Jiang Ning reached out and tapped Jiang Chun¡¯s head with her finger. She shook her head helplessly. ¡°You¡¯re just too innocent. Besides your deskmate, you have someone sitting behind you. Without me watching, you won¡¯t even know when you¡¯ve suffered a loss from her! Some people look harmless, but they¡¯re ruthless!¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s intention was very obvious. Jiang Chun nced at Wen Nian and hurriedly turned to Jiang Ning. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Even food can¡¯t stop you from talking.¡± Jiang Chun had prepared a single serving, so Jiang Ning was naturally embarrassed to eat hers. Hence, she said, ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go out and eat. Be careful of some people. I¡¯m not joking with you. You came from the capital, so you don¡¯t know much about the situation at No. 1 High School.¡± Jiang Chun frowned slightly and red at Jiang Ning to stop her from continuing. Then, she urged gently, ¡°Hurry up and eat your food.¡± Jiang Ning was Jiang Chun¡¯s cousin, but because they were the same age, the two of them usually called each other by their names. Jiang Chun was famous for being innocent and easy to talk to in the Jiang family. In her eyes, there were no bad people in this world. This worried Jiang Ning. Observing Jiang Ning¡¯s lingering intention to speak, Jiang Chun stood up and gently grasped Jiang Ning¡¯s arm. ¡°If you don¡¯t eat quickly, you¡¯ll end up dying your beauty sleep once more.¡± Upon hearing Jiang Ning¡¯s concerns, her attention quickly diverted. She raised her hands and touched her face, emphasizing, ¡°Yes, yes, yes! Every nap matters greatly. I¡¯ll go and have my meal now. And remember, be cautious of certain individuals!¡± Jiang Chun escorted Jiang Ning out of the ssroom. As she turned around to head back, she identally bumped into Shen Jun, who had just returned with his lunch. Observing Shen Jun¡¯s left hand in a cast, she promptly stepped forward to assist him in retrieving the lunch box. Shen Jun subconsciously moved to the side to distance himself from Jiang Chun and looked at her warily. Jiang Chun smiled awkwardly. ¡°I have no other intentions. 1 saw your hand and thought it wouldn¡¯t be very convenient for you, so 1 wanted to help you.¡± Shen Jun replied coldly, ¡°No need, thank you.¡± With that, Shen Jun entered the room sideways. Jiang Chun felt a touch of helplessness at Shen Jun¡¯s reaction. Returning to her seat, she noticed Shen Jun and Wen Nian taking out their lunch boxes. Turning to Wen Nian, she suggested, ¡°Wen Nian, 1 made some braised pork ribs. They turned out quite well. Would you like to give them a try?¡± Wen Nian nced at the lunch box that had suddenly appeared on her table, then followed the hand holding it to look at Jiang Chun¡¯s smiling face. She felt slightly taken aback by the other¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Jiang Chun chuckled and cast a nce at Wen Nian and Shen Jun. ¡°The two of you seem to have a good connection. I apologize if my enthusiasm has made you ufortable. 1 tend to be quite friendly by nature,¡± she exined with a warm smile. Jiang Chun directed her gaze at Wen Nian once more and offered an apologetic tone. ¡°Jiang Ning is my cousin, and 1 apologize on her behalf. She sometimescks filter in her words. Please don¡¯t take it to heart,¡± she expressed with sincerity. When Shen Jun heard Jiang Chun¡¯s words, he looked at Wen Nian puzzledly. Wen Nian smiled at Shen Jun. ¡°Some people are idiots. There¡¯s no need to pay attention to them.¡± Shen Jun smiled upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s sarcastic remark. Knowing that Wen Nian was more than capable of holding her own in a verbal battle, he chose to lower his head and concentrate on his meal, not engaging further in the conversation. Wen Nian nced at Jiang Chun and responded, ¡°You didn¡¯t say anything that warrants an apology. There¡¯s no need for you to apologize to me.¡± Jiang Chun could tell that Wen Nian was unwilling to talk further, so she tactfully turned around and ate. The days went by without any significant incidents. However, the only noteworthy development that caused a small wave of discussion was the shift in the title of the school beauty from Wen Nian to Jiang Chun, as seen on the No. 1 High School¡¯s website. After the midterm exams for the semester, Wen Nian sessfullypleted the second-year high school curriculum and officially began catching up with the third-year coursework. Wen Nian¡¯s dedication to her studies consumed the majority of her attention, leaving little time for matters unrted to her academic performance. Her indifferent attitude towards other matters left some individuals who were hoping for her attention or reaction feeling dissatisfied and agitated. In Hai City, the Jiang family held a slightly inferior positionpared to the Wei family. However, when it came to the capital, the Wei family¡¯s standing was considered lower than that of the Jiang family.. Chapter 179 - 179: Amazing IQ. Chapter 179: Amazing IQ. Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The Jiang family consisted of two brothers. The eldest son, Jiang Wei, was pursuing his endeavors in the capital city and making progress in various fields. On the other hand, Jiang Ning¡¯s father, Jiang Guo, chose to establish himself in their hometown of JEIai City and achieved sess in different industries. Jiang Chun decided to return to Hai City for her studies due to her grandmother¡¯s ailing health. With her mother being weak and her father upied with work, as the only daughter of the Jiang family, Jiang Chun took the initiative to fulfill her filial duty to her grandmother on behalf of her parents. As Jiang Chun was born and raised in the capital, she was unfamiliar with the social circles and peers in Hai City. However, Jiang Ning, being enthusiastic and well-connected, introduced Jiang Chun to many socialites and prominent individuals in Hai City. Once Li Bing discovered Jiang Chun¡¯s background, she consistently encouraged Wei Lai to engage more with the Jiang sisters. Jiang Chun¡¯s gentle personality not only won the favor of many elders but also garnered positive reception from her peers. Baisheng Mall. With excitement, Wei Lai eagerly held onto Jiang Chun¡¯s arm. ¡°Congrattions, Sister Jiang Chun! You truly deserve to be the school beauty of No. 1 High School.¡± Before Jiang Chun could respond, Jiang Ning interjected with a sense of pride, ¡°Finally, everyone realizes that b*tch Wen Nian is not worthy of that title.¡± Ever since Wei Lai discovered that Wen Nian was filming a movie prior to the new year, he had been harboring a sense of indignation. He had previously humiliated her, but now that he had distanced himself from the Wei family, she was actually achieving greater sess and prominence. This realization fueled Wei Lai¡¯s frustration. Wei Lai concurred with Huang Yue¡¯s perspective. Despite the police suspecting that Huang Yue was spreading rumors to tarnish others¡¯ reputations, in Wei Lai¡¯s opinion, Wen Nian was adept at deception. Huang Yue, being aware of the truth, felt an urgency to act before obtaining concrete evidence, resulting in her defeat. During Wei Lai and Jiang Ning¡¯s conversations, a mixture of emotions was inevitable. Furthermore, when Wen Nian took the initiative to end their engagement, Jiang Ning was present, but she chose not to reveal the truth to Wei Lai out of respect for Wei Xiao. As Jiang Ning pondered over Wei Lai¡¯s remarks regarding Wen Nian¡¯s personality, she began to specte that Wei Xiao¡¯s decision to study abroad might have been influenced by the pain caused by Wen Nian. She believed that his heart had been wounded, leading him to choose to distance himself by traveling far away. This realization left Jiang Ning with a sense of regret, as it meant she had lost any opportunity topete for Wei Xiao¡¯s affection. Having amon enemy made Wei Lai and Jiang Ning even better friends. Jiang Chun observed the discontent that Wei Lai and Jiang Ning held towards Wen Nian and curiously inquired, ¡°May 1 ask why you harbor such strong resentment towards her?¡± This question made Wei Lai and Jiang Ning say a bunch of bad things about Wen Nian. Upon hearing the exnation, Jiang Chun furrowed her brow slightly. ¡°While I don¡¯t personally believe she is that type of person, I do find one aspect a bit peculiar. If she indeed broke off her engagement with Wei Xiao and is now dating Shen Jun from our ss, it does seem quite fast.¡±. Jiang Ning looked at Jiang Chun in admiration. ¡°You¡¯re finally enlightened!¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right. She¡¯s really in a rtionship?! Does that Shen Jun have some powerful background?¡± Wei Lai pointed at the elevator entrance of the mall and shouted, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, look who that is!¡± Jiang Ning snorted. ¡°Enemies are bound to meet on a narrow road. We were just talking about her and she appeared.¡± It was Zheng Mo¡¯s birthday on Sunday. Wen Nian came out today to pick a gift for her. She did not expect to bump into Wei Lai and Jiang Ning on her day off. In her previous life, she did not interact much with these two people. She did not expect to have more interactions with them in this life. Wen Nian looked at the two people who stopped her. She didn¡¯t want to get involved with them. And so, she said in a cold tone, ¡°Move.¡± Wei Lai crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her gaze to meet Wen Nian¡¯s towering figure. ¡°Are you the only one entitled to walk this path? Why should I step aside? 1 am younger than you. Do you understand the concept of respecting your elders and showingpassion to the younger ones?¡± Wei Lai appeared to be intentionally provoking a confrontation, but Wen Nian refused to back down. She countered with a retort, ¡°You¡¯re three years younger than me? Well then, 1¡¯11 dly y the role of an ¡®old woman¡¯ for once. Surely you understand the importance of respecting your elders, don¡¯t you? It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to expect an ¡®old woman¡¯ like me to yield to you, right?¡± After saying that, Wen Nian raised her chin to the side, indicating for Wei Lai to move aside! Jiang Ning furrowed her brows, standing up to defend against what she perceived as injustice. ¡°You show disdain for the less fortunate and favor the wealthy, using the Wei family as a stepping stone. Not only do you show no remorse, but you also have the audacity to hold such an attitude towards the family you owe! Bow down and apologize to Wei Lai! Your online supporters are truly blind! One day, we will expose your true nature!¡± Wen Nian felt that these two people have amazing IQ. Why did they stop her for no reason just to make her bow? Wen Nian cast a nce at the two of them before responding. ¡°Wei Lai, logically speaking, I am also your cousin¡¯s former fiancee. It would be appropriate for you to address me respectfully. Regardless of the reasons behind my broken engagement with your brother, it is not within your purview to be concerned..¡± Chapter 180 - 180: Don’t Cause Trouble Chapter 180: Don¡¯t Cause Trouble Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian casted another nce at Jiang Ning. In Wen Nian¡¯s previous life, Jiang Ning had been manipted and used by Huang Yue, which resulted in an unfortunate oue. Realizing that Jiang Ning¡¯s experience wasn¡¯t much better than her own, and considering that she had only mocked Jiang Ning in the past, Wen Nian had never harbored ill will or taken any action against her. However, observing Jiang Ning¡¯s apparent intention to confront her alongside Wei Lai, Wen Nian had no intention of showing any mercy. She responded with a direct mocking remark, ¡°Jiang Ning, with your level of intelligence, it would be wise for you to refrain from being a bootlicker if you can¡¯t evenprehend the situation. First, determine whether you prefer humans or ghosts. Bootlickers never end up well!¡± Jiang Ning felt deeply insulted by the remark questioning her intelligence. Despite entering No. 1 High School with a disadvantaged background, she found it difficult to ept such a tant deration from others. Furthermore, if No. 1 High School¡¯s academic achievements werepared to those of other ordinary high schools, they would rank within the top 100 of the entire student cohort! However, what affected Jiang Ning the most was not Wen Nian¡¯s verbal attack on her but rather the attack on Wei Xiao, someone Jiang Ning had feelings for. For someone infatuated, attacking the person they held affection for could be more emotionally distressing than being attacked themselves. Jiang Ning made a move to confront Wen Nian, but before she could do so, Wen Nian swiftly reacted and grabbed Jiang Ning¡¯s hand, swiftly using her momentum to throw Jiang Ning over her shoulder. Jiang Ning, unustomed to being handled in such a manner, found herself in distress. Usually, even a minor injury would bring her to tears. As tears streamed down her face, she cried out in pain, unable to bear the difort she was experiencing. Wei Lai was taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s audacity to physically engage with her. Furthermore, she was surprised by Wen Nian¡¯s strength. In a moment of reaction, Wei Lai grabbed a nearby nt from a stic pot and hurled it towards Wen Nian. Such a flower pot was not lethal, but this was the only thing Wei Lai could immediately obtain. Wen Nian¡¯s reflexes were incredibly swift. Before Wei Lai could respond, she swiftly removed the flowers from within the pot and flung them towards Wei Lai, causing the petals to scatter onto Wei Lai¡¯s white cotton shirt. The impact left a distinct mud mark on the fabric, which did not appear inexpensive. In her continued state of anger, Wen Nian took two steps forward and forcefully dug the soil from the flower pot, flinging it directly into Wei Lai¡¯s face. Wei Lai¡¯s carefully applied makeup, intended for a special date, was instantly smeared and covered in wet soil as a result of Wen Nian¡¯s action. Frowning, Wei Lai stood still, feeling the dirt on her face. She was unsure whether to wipe it off or leave it as it was. Observing the sorry state of both herself and Wei Lai, Wen Nian¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile. She gently held one of Wei Lai¡¯s hands and ced the flower pot in her palm. With a warning tone, she stated, ¡°Let this be a piece of advice for you. Do not provoke me again in the future!¡± With that, Wen Nian turned around and left. Wei Lai hugged the flower pot and did not dare to move. She copsed and shouted on the spot. At that moment, Jiang Chun hurriedly approached the two of them and expressed surprise, saying, ¡°Oh my goodness! 1 just briefly looked down to send a message. How did things escte to this point?¡± The two were in no mood to answer. Jiang Chun assisted Jiang Ning in getting up before retrieving a handkerchief from her bag. With a gentle touch, she proceeded to wipe the mud off Wei Lai¡¯s face, disying a caring gesture. Wei Lai gazed at Jiang Chun with gratitude, appreciating her assistance, as she had always disliked getting dirty, especially with soil. As the three of them settled back in the cafe and regained theirposure, Jiang Ning and Wei Lai immediately expressed their grievances to Jiang Chun, wearing expressions of anger and frustration, recounting the incident involving Wen Nian¡¯s actions. Wei Lai¡¯s frustration reached its peak as she mmed her hand on the table, her eyes bloodshot with anger. ¡°No, I cannot just let this go!¡± Jiang Ning held her waist and leaned against the cushion. She nodded and said aggrievedly, ¡°My parents have never hurt a single finger of mine since 1 was young!¡± Jiang Chun listened to them from the side and said with a conflicted expression, ¡°In the end, I¡¯ve misjudged her. But forget it. It¡¯s better to resolve enmity than to keep it alive. Although 1 don¡¯t know Wen Nian well, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re her match after seeing how she messed you up.¡± When the two of them heard this, they were even more indignant. Recalling what had happened at the birthday partyst time, they decided to fight back, but they realized that they could not think of a good solution. After a while, Jiang Chun looked at the two of them, who were still thinking hard, and a hint of disdain shed across her eyes. Then, she shook her head helplessly. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go home first? It¡¯s still early May, and it¡¯s still cold. Today, the temperature has dropped to three to five degrees Celsius again. Wei Lai, you were freezing just now when you washed your face with cold water. Hurry back and drink some ginger soup to warm your body. Otherwise, you¡¯ll catch a cold. You¡¯ll be the one feeling horrible.¡± Wei Lai¡¯s eyes lit up as if she had been enlightened. ¡°Cold water! A cold! Good idea!¡± Jiang Ning gazed at Wei Lai with a perplexed expression, prompting Wei Lai to provide an exnation of her n. Afterwards, Wei Lai turned to Jiang Chun andplimented her, saying, ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, you are truly brilliant! Your intelligence matches that of someone who excels in academics!¡± Jiang Chun exined anxiously, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to go home, not giving you ideas.. The two of you are not allowed to cause anymore trouble!¡± Chapter 181 - 181: Help Chapter 181: Help Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios If they couldn¡¯t think of a solution, Wei Lai and Jiang Ning would definitely give up and wait for an opportunityter. But now that they have a n, how could they stop? Jiang Ning and Wei Lai exchanged nces. Jiang Ning looked at Jiang Chun helplessly and eventuallypromised, ¡°Alright. We won¡¯t go.¡± Wei Lai said, ¡°Then let¡¯s go home. Jiang Ning, you saidst time that you wanted to go to my house to see the custom-made jewelry. Why don¡¯t we do it today?¡± Jiang Ning agreed excitedly. The two of them, apanied by Jiang Chun, entered the underground parking lot and got into the waiting cars driven by their assigned drivers. As they settled in, Jiang Chun caught a glimpse of Wei Lai¡¯s eagerness as he pulled Jiang Ning out of the Wei family¡¯s car. Maintaining herposure, she calmly averted her gaze. Baisheng IVLall, a property owned by the Wei family, provided a convenient advantage for Wei Lai. With ease, she gained ess to the surveince room and sessfully located Wen Nian¡¯s position. Afterward, she swiftly jogged over to theyout, apanied by Jiang Ning. Wen Nian carefully selected a fountain pen, one that surpassed a thousand yuan in price. This purchase marked a significant milestone as it was perhaps the most expensive gift she had ever bought. Considering her current financial situation, she recognized that she could not be too frugal, especially now that she had a steady ie. As soon as Wen Nian left the shop, she was stopped by a young man. The young man bashfully opened a ck stic bag and angled it towards Wen Nian. ¡°Excuse me, youngdy. Could you kindly assist me by delivering this to the women¡¯s restroom? My girlfriend is waiting inside.¡± Perplexed by the young man¡¯s request, Wen Nian sought rification. ¡°Are there no other women present in the restroom who can help you?¡± Understanding the urgency in the young man¡¯s tone, Wen Nian grasped the situation. ¡°1 see. It¡¯s crowded in the guest bathroom due to the weekend, and an employee kindly allowed your girlfriend to use the employee¡¯s bathroom. Unfortunately, the employee had to leave before you arrived. 1 understand your predicament. I¡¯ll be d to help.¡± After exchanging a brief nce with the young man, Wen Nian hesitated for a moment before epting the ck stic bag. ¡°Alright, lead the way.¡± Expressing his gratitude profusely, the young man led Wen Nian to a secluded corner where a sign indicated ¡°Employee¡¯s Bathroom.¡± Pointing towards the end of the row, he informed her, ¡°She¡¯s in thest bathroom.¡± Acknowledging the instructions, Wen Nian nodded and proceeded to push open the door to the employee¡¯s bathroom. Curiosity piqued, Wen Nian cast a curious gaze around the small bathroom. Her eyes fell upon three toilets, with the first andst ones tightly shut. Adjacent to the window, there was a mop washing pool containing an empty basin. Wen Nian located a spot to set her phone down, ensuring it was secure. Taking a moment to wash her hands, she then approached the bathroom near the window and gently knocked on the door. ¡°Hello,¡± she called out, ¡°your boyfriend asked me to bring you some sanitary pads.¡± As the person inside the bathroom remained silent, a hand emerged from beneath the door, extending towards Wen Nian. She hesitated briefly, considering the unusual situation. Eventually, she decided to ce the sanitary pad onto the outstretched hand. Unexpectedly, the other party suddenly grabbed Wen Nian¡¯s hand tightly and pressed her entire body against the door. Wei Lai¡¯s excited voice came from the toilet. ¡°Jiang Ning! I¡¯ve got her. Quick!¡± Jiang Ning, with a mischievous smile, pushed open the door of the first toilet and emerged, surprising Wen Nian. ¡°Hahaha, you didn¡¯t expect it to be us, right?¡± Jiang Ning, noticing Wen Nian¡¯s surprise and immobility, ced his hands on his hips and boasted, ¡°Hey, didn¡¯t you learn boxing? Don¡¯t you know how to throw someone over your shoulder? Come on, show me what you¡¯ve got!¡± Wen Nian maintained a steady gaze, her expression turning cold as she addressed Jiang Ning directly. ¡°What is it that you want?¡± Jiang Ning quickly turned on the tap and filled the basin with water. Wei Lai, who was holding Wen Nian tightly in the toilet, replied fiercely, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯re very gentle. We¡¯re not as ruthless as a b*tch like you. We just want you to stay here with your clothes wet for the entire night.¡± Spending the entire night in such inclement weather could prove fatal for her. Wen Nian¡¯s arm became trapped in the door crack, causing great difort. Initially, she crouched down, bending her body as Wei Lai exerted force to free her arm. She consciously rxed her arm, allowing Wei Lai to pull her with greater ease. As Wei Lai, who was positioned inside the door, sensed Wen Nian¡¯s surrender, a smile of anticipation crossed his face. Aware of her disadvantage, Wen Nian¡¯s position gave her the upper hand in this situation. Wen Nian responded with a sarcastic smile. ¡°Just a reminder, this is supposed to be an employee¡¯s washroom, not some deserted space.¡± Observing the shift in Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor, Jiang Ning sensed her resignation and felt content. Turning around, she grabbed the basin filled with water and proudly smiled at Wen Nian. She taunted, ¡°No need to worry. We¡¯ve already made arrangements for you. This washroom won¡¯t be in use until tomorrow morning! Even if you scream until your voice gives out or attempt to break down the door, it¡¯ll be in vain!¡± Wen Nian nodded, acknowledging the cleverness of Jiang Ning¡¯s n, and expressed her appreciation. ¡°1 must admit, 1 didn¡¯t anticipate your resourcefulness to such a degree. Well done.¡± Jiang Ning felt a hint of unease upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words. Before she could fully process it, Wen Nian interjected, ¡°But before we part ways, there¡¯s onest thing I¡¯d like to say..¡± Chapter 182 - 182: Murder is Against the Law Chapter 182: Murder is Against the Law Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Lai, assuming that Wen Nian was about to plead for mercy, remained unaware of the fear etched on Wen Nian¡¯s face. Nheless, she responded with a sense of magnanimity, saying, ¡°Go ahead, speak your mind.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s expression remained devoid of emotion as she spoke, ¡°This sentence is¡­¡± Both Wei Lai and Jiang Ning were engrossed in anticipation of Wen Nian¡¯s words. However, in a sudden burst of action, Wen Nian forcefully yanked Wei Lai¡¯s hand free, revealing her wrist. With a surge of determination, she rose to her feet and exerted all her strength to lift the door, causing audible cracks to echo through the air. Despite having a multitude of tasks to aplish, Wen Nian swiftly executed them all within a mere second, catching both herself and others off guard by the speed of her actions. A startled cry of ¡°Ah!¡± escaped Wei Lai¡¯s lips, reverberating throughout the bathroom. The cleaningdy, upon witnessing themotion, shook her head in disappointment. ¡°Sigh, 1 don¡¯t know who managed to upset the higher-ups. It¡¯s such a pity. All I can do is make sure toe in early tomorrow to clean up the mess.¡± Reacting swiftly to the situation, Jiang Ning hastily sshed the water towards Wen Nian. Despite Wen Nian¡¯s quick reflexes, she couldn¡¯t entirely avoid it, resulting in some water sshing onto the door and staining her clothes. Wen Nian¡¯s gaze shifted from the marks left by the water droplets to Jiang Ning, and a slight frown formed on her face. As she lifted her gaze, a glimmer of anger and resentment filled her eyes, giving Jiang Ning a chilling, murderous stare. Under Wen Nian¡¯s intense and menacing gaze, Jiang Ning¡¯s nerves tightened, and she swallowed nervously. The sudden realization of the pain in her waist resurfaced, causing difort and a sense of unease to course through her body once again. Wen Nian, harboring aposed demeanor, retrieved their phone discreetly from behind a small green nt on the sink and paused the recording. Speaking in a hushed tone, she called out to Wei Lai inside the restroom, ¡°Come out here.¡± Having witnessed Wen Nian¡¯s formidable martial prowess, Wei Lai, aware of her own injuries, cautiously lowered her injured right hand and pressed her back against the door. She defiantly dered, ¡°Dream on. I know exactly what you¡¯re nning. You want to attack me, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m not naive. I won¡¯t step outside!¡± Wen Nian clicked on the video and started ying the footage of the recent events. The audio clearly captured the conversation that had taken ce inside the bathroom. After ying the video once, Wen Nian spoke calmly but with an underlying threat, ¡°If you refuse toe out, I will upload this video online for everyone to see how the daughters of the Jiang and Wei families bully others. Furthermore, 1 will expose the poor security measures at Wei Corporation¡¯s high-end department store. It¡¯s ironic that despite my substantial spending here, my personal safety cannot be ensured. Once this video is posted, I¡¯m confident that people will reassess the strength of the Wei Corporation. It would be wise for shareholders to divest their stocks promptly.¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, a cold sweat broke out on Wei Lai¡¯s forehead. The realization dawned on her that the entire Wei family was well aware of their actions. Her grandfather, in particr, held numerous methods to deal with anyone who dared topromise thepany¡¯s interests. Wei Feng¡¯s authority and power within the Wei family were unparalleled, and no one dared to challenge him. As Wei Lai contemted her options, she realized that opening the door was the only choice she had in order to avoid the severe consequences that awaited her if she continued to defy Wen Nian¡¯s demands. Wen Nian¡¯s face lit up with a satisfied smile and she nodded approvingly. ¡°It would have been much easier if you had cooperated from the beginning. Now, throw your phones on the ground behind you.¡± Jiang Ning regarded Wen Nian warily, her voice tinged with caution. ¡°What do you want from us? Can you guarantee that you¡¯ll delete the video once weply with your demands?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s gaze turned cold as she stared at both of them. She spoke with an air of authority, ¡°Understand the power dynamics in this current situation. Not only have I informed certain reporters about the previous incident, but I also have the ability to get them to release the news immediately. Trust me, they would be more than eager to report such explosive information.¡± Upon realizing that Wei Lai held the upper hand in this situation, she promptly made a decision. Without hesitation, she threw her phone over as requested by Wen Nian. Jiang Ning¡¯s anger simmered within her, questioning why she always felt so oppressed when confronted by Wen Nian. However, her concerns for her family¡¯s business weighed heavily on her mind, fueling her worry about the potential repercussions. Her parents doted on her and would undoubtedly go to great lengths to protect her. However, Jiang Ning couldn¡¯t bear the thought of her parents¡¯ hard-earned career being jeopardized because of her actions. Wen Nian showed no urgency in picking up the phone. Instead, he observed both of them closely and remarked, ¡°You two seemed prepared to confront me, considering the way you sshed water on each other with a basin. The result? You ended up soaking yourselves.¡± Wen Nian showed no urgency in picking up the phone. Instead, he observed both of them closely and remarked, ¡°You two seemed prepared to confront me, considering the way you sshed water on each other with a basin. The result? You ended up soaking yourselves.¡± Wen Nian came to a realization that those who engaged in wrongdoing often exhibited double standards. Today, this person had provoked her twice in a row, yet each time, they were outmatched and defeated by her. In the end, they even tried to shift the me onto her. Since the other party remained unyielding and unreasonable, Wen Nian decided to let the matter go. After all, she had her own priorities, includingpleting her test papers, unlike the seemingly carefree lives of these privileged daughters. Wen Nian clenched her fist, feeling the tension in her fingers, and retrieved an all-purpose baton from her bag. Jiang Ning shouted in fear, ¡°Murder is against thew!¡± Wen Nian took two steps forward and hit Jiang Ning in the neck. The other party fainted and fell to the ground. ¡°1 gave you a chance.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice was so soft that it sounded like she was talking to herself. When Wei Lai caught sight of Wen Nian¡¯s presence, it felt as if a harbinger from theherworld had descended upon her, intent on taking her life. Overwhelmed by fear, she hastily grabbed the hand sanitizer from the sink and recklessly hurled it at Wen Nian, without concern for the consequences.. Chapter 183 - 183:1 Believe Anyone Chapter 183:1 Believe Anyone Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian¡¯s smile remained intact as she deftly dodged the iing hand sanitizer hurled by Wei Lai. Seizing the opportunity, she swiftly struck back with her baton before Wei Lai could mount a counterattack. With a bang, they fell to the ground. Wen Nian looked at the two unconscious people and poured a basin of water on each of them. As Wen Nian prepared to depart, she thoughtfully opened the washroom window, allowing the fresh, chilly air from outside to circte within. In addition, she located the key to the washroom in Wei Lai¡¯s bag, ensuring that the door could be easily unlocked for their release. After securely locking the washroom door, Wen Nian noticed that the key was attached to their phones. Without hesitation, she discarded the key, along with their phones, into a nearby trash can on the street outside the mall. Letting out a sigh, shemented, ¡°You brought this upon yourselves.¡± In the month of May, the weather exhibited significant fluctuations, with a mix of hot and cold temperatures. Over the weekend, the temperature dropped to single digits, but by Monday, it soared above 20 degrees Celsius. This sudden change led many students, eager to embrace the arrival of summer, to forgo long sleeves and instead opt for short-sleeved shirts and summer attire. Upon entering the ssroom, Wen Nian was taken aback to see Shen Jun already seated in his usual spot. She expressed her surprise, saying, ¡°You¡¯re actually here earlier than me today.¡± Shen Jun smiled in response and quipped, ¡°Sometimes, I do manage to be a diligent student.¡± As the conversation unfolded, Jiang Chun, wearing a displeased expression, turned around to face Wen Nian. With an using gaze, she confronted Wen Nian and said in a reproachful tone, ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯ve gone too far! Do you even realize that you could have be a murderer?! Jiang Ning and Wei Lai are currently hospitalized because of you!¡± Turning to face Jiang Chun, Wen Nian¡¯s expression remained indifferent as she responded, ¡°They provoked me without any justification. Considering the circumstances, I have actually shown restraint in my response.¡± Jiang Chun gazed at Wen Nian with a mixture of disappointment and sadness. ¡°I¡¯ve always seen you as a gentle and kind-hearted girl. I couldn¡¯t believe it when they told me you were vain, maniptive, and willing to go to any lengths to achieve your goals. I understand that Jiang Ning and Wei Lai may have said hurtful things to you, but they have already been harmed by your actions. Yet, you still intended to lock them in the washroom for the entire night! Wen Nian, how can you be so heartless?¡± Observing the pained expression on Jiang Chun¡¯s face, Wen Nian¡¯s frown deepened. As Wen Nian recalled their limited interactions, she realized that it had only been a mere two months since they first met. They had exchanged no more than ten sentences during that time. Yet, Jiang Chun¡¯s words made her contemte the sense of familiarity that seemed to have developed between them. After considering Jiang Chun¡¯s heartfelt words, Wen Nian paused for a moment before responding, ¡°You can trust me.¡± Jiang Chun was taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s unexpected response, leaving her momentarily perplexed. ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Nian offered a kind gesture, helping Jiang Chunplete her sentence. ¡°You can choose to believe them if you wish. After all, we aren¡¯t particrly familiar with each other. Whether you believe me or not doesn¡¯t make a significant difference.¡± Jiang Chun was momentarily stunned by Wen Nian¡¯s words, her gaze instinctively shifting towards Shen Jun. Shen Jun quickly turned Wen Nian around and nervously examined her from head to toe. With concern in his voice, he asked, ¡°You are not hurt, are you?¡± Wen Nian quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Shen Jun, his expression turning serious, looked at Wen Nian intently. His voice carried a tone of concern and determination. ¡°Someone is causing trouble for you? Why didn¡¯t you tell me? What happened?¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s three consecutive questions, Wen Nian responded with a helpless expression. ¡°I knew you would react like this. But don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s the other person who is causing trouble, not me.¡± Wen Nian provided a brief ount of the events that transpired that day, carefully omitting the fact that she had a red mark on her arm. Shen Jun listened to Wen Nian¡¯s version of events, understanding that she had retaliated without experiencing any losses throughout the encounter. Wen Nian relished the tender disy of concern from her boyfriend, savoring the sweet moments of his caring nature. Jiang Chun, taken aback by Shen Jun¡¯s unconditional belief in Wen Nian, quickly realized her misjudgment and the distorted version of events she had been fed. Realizing her mistake, she swiftly formted a solution and offered a sincere apology to Wen Nian. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, Wen Nian. I didn¡¯t anticipate the truth to be so different from what they told me. I deeply regret my earlier words. Please forgive me.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s apologetic expression, sincere attitude, and heartfelt tone conveyed her genuine remorse. Jiang Chun¡¯s sincere demeanor and the realization that her words were not meant to deliberately cause harm dispelled much of Wen Nian¡¯s suspicion. Considering that Jiang Chun¡¯s voice had not been overly loud and only a few nearby tables had heard her, it seemed unlikely that she intended to tarnish Wen Nian¡¯s reputation or seek revenge for her cousin. Wen Nian smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. 1 realized that you¡¯re quite trusting. You believe everything you say.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s words were not sarcastic. After all, Jiang Chun¡¯s image was that she was kind and innocent and easily trusted others. Jiang Chun smiled awkwardly and replied frankly, ¡°I always feel that it¡¯s wrong to lie, so I¡¯m willing to believe what everyone says. Although I¡¯ve been deceived many times, I¡¯m still willing to give more trust to my friends and family.¡± Wen Nian nced at Jiang Chun and smiled without saying anything.. Chapter 184 - 184: Scar Chapter 184: Scar Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun extended his right arm towards Wen Nian, revealing a rectangr burn scar that suddenly became visible on her otherwise fair and smooth skin. Shen Jun was taken aback upon seeing the scar on Jiang Chun¡¯s arm. He lifted his gaze and carefully examined Jiang Chun¡¯s facial features. Jiang Chun chose to overlook Shen Jun¡¯s reaction. With a gentle smile, she extended her hand towards Wen Nian. ¡°If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, let¡¯s shake hands and make peace.¡± Wen Nian contemted Jiang Chun¡¯s outstretched hand, observing her gentle demeanor and the slight curve of her eyebrows. There was an ethereal quality to Jiang Chun¡¯s presence that seemed almost unreal. Nevertheless, finding no reason to object to her words and actions, Wen Nian extended her own hand and shook Jiang Chun¡¯s hand. Shen Jun hesitated for a moment and asked suspiciously, ¡°Do you have a nickname, Yaya?¡± Jiang Chun nced at Shen Jun, momentarily taken aback. However, her surprise quickly transformed into a joyful smile. ¡°1 thought you were so upied with your own matters that you had forgotten about mepletely. 1 was too hesitant to bring it up when we first saw each other. 1 am d you still remember me.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t expect Jiang Chun to be an old friend. He smiled warmly. ¡°I apologize. It has been so many years since west met, and I didn¡¯t immediately recognize you.¡± Jiang Chun yfully remarked, ¡°They say girls transform when they turn eighteen. The more they mature, the more beautiful they be. It¡¯s a good thing you couldn¡¯t recognize me. If I still resembled that awkward duckling from my younger days, I would have been in tears!¡± Despite the 12-year gap in their acquaintance, there should have been a sense of distance between them. However, Jiang Chun¡¯s self-deprecating words had a disarming effect, breaking down the barriers that time had built. As a result, they felt unexpectedly closer to each other in that moment. Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect this to happen. Then, Shen Jun started telling Wen Nian what happened between him and Jiang Chun. Shen Jun had beenpelled by his family to engage in martial arts training since the tender age of three. However, the arduous and monotonous nature of the practice had taken a toll on him. Regardless of the weather¡ªbe it nine freezing days or three scorching summer days¡ªhe was never granted a moment of rest. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s above-average intelligence, at the age of five, he was still a young child. One day, as he continued with his martial arts practice, he was overwhelmed with a sense of injustice. He couldn¡¯tprehend why he had to devote his time to studying while other children were enjoying their ytime. In a fit of tears, Shen Jun fled from his house, seeking sce elsewhere. By chance, he arrived at the entrance of a park, where he encountered the five-year-old Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun was standing near the roadside, patiently waiting for her mother to finish a phone call. Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s distressed cries, she approached him out of curiosity. In Shen Jun¡¯s distressed state, he was unable tomunicate his feelings and concerns to Jiang Chun. However, Jiang Chun, sensing his sorrow, perceived his crying as a pitiful sight. Moved bypassion, she gently took his hand and led him into the park to y with the monkeys. Unexpectedly, while Shen Jun and Jiang Chun were engrossed in observing the monkeys at the park, an unforeseen event urred. Out of nowhere, someone abruptly covered their mouths and noses, restricting their breathing. As Shen Jun and Jiang Chun regained consciousness, Shen Jun swiftly came to the realization that they might have fallen into the hands of human traffickers. Despite their young age, they had been taught from an early age about the potential dangers of encountering such criminals due to their privileged backgrounds. As both Shen Jun and Jiang Chun shared themon goal of escaping, their initial attempt was met with failure. Frustrated and enraged by their defiance, the human trafficker resorted to using a branding iron specifically intended to discipline disobedient children. In a cruel twist of fate, the human trafficker singled out Shen Jun as the primary target for torture, while Jiang Chun, known by the nickname Yaya, bravely intervened to shield him from the searing impact of the red-hot branding iron. This selfless act of sacrifice forged a bond of life-and-death friendship between them. It was through the scar left by that harrowing incident that Shen Jun recognized Jiang Chun as his childhood friend. However, after this incident, Shen Jun never saw Jiang Chun again. Shen Jun¡¯s parents had told him that they had lost contact with the other party, and as time went on, he gradually let go of the matter. Little did he expect that fate would bring them together again, this time as ssmates, reuniting them in a way he had never anticipated. Upon hearing the remarkable story of Shen Jun and Jiang Chun¡¯s past connection, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of awe at the mysterious workings of fate. Shen Jun asked Jiang Chun curiously, ¡°Did your parents change their phones?¡± Jiang Chun maintained her unwavering smile as she responded, not missing a beat, ¡°Absolutely.¡± Observing Jiang Chun¡¯s genuine smile, Shen Jun didn¡¯t overthink the situation. He expressed his gratitude, realizing that he hadn¡¯t had the chance to properly thank her for her courageous act all those years ago. Jiang Chun smiled modestly, downying her heroic act. ¡°Honestly, 1 didn¡¯t think much about it at the time. I was just concerned that you would cry out in pain, so 1 instinctively moved to shield you. Luckily, the police arrived promptly. Otherwise, my hand would have been burned if 1 had to block it again.¡± It was the first time Wen Nian had witnessed such warmth and openness from Shen Jun towards a girl, even though their initial meeting hadn¡¯t received the same treatment. Despite understanding the deep bond forged by chance during their childhood, a hint of envy crept into Wen Nian¡¯s emotions. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but interrupt. She looked at Jiang Chun and asked, ¡°Then can your scar be treated?¡± Jiang Chun nodded. ¡°The doctor said that after 1 turn 18, my skin condition will be more stable, so I have to wait until next year.¡± Upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s remark, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of guilt. He understood that every girl desires to be seen as beautiful. Jiang Chun had carried a scar for 12 years, although not on her face. If it had been on her face, he couldn¡¯t fathom how he could ever repay her for the rest of his life.. Chapter 185 - 185: Add Friends Chapter 185: Add Friends Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun noticed Shen Jun¡¯s guilt-ridden expression and, with a lighthearted demeanor, ced a reassuring hand on his arm. She joked, ¡°Don¡¯t dwell on it too much. It¡¯s really nothing. Nowadays, medical technology is so advanced that a few skin transnts can easily fix it. Besides, it¡¯s on the inside of my arm. Even if there¡¯s a faint mark, who would be scrutinizing my hand all day?¡± Shen Jun raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°Seeing you now, it¡¯s clear that you haven¡¯t changed at all. You¡¯ve always been thoughtful and considerate towards others, just like when we were young.¡± Observing the interaction between Shen Jun and Jiang Chun, Wen Nian recognized that she couldn¡¯t interject or impose herself into their conversation. They were engrossed in their own shared memories. As an outsider to their history, she couldn¡¯t force herself into this conversation. instead of childishly seeking attention, Wen Nian listened silently from the sidelines. The two of them chatted until the bell rang for the first period of ss. Jiang Chun smoothly retrieved her phone before the arrival of the teacher and casually suggested, ¡°Shen Jun, let¡¯s exchange contact information and be friends.¡± Shen Jun opened the WeChat app, and the two of them proceeded to add each other as friends on the tform. With the cast on Shen Jun¡¯s arm having been removed the previous week, the responsibility of procuring lunch during the noon break had now fallen entirely on him. Wen Nian finally experienced the true meaning of having a boyfriend. Jiang Ning called out to Jiang Chun, requesting her presence for lunch at the back door of the ssroom. Sensing Wen Nian¡¯s gaze, she felt a tremor run through her body, and she swallowed anxiously. However, she quickly rationalized the situation, considering the well-lit ssroom and the presence of numerous witnesses. Doubting that Wen Nian would dare to take any action in such a public setting, she regained some assurance. Jiang Ning mustered up the courage to re back. Wen Nian furrowed her brow as she observed Jiang Ning¡¯s expression. She couldn¡¯t help but feel curious about what was transpiring, but she decided to restrain herself. After all, she had previously confronted Jiang Ning, and as long as they didn¡¯t actively provoke her, she resolved to let the matter rest. Wen Nian retracted her gaze. Jiang Ning and Wei Lai had informed their parents that they were going to meet someone before heading out. When their parents couldn¡¯t reach them, they assumed that the two girls had be caught up in their own teenage mischief and were simply staying over at each other¡¯s houses. Unbeknownst to them, an unforeseen incident had urred, resulting in Jiang Ning and Wei Lai being locked up overnight. At six o¡¯clock, when the cleaningdy arrived to unlock the door, she discovered Jiang Ning and Wei Lai in a state of severe illness, with high fevers. The two girls were shivering uncontrobly, clinging to each other for warmth. As soon as they saw the cleaningdy, they urgently pleaded for her assistance, requesting that she call the emergency hotline. Upon receiving the news, the Jiang and Wei families hurried to the hospital to be by the girls¡¯ side. Despite their distressing situation, Wei Lai remained fearful of the evidence held by Wen Nian and convinced Jiang Ning, who had contemted legal action, to exercise patience for the time being. Desiring to handle the situation discreetly and avoid involving Wei Feng, they sought Jiang Chun¡¯s assistance. Together, they concocted a usible excuse to manage the matter without drawing unnecessary attention. Jiang Chun requested Jiang Ning to wait momentarily while she remained in her seat for a while. Eventually, she rose from her seat and discreetly followed Shen Jun out of the ssroom. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t shake off a lingering feeling of suspicion, wondering if Jiang Chun had intentionally dyed her departure earlier. It seemed apparent to her that Jiang Chun¡¯s intention was to leave the ssroom alongside Shen Jun. In the subsequent days, Jiang Chun didn¡¯t actively engage Shen Jun in reminiscing about their shared past, as she had done on the first day. Instead, she simply greeted him at school each day and asionally asked a few questions. There was no physical contact happening identally. Compared to other ordinary students, she was just closer to Shen Jun. When certain ssmates, prone to gossip, observed Jiang Chun¡¯s behavior towards Shen Jun, they couldn¡¯t help but specte that there might be something more than friendship between them. Their observations fueled rumors and whispers within the ss. With Shen Jun¡¯s arm fully healed and his parents, Shen Gang and Auntie Jiang, back in the capital, he regained his private moments with Wen Nian. They were able to spend quality time together once again, enjoying each other¡¯spany. During the weekend. Wen Nian swept the floor while Shen Jun mopped the floor behind her. Now that they were a couple, the dynamics of their rtionship naturally shifted from a remuneration-based arrangement to a genuine romantic partnership. Wen Nian yfully nced back at Shen Jun and quipped, ¡°Do you regret entering this rtionship? It seems that all you have to do now is sit back and let me handle everything. You¡¯ve gotten yourself involved.¡± Shen Jun gazed up at Wen Nian, a subtle smile forming in his eyes. ¡°But you¡¯re already in it. I¡¯m just adding a little effort. It¡¯s still a win for me.¡± Wen Nian started to realize that Shen Jun had a dislike for doing household chores. While it didn¡¯t bother her when they were just ssmates, she began to see it as a significant issue in the context of their romantic rtionship and potentially in future family dynamics. Recognizing the importance of men participating in household chores and how it could foster a sense of responsibility towards the family, Wen Nian decided to align herself with this viewpoint. She observed the positive examples set by her father and brother, both actively contributing to household duties. Unless they were unwell, no one in the Wen family would stay at home without doing any work. With this in mind, Wen Nian aimed to implement a simr approach in her rtionship with Shen Jun. Shen Jun suddenly thought of something. ¡°Nian Nian, Jiang Chun¡¯s birthday is on Wednesday. We are both invited..¡± Chapter 186 - 186: Warm Invitation Chapter 186: Warm Invitation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Wen Nian pondered their time spent together in the ssroom, she couldn¡¯t recall Jiang Chun mentioning her birthday. Wen Nian paused in her sweeping and asked Shen Jun curiously, ¡°When did Jiang Chun invite you?¡± Shen Jun replied nonchntly, ¡°We talked about it on WeChatst night.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun steadily. ¡°Do you often contact each other in private?¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s serious expression and was stunned for a moment. ¡°asionally.¡± Wen Nian felt that she shouldn¡¯t ask too much. After all, Shen Jun and Jiang Chun were just chatting on WeChat. Suppressing the difort in her heart, Wen Nian continued sweeping the floor. ¡°I won¡¯t go. She didn¡¯t invite me.¡± Hearing Wen Nian¡¯s sarcastic words, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile. He leaned over to Wen Nian and asked, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at him and said impatiently, ¡°I don¡¯t have the time.¡± Seeing this, Shen Jun quickly expressed his loyalty. He took out his phone and handed it to Wen Nian. ¡°It¡¯s really just an asional chat. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can look at my chat history.¡± Wen Nian observed how Shen Jun took the initiative to hand his phone over. With a slight smirk, she turned her head and responded, ¡°Who said I wanted to see your phone? If you want to go to her birthday party, you can. 1 have no intention of attending. I don¡¯t know her well.¡± While Wen Nian didn¡¯t have a particrly positive impression of her, she also didn¡¯t harbor any strong dislike. She recognized that everyone had their own social circle and respected Shen Jun¡¯s friendship with Jiang Chun. She had no intentions of interfering or getting in the way. After Wen Nian left that evening, Shen Jun contemted for a while and eventually made up his mind. He decided to make an appearance at Jiang Chun¡¯s birthday party and bring a gift affirmatively to Jiang Chun. He would only stay there for half an hour. Then, he gave Jiang Chun an affirmative reply. Recognizing the depth of their childhood bond, Jiang Chun smiled upon receiving the expected response from Shen Jun. With further contemtion, she decided to send another message to him. Jiang Chun: ¡°I¡¯m so happy! Wen Nian wille too, right?¡± Shen Jun: She happened to be busy on Wednesday. It will just be me. Jiang Chun fell into deep thought again when she saw the reply. On the morning of her birthday, when Jiang Chun noticed Wen Nian entering the ssroom, she turned around and greeted her with a warm smile. ¡°Good morning, Wen Nian. If you don¡¯t have any urgent ns today, would you like toe to my birthday party with me?¡± Wen Nian retrieved breakfast from her bag, realizing that it was an excuse Shen Jun had given her. She looked at Jiang Chun with a gentle smile. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, but I do have some priormitments. Enjoy your birthday party.¡± Jiang Chun wasn¡¯t ready to give up so easily. yfully, she teased, ¡°There will be plenty of beautiful girls tonight. You¡¯re letting him off the hook too easily. I am worried 1 won¡¯t be able to take good care of him on your behalf, so I strongly insist that youe.¡± Jiang Chun added a yful wink with her left eye, disying a delicate and cute expression. ¡°Just to prevent any unnecessary gossip from spreading within the ss.¡± Jiang Chun appeared to be considering both Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s perspectives. In addition to reassuring Wen Nian, she also indirectly conveyed a message to Shen Jun, urging him not to overthink their everyday interactions. Upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s words, Shen Jun appreciated her thoughtfulness.Jiang Chun and her are purely friends. They shouldn¡¯t be concerned about any rumors that might circte. However, Shen Jun had a concern that Wen Nian might develop unnecessary thoughts after hearing too much about Jiang Chun¡¯s birthday party. He nced at Wen Nian and subtly hinted, ¡°Nian Nian, you¡¯ve been studying diligently since you returned from filming and haven¡¯t had a chance to rx. How about we go out and have some fun together?¡± Jiang Chun quickly chimed in, echoing Shen Jun¡¯s suggestion. ¡°Absolutely! You should go and enjoy yourself. The midterm exams have just concluded, and it¡¯s the perfect time for everyone to have some fun together. I always see you buried in papers and books whenever I see you. It¡¯s important to strike a bnce between work and rest. It¡¯ll make you more efficient in the long run.¡± Wen Nian observed Jiang Chun with a hint of disbelief. She found it hard to believe that someone could be so seemingly perfect¡ªpure, beautiful, kind-hearted, academically aplished, and hailing from a good family. It was difficult for Wen Nian to fathom that such a wless person could exist. Despite Wen Nian¡¯s skepticism, she couldn¡¯t deny the fact that both boys and girls in the ss held Jiang Chun in high regard. It was evident that Jiang Chun¡¯s appeal extended beyond just her physical appearance. She possessed qualities that captivated others and had the potential to be the school¡¯s popr figure. Because in terms of looks, Wen Nian was still confident that she was slightly better than her. Jiang Chun relied on her overall strength. Her smile and affinity were her unique signboard. Beside Jiang Chun stood a male ssmate, Wu Hao, who seemed equally excited about the invitation. As Wen Nian contemted Jiang Chun¡¯s enthusiastic gesture, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of indignation on Jiang Chun¡¯s behalf. Despite her initial inclination to decline, Wen Nian began to reconsider her decision. Wu Hao¡¯s attention shifted momentarily, catching sight of Shen Jun from the corner of his eye. Sensing the dynamics between the two, he hesitated before deciding not to say anything that could potentially escte the situation. In the end, he spoke up, urging Wen Nian to ept Jiang Chun¡¯s invitation. ¡°Wen Nian, we¡¯re all ssmates here. Jiang Chun has extended such a sincere invitation. Just say yes.¡± Wen Nian could only say that Jiang Chun really knew how to handle people. Wu Hao was notorious in the ss for always taking the opposite stance and being confrontational. She didn¡¯t expect that in just half a semester, Jiang Chun had managed to get him to fall in line obediently. He was already trying to help Jiang Chun when Wen Nian wouldn¡¯tply with Jiang Chun¡¯s wishes.. Chapter 187 - 187: A Pang In Her Heart Chapter 187: A Pang In Her Heart Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Recognizing that someone was advocating on her behalf, Jiang Chun sped her palms together and adorned a charming expression while addressing Wen Nian. With gentleness in her voice, she uttered, ¡°Please join us.¡± Observing Jiang Chun¡¯s unwavering countenance, Wen Nian pondered the situation. Furthermore, as Shen Jun desired herpany, she acquiesced. Regardless of Jiang Chun¡¯s underlying motives, Wen Nian harbored no fear. In addition to Wen Nian and Shen Jun, Jiang Chun extended an invitation to her deskmate, Wu Hao. Initially, Jiang Guo had intentions of creating a more extravagant affair for his niece. However, Jiang Chun, desiring simplicity, opted against making it overly intricate. She merely invited a select group of ssmates and a few individuals from the social circle that Jiang Ning had introduced her to over the past three months, among whom was Wei Lai. The Jiang couple had the butler decorate the birthday venue, which happened to be located in the Jiang family¡¯s backyard. Following Jiang Chun¡¯s specific instructions, the chosen format for the celebration was abination of a buffet and barbecue. The overall ambiance exuded a sense of rxation andfort, despite not being excessively luxurious. Wei Lai¡¯s hand was already encased in a ster cast as she arrived with Jiang Ning, a littleter. The sight of Wen Nian, her rival, ignited a surge of anger within her. As Wei Lai caught sight of Wen Nian in the garden, her eyes zed with fury. She also took notice of Shen Jun seated beside her rival. Lost in a daze, Wei Lai coincidentally witnessed Shen Jun turning around and shing a smile at Wen Nian. In that moment, she felt a pang in her heart, causing her face to flush with warmth. In a hushed tone, she inquired of Jiang Ning, ¡°Who is that person beside Wen Nian?¡± Jiang Ning responded, ¡°That¡¯s Wen Nian¡¯s boyfriend, Shen Jun. He¡¯s also from the capital. He transferred to our schoolst semester. Furthermore, he is Jiang Chun¡¯s childhood friend.¡± Jiang Chun had never provided Jiang Ning with extensive details about her rtionship with Shen Jun, but this small piece of information was sufficient for Wei Lai to grasp the situation. Wu Hao¡¯s parents, being teachers and doctors, belonged to a middle-ss family. The grand vi of the Jiang family, as well as the attire of the socialites and affluent young individuals present, expanded his perspective and widened his horizons. Wu Hao concealed the surprise in his eyes, yet a trace of delight lingered in his voice. ¡°Jiang Chun, 1 never anticipated that your family would be so affluent.¡± Jiang Chun smiled. ¡°This isn¡¯t my house. This is Jiang Ning¡¯s house. We¡¯re cousins.¡± Upon hearing this, the two girls beside her quickly showered Jiang Chun withpliments and started telling everyone about Jiang Chun¡¯s family background, causing Jiang Chun to disy a hint of embarrassment. Blushing bashfully, Jiang Chun modestly replied, ¡°My father¡¯s business acumen is only marginally above average. Our family doesn¡¯t excel in the business world.¡± Upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s humble response, Wu Hao felt that she was the girl he had always dreamed of. She possessed wealth, yet remained humble and down-to-earth. Her kindness and warmth were undiminished despite her family background. When he looked at Jiang Chun, his enthusiasm couldn¡¯t help but grow stronger, evident in his gaze. Wen Nian, having skipped dinner, dispensed with formalities and loaded her te with steak, seafood, and spaghetti. She joined Shen Jun in the corner, taking a seat. After relishing arge lobster, Wen Nian pursed her lips and smiled. ¡°With such culinary skills on disy, this visit has been truly worthwhile.¡± Shen Jun took a sip of champagne, unable to contain his smile. ¡°Save some room in your stomach. Don¡¯t you still want to enjoy the barbecue?¡± Wen Nian savored thest bite of the sliced steak, finally feeling a sense of fulfillment in her stomach. Contentedly, she remarked, ¡®Til save some room. The grill has only just started heating up. By the time the first batch is ready, there will still be enough space for the food we¡¯ve just eaten.¡± Located near the sea, Hai City offered a level of seafood freshness that the capital couldn¡¯t match. And so, Shen Jun chose to fill his te solely with an assortment of delectable seafood. Wei Lai, at the age of 14, donned a ck dress with delicate straps. Despite her young age, her figure boasted curves that even surpassed Wen Nian¡¯s. With her smooth thighs partially exposed, Wei Lai leaned in close to Jiang Chun¡¯s ear, her eyes gleaming with excitement. ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, could you introduce me to Brother Shen Jun?¡± , her smile slightly faded upon hearing Wei Lai¡¯s soft request. Nevertheless, her tone remained friendly as ever. She jokingly remarked, ¡°Are you telling me you¡¯ve developed a crush on my childhood friend? Well, 1 must inform you that he already has a girlfriend.¡± Wei Lai¡¯s eyes filled with disdain as she muttered, ¡°Wen Nian is nothing. She¡¯s not deserving of Brother Shen Jun.¡± Despite Wei Lai speaking in a hushed tone, Jiang Chun¡¯s keen ears caught fragments of her words. She cast a sidelong nce at the two individuals chatting andughing under the shade of a distant tree, her fingers gripping the champagne ss tightly until they whitened with tension. Upon reconsideration, Jiang Chun¡¯s expression shifted, and a new idea dawned upon her. The smile on her lips deepened once more. ¡°I can introduce you, but you mustn¡¯t entertain any other intentions. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t be able to justify myself to Wen Nian,¡± she cautioned. Jiang Chun set down her wine ss and approached with her arm draped around Wei Lai¡¯s shoulder. Speaking in a clear and loud voice, she eximed, ¡°Shen Jun, allow me to introduce you to a dear little sister of mine..¡± Chapter 188 - 188: Self-Protection Chapter 188: Self-Protection Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Wei Lai witnessed Jiang Chun wholeheartedly introducing her, her fondness for Jiang Chun grew even stronger. Inparison to her unscrupulous brother, her impression of Jiang Chun skyrocketed. Wen Nian and Shen Jun were engrossed in their conversation when they were interrupted and turned their heads to see what was happening. The small round table could amodate four people. Jiang Chun and Wei Lai promptly took the remaining seats, and Jiang Chun briefly introduced them to the other two individuals present. Wei Lai had a cute appearance, with dimples on both sides of her cheeks. Aware of her own strengths, Wei Lai disyed a perfectly timed smile, exuding a particrly sweet and charming demeanor. ¡°Hello, Brother Shen Jun.¡± Upon hearing Wei Lai¡¯s name and recalling Jiang Chun¡¯s words during their confrontation with Wen Nian, Shen Jun immediately recognized who Wei Lai was. Initially, he had no intention of engaging with her, but out of respect for Jiang Chun, he reluctantly nodded his head in a cold and distant manner as a response. Jiang Chun noticed Shen Jun¡¯s reaction and felt pleased, but her facial expression remained unchanged. Being only a 14-year-old girl, Wei Lai¡¯s smile froze instantly upon witnessing Shen Jun¡¯s cold response. She nced at Wen Nian beside her and suspected that Wen Nian must have revealed the conflicts between them, which resulted in Shen Jun¡¯s unfavorable attitude towards her. Although Shen Jun¡¯s demeanor towards Wen Nian and Jiang Chun appeared amicable moments ago, his reaction changed upon hearing Wei Lai¡¯s name. Wei Lai felt a sense of injustice in her heart. However, she understood that acting impulsively was not the right approach on this asion. Whether it was to improve her impression in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes or to persuade Wen Nian to delete the video, Wei Lai realized that she needed to handle the situation calmly. With these thoughts in mind, Wei Lai turned to Wen Nian and spoke, ¡°Wen Nian, I apologize for what happenedst time. I¡¯m sorry, and 1 hope you can forgive me.¡± Wen Nian waspletely caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events. She nced at Jiang Chun, who was smiling happily, wondering if this was the reason she insisted on her attendance tonight. Wen Nian calmly responded, ¡°Whether I forgive you or not is not important. Just try to avoid provoking me in the future.¡± Repaying kindness with resentment, how can one expect kindness in return? Wen Nian was far from having such a saintly mindset. Did Wei Lai really think she could earn forgiveness with a casual apology?! Wei Lai had been confident when Shen Jun was present. Who wouldn¡¯t want to appear kind in the eyes of their loved one? However, she never expected Wen Nian to openly express her resentment without any pretense. Jiang Ning had just finished talking with someone when she noticed that Wei Lai had already approached Wen Nian. She was puzzled as to why Wei Lai didn¡¯t wait for her. She quickly walked over and overheard their conversation, her face full of defiance. ¡°Wen Nian, we¡¯ve both apologized, and we had been the ones suffering now. Don¡¯t be so unyielding!¡± Shen Jun paused momentarily in his seafood-eating motion as Wen Nian lightly patted his hand. People learn and grow through experiences. Shen Jun thought it might be a good learning experience for Wen Nian to handle this childish situation on her own, so he continued eating, no longer paying attention. Jiang Chun, with a worried expression, interjected, ¡°Let¡¯s talk calmly. None of you should get worked up. Communication is the key to resolving problems.¡± Wen Nian had finished eating the food on her te and was now waiting for the barbecue. She thought it might be a good use of this spare time to engage in a verbal battle. Leaning back leisurely in her chair, Wen Nian nced at the others and replied nonchntly, ¡°You brought this upon yourselves, so it¡¯s your own fault if you suffer. 1 defended myself, which is called self-defense. If 1 win, it¡¯s justice triumphing over evil. Whether I choose to forgive or not is my personal decision. What¡¯s it to you? Are you trying to control everything now?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you this, it has nothing to do with being unyielding. I¡¯m just unhappy and unwilling to forgive. Why should I forgive when it was you who started it? If I had fallen for your schemes, do you think you¡¯d be reflecting on your actions now? Instead, you¡¯d be celebrating in some corner. Tell me, do you really deserve my forgiveness?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s fierce retort left Wei Lai and Jiang Ning unsure of how to respond. After all, Wen Nian was speaking the truth. After a few seconds, Jiang Ning took a few steps forward and asked, ¡°Then tell us, what would it take for you to delete the video?¡± Wen Nian nced at Jiang Ning, standing beside her, and knew she couldn¡¯t delete the video. She would never delete it in her lifetime. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t provoke me in the future, I won¡¯t release the video. So, the ball is in your court.¡± Wei Lai looked at Wen Nian in disbelief. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯ll keep the video as a constant threat against us?!¡± Wen Nian quickly rified, ¡°Don¡¯t make baseless usations. This is self-preservation. As I said, the control is in your hands. As long as you don¡¯t harm me again, you have nothing to worry about..¡± Chapter 189 - 189: Crocodile’s Tears Chapter 189: Crocodile¡¯s Tears Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian had the original video in her possession, and no one knew where it was stored. Wei Lai and Jiang Ning, seeing Wen Nian¡¯s firm stance, felt helpless and looked towards Jiang Chun, hoping she could help. Jiang Chun appeared troubled by their pleading looks, but eventually spoke up. Her voice remained gentle,cking any forceful impact, as if she was reluctantly mediating. ¡°Wen Nian, I understand that you¡¯re concerned about them causing you harm in the future. However, who can truly trust someone else with their leverage, even if you assure them repeatedly? Here¡¯s what we can do. I will have them write an assurance letter, and you can hold onto it as a means of caution.¡± Jiang Ning and Wei Lai were dissatisfied with this resolution, butpared to the concrete evidence of the video, the threat of an assurance letter was considerably smaller. Reluctantly, they agreed, although they were unhappy about it. Wen Nian rolled her eyes in secret. Who would switch from nuclear weapons to rifles? However, having a gun wasn¡¯t enough; one also needed the technical skill to use it. In other words, if these two suddenly had a change of heart and imed that they were forced to write the assurance letter, she would be med instead. Without hesitation, Wen Nian refused, ¡°Instead of wasting time trying to persuade me, it¡¯s better for you all to behave yourselves. No matter who you bring as a mediator, it won¡¯t make a difference.¡± Wei Lai, seeing this, nced at Shen Jun, who was eating quietly beside them. She decided to try a different approach, sacrificing her own pride. She discreetly pinched her own thigh through her clothes, causing her eyes to immediately turn red. ¡°Wen Nian, I apologize for being immature. Please forgive me. It was because I felt sorry for my brother, who went to a foreign country for you, that I wanted to teach you a lesson. But I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Wen Nian nearly choked on her own saliva upon hearing this and quickly rified, ¡°I don¡¯t have that kind of influence. I¡¯ve only met your brother a few times, and his decision to go abroad was already nned by your Wei family. I can¡¯t bear such a great responsibility. Besides, he has been abroad for half a year now, and I¡¯m sure he has forgotten what 1 even look like. There¡¯s nothing between him and me. Don¡¯t add unnecessary drama to it.¡± This response surprisingly pleased Jiang Ning, but it left Wei Lai even more frustrated. It seemed like Wen Nian slipped away like an eel. Wei Lai could only take advantage of her young age and continue with her plea, ¡°Sister, it¡¯s true that I overthought things. When ites to family, I tend to act recklessly. But my nature isn¡¯t bad, and there¡¯s another reason why I hope you delete the video. In case it identally gets leaked, my grandfather would literally kill me if he found out. Shen Jun, can you please help me persuade her? 1 truly realize my mistake.¡± As she spoke, Wei Lai¡¯s voice became more choked, and tears rolled down her cheeks, making her appear pitiable. But Wen Nian wasn¡¯t moved by it. In her eyes, these were nothing but crocodile tears. Given Wei Lai¡¯s vengeful nature, if she wasn¡¯t genuinely worried about the video being released and affecting thepany¡¯s punishment from Wei Feng, she wouldn¡¯t have given in so quickly. She even attempted to involve Shen Jun to make herself seem more cautious in his presence, trying to y the role of an innocent girl at such a young age, even though she had caused so much trouble. Wen Nian let out a cold snort, about to respond when she was interrupted by Shen Jun¡¯s voice. Shen Jun lifted his head and spoke coldly to Wei Lai, ¡°The one who has been targeted by your actions is Wen Nian. Only she can decide whether or not to forgive you. As her boyfriend, I will support whatever decision she makes.¡± ¡°Wen Nian, we need to be cautious when ites to wrongdoers seeking mercy after their failures. If their intentions aren¡¯t sincere, their ability to adapt andpromise only shows that some people have a very low moral baseline.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s words were a clear deration, and he was even concerned that Wen Nian might soften and grant Wei Lai¡¯s request. Wei Lai waspletely stunned. She was just a 14-year-old girl, and she had pleaded with them in tears. How could Shen Jun speak to her like that? Wei Lai felt a surge of resentment in her heart, but it was directed towards Wen Nian. Wei Lai firmly believed that Wen Nian had manipted Shen Jun and influenced his perception of her. She wasn¡¯t someone with a low moral baseline; she had simply recognized her vulnerable position and had topromise. Wen Nian noticed that the freshly grilledmb skewers had been ced on a table in the distance, and her eyes lit up. She grabbed Shen Jun, who also had an empty te, and stood up. ¡°The barbecue is ready. Let¡¯s go and get some.¡± Shen Jun chuckled helplessly and followed behind Wen Nian as they left the table.. Chapter 190 - 190: Femme Fatale Chapter 190: Femme Fatale Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Lai was still immersed in the sadness caused by Shen Jun¡¯s misunderstanding of her. Jiang Ning furrowed her brows and sat down on a chair. ¡°Jingchun, look at Wen Nian¡¯s attitude. It¡¯s impossible for us to reconcile with her! No, we have to use some strong methods to get the video.¡± This statement jolted Wei Lai awake. ¡°Yes, if my grandfather finds out, I¡¯m finished!¡± Jiang Chun lowered her gaze to hide her excitement. Regardless of whether the reconciliation between the two parties happened or not, she was the only winner in this game. If Wen Nian was willing to reconcile, she would have some credit, and she could continue to strengthen her good impression on Shen Jun. She only needed to provoke Wei Lai and Jiang Ning at the right time again. Without the video, they wouldn¡¯t hesitate to take action next time. If reconciliation was impossible, it didn¡¯t matter either. Wei Lai and Jiang Ning wouldn¡¯t let Wen Nian off the hook. Jiang Chun firmly believed that men preferred innocent and harmless women. Wen Nian, with her thorny and venomous personality, might initially be intriguing and amusing to Shen Jun, but over time, he would realize the terror of Wen Nian. After all, who would feel at ease sleeping next to a femme fatale? Patience and time were what Jiang Chun had in abundance. In Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, she was an inevitable presence! ncing at the duo of low intelligence, Jiang Chun felt a touch of impatience. She doubted their ability toe up with and sessfully execute ns. Fortunately, they were only there to distract and disrupt, but there couldn¡¯t be any mishaps at her birthday party. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t be able to exin it to Shen Jun. Looking at Jiang Ning and Wei Lai, Jiang Chun¡¯s face was filled with concern. ¡°Tonight, you must not cause any trouble. Wei Lai, your hand is still in a cast. Don¡¯t try to be a tough guy like those bodyguards. Your thin little arm is no match for Wen Nian.¡± Bodyguards? The two of them had a new idea. Last time, they didn¡¯t have a clear understanding of Wen Nian¡¯s power level, but now they knew it was necessary to find an expert to deal with her more safely. However, Jiang Ning and Wei Lai had learned their lesson this time. They nned to think things through carefully and avoid acting impulsively. They both promised, ¡°We definitely won¡¯t cause any trouble tonight!¡± The scheduled time for cutting the cake arrived at 8:30 p.m. The Jiang couple had an important banquet to attend, so Jiang Chun pushed Grandma Jiang to the garden to participate in the cake cutting. The Jiang family still held some influence in the businessmunity of Hai City. Since the invited youngdies and young masters were not more powerful than the Jiang family but had close ties with them, they often attended the banquets hosted by the Jiang family. They were quite familiar with Grandma Jiang and approached her withpliments. ¡°Grandma Jiang, I haven¡¯t seen you in a while. You¡¯re getting younger and younger.¡± ¡°I think so too. Grandma Jiang, why are you still aging backward?¡± With Uncle Da Jiang and Uncle Xiao Jiang achieving so much, and ChunChun being so filial bying back to Hai City all the way from the capital, Grandma Jiang should be happy all the time. With such outstanding and considerate juniors, you must be feeling even younger.¡± Grandma Jiang listened to these words with a smile that reached her eyes. Thest remark struck a chord with her, as every elder hopes for their descendants to achieve sess. It was also a testament to her managing the family well. Grinning from ear to ear, Grandma Jiang replied, ¡°You sweethearts have mouths as sweet as honey. Every time I talk with you, it lifts my spirits and makes me feel several years younger.¡± ¡°Today, 1 want to thank all of you foring to celebrate my eldest granddaughter¡¯s 18th birthday. You all have been to the Jiang family many times, treating it as your own home. If there¡¯s anything you need or anythingcking, just let ChunChun and NingNing know. The most important thing is for all of you to have a great time celebrating ChunChun¡¯s birthday.¡± Everyone chimed in agreement and exchanged words of approval. At the opportune moment, the butler brought out the cake adorned with candles. With a signal from Wei Lai, everyone started singing the birthday song. Jiang Chun lowered her head with a smile, made a wish, and blew out the candles. Wen Nian, who was nning to leave after eating the cake, apuded happily with the crowd. Taking into consideration the expectations of refined youngdies regarding their figures and elegant eating manners, the maids were cautious while cutting the cake. Wen Nian only took a couple of bites before stopping. She remembered Shen Jun¡¯s earlier remark about leaving after the cake and looked at him expectantly. Shen Jun smiled and tousled Wen Nian¡¯s hair. ¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯ll go and greet Jiang Chun.¡± Jiang Chun was engaged in a conversation with Jiang Ning when she noticed Shen Jun approaching, diverting their attention. She walked up with a smile and said, ¡°I was too busy earlier and didn¡¯t have a chance to host you. But now I have some free time.. Let me show you around the Jiang residence!¡± Chapter 191 - 191: Overthinking Chapter 191: Overthinking Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun smiled lightly in response, ¡°No need to be so polite. You¡¯re the host here, and it¡¯s not right for you to be free. But it¡¯s gettingte, so we should head back.¡± Jiang Chun frowned slightly and nced at Shen Jun and Wen Nian. ¡°Are you leaving so soon? It¡¯s not even nine o¡¯clock yet. Wen Nian, did you find this birthday party boring because of me?¡± This question immediately led others to think that Wen Nian was the troublesome one, the one who didn¡¯t fit in and caused the trouble. Wen Nian didn¡¯t reply at all. However, Shen Jun quickly replied, ¡°No, not at all. You did a great job organizing everything. The reason we¡¯re leaving early is because our ce is quite far from here, and we¡¯ll be getting homete.¡± Jiang Chun felt a bit embarrassed as she looked at Shen Jun. ¡°1 feel like I didn¡¯t entertain you properly today. Let me treat you to a meal another time.¡± But this time, Wen Nian spoke up first, ¡°You didn¡¯t fall short in your hospitality. We ate quite well, and I really enjoyed the cooking skills of your family¡¯s chef. Besides, we¡¯re all ssmates, so there¡¯s no need to be so formal. It¡¯s our own reasons that we have to leave early. Thank you for understanding.¡± Shen Jun also chimed in agreement, and since Jiang Chun heard their exnation, she didn¡¯t insist on them staying. Instead, she said, ¡°Alright, then I won¡¯t keep you. Oh, by the way, Shen Jun, my grandma wants to meet you.¡± Shen Jun raised an eyebrow in surprise. He didn¡¯t recall ever meeting her grandma before. However, since Jiang Chun¡¯s elder mentioned it, it shouldn¡¯t be a difficult task to agree. ¡°Sure.¡± Upon hearing that it didn¡¯t concern her, Wen Nian had no intention of joining. But Jiang Chun noticed and pulled her along with a smile, saying, ¡°Since Shen Jun is here, it wouldn¡¯t be right if you didn¡¯te.¡± Wen Nian nced at Jiang Chun and smiled before following along. The elderlydy¡¯s hearing wasn¡¯t the best. Jiang Chun raised her voice slightly, ¡°Grandma, this is Shen Jun.¡± Grandma Jiang smiled and looked Shen Jun up and down, as if she were assessing a prospective grandson-inw. After examining him, she nodded in satisfaction and said, ¡°This young man is quite good. He looks spirited and handsome! I¡¯ve never seen such a handsome young man before. No wonder my ChunChun couldn¡¯t stop thinking about you and even calls out your nickname in her dreams sometimes.¡± Jiang Chun blushed and nced at Shen Jun before yfully stomping her foot and shaking Grandma Jiang¡¯s arm. She shylyined, ¡°Grandma, why are you talking nonsense? 1 was just d to find apanion I can have fun with. I felt sad when 1 suddenly couldn¡¯t reach him.¡± After speaking, Jiang Chun quickly looked at Wen Nian and added, ¡°Wen Nian, don¡¯t misunderstand. My grandma is just saying nonsense.¡± Wen Nian reached a conclusion by this point and confirmed that Jiang Chun¡¯s intentions towards Shen Jun were indeed impure. Faced with Jiang Chun¡¯s disy, Wen Nian lightly pulled her lip in a smile without saying a word. Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Shen Jun spoke in a warm tone to Grandma Jiang, ¡°Grandma Jiang, it¡¯s gettingte now. My girlfriend and I should head back. We¡¯lle to visit you another time.¡± Grandma Jiang nced at the young couple before her and decided not to continue with the previous topic. She kindly replied, ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not easy to catch a ride around here. If you didn¡¯te by car, let Jiang Chun arrange for a driver to drive you home. Be safe on the way.¡± Shen Jun nodded. Seeing this, Jiang Chun walked Shen Jun and Wen Nian to the car parked at the door. As if she had forgotten the awkward situation just now, she smiled naturally and said, ¡°Thank you again foring to my birthday party. Remember to send me a message when you get home.¡± Wen Nian and Shen Jun bid farewell to Jiang Chun before driving away. Jiang Chun stood there until the car merged with the night before revealing a mocking smile. Jiang Chun had deliberately revealed her intentions to Wen Nian. She was hoping that Wen Nian would meet her expectations. It would be best if Wen Nian could throw a tantrum on the way home and quarrel with Shen Jun for what had happened today! As the driver of the car was the Jiang family¡¯s driver, Wen Nian did not say anything along the way. However, Shen Jun could sense that Wen Nian was not in a good mood during the ride home. When they arrived at Wen Nian¡¯s house, Shen Jun asked the Jiang family¡¯s driver to go back first. He dragged Wen Nian under the shade of the big tree in the green belt area and said, ¡°I feel that you¡¯re not happy.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s constant attention to Wen Nian made her feel better. Wen Nian leaned against the tree trunk and looked up. ¡°1 think Jiang Chun likes you.¡± Shen Jun chuckled when he heard this and replied with certainty, ¡°Absolutely impossible. You¡¯re overthinking this.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at Shen Jun.. ¡°1 knew you wouldn¡¯t believe me!¡± Chapter 192 - 192: Guilty Chapter 192: Guilty Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun pondered for a moment, ¡°Wen Nian and I don¡¯t talk much in our daily conversations. We rarely contact each other on WeChat. Whenever she reaches out to me, it¡¯s always about specific matters. We¡¯ve never had casual chats. How could this be considered as someone showing interest in another person? No one would suspect that she likes me if they read our chat history.¡± After saying that, Shen Jun immediately opened his chat page with Jiang Chun, but Wen Nian pushed it back without looking. Upon witnessing Shen Jun¡¯s attitude, Wen Nian subtly started feeling a bit uneasy. She believed that she had grasped some clues from tonight¡¯s events, but she couldn¡¯tpletely untangle the mess just yet. Wen Nian¡¯s intuition told her that it would be better not to dwell on this matter for now. After all, from Shen Jun¡¯s perspective, her behavior might seem like an unreasonable fuss. Suppressing her discontent, she slightly smiled and said, ¡°Alright, you should go home quickly. It¡¯s already half-past nine.¡± Shen Jun, observing Wen Nian¡¯s sudden change in attitude, couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit worried and asked, ¡°Do you really believe what I said? Are you not angry anymore?¡± Wen Nian nodded affirmatively, ¡°Yes! You should hurry and leave.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t perceive any other emotions on Wen Nian¡¯s face, so he felt relieved and left. Shortly after Shen Jun arrived home, he received a message from Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun: ¡°Did Wen Nian misunderstand my grandmother¡¯s intentions? I feel like she¡¯s a bit upset.¡± Shen Jun: ¡°No, don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Jiang Chun: ¡°Really? She didn¡¯t get mad at you?¡± Shen Jun believed that the matters between him and Wen Nian were personal affairs, and even if they had an unpleasant experience, there was no need to share it with others. After all, it¡¯s best not to air one¡¯s dirtyundry in public. Shen Jun: ¡°Really, just stop worrying about it.¡± Jiang Chun felt disappointed with this response, but she couldn¡¯t determine whether Shen Jun was just reluctant to tell her or if it was the truth. After thinking for a moment, she sent another message. Jiang Chun: ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I¡¯ve been worrying about it, so I decided to message you and ask. Those were all childhood matters, and my grandmother suddenly brought them up. I almost embarrassed myself earlier. If Wen Nian misunderstood, you have to let me know. I¡¯m afraid things might get worse for you if it continues, and I can exin it better to her.¡± Shen Jun, seeing Jiang Chun¡¯s attempt to distance herself from the situation, smiled in relief. Shen Jun replied, ¡°Okay.¡± It can be said that Shen Jun¡¯s understanding of romantic rtionships is limited, and coupled with Jiang Chun¡¯s skill in disguising her intentions, patiently setting up this situation, everything was just the beginning ording to Jiang Chun¡¯s n. Shen Jun, being a bit slow in matters of love, still had the image of Jiang Chun from childhood due to nostalgic filters, remembering her as the kind-hearted little girl. If it had been any other girl with whom Wen Nian was displeased, Shen Jun¡¯s response would have been different. For example, Jin Ting. Time continued to move forward as usual, and quickly, it was the end of May. Wen Nian received some good news from Xu Chang. Xu Chang: ¡°Our film has been edited! I just watched the final version, and 1 can feel it. I can feel that we¡¯ll definitely be able to make a profit this time!¡± Xu Chang¡¯s self-demands remained unchanged, consistently low. Wen Nian smiled and shook her head. Wen Nian: ¡°1 have a feeling too, it¡¯s definitely going to break even! You really went all out to invite Bai Zheng.¡± Xu Chang sent a series ofughing emojis. Xu Chang: ¡°Absolutely! He can even be a selling point for the film. His fans in the pianomunity are extremely loyal. It shouldn¡¯t be a problem to attract attention through them.¡± Xu Chang: ¡°By the way, has he been feeling downtely? I feel like his recent works have beencking vitality.¡± Wen Nian furrowed her brows slightly upon reading that. Since their parting in the capital, they had been in contact through WeChat and hadn¡¯t met privately. Wen Nian: ¡°I¡¯m not really sure about that. We didn¡¯t notice anything unusual in our WeChat conversations.¡± The two of them chatted for a while more before going about their own business. After finishing her evening tutoring session, Wen Nian decided to visit Bai Zheng. When she walked downstairs with Shen Jun, she thought about how Shen Jun had injured Bai Zheng to the point of fracturing his bones. Originally, she wanted to tell him the truth, but subconsciously, she concealed it and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go straight hometer and won¡¯t go to the noodle shop. You go ahead.¡± After saying that, Wen Nian felt extremely guilty and frustrated. She wanted to tell him the truth, but Shen Jun interrupted her. Shen Jun didn¡¯t pay much attention and didn¡¯t suspect anything. ¡°Alright, ride safely and contact me when you¡¯re home.¡± Wen Nian also lost the courage to speak up, nodded slightly, and then went to the bike shed pretending to fetch her bike. She turned her head and stole a nce, only to find that Shen Jun was still standing there. She raised her voice and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian with confusion and replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t we heading in the same direction at the school gate? I¡¯m waiting for you to go together..¡± Chapter 193 - 193: Time Management Chapter 193: Time Management Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian found herself unable to do anything and had no choice but to retrieve her bike and leave the school gate with Shen Jun. They purposely took a detour to enter the school through the back entrance. When they stopped at the bike shed again, Wen Nian shook her head and said, ¡°I¡¯m exhausted!¡± Her friendship with Bai Zheng remained pure and untainted, but they asionally had to tell a small lie to avoid exacerbating misunderstandings. Now, they had to do so much just to keep up appearances. With the same 24 hours in a day, Wen Nian couldn¡¯tprehend how those who juggled multiple rtionships managed their time so smoothly. Wen Nian hurriedly ran to School Building 3. Zheng Mo had juste out of the club office and saw Wen Nian as she descended the stairs. She was about to greet her when Wen Nian swiftly passed by. Curiosity got the better of Zheng Mo, and she followed her. Bai Zheng was ying the piano, and Wen Nian entered the room, taking care to keep her breathing light. She sensed a hint of helplessness and mncholy in the music, a departure from Bai Zheng¡¯s usualposing style, leaning towards hister works from a past life. As the piece concluded, Wen Nian apuded and approached, praising, ¡°It¡¯s been so long since 1st heard you y the piano. Your skills have improved.¡± Bai Zheng turned his head and saw Wen Nian, smiling as he stood up, teasingly remarking, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t make it.¡± Wen Nian nervously touched her nose and chuckled, ¡°How could that be? I¡¯ve said before that I woulde to listen to you y the piano, even if it rained knives.¡± Upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, Bai Zhengughed and joked, ¡°Well, in that case, it¡¯s unnecessary. If it actually rained knives, I¡¯m afraid my ribs wouldn¡¯t survive. How do you like mytestposition?¡± Considering the question, Wen Nian replied directly, ¡°It feels like you¡¯re not very happy and you¡¯vepromised your true feelings inposing this piece?¡± Bai Zheng hadn¡¯t expected Wen Nian to be so straightforward, and his smile took on a tinge of bitterness. He invited Wen Nian to sit on the guest sofa near the entrance and poured her a cup of tea. Bai Zheng looked at the potted nt on the coffee table and spoke slowly, ¡°Yes, you can even tell that I¡¯m unhappy. Ask me another question.¡± Growing up in a loving family, Wen Nian wasn¡¯t sure how to resolve such conflicts between parents and children. She sighed softly and asked, ¡°So, what theme did your mother ask you topose for this time?¡± Rxing into the sofa, Bai Zheng leaned back and wore a mocking and puzzled expression, ¡°She asked me topose two pieces for a couple¡¯s wedding. It¡¯s truly a challenging task. I don¡¯t believe in love and have no idea what love even means, yet she wants me to create a wedding theme. It¡¯s ironic, really.¡± At this moment, the sparkle in Bai Zheng¡¯s eyes, which Wen Nian had seen the first time they met, was absent. ¡°So, have you finishedposing now?¡± Bai Zheng nodded. ¡°I handed it over to herst week. For the sake of those 500,000 US dors, she came all the way to the seaside city and kept me locked up, demanding theposition. She even provided me with three meals a day. But her pretense of being a loving mother falls short. Without even asking a few caring questions, she immediately urges me topose. I¡¯ve been holding it in for half a month, and 1 finally managed to create the piece for her.¡± ¡°To be honest, those two pieces are truly awful! They¡¯re both terrible and cliche! 1 never thought 1 would create something like that!¡± As Wen Nian listened to Bai Zheng¡¯s increasingly passionate voice, she hesitated before speaking, ¡°Have you ever considered refusing?¡± Bai Zheng¡¯s gaze flickered slightly upon hearing her words. ¡°1 have considered it, but I¡¯ve never tried. From what I know about her, refusing would be pointless. She won¡¯t allow me to escape her control. 1 am her cash cow. And besides¡­¡± ¡°Sometimes, I feel that as long as she can spend a little more time with me, even if it¡¯s in this way, it wouldn¡¯t be so bad. But when ites toposing ording to her demands, I find it agonizing. I¡¯m so conflicted right now. It feels like I¡¯m torn between two people.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve also told myself that it¡¯s all fake, that I shouldn¡¯tpromise for an illusory motherly love, that I should resist and refuse. But every time 1 see her attempts at kindness, 1 can¡¯t help but crave that trace of warmth.¡± It wasn¡¯t surprising that Bai Zheng had such thoughts. Wen Nian had witnessed simr distorted parent-child rtionships before. Human emotions were inherentlyplex, just as one finger may be longer than another. Moreover, Bai Zheng was caught in the intricate web of his parents¡¯ rtionship. The less he has, the more he desires it. Bai Zheng sometimes puts on a tough facade, iming that he doesn¡¯t need maternal love and despising his mother for suddenly disrupting the life he wanted. However, when everything is within reach, his mindset changes once again, and he seizes every opportunity to cherish the time spent with his mother.. Chapter 194 - 194: Cooking a Frog in Warm Water Chapter 194: Cooking a Frog in Warm Water Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, sometimes, suchpromises and filial piety cannot secure the maternal love he desires. In the real world, being kind to someone doesn¡¯t guarantee they will treat you well in return. Once the other person gets used to that kindness, they start taking your efforts for granted because they are reluctant to mistreat the favored child. Thus, they end up mistreating you, the obedient and self-sacrificing child who continually lowers their boundaries in the hopes of receiving even a little care. Wen Nian believed that Bai Zheng¡¯ster suicide attempts were undoubtedly closely connected to these matters. Moving closer to Bai Zheng, she turned her body and tried to persuade him, ¡°Bai Zheng, the difort you feel from doing something you dislike is what you¡¯re experiencing now. It contradicts your principles and beliefs. I don¡¯t think you should associate this matter with receiving maternal love.¡± ¡°As a friend, I genuinely want what¡¯s best for you. The uing words may not be pleasant to hear, but I will still say them. Your normal cognition has been disturbed by your mother. To put it bluntly, she¡¯s manipting you. She¡¯s adept at using emotions to control you. 1 believe you already sense that something is off deep down, but you can¡¯t break free or maybe you don¡¯t want to break free.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an allegory you¡¯re probably familiar with¡ªboiling a frog in warm water. Don¡¯t wait until you can¡¯t escape before you think of resisting. It¡¯ll be toote then!¡± Bai Zheng grew up immersed in his own world and made friends through the piano, including two piano friends he met throughpetitions. However, they lived in different cities, and their conversations mostly revolved around piano-rted topics. Bai Zheng wasn¡¯t the kind of person who would pour out his heart through a phone screen. During the time he returned to Beijing for the Chinese New Year, feeling extremely repressed, and with Wen Nian being present, he couldn¡¯t resist the desire to invite her for a drink, hoping to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Wen Nian was the first person to know about the issues in his family and the one who directly shattered his illusions. Bai Zheng could discern Wen Nian¡¯s well-intentioned words, but the deep-seated yearning for maternal love still prevented him from making a decisive choice. Bai Zheng¡¯s face disyed a struggling expression. ¡°I know everything you said is correct, but when my mother serves me a prepared meal or asks what I want to eat, I find it hard to say certain things.¡± Wen Nian was taken aback by Bai Zheng¡¯s unexpected weakness, but she also realized that it was because of her own upbringing in a loving and harmonious family that she couldn¡¯t fully empathize. A thought crossed her mind about Bai Zheng¡¯s attempted suicide, and Wen Nian had no intention of giving up on persuading him. After all, it involved matters of life and death. ¡°Bai Zheng, sometimes all you need to do is take one step, and you¡¯ll realize that stepping out isn¡¯t as difficult as you think. The real challenge lies in that first step. If you encounter any difficulties, you can always talk to me.¡± ¡°You can count me as one more person on your side.¡± A light, ethereal female voice suddenly interjected into their conversation from near the door. Wen Nian felt a sense of familiarity in the voice and turned her head to see Zheng Mo partially appearing at the doorway. Surprised by the gaze of the two individuals, Zheng Mo wore a slightly embarrassed smile and no longer attempted to hide. She directly came in and sat on the sofa. ¡°I didn¡¯t intentionally eavesdrop on your conversation! 1 just wanted to say hello to Wen Nian when I saw her, but 1 identally overheard your conversation.¡± Zheng Mo sped her hands together, expressing her apology sincerely. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Bai Zheng, witnessing Zheng Mo¡¯s unexpected departure from her previous cold and confrontational demeanor, found it somewhat ufortable. Now that their family troubles were known to Zheng Mo, Bai Zheng felt a bit uneasy, but he still shook his head and replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s okay, but I hope that next time you encounter such a situation, you¡¯ll proactively avoid it.¡± Knowing her own fault, Zheng Mo smiled and nodded repeatedly. ¡°Absolutely, absolutely.¡± Afterwards, Zheng Mo took the initiative to return to the previous topic. ¡°When I said we could find a solution together, I truly meant it.¡± Today, Zheng Mo¡¯s previous misunderstandings of Bai Zheng werepletely resolved. She recalled all the times she had ridiculed him and even countered others¡¯pliments of Bai Zheng. Zheng Mo felt so ashamed that she wished she could find a hole to hide in. So, she genuinely wanted to help. Wen Nian understood Zheng Mo¡¯s seemingly cold but caring personality and believed in her sincerity. However, the two of them hadn¡¯t been on good terms before. Although Zheng Mo had resolved her misunderstandings with Bai Zheng, it seemed that there were still unresolved issues between Bai Zheng and Wen Nian. As expected, Bai Zheng politely declined with a smile. ¡°Thank you for your kind offer, but I¡¯ll handle it on my own. Wen Nian, it¡¯s gettingte, and you should go home and rest after finishing your practice exam papers..¡± Chapter 195 - 195: Firework Chapter 195: Firework Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian knew that changing someone¡¯s mindset built over a decade wouldn¡¯t be easy, so she didn¡¯t insist further. It would have to happen gradually. Injecting small ideas from time to time, she employed the tactic of slowly boiling a frog. ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll go first. If you need anything, just contact me. I¡¯m always here.¡± Wen Nian patted her chest, presenting herself as a reliable friend, which warmed Bai Zheng¡¯s heart a little. Understanding that improving her rtionship with Bai Zheng couldn¡¯t rely solely on words, Zheng Mo decided to take action. She got up alongside Wen Nian. Walking together to the school gate, Zheng Mo asked before parting ways, ¡°Wen Nian, do you know what Bai Zheng likes?¡± Wen Nian raised an eyebrow, smiling. ¡°Oh? Are you trying to make amends?¡± Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zheng Mo scratched her head but didn¡¯t hesitate to admit, ¡°I want to make up for my previous attitude toward him.¡± After pondering for a moment, Wen Nian recalled an interview with Bai Zheng in their past life. ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard before that he wanted to see fireworks, but fireworks are banned in the city now, so you can¡¯t buy them.¡± Zheng Mo¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°I think I can solve that problem. You go back quickly, and I¡¯ll get ready.¡± Wen Nian widened her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t do anything reckless! You might end up getting caught by the police!¡± Determined to act immediately, Zheng Mo turned and ran, shouting loudly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have a n!¡± Watching Zheng Mo run off into the distance, Wen Nian shook her head helplessly and rode her bicycle away. Not far from the school, Zheng Mo went to a hardware store and bought fuses, tape, and a nearly empty stic lighter, which the shopkeeper kindly gave her. Then, on her way back to school, she picked up some straight branches. Arriving at an open space on the campus field, Zheng Mo spent ten minutes making a dozen makeshift fireworks, which she ced in her backpack. Then she hurried off to the Literature and Arts Department. After Wen Nian and Zheng Mo left, Bai Zheng sat on the chair, lost in thought. When Zheng Mo returned to the office, she found that the door was closed. She went straight to the window and saw Bai Zheng¡¯s back facing the window frame. She squeezed her face in between the window space and gently greeted him. The gentle call, coupled with the cool breeze brushing against his ears, made Bai Zheng¡¯s arm prickle with goosebumps, and he was startled, immediately jumping up from the sofa. Seeing that it was Zheng Mo again, Bai Zheng took a few deep breaths. ¡°Miss Zheng, can you please appear in a more normal way next time?¡± Unexpectedly, Bai Zheng was startled again by Zheng Mo¡¯s presence. She showed an embarrassed smile. ¡°Sure, could you open the door now?¡± Thinking that Zheng Mo had left something behind, Bai Zheng went to open the door. However, Zheng Mo grabbed Bai Zheng¡¯s arm and eximed excitedly, ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll show you something amazing.¡± Bai Zheng didn¡¯t know what kind of trick Zheng Mo was up to. They weren¡¯t close, so naturally, he didn¡¯t want to go. He resisted, leaning his body in the opposite direction of Zheng Mo¡¯s grip and said in protest, ¡°I¡¯m not going. 1 want to go home.¡± But Zheng Mo had spent money on the materials, so she couldn¡¯t give up just because Bai Zheng refused. She increased the strength in her grip. ¡°Come on, it won¡¯t take much time.¡± Feeling that his body was bing uncontroble, Bai Zheng quickly extended his hand to hold onto the door frame. ¡°I really won¡¯t go!¡± ncing at Bai Zheng¡¯s frail appearance, Zheng Mo was somewhat surprised to find that he was stronger than she had imagined. However, it didn¡¯t matter to Zheng Mo. She didn¡¯t take Bai Zheng¡¯s small build into consideration at all. With a strong pull, she forcefully dragged him out of the office. Bai Zheng was now even more convinced that Zheng Mo was a violent woman. He looked at her in horror as she dragged him forward and asked, ¡°What do you want from me?!¡± Not loosening her grip, Zheng Mo felt a bit helpless. Seeing Bai Zheng¡¯s expression, she felt like she was forcefully taking someone¡¯s spouse. She could only exin with a sigh, ¡°1 just want to take you to the yground to see something exciting. You won¡¯t regret it.¡± Knowing that struggling was futile, Bai Zheng had topromise. ¡°Stop pulling me, 1 can walk on my own. 1 need to lock the office door first.¡± Upon hearing this, Zheng Mo released her grip on Bai Zheng. Feeling the sudden release of pressure on his hand, Bai Zheng looked at the contrasting strengths between them and felt quite frustrated. However, he also knew that the more he resisted, the worse it would be for him in Zheng Mo¡¯s hands. He rubbed his wrist, which was almost pulled out of its skin, and obediently closed the door. He decided to see what ¡°medicine¡± Zheng Mo was selling in her gourd. The yground had a stic running track, but there was a grassy area in the center. Zheng Mo led Bai Zheng to the middle, where a row of branches was inserted into the ground. She took out a lighter and handed it to Bai Zheng with a mischievous smile. ¡°You can use it to light the small fireworks tied to the branches..¡± Chapter 196 - 196: Hacker Attack Chapter 196: Hacker Attack Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Bai Zheng hesitated for a moment and didn¡¯t immediately take the lighter. He turned his head to look at the cylindrical object tied to the tree branch, about two or three centimeters long, with a fuse at the tail. Seeing Bai Zheng¡¯s hesitation, Zheng Mo impatiently grabbed his hand and ced the lighter on it. ¡°Hurry up and light it. What¡¯s there to hesitate about?¡± Bai Zheng looked at the lighter in his hand and then nced at Zheng Mo. Zheng Mo¡¯s eyes showed an encouraging look. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this small amount won¡¯t attract the police¡¯s attention. Even if they want to investigate, we¡¯ll be finished before they find anything.¡± Bai Zheng wasn¡¯t afraid of the police, of course. He remembered the only time in his life when he had yed with fireworks. When Bai Zheng was very young, personal fireworks were still allowed in cities in China during the Lunar New Year. At that time, because he had excelled in ying the piano and gained recognition from his rtives, his parents allowed him to make a private wish. He chose to have a family fireworks disy. That was one of Bai Zheng¡¯s few beautiful memories of his family. Bai Zheng tightened his grip on the lighter, squatted down, and lit the first homemade firework. The fuse burned, and with a light ¡°whoosh,¡± it flew into the sky. It didn¡¯t burst into colorful patterns in mid-air but rather streaked across the sky like a shooting star. Though it was brief and didn¡¯tst long, it still left a brilliant mark in the night. Zheng Mo watched Bai Zheng¡¯s smiling face as he looked up at the sky. She also smiled happily. Chemistry and physics were indeed useful. Wen Nian didn¡¯t take Zheng Mo¡¯s words about wanting to make amends to heart. After all, she didn¡¯t expect Zheng Mo to actually produce fireworks. She put the matter out of her mind when she returned home. After Jiang Chun¡¯s birthday party, Wen Nian remained vignt toward Jiang Chun. However, by the beginning of June, during their final exams for the senior year of high school, Wen Nian hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual about Jiang Chun, at least not on the surface. Jiang Chun never showed any intention of deliberately engaging in conversations with Shen Jun or disyed any unusual behavior. She still asked questions rted to their studies, just like before. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t utter a single word of suspicion. After all, it¡¯s easy to be a thief for a thousand days but hard to guard against a thief for a thousand days. Over time, Wen Nian knew that although Jiang Chun¡¯s intentions were impure, she didn¡¯t have the energy to constantly observe her. Wen Yu was epted into one of the top five universities in Shanghai, Danfu University. Bai Zheng, on the other hand, was directly admitted to the best music school in China. In this lifetime, Zheng Mo didn¡¯t choose the police academy again. Instead, she chose to attend Beijing Normal University, preparing to be a teacher in the future. With this year¡¯s college entrance examinationing to a close, all the students were about to enter the final exams before summer vacation. Wen Nian had started reviewing the high school curriculum two months ago. Shen Jun watched as Wen Nian solved problems and suddenly felt vibrations from his pocket. He took out his phone and saw that thework firewall he had installed on Wen Nian¡¯s phone was under attack. Shen Jun frowned slightly. ¡°Someone is trying to hack your phone.¡± Upon hearing this news, Wen Nian was momentarily stunned. Then she thought about the money in her bank ount and asked nervously, ¡°Are they trying to steal my money?! Is it safe for me to check my bank bnce on my mobile banking app?¡± Looking at Wen Nian¡¯s money-driven expression, Shen Jun chuckled without hiding his exasperation. ¡°It¡¯s already intercepted. Your phone is safe.¡± Wen Nian only felt relieved after confirming it through the login. She then looked at Shen Jun with a puzzled expression. ¡°I¡¯m just an ordinary high school student. How did I catch the attention of hackers?¡± Shen Jun pondered for a moment and spected, ¡°Where have you been recently? Did you unintentionally capture something you shouldn¡¯t have?¡± In an instant, Wen Nian thought of the video that Wei Lai and Jiang Ning were so desperate to retrieve. She revealed a meaningful smile. ¡°1 think I know who¡¯s behind this.¡± Curiously, Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian, and she continued, ¡°I captured somepromising footage of Wei Lai and Jiang Ning. They must have hired a hacker to invade my phone and delete the video.¡± Shen Jun said, ¡°The firewall 1 set up for you will definitely keep the other party out. But if you¡¯re still concerned and want to reinforce it, you can.¡± Wen Nian thought about it and declined, instead saying to Shen Jun, ¡°No need to reinforce it. 1 want to store the original video in another location and keep a backup copy on a USB drive. You can create a loophole that allows the other party to ess my phone and mistakenly believe that they deleted the original file.¡± Shen Jun furrowed his eyebrows slightly. ¡°But once they think you no longer have any leverage, they will definitelye after you.¡± Wen Nian nodded earnestly, smiling mischievously as she secretly nned, ¡°That¡¯s what I want. I want them to act without hesitation.. Otherwise, how long do I have to be on guard?¡± Chapter 197 - 197: Holiday Arrangement Chapter 197: Holiday Arrangement Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian, who was smiling like a little fox, and knew that she must havee up with a n. He smiled helplessly and said, ¡°You can y, but you mustn¡¯t put yourself in danger. If anything unexpected happens, you must inform me immediately. Can you promise me that?¡± Wen Nian immediately agreed. Wei Lai and Jiang Ning sat in a bubble tea shop facing the main gate of a high school. Across from them sat a young man in his twenties. The man turned theputer to Jiang Ning and her friend ¡°It¡¯s done! Is this the one?¡± Wei Lai hurriedly opened the video. ¡°Yes, quickly delete it. Has she copied and uploaded it anywhere else?!¡± ¡°The man clicked a few more times and said, ¡°There have been two incidents, but I couldn¡¯t find the backup on my phone.¡± Wei Lai looked at Jiang Ning worriedly. ¡°What should we do?¡± Jiang Ning tightly pursed her lips, lowered her gaze for a moment, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s delete the video first, and we¡¯ll figure out the restter.¡± Wei Lai nodded and suddenly thought of something. She hurriedly asked, ¡°Show me her video and photo album.¡± After some operations, Wei Lai saw several photos of Shen Jun taken secretly by Wen Nian after they had started dating, as well as a few photos of them together. Wei Lai was furious. ¡°She¡¯s so intimate with another man. How shameless! She has two men at the age of 17. Her body must be filthy! She¡¯s not even worthy of a finger from Shen Jun! B*tch!¡± After saying that, she pointed at Shen Jun¡¯s photo and said to the man, ¡°Send me these individual photos and delete the source file of that video.¡± Jiang Ning was even more relieved when she saw the photo. This meant that Wen Nian would never pester Wei Xiao again. However, she only dared to secretly heave a sigh of relief. If Wei Lai discovered her thoughts, there would be a gap in their solid alliance. Jiang Ning¡¯s eyes darted around as she came up with a brilliant idea. She spoke tofort him, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, when we teach her a lesson this time, we can also make her break up with Shen Jun. At this moment, Shen Jun¡¯s emotions are fragile, so if you appear again and find a way to win him over, it won¡¯t be difficult at all!¡± Upon hearing this news, Wei Lai¡¯s eyes lit up! ¡°This is a great n, let¡¯s go with it!¡± As per Wei Lai¡¯s instructions, the man swiftly manipted his fingers, and within moments, several photos appeared on Wei Lai¡¯s WeChat. The man smiled faintly and asked, ¡°Now that everything is done, what about the payment?¡± Wei Lai, with a satisfied expression, touched Shen Jun¡¯s face on the photo and promptly transferred the money. The man nced at the bnce notification in the bank message and disyed a contented expression. ¡°Miss, if you ever have such needs again in the future, feel free to reach out to me!¡± After the man finished speaking, he picked up hisputer and left. Only then did Wei Lai and Jiang Ning start discussing countermeasures in hushed voices. With the final exams over, everyone¡¯s bodies and minds, previously confined, were about to embark on two months of rxation. The ssroom was filled with eager discussions about summer vacation ns. Jiang Chun also turned to Shen Jun and asked, ¡°Are you staying in the city this summer to help Wen Nian with her tutoring?¡± Shen Jun replied, ¡°Oh Yeah, you¡¯ve been away from the capital for several months. Are you nning to go back during the summer vacation?¡± Jiang Chun shook her head and said, ¡°My parents are nning toe and stay for a few days to apany my grandmother. I¡¯ll go back during the winter break.¡± After speaking, Jiang Chun excitedly continued, ¡°With such a long summer vacation, you guys should take at least two days off to rest. When the timees, I¡¯ll organize a local trip and we can hang out together!¡± Two months was more than enough to make up for the second semester of the third year. Shen Jun also wanted to take Wen Nian to rx and agreed readily. ¡°Okay, then you¡­¡± Shen Jun was about to continue his sentence when he suddenly felt a sharp twist on his waist. He immediately closed his mouth, but caught a glimpse of Wen Nian¡¯s smiling expression. He quickly changed his words and said, ¡°Sure, you can make the arrangements. Let¡¯s see if the timing works out.¡± Jiang Chun nced at Wen Nian and covered her mouth, chuckling. She teased, ¡°1 guess it¡¯s not about the timing, but about Wen Nian. Wen Nian, Shen Jun told me that you¡¯ve been catching up with the progress quite well. Don¡¯t worry, you must join us.¡± Wen Nian innocently smiled and looked at Jiang Chun, saying, ¡°All the time and progress are arranged by Shen Jun. 1 honestly have no idea.¡± Upon hearing this, Jiang Chun turned to Shen Jun with a beaming smile and yfully said, ¡°Shen Jun, Wen Nian has given you the initiative. So, I¡¯ll make the arrangements first, and you¡¯re not allowed to refuse!¡± With that said, Jiang Chun didn¡¯t wait for Shen Jun¡¯s response. She cheerfully picked up her backpack and left. Wen Nian nced at Shen Jun and started packing her bag. Shen Jun, looking bewildered, followed Wen Nian out of the ssroom.. Chapter 198 - 198: Out of Programme Chapter 198: Out of Programme Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios However, in that moment, Shen Jun realized that starting tomorrow, he would have the opportunity to spend every day with Wen Nian in their own little world. He couldn¡¯t help but feel excited, although he maintained a calm demeanor on his face as he said, ¡°We¡¯ll start our tutoring sessions at 9 a.m. tomorrow.¡± Wen Nian pushed her bicycle out of the shed. Her tone casual as she replied, ¡°You¡¯re quite enthusiastic to make time for Jiang Chun¡¯s gathering.¡± Shen Jun widened his eyes slightly. ¡°It¡¯s not about the gathering. Didn¡¯t 1 just change my words? Besides, we used to start even earlier to catch up on the progress.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at Shen Jun and retorted, ¡°You¡¯re even sharing details about my tutoring progress with others. Seems like you two had quite a deep conversation!¡± With a huff, Wen Nian hopped on her bike and left directly. Shen Jun stood there, feeling conflicted. ¡°What¡¯s so deep about discussing tutoring progress? It was just a casual question. Do I have to keep it a secret?¡± Instead of going to the noodle shop, Wen Nian rode her bike back home. She saw Wen Yu sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, engrossed in an online multiyer game, enthusiastically shouting, ¡°Let¡¯s go, bro!¡± Wen Nian changed into her slippers at the doorway and stood towering over Wen Yu. Sensing the pressure, Wen Yu looked up in confusion and nced at Wen Nian. Wen Nian pointed to two buckets of instant noodles on the coffee table next to them and said in an annoyed tone, ¡°No hands? After eating, you expect me to clean up after you, huh? All you do after the exams are over is stay at home ying games!¡± Before Wen Yu could react, Wen Nian turned around and mmed the bedroom door shut. Wen Yu blinked in surprise at the sound and muttered, ¡°Did she just explode? Today, 1 had a legitimate day off from my shifts at the noodle shop, and now it¡¯s escted from one day to every day.¡± Wen Yu swallowed nervously and continued, ¡°Sometimes, women can get angry for no reason at all. Their mood changes faster than flipping through a book.¡± After contemting for a moment, Wen Yu suddenly thought of the missing transfer student and self-mockingly said, ¡°Well, it sure changes faster than flipping through a book. Saying she liked me and then disappearing! What kind of person falls in love at first sight and then vanishes? What a scammer!¡± ¡°In the topne, didn¡¯t I say I was good at this? You¡¯ve died twice already! If you don¡¯t want to y, then get lost and stop dragging us down!¡± The voice of a temporary teammate came through the headphones, filled with insults. Wen Yu snapped back to reality, simultaneously operating the game and retorting, ¡°You dying twice is really giving away kills. Even if I die twice, 1 can still get the MVP!¡± Wen Nian, feeling annoyed by the absence of any messages from Shen Jun on her phone, sat in frustration at her desk. She couldn¡¯t help but vent to Zheng Mo about Jiang Chun¡¯s strange behavior. Zheng Mo: Sister, there¡¯s definitely something fishy going on. Don¡¯t doubt your judgment. That girl is using the identity of an acquaintance from childhood to lower your boyfriend¡¯s guard and subtly sow discord between the two of you! Having her thoughts validated by Zheng Mo, Wen Nian felt a sense of relief, even though the situation was still unresolved. Otherwise, every time Jiang Chun didn¡¯t make a move, she would start doubting herself and her suspicions. After several repetitions, she began to feel a bit neurotic. Wen Nian: Do you have any suggestions then? Zheng Mo was taken aback. Being single for 18 years, this question was a bit out of her league. Zheng Mo: I can¡¯t think of any specific solutions, but 1 know that confronting Shen Jun directly won¡¯t work. Her response felt as if nothing was said at all. Wen Nian sighed silently. It seemed like she would have to rely on herself. Shen Jun returned home andy down on the couch. He felt that Wen Nian would overthink things whenever she encountered issues with Jiang Chun. He was getting tired of having to cate her. This time, he decided topletely ignore the situation and see who would back down first. Just as he made up his mind, his phone started ringing. Shen Jun immediately took out his phone and saw the word ¡°Uncle¡± on the screen. His mood instantly changed. Shen Jun answered the call with a weary tone, ¡°Uncle.¡± Zhao Wu was also in a bad mood today. Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s voice, he let out a soft sigh. ¡°Seems like both of us are wanderers. Come over and have a drink with me. 1¡¯11 have Zhao Fei pick you up.¡± Shen Jun thought that staying at home would only make him more frustrated, and having someone to apany him wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. ¡°Okay!¡± On the first day of summer vacation, due to her biological clock, Wen Nian woke up at her usual school time. Unable to resist, she immediately reached for her phone next to her pillow and checked it, but still no unread messages appeared. Annoyed, she tossed the phone aside.. Chapter 199 - 199: Abandoned Workshop Chapter 199: Abandoned Workshop Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios But as Wen Nian pondered, she realized that the angrier she got, the more triumphant Jiang Chun would feel behind her back. How did she fall into this trap? After realizing this, she decided to lie down for a while before getting up, packing her bag, and riding her bike out. From the entrance of the residentialplex to the main road, she had to pass through a small alleyway as usual. Since it wasn¡¯t rush hour, there were only a few pedestrians on the road. When Wen Nian was about to reach the exit of the alley, a motorcycle suddenly rushed out from the side, startling her, and she quickly applied the brakes. The man on the motorcycle menacingly lifted an iron rod and approached Wen Nian. She turned around, wanting to run, but to her surprise, the road behind her was blocked by a car. Several burly men wielding sticks and wrenches got out of the car. Wen Nian took a few steps back and leaned against the wall, scanning the five men surrounding her, each of them clearly well-built and skilled. A bald, muscr man stepped forward and looked Wen Nian up and down. ¡°Miss Wen, would you like to get in the car yourself, or should we invite you?¡± Wen Nian asked directly, ¡°Did Wei Lai send you?¡± The muscr man didn¡¯t give a direct answer. ¡°You¡¯ll find out once you get in the car, Miss Wen.¡± Faced with the overwhelming odds of five strong men, Wen Nian had no other choice. Engaging in a direct confrontation with them would be difficult, and there was no need for it either. Wen Nian calmly locked her bike to the side and got into the car herself. The muscr man sneered as he observed the situation. ¡°You imed to be so formidable, warning me to be cautious. But look at you now, nothing special.¡± He waved his hand, and everyone immediately got into the car and headed to the predetermined location. This game could be described as ying with open cards. Wen Nian watched as the car arrived at an abandoned factory in the western suburbs. Once the car stopped, the muscr man pushed her shoulder. ¡°Get in!¡± Wen Nian stumbled for a moment, her lowered gaze shing with a cold gleam. Then she obediently lowered her head and entered the factory. Wei Lai and Jiang Ning were already waiting inside, and they smiled with satisfaction when they saw Wen Nian surrounded by a group of men. Wei Lai¡¯s arm was still in a cast, but it didn¡¯t dampen her current good mood. ¡°Wen Nian, you should resist quickly! These people can give you a good practice session!¡± Jiang Ning stepped forward two steps and used her, ¡°You¡¯re an audacious woman who doesn¡¯t know her ce! How dare you rely on your mediocre fighting skills to bully us? Well, be prepared to face the consequences!¡± Faced with the tant double standards disyed by the two, Wen Nian raised her gaze and looked at them, a hint of defiance on her face. ¡°You were the ones who came looking for trouble first. I fought back to defend myself.¡± Faced with the tant double standards disyed by the two, Wen Nian raised her gaze and looked at them, a hint of defiance on her face. ¡°You were the ones who came looking for trouble first. I fought back to defend myself.¡± At this point, Wei Lai and Jiang Ning no longer pretended. They sneered andughed. ¡°People like you, the lower ss, are meant to be yed with, you know? You should just ept whatever we give you. If you dare to resist, there¡¯s only one dead end for you! You can¡¯t even recognize your own social status! What a pathetic creature!¡± Wei Lai remembered the incident when they were dyed to gather evidence. She quickly said to the muscr man, ¡°Quick, search her phone!¡± Wen Nian was wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt and athletic pants today. The muscr man looked at her body with ill intentions, then gestured for his subordinates to search her backpack while he intended to personally search Wen Nian¡¯s body. Wen Nian evaded the muscr man¡¯s hand by leaning away and said with a cold face, ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself!¡± The muscr man sneered as he nced at Wen Nian and muttered, ¡°You¡¯re so self-righteous now. When I have you pinned downter, you¡¯ll show just how promiscuous you can be!¡± Wen Nian furrowed her brows tightly at his words, her gaze sharp as she aimed it at Wei Lai and Jiang Ning. The two were frightened and took a step back while holding hands. Then they realized there were five burly men present, what were they afraid of! Wei Lai puffed out her chest, pointing at Wen Nian with a show of false bravado. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing!¡± Wen Nian withdrew her gaze, reached into her pocket, and jumped up and down a few times, but nothing fell out. The only phone she had, which was in her backpack, was searched by the muscr man¡¯s subordinates and handed over to Wei Lai. Wei Lai took the phone, forcefully smashed it on the ground, and stomped on it several times until it waspletely broken. She then spread her hands towards Wen Nian, wearing a smile on her face. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you recorded anything earlier, now it¡¯s all gone!¡± Wen Nian, seeing the situation, deliberately said, ¡°I¡¯ve already transferred the original file of thest video elsewhere.¡± Wei Lai covered her mouth andughed softly. ¡°That¡¯s just something to cate a three-year-old. So what if there are two backup videos? Bring them out! I¡¯m looking forward to showing you my methods!¡± Jiang Ning chimed in, adding harsh words. ¡°We¡¯ve already deleted your video. Didn¡¯t expect that, did you? Our resources and methods are beyond your imagination, you poor wretch.. Don¡¯t think that we didn¡¯t deal with you earlier because we were afraid of you!¡± Chapter 200 - 200: Breakup Chapter 200: Breakup Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Previously, they suffered because they talked too much. Wei Lai, having learned her lesson from their previous encounter, stopped Jiang Ning from saying anything further and looked directly at Wen Nian. She said, ¡°I am a fair person. You crippled me, so you shouldpensate by losing the use of your hands and feet. And, you must break up with Shen Jun!¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel both amused and exasperated by Wei Lai¡¯s demand. She never expected that Wei Lai would target her boyfriend as well. ¡°What if I don¡¯t break up with him?¡± Wei Lai grinned mischievously. ¡°1 never expected you toply, so I brought a few young and strong men to have some fun with you. If Shen Jun finds out that you¡¯ve be a broken and helpless person, would he still want you?¡± Wei Lai then looked at the five men and issued an authoritative order, ¡°Have fun with her. If she refuses to break up, don¡¯t stop.¡± The muscr man couldn¡¯t help but inwardlyugh. Finally, they had a chance to be with such a young and beautiful woman. Even if she were to agree immediately, he and his buddies would y until they were satisfied before stopping. The muscr man put on a pleasing smile. ¡°Miss Wei, rest assured, I¡¯ll make sure to train her into a meek littlemb for you.¡± Looking at Wen Nian¡¯s resentful eyes, Wei Lai nodded in satisfaction and left the factory with Jiang Ning. Wen Nian turned around and took a few steps back, cautiously observing the men. The men shamelessly looked Wen Nian up and down, examining her face and body. The muscr man couldn¡¯t help but swallow nervously, licking his lips as his eyes filled with lust, eagerly watching Wen Nian approach. Meanwhile, Shen Jun woke up in the guest room at Zhao Wu¡¯s house. He pounded his head a few times, feeling a splitting headache. When he looked at the time, it was already 8 o¡¯clock. He walked out to the living room and saw Bai Ling sitting on the sofa, preparing to give Zhao Wu some honey water. With his back turned to Shen Jun, Zhao Wu leaned against the back of the sofa and looked at the water cup by his mouth. He turned his head away with a cold face. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just leave? Why are you back? Are you here to see if I¡¯m dead or not?¡± Bai Ling lightly tapped Zhao Wu¡¯s arm and frowned. ¡°Why are you talking nonsense so early in the morning? Didn¡¯t I exin it to you already? He and I are just friends now. He¡¯s alone in Hai City and was feeling sick, so he asked me to help him buy some medicine. It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to refuse such a small favor.¡± ¡°Besides, it¡¯s a good thing I wentst night. He thought he had gastroenteritis and insisted on staying at home without going to the hospital. If I had arrived a momentter, he would have probably fainted from the pain. When we brought him to the hospital, they said it was appendicitis and he needed immediate surgery. He only met me here, so I naturally have to stay with him. Didn¡¯t I exin all this in the message I sent you?¡± Zhao Wu became even angrier upon hearing her words. ¡°You don¡¯t understand the concept of hiring a caregiver? Are you just ordinary friends? Is he your ex-boyfriend? How about this, now that you see him in a pitiful state, are you hoping to rekindle your past rtionship with him?¡± Bai Ling let out a sigh. Continuing this topic would only lead to an argument, so she said, ¡°You have a headache, right? Drink the honey water for now. You still have to go to workter.¡± Zhao Wu turned his head again, sulking. ¡°I won¡¯t drink it. 1 am sure you wished for me to feel this pain! I don¡¯t want to see you two lovey-dovey in front of me!¡± Seeing Zhao Wu throw a tantrum like a child for the first time, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Zhao Wu¡¯s face turned red, realizing that Shen Jun was still here. He quickly stood up, facing Shen Jun with a serious expression. ¡°Why are youughing? Hurry up and leave. You freeloaded so much of my good winest night!¡± Shen Jun pursed his lips to suppress hisughter and maintained the dignity of an elder with his uncle. He cooperatively said, ¡°I will get out of here immediately.¡± After finding his own phone on the coffee table, Shen Jun left Zhao Wu¡¯s house with a smile on his face. Having witnessed the morning drama, Shen Jun¡¯s mood improved. He hesitated for a moment but decided not to call Wen Nian. Instead, he hailed a taxi and went straight home. Once Shen Jun arrived home, he felt ufortable no matter what he did. Standing was difficult, sitting was bothersome, and lying down didn¡¯t alleviate his frustration. Staring at his unresponsive phone screen, Shen Jun furrowed his brow and absentmindedly opened the location sharing feature on Wen Nian¡¯s phone. He mumbled to himself, ¡°I guess the restaurant must be really busy today, and she¡¯s been called in to help. She probably doesn¡¯t have time to send messages.¡± Shen Jun looked at the location on the phone, which indicated an area in the western suburbs. His heart started pounding, and he dialed Wen Nian¡¯s number again while gging down a taxi to rush to the location. At that moment, Wen Nian was almost cornered against the wall. She stopped in her tracks and quickly assessed the positions of the men. The muscr man was at the forefront, standing less than a meter away from Wen Nian. The other four men formed a semi-circle about two meters away, effectively trapping Wen Nian.. Chapter 201 - 201: Return Them to Its Original State Chapter 201: Return Them to Its Original State Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios A short man, observing that the muscr man was about to seed, smirked obscenely and said, ¡°Big brother, take it easy in the first round. Don¡¯t rush to ruin her. It¡¯s no fun if she doesn¡¯t struggle.¡± The muscr manughed heartily and said, ¡°Good! The more a woman struggles, the more excited it makes a man. ying with a schoolgirl like her, it¡¯s my first time too. 1 definitely need to be gentle since I haven¡¯t tasted such a tender woman before!¡± Listening to the vulgar and obscenenguage from the men around her, Wen Nian nced at the muscr man and suddenly revealed a charming smile. She said, ¡°Big brother, I¡¯ll be obedient and listen to you. Just go easy on meter.¡± The muscr man smiled triumphantly upon hearing her words. He said, ¡°Little sister, were you scared by the things the brothers said earlier? Don¡¯t worry, 1¡¯11 be gentle with you.¡± Originally, the muscr man was somewhat cautious because of the fighting skills that Wen Nian possessed. However, seeing her current reaction, he felt that in the face of such a vast difference in strength between them, she had already given up resistance. So he immediately lunged towards her. Wen Nian reached out and quickly took out a thin needle from her hair. With the advantage of being in close proximity, Wen Nian urately shot a needle containing a powerful sleep-inducing drug into the man¡¯s forehead, causing him to instantly lose consciousness. In an instant turn of events, while everyone was still taken aback and hadn¡¯t reacted, Wen Nian quickly picked up the unfinished brick from the ground and took a few steps forward, smashing it fiercely onto the head of the man on the far left, causing blood to gush out immediately. The other three men also regained their senses at this moment. ¡°B*tch! You¡¯re dead!¡± ¡°Damn it! Capture her and find a dozen more brothers to gang rape her!¡± The men picked up their iron rods and swung them towards Wen Nian. Wen Nian¡¯s strength was not to be underestimated. The man who was hit had already fainted on the ground. Wen Nian swiftly exchanged the brick for the iron rod in the man¡¯s hand and stood up, blocking the attacks from the short man. After 3 minutes, Wen Nian had taken two hits, but the remaining three men fared even worse. Their lower legs had all suffered broken bones. They looked at Wen Nian with fear in their eyes, constantly shifting their positions with their buttocks, trying to move away from her. ¡°Stop!¡± Upon Wen Nian¡¯smand, the three men dared not move any further. They cried out, pleading, ¡°Madam, please spare us.¡± ¡°Miss, the one causing trouble for you is not me. I am just following orders.¡± ¡°My lord, I haven¡¯t said a disrespectful word to you. It was all them. 1 am innocent!¡± Everyone desperately tried to save themselves. As they say, when the poor monk dies, the Daoist friend survives. The bonds of brotherhood forged in the past no longer mattered. Watching the group of clowns before her shifting me onto each other, Wen Nian smiled faintly and spoke in a calm tone, ¡°Rest assured, I won¡¯t let them go, and you shouldn¡¯t think about running away either.¡± ¡°Why are you acting so cowardly now? Weren¡¯t you arrogant just now, talking about bringing a dozen more brothers?¡± The three men vigorously shook their heads, and Wen Nian pointed her stick at the man closest to her bag, saying, ¡°Restore my books and bag to their original state.¡± The man hurriedly crawled over and ced the books into the bag, smiling obsequiously, ¡°Miss, they are all inside.¡± Without even looking, Wen Nian raised her iron rod and struck the man¡¯s ribs hard, loudly questioning, ¡°Is this the original state? When 1 arrived, were there no dust on the books and bag?!¡± The man cried and pleaded, tears streaming down his face. The sound of his wailing sent shivers down the spines of the other two men. They exchanged nces, knowing that resisting would only lead to a grim oue. As Wen Nian was upied dealing with herpanions, one of them seized the opportunity to reach for the brick she had used earlier, intending to throw it. Suddenly, Wen Nian turned around, and the man was frightened by her icy gaze mixed with anger. He dared not make any further moves. Wen Nian smiled and praised, ¡°You have quite a rebellious spirit, so eager to catch my attention. It seems 1 have been too merciful. Keeping those hands intact won¡¯t lead to anything good.¡± As soon as she finished speaking, Wen Nian swiftly broke the hands of the man who had recently helped her with the bag. Then, dragging her iron rod, she approached the other two men¡­ When Shen Jun arrived, he witnessed Wen Nian standing with an iron rod, looking down at the fallen men. Her fierce gaze made her appear like a female god of ughter, despite her slightly disheveled hair and clothes from the fight. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel his heart race. The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the factory, illuminating Wen Nian. Although her appearance was slightly disheveled from the fight, it only enhanced her image as a female killing god. Shen Jun, however, felt his heartbeat quicken. Wen Nian caught sight of Shen Jun¡¯s arrival from the corner of her eye and looked up. ¡°Why did youe?¡± she asked. Shen Jun regained his senses and noticed the shattered phone on the ground. He exined to Wen Nian, ¡°1 saw your location in the middle of nowhere on the map and became worried, so 1 came to check on you..¡± Chapter 202 - 202: A Storm of Public Opinion Chapter 202: A Storm of Public Opinion Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian nodded and looked down at the despicable men, thinking about finding a good ce for them. Shen Jun ran up to Wen Nian and pushed her hair behind her ear, blocking her eyes. He asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s the situation now?¡± Wen Nian thought of Jiang Chun and didn¡¯t hide anything this time. She revealed the whole story about Wei Lai and Jiang Ning setting her up, using her of cheating on Shen Jun, and the subsequent events. Shen Jun clenched his teeth tightly after listening, and after a while, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about their aftermath. I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Shen Jun clenched his teeth tightly after listening, and after a while, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about their aftermath. 1¡¯11 handle it.¡± Shen Jun took action and knocked out the five people once again, ensuring they wouldn¡¯t wake up for the next two hours before making a call for someone to handle them. Wen Nian followed Shen Jun back to the Xifeng Courtyard. After assigning Wen Nian her homework for the day, Shen Jun left again. Wen Nian obedientlypleted her assignments ording to the requirements. She noticed that Shen Jun hadn¡¯t returned yet and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. She opened Shen Jun¡¯sputer and realized that it required a password. She tried entering their birthdays, their 100th day anniversary, and the date they got together, but none of them worked. Finally, in a fit of frustration, she entered the date of their first meeting, and it was sessful. Wen Nian blushed and smiled, then started working on theputer. She discussed the topic of bullying ordinary students with her wealthy background, and she paired it with videos and posted them on major websites in Hai City. The video only showed the retaliation by Wen Nian, and she had blurred the faces. However, familiar people could still easily recognize their identities. ¡°Oh my God, isn¡¯t that Jiang Ning from our ss? Who¡¯s the person behind the door? Does anyone know Wei Lai?¡± ¡°We have a Wei Lai in our ss, and the voice sounds quite simr. Her family is quite wealthy, does Wei Group know about it? It¡¯s her family!¡± ¡°That restroom looks familiar, like the employee restroom in Baisheng Mall.¡± ¡°They mentioned that it¡¯s for employees in their conversation, and Baisheng is under the Wei Group. Everything lines up!¡± ¡°Come on, you guys are spreading rumors so easily. Just by typing a few words behind yourputer, you think you¡¯ve done something. Jiang Ning¡¯s face is in the video, she is definitely a culprit. There are many people who are named Wei Lai.¡± ¡°Jiang Ning¡¯s family is a well-known real estate developer in Hai City. She has always been surrounded by wealthy individuals in high society. Only someone like Wei Lai, who can address Jiang Ning by name in the upper-ss circles, would have connections with the Jiang family. Look at the window in the video. It was clearly filmed during the daytime. Which employee doesn¡¯t use the restroom during the day or at night? Why would they need to squeeze with other employees on different floors? It¡¯s obvious that they received instructions from higher authorities!¡± Overall, the onlinements were overwhelmingly in favor of Wen Nian. After all, in the video, she was clearly the victim of bullying, and the stark difference in their identities made people more inclined to support her. Wei Lai and Jiang Ning were out shopping when they noticed someone secretly staring at them and mentioned something about the inte. They immediately went online and discovered that the video had been released by Wen Nian. Jiang Ning frowned and looked at Wei Lai. ¡°How did shee out so quickly?! How did those people do things?!¡± Wei Lai had a bad feeling and tried to contact the muscle guy again, but couldn¡¯t reach him. ¡°It¡¯s alright, we were prepared for this anyway.¡± Wei Lai made another phone call to someone else. Soon, a new round of public opinion storm erupted online. With the addition of controlledments and inte trolls, there were ims that the video was fabricated using Al face-swapping technology, voice alteration, and other techniques. People in thement section demanded the original source files for technical verification, or else they used the poster of being a fraud. Some even spected that Wen Nian wanted to reconnect with the Wei family, so she intentionally caused trouble to threaten them, all for the purpose of arranging another marriage. They pitied the eldest young master of the Wei family, who had gone abroad to heal his broken heart, only to be implicated by a gold digger. Wen Nian remainedpletely unfazed by thesements and nned to go to the kitchen to prepare dinner, further increasing the attention. When Shen Jun returned home and saw the food on the table, he walked closer to Wen Nian with his hands behind his back and smiled. ¡°Why are you suddenly so obedient? Is this your way of rewarding me for finishing things?¡± Wen Nian looked up, smiled, and replied, ¡°Is this reward enough for you?¡± Shen Jun sat down on the sofa and reached out to pull Wen Nian closer by her shoulder. ¡°It was enough before, but now it¡¯s not enough.¡± Shen Jun extended his hand, revealing a new phone resting in his palm. The phone looked simr to any other phone, except that it had no brand. Curiously, Wen Nian took it and raised an eyebrow.. ¡°Is this for me?¡± Chapter 203 - 203: A Slap In the Face Chapter 203: A p In the Face Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun wrapped his arms around Wen Nian, pulling her into his embrace. ¡°Ouch!¡± Wen Nian identally felt pain in her waist as it was bumped, causing her to inhale sharply. Shen Jun immediately lowered his head and saw Wen Nian¡¯s pained expression, asking anxiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where are you hurt?!¡± Wen Nian shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious, just got hit a couple of times during the fight today.¡± Shen Jun quickly retrieved a bottle of medicated wine and frowned, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say earlier? Lift up your clothes, I¡¯ll apply the medicine for you.¡± Wen Nian felt a bit embarrassed, ¡°I can have my mom do it when I get home.¡± Shen Jun looked helpless and urged, ¡°You¡¯re injured, what thoughts could I possibly have? It¡¯s already thiste, and I¡¯m not an animal. Let me apply the medicated wine to disperse the bruising!¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words, Wen Nian felt that it would be too awkward to refuse any further. Moreover, they were already in a romantic rtionship. Blushing, she turned around and leaned on the sofa, lifting her clothes from behind. The two bruises from the hits had turned purple and were clearly visible. Shen Jun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, deciding to further intensify the punishment for those five men. Shen Jun poured the medicated wine onto the bruises and began massaging. Wen Nian grimaced in pain, causing Shen Jun to snort coldly, ¡°You promised me that you wouldn¡¯t take risks with your own safety! Seems like you don¡¯t remember at all! Serves you right!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face twisted in pain, and she felt aggrieved. As the saying goes, if you don¡¯t enter the tiger¡¯s den, how can you catch the tiger¡¯s cub? Wasn¡¯t she trying to resolve this matter quickly? Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s pained expression and softened his tone, biting his lip. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t scold you anymore. If it hurts, just let it out.¡± Wen Nian stubbornly refused to make a sound, and Shen Jun let out a sigh. After massaging for five or six minutes, his attention was gradually drawn to Wen Nian¡¯s fair skin. The soft touch of her skin became more pronounced, and Shen Jun suddenly felt a dry itchiness in his throat, a heat rising from his lower abdomen. Indeed, he had set himself up for a p in the face. Wen Nian felt Shen Jun¡¯s strength bing gentler, almost like caressing. She asked with confusion, ¡°That¡¯s enough massage, right?¡± Shen Jun snapped out of it, his ears turning slightly red. He quickly put down Wen Nian¡¯s clothes and said, ¡°It¡¯s enough. Hurry up and look at your phone.¡± Wen Nian sat up and leaned closer to Shen Jun. Shen Jun cleared his throat a couple of times, trying to forget what he had seen earlier. He clicked the power button and began to exin, ¡°I made this phone some time ago. Originally, I nned to give it to you on your birthday. It looks the same as my phone, but it¡¯s a simplified version of a miniputer. It¡¯s waterproof and shockproof. As long as the positioning chip inside hasn¡¯t been removed, I can track your location even in ces with no signal.¡± Wen Nian had frightened Shen Jun with the incident of being kidnapped by Zhang Lin, so he had made improvements and updates to many functions, taking several months toplete. Wen Nian felt like it would take more than an hour to exin everything. She looked up at Shen Jun and yfully suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t we eat first?¡± Shen Jun reached out and pinched Wen Nian¡¯s nose. ¡°This could be a lifesaver in critical situations!¡± Wen Nian made a pouting face. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for over half an hour. If I don¡¯t eat now, I¡¯ll starve to death.¡± Shen Jun chuckled at Wen Nian¡¯s words. ¡°Let¡¯s eat first then.¡± They spent the evening learning to operate the phone. By the time Wen Nian finished studying, it was almost 10 o¡¯clock. She had just inserted the SIM card when a dozen missed calls from home popped up, all within the past half hour. Wen Nian was startled and quickly logged into WeChat to send a message. Then she packed her bag and said to Shen Jun, ¡°I have to go back right away!¡± It was inconvenient without a car, but Shen Jun had borrowed a car from Zhao Wu¡¯s house in the afternoon for convenience. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you.¡± When Wen Nian entered her house, she saw her family sitting neatly in the living room, which made her feel a bit nervous. She swallowed and forced a smile. ¡°Dad, Mom, and brother.¡± Zhou Mei¡¯s eyes immediately turned red as she stood up and approached Wen Nian. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us that Wei Lai and other female ssmates were bullying you?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s n was to resolve the situation within two days, so there was no need to mention it. In her expectation, her parents, who were not active on the inte, would probably not know about this until it was all over, and Wen Yu would definitely ask her privately beforehand.. Chapter 204 - 204: Bygone Events Chapter 204: Bygone Events Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian gave Wen Yu a questioning look, and Wen Yu shrugged, feeling helpless as well. During their meal today, they happened to stumble upon a short video. Zhou Mei quickly snatched it away, discovering its contents half a minute before Wen Yu did. ns couldn¡¯t keep up with changes. Looking at Zhou Mei, who had a distressed expression, Wen Nian scratched her head in confusion and said, ¡°Mom, they didn¡¯t seed in bullying me. I fought backter. My hand got a little red from being pulled, but we see each other every day. If I were seriously injured, wouldn¡¯t you know?¡± After thinking for a moment, Zhou Mei realized it was true. Her tears retreated, and she anxiously said, ¡°I¡¯ve seen people online saying the video is fake. Would I not recognize my daughter¡¯s appearance and voice? How is it that being bullied has be a matter of being in the wrong these days!¡± Helplessly, Zhou Xing added, ¡°Moreover, they only recognize official documents. Where can we find evidence? We don¡¯t even know who filmed it.¡± Realizing that the truth couldn¡¯t be concealed any longer, Wen Nian simply pulled Zhou Mei to sit on the sofa. ¡°I filmed the video myself, and 1 n to release the original file tomorrow.¡± Then, Wen Nian recounted Wei Lai¡¯s provocation against her and the fact that she came looking for revenge today. Upon hearing this, Wen Yu mmed the table in anger. ¡°This is outrageous! They think our Wen family is easy to bully, huh!¡± Zhou Mei clenched her fists tightly. ¡°One thing after another. Every time we have something to do with the Wei family, it never ends well. Back then, my father¡­¡± ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Wen Xing coughed twice, interrupting Zhou Mei¡¯s words. Zhou Mei¡¯s words were forcibly swallowed back down, and she red at Wen Xing. ¡°Anyway, the Wei family is our Wen family¡¯s nemesis!¡± Observing this all-too-obvious scene, Wen Yu curiously said, ¡°Dad, your actions are quite deliberate. Even a blind person could tell what you two are up to. We¡¯re family, there¡¯s no need to keep secrets.¡± Wen Nian could sense that whatever Zhou Mei was about to say might have a significant connection to her long-standing doubts. Wen Nian also chimed in, echoing Wen Yu¡¯s words. ¡°Mom, just tell us. Why do you say the Wei family is our nemesis? What happened to Grandfather back then? Didn¡¯t he die because he was sick?¡± Upon hearing this, Zhou Mei sighed lightly. ¡°My child¡¯s father, just think about the past. After Old Master Wei found us, Wen Nian changedpletely. She waspletely bewitched by him, but now she doesn¡¯t want to marry into the Wei family anymore. And now, there¡¯s Wei Lai who wants to harm Wen Nian. I can¡¯t let them repay their favors to us. We might not have evidence for some things, but we still need to be cautious.¡± As Wen Nian listened to Zhou Mei¡¯s words, she recalled her past life, where the Wen family was destroyed by the Wei family! This was revenge for the annihtion of nine generations. How can this be seen as repaying a debt of gratitude? Wen Nian tightly sped Zhou Mei¡¯s hand and spoke with a deliberate tone, ¡°Mom, please tell me. If not, I will have to consider the impact our families¡¯ rtionship with the Wei Family has on my decision to endure Wei Lai¡¯s bullying.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Xing immediately interjected, saying, ¡°Your grandfather once saved Old Master Wei¡¯s life. They owe us. Why should you endure anything?¡± Observing the situation, Zhou Mei began to recount the peculiar incident involving her father-inw. ¡°It happened sixteen years ago. Your grandfather and Old Master Wei went out together for some undisclosed business. It was all shrouded in secrecy. Later, Old Master Wei returned to our house alone and informed us that your grandfather had broken his legs while saving him from being hit by a car.¡± ¡°We hurried to the hospital, but he had already been transferred to the ICU for observation. Your grandfather was already old, and the impact had rendered his legspletely disabled. However, he remained optimistic, and his recovery was quite remarkable. After being discharged, he stayed home for recuperation, and his mental state was perfectly sound.¡± ¡°But something strange began to happen. Old Master Wei would visit your grandfather every week. Initially, I didn¡¯t pay much attention, but I gradually noticed that whenever he came, your grandfather¡¯s health would deteriorate in the following days. He would experience breathlessness or nausea. The once gentle man became increasingly irritable. Even after hospital examinations, no problems could be identified. The doctors suspected that your grandfather was epting his physical disability externally, but internally, he couldn¡¯t trulye to terms with it.¡± ¡°Within less than six months, your grandfather¡¯s health further declined. One afternoon, when Old Master Wei came to visit, they were conversing in the room, and suddenly your grandfather couldn¡¯t breathe. He passed away before the ambnce arrived. Old Master Wei imed that if it weren¡¯t for your grandfather taking the blow for him, he wouldn¡¯t have died in despair. He insisted on covering the funeral expenses and was actively involved in the entire process..¡± Chapter 205 - 205: Poison Chapter 205: Poison Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°When an elderly rtive from the n came to offer condolences for their grandfather, they noticed that his lips had turned purple and suspected poisoning. Wen Nian¡¯s parents wanted to have an autopsy performed, but Old Master Wei strongly opposed it, insisting that your grandfather¡¯s body should not be dissected.¡± ¡°During that time, social customs were not as open as they are now. Many people believed that their grandfather¡¯s deteriorating condition was due to his disability, leading to his despair. The family elders disagreed with the idea of an autopsy. Additionally, your uncle didn¡¯t want to pay for your grandfather¡¯s burial. And so, he supported Old Master Wei. Thus, we had no choice but to proceed with the burial.¡± Upon hearing these details, Wen Nian and Wen Yu felt that there was no issue. ¡°The discoloration of the lips and the peculiarities urring when Old Master Wei was present didn¡¯t prove much. It could be that their grandfather¡¯s emotions worsened whenever he saw Old Master Wei, reminding him of the leg injury.¡± Wen Xing shook his head. ¡°If the situation were just like that, we wouldn¡¯t have been concerned about it for so many years. We used to have a cat in our family that liked to wander around and would disappear for a few days without returning home. But on the day of your grandfather¡¯s burial, it came back. When we returned home from the mountains, we found it in your grandfather¡¯s room drinking the remaining water from his bowl. Within an hour, it died, foaming at the mouth.¡± Zhou Mei pped her thigh with regret on her face. ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. I acted quickly because I found it unhygienic for the cat to drink from that bowl. I thoroughly washed it with hot water, so even if there was something, it was washed away.¡± Wen Nian furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°How many days was the mourning hall set up at home?¡± Wen Xing replied, ¡°Because it was during the hottest days of summer, we only set it up for two days. On the third morning, we carried him up the mountain for burial. Your grandfather¡¯s room was next to the living room, and your mother and 1 took turns guarding the mourning hall. After your grandfather passed away, except for me going in to take some personal items to put in his coffin for burial, absolutely no one else entered. The only outsider who came to our house on the day your grandfather died was Old A^aster Wei.¡± Wen Nian pondered with lowered eyes. When it came to harming someone, motive was essential. Although her uncle was an adopted child and had already separated from the family, he had no knowledge of the hidden treasures underground. There were no financial disputes, and the fact that neither family received any inheritance after their grandfather¡¯s death confirmed this. In a situation where there was nothing to gain, her uncle had no reason to be involved in a murder case. With these factors eliminated, Wei Feng, who frequently visited their home, became the most suspicious person. Combining her experiences from two lives, along with the appearance of the suspicious man with the tiger head tattoo around Wei Feng, the intricate connections led her to doubt that Wei Feng was hiding secrets. And perhaps, the starting point of everything might be her grandfather¡¯s cause of death. The thought ¡°People die for money, and birds die for food¡± crossed Wen Nian¡¯s mind, and her first idea was an financial dispute. ¡°Mom, Dad, did grandfather leave behind any written materials among his belongings? Have you ever seen his bank passbook?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s idea was simple. With so many gold bars hidden in their home, whether converted into cash or spent, any normal person would keep records. Wen Nian wanted to obtain the passbook. Wen Xing shook his head. ¡°Your grandfather didn¡¯t have a habit of keeping a diary, but he did have two bank passbooks. However, the bnce in them never exceeded 1,000 yuan.¡± Although Wen Xing spoke with certainty, Wen Nian was not ready to give up. She nned to return to her hometown after finishing her current tasks. Listening to these past events, Wen Yu¡¯s brow remained furrowed. ¡°The truth of what happened back then is yet to be confirmed, but now, Wei¡¯s family bullying Wen Nian is the immediate concern. We must not let it go easily this time!¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Xing became angry. ¡°Zhou Mei, bring out the 1 million yuanpensation card given by Wei Feng. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go to Wei Group. If Wei Feng doesn¡¯t provide an exnation, I¡¯ll have a serious talk with him!¡± ¡°1 million yuan?!¡± Wen Yu¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing the number. Seeing Wen Yu¡¯s reaction, Zhou Mei patted his back. ¡°Look at how useless you are!¡± After inquiring further, Wen Nian learned about the 1 million yuanpensation. It involved a marriage arrangement and a significant amount ofpensation. No matter how she looked at it, Wen Nian felt that Wei Feng had ill intentions. Zhou Mei and Wen Yu also decided to go together, bolstering their resolve. However, Wen Nian had no intention of involving her family members in this matter. Wei Feng was ruthless and cunning, and having their names associated with him would not be a good thing. ¡°Mom, Dad, brother, 1 have a n for this. Confronting Wei Feng directly won¡¯t be enough. I need to make the inte believe that I am an innocent victim. Otherwise, if Wei¡¯s family issues a statement, there might still be people who think they are taking the me because they owe us a favor. If so, I¡¯ll truly be a scapegoat..¡± Chapter 206 - 206: The Power of Capital Chapter 206: The Power of Capital Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian continued, ¡°So, just watch carefully. I handled thest tricky situation well, didn¡¯t I? Trust me, I won¡¯t let myself be bullied! If things really get out of hand, you can step in and it won¡¯t be toote.¡± Although the three of them found her to be reasonable, as parents, they couldn¡¯t help but worry. In the end, they decided that when they meet with the Wei family, Wen Xing, the apparent head of the family, would express their stance. Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. was the peakmuting time when many people in China would browse the inte, read news, or watch short videos before entering their workces. At exactly 7 a.m., Wen Nian uploaded the video source files on various tforms, along with the recorded audio from the moment she entered the abandoned factory until her phone was smashed. In addition to setting a trap for Shen Jun that day, Wen Nian had also asked him to design a small program that would automatically record and upload the audio to a cloud tform. In the age of information and the inte, videos spread quickly. However, by just after 10 a.m., all the videos with high number of views had been deleted from the tforms. When Wen Nian attempted to repost, all the tforms disyed ¡¯Not Passed Review.¡¯ She sighed and said, ¡°The power of capital.¡± Although it had only been three hours, many people had already seen the videos or heard about them through colleagues or friends. ¡°Oh, I overslept this morning and rushed to work without checking the news. I missed this big news! Whoever has downloaded it in the group, please private message me. I¡¯ll treat you to bubble tea at lunch!¡± ¡°I¡¯m in for the bubble tea. I saw the video this morning. Based on my years of experience following trending news, I knew that the two ¡®princesses¡¯ would surely retaliate. I quickly downloaded it. Sisters, if anyone needs the video from me, let¡¯s organize a schedule for treating me to bubble tea. I can¡¯t finish so many on my own in one day.¡± The acquaintances in the WeChat group were chatting, and the passers-by on the forum were also discussing. [I feel like I¡¯ve seen the girl who was bullied in the video somewhere before! Wasn¡¯t she the student who was used of using her body to gain favor with the female lead at the beginning of the year?] [This girl seems to be gued by misfortune. I think her name is Wen Nian. Why do all these things happen to her?] [This girl is cunning and not a righteous person. Look at these incidents; it feels like she predicted everything and executed her ns perfectly, which is why she always counterattacks at the right moment.] [Hey, you¡¯ve lost your objectivity. The videos have been analyzed by a technician and confirmed to be authentic, with no Al or photoshopping involved. Are you selectively deaf? Those rich girls with their spoons full of gold have clearly targeted her with malicious intent. Can¡¯t you see that?] [That¡¯s right! The things they said, and their condescending tone¡­ I¡¯m not an anti-wealth person, but I¡¯m starting to feel like cursing them. The original umtion of their wealth, who knows how much blood of ordinary people it was built upon. It¡¯s all ill-gotten money!] [Some people are just too submissive! They¡¯ve knelt for too long and can¡¯t stand up! Even angels have some thunderous methods. Don¡¯te to thement section and y the saint. The rich youngdies themselves said that we, the lower ss, are their toys. The ss division has already been drawn. You, a lower-ss person, shouldn¡¯t tter their stinky feet. Even if you do, it¡¯s useless because they look down on you.] [Wei¡¯s family and Jiang¡¯s family think that they are powerful! Let¡¯s stop buying products from their affiliatedpanies. Let¡¯s see how powerful they can be when they run out of money. Boycotting them is speaking up for us poor people!] [If they raise children like this, I have low expectations for the future of thesepanies. I am selling their stocks.] Once ss divisions are involved, public opinion tends to favor the ordinary people. Just like the distribution of social wealth ording to the Pareto principle, social resources naturally lean toward the wealthy. In such situations, ordinary people tend to instinctivelye together. As Wei Feng stared at hisputer screen, devoid of any videos but filled with hundreds of discussionments, his face paled, and he started breathing heavily. The secretary, frightened, quickly fetched some quick-acting heart-saving pills and stuffed them into Wei Feng¡¯s mouth. The secretary handed him a ss of water to help him swallow the pills. After Wei Feng regained hisposure, he instructed his assistant who was standing in front of him, ¡°Instruct the PR department to intensify their efforts and contact the personnel from all the websites.. Delete all the rted content, no matter where it is!¡± Chapter 207 - 207: Tie Her Up Chapter 207: Tie Her Up Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The assistant looked hesitant and said, ¡°We have already contacted most of the media, but there are a few established local media outlets that refuse to delete the content. They im that news should maintain objectivity, and if the information they published is not false, we can provide evidence to refute it. They promise to give us coverage on the front page if that¡¯s the case.¡± Hearing this, Wei Feng mmed the water cup he was holding onto the ground, shattering it. ¡°They dare talk to me about objectivity? Why don¡¯t they mention the employment opportunities and tax revenue 1 create for this city every year? They drag their feet when ites to doing such a small favor! They think 1 have no power? Then I¡¯ll find someone powerful. Get me Mayor Lin¡¯s phone number immediately!¡± The assistant immediatelyplied and added, ¡°Chairman, there¡¯s another issue. The IP address of the video poster couldn¡¯t be traced by our technical department. They used an encryptedwork and seemed to be a skilled technician who concealed their information well.¡± Wei Feng felt his heart racing again. The secretary quickly patted his chest to calm him down. After a moment, Wei Feng gritted his teeth and said, ¡°What good are they? Deduct their bonuses for this month! Contact the Wen family and have my disrespectful daughter tied up with a rope and brought to me by my third son!¡± As the assistant was leaving, Wei Feng¡¯s phone rang. It was a call from Jiang Guo. ¡°Chairman Wei, this is Jiang Guo.¡± Wei Feng responded in a low voice, ¡°Hello, President Jiang.¡± With the situation bing urgent, Jiang Guo went straight to the point, ¡°Chairman Wei, I assume you have seen the online news. Let¡¯s skip the pleasantries. I have people working on deleting posts as well. 1 heard that the girl is acquainted with you. How do you n to handle this?¡± Naturally, Wei Feng intended to have a private discussion first. Upon hearing this, Jiang Guo continued, ¡°You can have your discussion first. As long as she doesn¡¯t pursue the matter further and agrees to delete the source files and cease uploading, I¡¯m willing to offer apensation of 2 million yuan.¡± 2 million yuan was a significant amount that many people couldn¡¯t earn in a lifetime. Both Jiang Guo and Wei Feng found the sum to be reasonable. After sending the message, Wen Nian went to Shen Jun¡¯s house for tutoring as nned. Over the phone, Wen Xing declined the offer of a ride from the Wei family. He waited until the busiest time of the day had passed before calling Wen Nian around noon. They arrived at Wei Corporation at 2 PM. However, Wei Lai was still sound asleep at home at 10:30 AM, and she woke up abruptly when Wei Jiang barged into her room. Wei Jiang mmed his phone directly onto Wei Lai¡¯s bewildered face and angrily berated her, ¡°You¡¯re really something! You¡¯re famous all over the inte now!¡± Wei Lai sat up and picked up her phone to check. Her eyebrows furrowed tighter and tighter. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the source file already deleted? How could this happen?!¡± Wei Jiang, already in a foul mood after being scolded by Wei Feng earlier in Gentleness Town, naturally had no good expression for Wei Lai. He shouted at her, ¡°Why are you asking me?! Who should 1 ask?! You didn¡¯t tell me when you did all these things, and you don¡¯t need to tell me now. Your grandfather has spoken, and he wants me to tie you up and take you to thepany. Get up and change your clothes!¡± Li Bing rushed over and heard Wei Jiang¡¯s reprimand. She walked up and hugged the aggrieved Wei Lai, her face full of grievances. ¡°Why are you shouting? You never take care of the child, but when something happens, all you do isin!¡± Wei Jiang snorted coldly and retorted, unkindly, ¡°I¡¯m notining. Later, you¡¯reing with us too. Let¡¯s go see the trouble your daughter has caused in front of your father!¡± It was only in the car that Li Bing heard the whole story from Wei Lai¡¯s mouth. Before getting off the car, Wei Jiang had someone tie up Wei Lai. Wei Lai tried to seek help from Li Bing, but Li Bing looked at Wei Lai¡¯s tear-streaked face, pondered for a moment, and made a firm decision, ¡°Listen to your father. We can¡¯t go into the office building through the parking lot. Driver Wang, drive the car to thepany gate. We¡¯ll get off from the front!¡± Wei Jiang looked at Li Bing in shock. ¡°Are you crazy?! You still think we¡¯re not embarrassing enough?!¡± Hiding her disdain in her eyes, Li Bing looked at Wei Jiang and spoke, ¡°Do you think your father had Wei Lai tied up for us to see? It¡¯s for the people outside to see. So, not only do we have to enter through the main gate, but we also have to do it with a high profile.¡± Wei Jiang knew that Li Bing was more cunning than himself and had a better understanding of his father¡¯s thoughts. He decided to follow Li Bing¡¯s advice. Wei Lai cried even harder and eximed, ¡°Mom and Dad, how could you do this? You¡¯re making me lose face for your own benefit. There were so many reporters at the front gate just now. If 1 appear in such a state, how can I continue to thrive in this social circle? I¡¯ll be aughingstock.. Who would want to associate with me? I won¡¯t go through the main gate!¡± Chapter 208 - 208: Lesson Chapter 208: Lesson Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The driver had already followed the instructions and driven from the parking lot to the main gate. Li Bing looked at her daughter, who refused to get out of the car no matter how she exined, and became so enraged that she pped her hard. She sternly shouted, ¡°Who told you to scheme against others when you¡¯re not as skilled? Consider this a lesson! This is yourst chance for redemption. You know your grandfather¡¯s way of doing things. If you don¡¯t handle this well, your grandfather won¡¯t spare us. Your father and 1 won¡¯t be able to protect you either.¡± Upon hearing these words, Wei Lai choked up and understood the reason behind her mother¡¯s words. She wanted to wipe away her tears and get out of the car. However, Li Bing stopped her and said, ¡°Now, the more you cry, the better. Wei Jiang, don¡¯t say anythingter. Just maintain a look of shame.¡± The family got out of the car, and the waiting reporters immediately rushed forward to Wei Jiang. ¡°Third Master Wei, by bringing your daughter here bound, are you indirectly admitting that all the rumors online are true?¡± ¡°Miss Wei, 1 heard that your prestigious school reserves some spots each year for students from ordinary families. Based on your theory, do you often bully them?¡± ¡°Miss Wei, can we interpret your crying as regret? Or did you not anticipate it would escte to this level and now feel ashamed?¡± The security guards from Wei Corporation rushed forward to block the reporters. Only then did the family of three sessfully enter the office building. Wei Lai knelt in Wei Feng¡¯s office for nearly three hours before Wen Xing and his daughter finally arrived. Wei Feng quickly stood up and approached them, his voice choked with sorrow, ¡°I¡¯m truly ashamed to face you all, and also my brother who passed away!¡± ¡°Wen Xing, 1 apologize to you and especially to Wen Nian. I¡¯ve always been upright, but 1 never expected to raise such a despicable and unworthy creature!¡± Wei Feng pointed at Wei Lai¡¯s trembling hand with anger, grinding his teeth as he scolded. When Wei Lai saw Wei Feng¡¯s eyes wide open, she knew that although his reaction was mostly an act, she still couldn¡¯t help but shrink back in fear. Wen Xing noticed that Wei Feng didn¡¯t offer any excuses or talk about reconciliation. The rhythm of his nned questioning was disrupted. He thought for a moment before saying, ¡°Old Mr. Wei, we haven¡¯tid a finger on Wen Nian since she was young. When we saw this on the Intest night, we immediately wanted to go to the Wei family to demand an exnation and understand the reasons behind it. Today¡¯s video has provided the answer: it¡¯s because my familycks money!¡± ¡°We may not have wealth, but we have integrity. I want to make my position clear¡ªI won¡¯t ept any settlement. We will follow the legal procedures, and let justice prevail. This is the savings card you gave us, and not a penny has been taken. I am returning it to its rightful owner.¡± Wei Feng didn¡¯t expect this level of determination from Wen Xing, the usually kind-hearted person. He didn¡¯t rush to defend himself or seek apromise. Instead, he sorrowfully pushed back the card that Wen Xing was offering, saying, ¡°What are you doing? This is like pping me in the face. The card is yours, and you are its rightful owner.¡± Then, Wei Feng turned his head, wearing a stern expression, and addressed the kneeling Wei Lai, ¡°You should apologize to your sister, Wen Nian, on your own. If she doesn¡¯t forgive you, then you should never step foot into my Wei family again. 1 will provide you with a sum of money to study and live abroad. Stay out of my sight!¡± If the situation had ended with Wei Lai¡¯s unsessful retaliationst night, she would have been confident that Wei Feng wouldn¡¯t intervene, and she could still earn favor in front of her cousin, the future family head. But now, everything had fallen apart. At only 14 years old, the corporation had a professional legal team, and she might be able to avoid imprisonment. However, thinking of the difficult days her cousin, Wei Xiao, had experienced overseas, Wei Lai realized that Wei Feng was truly desperate. Her cousin could return afterpleting his studies, but if Wei Feng remained unyielding, she would have to live far away. Even if she managed toe back, she would carry the weight of her criminal record. Weeping, Wei Lai took a few steps forward, grasping Wei Feng¡¯s arm, and pleaded, ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯m sorry, I won¡¯t dare to do it again! Wen Nian, please forgive me. I won¡¯t target you anymore!¡± Wen Nian nced at Wei Lai and without saying much, she directly yed a video from her phone. It was the self-confession video of the men who had taken Wen Nian away with Shen Jun yesterday. Wei Feng watched the n orchestrated by Wei Lai for those men to gang-rape Wen Nian, and he wished he could p Wei Lai to death. Not only had she devised such a malicious n that failed to seed, but it was also exposed to the public.. How could he even negotiate under such circumstances? Chapter 209 - 209: Compensation Chapter 209: Compensation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Despite not having the ability to do evil, she possess a vile nature. She¡¯s just asking for trouble! With eyes as cold as ice des, Wei Feng looked at Wei Lai. This matter involved thepany, so this discussion must end well. Wei Feng nced at the members of the Wen family, feeling ashamed and at a loss for words. However, Wen Xing and Wen Nian acted as if they hadn¡¯t seen anything, with no one stepping forward to respond. The atmosphere suddenly became tense. Li Bing immediately approached, her eyes reddened. ¡°Brother Wen, Wen Nian, it¡¯s our fault as parents for failing to teach our child properly, resulting in her turning into such a heartless beast! I know she¡¯s willing to pay any price, but she¡¯s still young. If she ends up with a criminal record, her whole life will be ruined. I beg you not to involve the police. Whatever you want, just name it, and if it¡¯s within my power, 1 will do it.¡± Wen Xing looked at Li Bing, showing some hesitation due to her motherly appearance, but he couldn¡¯t empathize. With a cold snort, he spoke, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my daughter¡¯s quick thinking and evading the disaster, it would have been her life that was ruined. Since we must choose between the two, I can only choose my daughter.¡± Wei Feng couldn¡¯t quite grasp the intentions of the Wen family. If they were willing toe here, it indicated that there was still room for negotiation. But now, they seemed entirely unwilling to reconcile. What does this mean? Wei Feng nced at Wen Nian and smiled kindly, saying, ¡°Wen Nian, this time, it¡¯s Wei Lai and Jiang Ning who have wronged you. Feel free to make any demands you have. Grandpa Wei and the Jiang family will definitelypensate you generously.¡± Only then did Wen Nian respond, saying, ¡°Grandfather Wei, I know you dote on the younger generation, but my parents also worry about the injustices I¡¯ve suffered. So, we don¡¯t want money; we just want justice. My grandfather and you have been close friends for many years. I can refrain from involving the police, but Wei Lai and Jiang Ning must publicly admit their actions in a recorded video, which should be uploaded to various websites.¡± Wen Nian originally didn¡¯t want to let the two off so easily, but afterst night¡¯s conversation, it wasn¡¯t the time topletely sever ties just yet. Wen Nian needed to investigate the circumstances surrounding her grandfather¡¯s death thoroughly. Moreover, relying solely on Wei Lai¡¯s matter to bring down the Wei Corporation was impossible. However, asionally dealing them a few blows to disrupt their smooth sailing was still within her consideration. When Wei Feng heard Wen Nian¡¯s words, he felt a deep reluctance and concluded that Wen Nian possessed the mindset of a child, merely seeking revenge for personal satisfaction without considering the potential consequences. Turning to Wen Xing, he expressed his thoughts, ¡°Wen Xing, do you remember when the Wei Group was just a small store? You, your father, and your wife were there to celebrate its opening. You know firsthand how challenging it has been for us to reach this point.¡± ¡°Once embroiled in such a scandal, the repercussions on our business would be severe. I have dedicated half of my life to this endeavor, and 1 implore you to understand the challenges faced by an old man like myself. 1 am willing to offer financialpensation, or if there are any specific work or personal needs you have, please do not hesitate to mention them.¡± ¡°By the way, considering your long-standing presence in the city, I happen to have a 3-bedroom, 120-square-meter house in Xiangtan that would be suitable for your family of three. It would be prudent not to dy any further. I can arrange for the house to be transferred to you today. Additionally, Jiang Guo is willing to provide economicpensation. With the house and the financial assistance, you would no longer have to worry about your future. Simply rely on the bank interest to sustain your expenses for the remainder of your lives.¡± A house in Xiangtan is worth around 2 million yuan in the coastal city, which is considered a middle-ss housing price. Wen Xing didn¡¯t even blink and directly refused, ¡°Sir, we appreciate yourpensation, and our family is in full agreement. We simply require a sincere apology. Even if you give us 10 million, we won¡¯t ept it.¡± Wei Feng tried to y the emotional card and brought up something from 20 years ago, but Wen Xing didn¡¯t engage with it. Wei Feng cast a nce at Wen Nian and eventuallypromised. At this moment, Wen Nian made a new demand, ¡°Mr. Wei, 1 want to be the first to see the apology videos from Wei Lai and Jiang Ning.¡± Wei Feng once again felt that Wen Nian was the most upromising person in the Wen family. He had initially intended to employ clever wording and y word games while drafting the apology text, in an effort to obfuscate the public¡¯s perception. However, if the apology video was released and the Wen family could only use it ofcking sincerity, they would have no further recourse or options avable to them. So he earnestly said to Wen Nian, ¡°Look at you, are you worried that Wei Lai¡¯s apology won¡¯t be sincere? I¡¯ll personally make sure of it, so rest assured.¡± Wen Nian smiled without any fear of offending people, ¡°Old Mr. Wei, if an apology letter doesn¡¯t first earn forgiveness from the victim, then even if it¡¯s known worldwide, it has no meaning..¡± Chapter 210 - 210: Must Not Go Against Chapter 210: Must Not Go Against Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios This was Wen Nian¡¯s bottom line. She had almost been destroyed, and the Wei family¡¯s reputation couldn¡¯t remain unscathed, right? Wei Feng looked at Wen Nian for a moment and then slowly spoke, ¡°Alright, well go along with your proposal.¡± After reaching an agreement, Wei Feng made a phone call in front of Wen Nian and informed Jiang Guo of the negotiated oue. Upon hearing the request, the Jiang couple furrowed their brows. ¡°Discuss it with the Wen family again. We can offer more money and even another house.¡± The mindset of wealthy people was to solve problems with money. Wei Feng thought that this was the right approach when he heard their suggestion. It was nothing like the entricity of Wen Xing¡¯s family. He reluctantly summarized the failed negotiations based on money and the Wen family¡¯s stubborn attitude. Jiang Ning, fearing that her apology would be seen nationwide, shook her head anxiously. ¡°Mom, Dad, how can 1 face people if it bes known?¡± The Jiang couple felt sorry for their daughter and immediately refused, ¡°In that case, we won¡¯t be able to reach a resolution here.¡± They hung up the phone. Jiang Guo looked at Jiang Ning and said, ¡°1 don¡¯t believe it! A bunch of poor nobodies think they can change the world! Anyway, Wei Lai¡¯s thugs were all arranged by the Wei family. The Wei family has been pushed into a corner and has no choice but topromise. But you, at most, just got involved. 1¡¯11 buy you a ne ticket, and you can go abroad for a few years.¡± Jiang Ning happily agreed, ¡°I want to go to the United States!¡± Hearing Jiang Ning¡¯s suggestion, Jiang Guo¡¯s wife immediately knew what Jiang Ning had in mind and angrily smacked her. ¡°This time, it was the Wei family that caused your trouble, but you still want to get involved. You¡¯re not allowed to think about Wei Xiao! We¡¯ll send you to the UK.¡± Jiang Chun, hearing his uncle and aunt¡¯s words, knew that once Jiang Ning went abroad, they would have a free hand to deal with Wen Nian. She furrowed her brows slightly and looked up, saying, ¡°Wen Nian is easy to deal with, but her boyfriend, Shen Jun, is the future head of the Shen family in the capital. The Jiang family must not go against the Shen family. He had probably made those thugs disappear.¡± Jiang Guo looked at Jiang Chun in shock. ¡°You¡¯re saying that he¡¯s Shen Mo¡¯s son?!¡± Shen Jun had secretly left the capital. Only his close friends and family knew about it. Jiang Chun hade to the coastal city to study and had identally discovered Shen Jun¡¯s secret. She had chosen to keep the secret in order to gain favor with him. However, she couldn¡¯t care less now. ¡°1 don¡¯t know why he came to Hai City. You have to pretend that you don¡¯t know!¡± Jiang Ning was unaware of the intricate connections between those forces in the capital, but Jiang Guo could already sense what Jiang Chun was hiding. He understood that not only might they fail to win the situation, but it could also have repercussions on his brother¡¯s career in the capital. This matter now involved more than one family. They could only force Jiang Ning to post an apology video with Wei Lai. If the Jiang family refused to apologize, it would mean that when Wen Nian reported the incident to the police, the other party might shift the me onto the Wei family. Wen Nian was initially waiting to see the start of a dog fight. As she was preparing to leave, she was surprised to hear Wei Feng receiving an apology from the Jiang family. Wei Feng couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of suspicion and curiosity. Jiang Guo had always shown great affection for his youngest daughter, so why did he suddenly change his mind within a matter of minutes? Wei Feng¡¯s gaze shifted towards Wen Nian, wondering if she held some sort of trump card or secret leverage that he was unaware of. Wen Nian was also perplexed by the sudden change in the Jiang family¡¯s stance, but she didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. They were not her primary objective, and she couldn¡¯t be bothered to delve into their motivations. After concluding the discussions, she left with Wen Xing. That afternoon, the apology video that Wen Nian had approved was uploaded online for all to see. Overwhelmed by shame, Jiang Ning pleaded to go to America, stating that she could not bear to remain in their social circle. Feeling remorseful and believing they had failed their daughter, the Jiang couple reluctantly agreed topromise and made arrangements for her to go overseas. The mayor watched the apology video and yfully teased Zhao Wu, saying, ¡°It¡¯s been quite the hot topic for the past couple of days. 1 made sure to support you and withstand the pressure from the Wei Corporation, ensuring that other media outlets didn¡¯t back down.¡± Zhao Wu poured the tea and ced it in front of the mayor, a yful smile in his peach blossom eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will make sure to treat you to a fantastic meal another day.¡± The mayor asked curiously, ¡°1 thought you had turned over a new leaf after getting together with Whitty. What¡¯s going on? Is this the new girl you¡¯re interested in?¡± Zhao Wu waved his hands. ¡°This girl is taken. Don¡¯t simply group her with anyone.¡± The mayor smiled and replied, ¡°I won¡¯t take you up on that meal, but 1 do expect you to contribute to the recruitment quota for the new district this year. The recruitment bureau has been quite ineffective, and I¡¯m toozy to scold them.¡± Zhao Wu made an OK gesture, feeling a sense of pride in hispetence. He silently praised himself in his heart, acknowledging that he truly excelled in his role as an uncle.. Chapter 211 - 211: Reversed Experience Chapter 211: Reversed Experience Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios That evening, both Wen Nian and Shen Jun received apology messages from Jiang Chun. The content was the same¡ªapologizing for not promptly discovering Wei Lai and Jiang Ning¡¯s ns and feeling ashamed for failing to prevent them. Wen Nian looked at Jiang Chun¡¯s performance and couldn¡¯t quite understand what this seemingly innocent and pure-hearted hypocrite was up to. She nced at the message but didn¡¯t bother replying, tossing her phone aside. Shen Jun¡¯s initial reaction upon seeing the message was that Jiang Chun had once again taken it upon herself to shoulder the responsibility. Shen Jun: One should only step forward when there¡¯s something good to be achieved. Why do you always go looking for trouble? This matter has nothing to do with you, so there¡¯s no need for you to apologize. Besides, it¡¯s Wen Nian who has been hurt, so you don¡¯t need to apologize to me either. Jiang Chun: You two are a couple, so of course, it¡¯s necessary. Sigh, as an older sister, 1 didn¡¯t guide my younger sister properly, so I bear some responsibility. I¡¯ve also apologized to Wen Nian via WeChat, but she hasn¡¯t responded. 1 guess she¡¯s angry with me because of this incident. Jiang Chun¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t usatory, but it implied to Shen Jun that Wen Nian¡¯s different reaction indicated she was redirecting her anger and hoping to guide Shen Jun into supporting her side of the argument. Of course, Jiang Chun¡¯s intention was not to seek forgiveness from Wen Nian. She merely hinted at the situation, emphasizing that it didn¡¯t directly involve her. She was using this opportunity to try and get Shen Jun to speak on her behalf, further provoking Wen Nian, who already felt wronged. Although Shen Jun wasn¡¯t aware of Jiang Chun¡¯s ulterior motives, he instinctively felt that he should decline. Shen Jun: Wen Nian is an independent individual with her own thoughts. I shouldn¡¯t interfere too much. Jiang Chun didn¡¯t push further, but in the end, she managed to persuade Shen Jun to agree to take Wen Nian to a nearby ancient town around the weekend without letting Wen Nian know about the n. There was a resort project owned by the Jiang family in that area, creating an opportunity for them to have a face-to-face conversation. Shen Jun: Alright, but you can¡¯t let her know that 1 intentionally brought her there, and 1 won¡¯t interfere with her decisions. Don¡¯t expect me to be your advocate. Jiang Chun: Don¡¯t worry. After the online apology video was released, along with the reports of Wei Lai being tied up and taken to the Wei Corporation, the negative reputation of the Wei family did suffer a significant blow. However, they hired many people to leavements that deliberately tried to separate Wei Lai¡¯s actions from thepany and emphasized their youthful ignorance. News kepting every day, although the incident quickly turned into old news. However, these things will stay online forever, so Wen Nian wasn¡¯t in a hurry. When the time came, these things would y their rightful role to demolish a building. Three dayster, Shen Jun finally began dealing with the five men. Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s phone call, Wen Nian curiously asked, ¡°Are you sending them to Southeast Asia?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s expression turned serious as he gently held Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks and spoke, ¡°Indeed, I have discovered their dark history of heinous crimes, including gang-raping women and subjecting them to forced prostitution. Merely sending them to prison would be too lenient. They have shown a disturbing inclination towards inflicting harm on women, so perhaps it¡¯s time they experience the same fate in reverse.¡± The so-called reverse experience meant that they would be forced by women. To put it bluntly, they would be male prostitutes, but they wouldn¡¯t earn any money like professionals. Instead, they would cover their own living expenses without actually earning an ie. However, Shen Jun¡¯s ¡°kindness¡± didn¡¯t stop there. He specifically instructed the management staff below to ensure that each person had to meet the quota of serving five clients per day. Only when the tools of their misconduct werepletely worn out and unusable would they be transferred to the front desk to handle regr business. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter and praised, ¡°That¡¯s a great idea!¡± Seeing Wen Nian in a good mood, Shen Jun seized the opportunity and said, ¡°I heard there¡¯s an ancient town in the Hai City that we haven¡¯t explored yet. How about we go there for a weekend getaway?¡± Wen Nian realized that she had been treating Shen Jun like aborer, constantly giving him tasks without any ns for leisure or fun. She agreed to his suggestion. Before Jiang Ning left the country, she arranged to go shopping with Wei Lai. Wei Lai curiously asked about the reasons behind the finalpromise of the Jiang family. Jiang Ning hesitated for a moment, then lowered her gaze and said, ¡°My parents were worried that if Wen Nian had evidence and reported the incident to the police, they might arrest me.¡± Wei Lai angrily retorted, ¡°Do you really think I believe that? We¡¯ve been through thick and thin together, and you still keep this from me. I even called my brother yesterday and asked him to take good care of you in the United States, but now you¡¯re lying to me!¡± Upon hearing Wei Lai¡¯s words, Jiang Ning felt a mix of surprise and shame. She hurriedly tried to appease Wei Lai, saying, ¡°Wei Lai, please don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s just that I can¡¯t tell you. I promised Jiang Chun..¡± Chapter 212 - 212: Secret Chapter 212: Secret Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Secrets, oh how everyone loves them. Wei Lai¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she eagerly said, ¡°You have to tell me! I promise, 1 won¡¯t utter a word!¡± Jiang Ning, mindful of avoiding conflicts with Wei Lai for the sake of Wei Xiao, pondered for a moment. Finally, she revealed, ¡°I can only tell you that Shen Jun¡¯s background is quite extraordinary. As for the rest, I¡¯m afraid 1 can¡¯t divulge any further. You wouldn¡¯t want me to be known as someone who can¡¯t keep a secret, would you?¡± Since Jiang Ning had said so, Wei Lai couldn¡¯t press for more information. However, she couldn¡¯t help but use subtle tactics to gather more hints. ¡°Extraordinary? Does that mean Shen Jun¡¯s family is involved in a big business, even bigger than ours?¡± Jiang Ning nodded, her expression conflicted. ¡°I can¡¯t say more than that.¡± Wei Lai¡¯s excitement grew, yet she refrained from prying further. She didn¡¯t want to jeopardize their families¡¯patibility, fearing that her parents might object. Now, she could rest assured, free from any lingering doubts! On Friday, Wen Nian sessfully obtained her parents¡¯ approval by iming she was going on a rxing outing with her ssmates. The next morning, Shen Jun arrived to pick up Wen Nian, and they set off for Ling Shui Ancient Town. This trip marked their first venture together, and it was happening in Hai City. Wen Nian, feeling the responsibility of being the host, meticulously prepared an itinerary, pouring her heart into making these two nights unforgettable. Even before reaching the ancient town, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t contain her excitement. This trip was a first for her in two lifetimes. ¡°We should arrive around n a.m. I found a charming guesthouse nestled at the foot of the mountain. The ambiance is simply delightful. We can check in there and drop off our belongings before exploring.¡± Unaware of Wen Nian¡¯s thorough nning, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but notice her joyous expression. He couldn¡¯t help but think that embarking on this adventure together was the right decision. However, he also had another matter to attend to¡ªthe favor he had been entrusted with. ¡°There¡¯s a lovely resort nearby. That ce will be much morefortable. How about we stay there instead?¡± Wen Nian bit her lip and smiled, epting his suggestion. ¡°Alright, sounds good.¡± Perched on a hillside, the resort tempted Wen Nian to indulge in the role of a gracious host. Ignoring the subtle cues from Shen Jun, she confidently requested two neighboring rooms at the front desk. Shen Jun, trailing behind, couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of dissatisfaction as they entered the room and unloaded their belongings. Once settled, Shen Jun arranged for them to rent bicycles and explore the town downhill. The lower part of the ancient town showcased centuries-old architectural marvels, adorned with weathered blue bricks and tiles. Their faded grandeur only enhanced the air of history, cleansing one¡¯s soul from the pressures of modern life. Hand in hand, Wen Nian led Shen Jun through the meandering streets of the ancient town, relishing the simplicity and serenity that enveloped them. ¡°This ce isn¡¯t overlymercialized, and the prices are much lower than in the Hai City. I¡¯ll take you to a really good noodle shop.¡± Shen Jun allowed himself to be guided, and together they arrived at a restaurant adorned in a captivating ancient style. The staff, dressed in ancient costumes, immersed guests in an ambiance of antiquity, perfectly harmonizing with the town¡¯s charm. The establishment was bustling with diners. Leaning close to Wen Nian¡¯s ear, Shen Jun asked, ¡°Are you absolutely sure this ce lives up to its reputation?¡± With a nod and a confident smile, Wen Nian reassured him, ¡°It has received really high reviews online.¡± Surveying the surroundings once more, Shen Jun yfully probed, ¡°But what if it¡¯s not as good as expected?¡± Wen Nian was full of confidence. ¡°If that happens, we will do as you say!¡± Shen Jun smirked mischievously and said, ¡°If the food isn¡¯t good, we¡¯ll share a room tonight.¡± Wen Nian yfully pinched Shen Jun¡¯s waist and smiled, her eyes narrowed. ¡°In your dreams.¡± Shen Jun endured the pain and tried to justify himself, ¡°I meant just chatting under the covers. Don¡¯t get any funny ideas.¡± Blushing, Wen Nian retorted, ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking anything!¡± Seizing the opportunity, Shen Jun continued, ¡°If you weren¡¯t thinking anything, then why didn¡¯t you agree?¡± Wen Nian gave Shen Jun a sly look, knowing he wouldn¡¯t dare cross any boundaries. ¡°Alright, 1 agree. But if the food turns out to be delicious, you have to promise me something unconditionally.¡± Shen Jun readily agreed. Wen Nian ordered two bowls of their signature beef noodles. As the bowls arrived, both couldn¡¯t wait and took the first bite. Shen Jun raised an eyebrow and looked at Wen Nian. ¡°Honestly, how does it taste?¡± Wen Nian begrudgingly admitted the vor was satisfying but couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit frustrated. ¡°I¡¯ve read so many positive reviews about this ce.¡± Shen Jun chuckled, ¡°Just as you said, themercialization level in this town isn¡¯t high. But this restaurant is clearly designed to match the town¡¯s aesthetic. In China, which century-old establishment would look like this? And it¡¯s just a small town. This shop is obviously run by foreign people.¡± ¡°Who knows, maybe those online posts were fabricated by the restaurant itself to deceive people like you. Many visitorse here for the picturesque setting and to capture photos. The truly delicious local eateries probably don¡¯t have such appealing ambiances. Inparison, many people would choose to dine in a ce like this for the overall experience.¡± Wen Nian wasn¡¯tforted by his words. Compared to the picturesque environment, her true attraction was the food itself.. Chapter 213 - 213: What a Coincidence Chapter 213: What a Coincidence Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun, ever perceptive, nced at the situation and suggested, ¡°Shall we find another ce to eat?¡± Wen Nian swiftly shook her head. ¡°It may not be extraordinary, but it¡¯s still edible. Let¡¯s not waste food.¡± After their satisfying lunch, the couple leisurely wandered through the charming town. The weekend had attracted a fair share of tourists, but fortunately, it wasn¡¯t overcrowded since it wasn¡¯t a holiday. As they strolled along the streets lined with quaint shops, the sun beamed overhead, casting a warm glow. The temperature rose, causing beads of perspiration to form on Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s foreheads. They agreed it was time to retreat to their hotel and rest before venturing out again when the evening breeze brought relief. They were excited for the evening festivities, which promised bonfires and captivating activities unique to the town. That¡¯s when the real magic would unfold. With Shen Jun pedaling the bicycle and Wen Nian enjoying the ride, they returned it to the rental spot conveniently located near their hotel. Just as they arrived at the hotel¡¯s entrance, Wen Nian¡¯s eyes widened as she spotted Jiang Chun emerging from inside, an unexpected encounter. Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes lit up, and she hurriedly approached the couple, a smile ying on her lips. ¡°Wen Nian, Shen Jun!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s good mood was ruined. It was rare for her to travel and rx, yet she had to bump into someone with ulterior motives. However, she still smiled and greeted, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Jiang Chun, feeling slightly uneasy, stole a nce at Shen Jun, her expression betraying a hint of guilt. She maintained herposure and addressed Wen Nian, ¡°Yes, indeed.¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but notice Jiang Chun¡¯s subtle movements, causing her gaze to turn to Shen Jun. Shen Jun raised his eyebrows, his gaze shifting to Wen Nian with a perplexed expression. Inside, he cursed under his breath, feeling utterly powerless against Jiang Chun¡¯sckluster acting skills. Wen Nian averted her gaze and inquired, ¡°Are you here with your family?¡± Jiang Chun shed a smile and responded, ¡°No, I¡¯m here on my own to unwind. Have you had dinner yet? Let me treat you to a meal tonight as an apology for the trouble caused by Jiang Ning. Consider it my way of making amends on her behalf.¡± Jiang Chun was no fool. By intentionally revealing her presence, she swiftly shifted the topic to an apology. She knew that leveraging this apology was her way of persuading Shen Jun to bring Wen Nian to this ce. The scorching weather had already made Wen Nian a bit irritable, and Jiang Chun¡¯s persistent presence felt like an unwee nuisance. Wen Nian responded bluntly, ¡°There¡¯s no need. I have no desire to engage with your Jiang family. It¡¯s better for us to have minimal interaction.¡± With those words, Wen Nian took the lead and entered the hotel. Jiang Chun, with her eyes turning red, looked at Shen Jun expectantly. Shen Jun sighed in resignation, shrugged his shoulders, and quickly followed Wen Nian. Because there were other people in the elevator, Wen Nian endured until they entered the guest room before asking Shen Jun, ¡°Did you invite me here because Jiang Chun told you?¡± Shen Jun quickly shook his head and said, ¡°I just thought since it¡¯s summer vacation, it would be nice to go out and have some fun with you.¡± Wen Nian looked into Shen Jun¡¯s eyes intently, while his heart was in turmoil, he maintained a calm demeanor. Unable to detect any issues, Wen Nian decided not to dwell on the matter further. With a slightly narrowed gaze and a hint of a threatening tone, she said, ¡°You better not let me discover anything.¡± Shen Jun could only force a smile and said, ¡°You¡¯re always overthinking things. There¡¯s nothing for you to discover.¡± Wen Nian pushed Shen Jun out of the room. ¡°Hurry up and go back to take a shower and rest. I heard that the activity tonight willst until 12.¡± Shen Jun looked at the closed door and had no choice but to return to his room. After taking a shower and taking a nap, Wen Nian felt refreshed. She picked up her phone and saw that Shen Jun hadn¡¯t messaged her yet, indicating he was still asleep. She freshened up and decided to explore the resort on her own. The resort wasn¡¯t veryrge. Apart from a 22-story hotel, the other areas were designated as entertainment zones. Wen Nian stood in the hotel lobby and looked at the resort¡¯syout map. There was a golf course, a entertainmentplex that included singing, bars, video games, and movies. After deciding to go to the arcade, she came face to face with Jiang Chun. Wen Nian secretly rolled her eyes. She finally knew what it meant to be haunted. Jogging forward with excitement, Jiang Chun eximed, ¡°Wen Nian, are you nning to explore the resort? 1 can be your guide. This ce belongs to my uncle¡¯s business, so I¡¯m quite familiar with it.¡± Wen Nian never anticipated that the resort belonged to the Jiang family. As she connected the dots, she realized why Shen Jun had turned down her idea of staying at a guesthouse and brought them here instead. It all started to make sense. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t contain her anger and burst intoughter. She had no intention of ying mind games with Jiang Chun any longer. She stared directly at Jiang Chun and confronted her, ¡°What¡¯s your ulterior motive for getting close to me? If you¡¯re interested in Shen Jun, go after him. Why do you keep pestering me?¡± Jiang Chun, seeing Wen Nian directly confronting her, chose not to reveal the truth. After all, if she was going to y the game, she had to go all the way. She looked at Wen Nian with a surprised expression and said, ¡°Wen Nian, what are you talking about? You¡¯ve misunderstood me.¡± Wen Nian looked at Jiang Chun¡¯s pretentious expression and suddenly turned around.. Chapter 214 - 214: Cliche Chapter 214: Cliche Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ording to the cliched plot often seen in TV dramas, this is the moment when the male lead usually appears and misunderstands the female lead¡¯s intentions, believing that the supporting female character is gentle and kind-hearted. However, Shen Jun did not stand behind her as Wen Nian had expected. She turned around and found Jiang Chun looking at her with confusion in his eyes. Wen Nian coughed awkwardly, attempting to conceal her sudden movement. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you admit it or not. I don¡¯t want you to use your sister¡¯s situation as a means to get close to me. I won¡¯t believe you have a pure character. As for being best friends, that¡¯s nothing more than a dream. Let¡¯s be content with being ordinary ssmates.¡± Jiang Chun, with red eyes, offered an apology. She took a few steps towards Wen Nian, wearing a disappointed expression, and reached out to grab Wen Nian¡¯s hand. However, Wen Nian instinctively waved Jiang Chun¡¯s hand away, inadvertently causing Jiang Chun to lose bnce and tumble into the nearby scenic fountain. The fountain was not big. It was a shallow pool of water with a ster statue of a pee boy in the middle. Wen Nian subconsciously looked around and saw the hotel staff rushing forward to help Jiang Chun up. Wen Nian furrowed her brow as she nced at Jiang Chun, realizing that Shen Jun was nowhere to be found. Perplexed, she couldn¡¯t understand why she had reacted so strongly. She was certain that she hadn¡¯t exerted any force in that moment! Since the guests did not demand retribution, the staff naturally didn¡¯t intervene to stop Wen Nian. Rolling her eyes at Jiang Chun, Wen Nian turned around and walked away. Meanwhile, Jiang Chun sobbed while the staff assisted her back to her guest room. However, the reality was even more melodramatic. Shen Jun was indeed present, just as Wen Nian had anticipated. Furthermore, he stood in the shadows of a nearby corner, unbeknownst to Wen Nian with her back turned towards him. Jiang Chun, who had unintentionally caught sight of Shen Jun, had a change of heart and decided not to provoke Wen Nian. Shen Jun¡¯s absence stemmed from his desire to avoid being caught between his girlfriend and his friend. He had intended to wait until their conversation concluded before making his presence known. However, he was taken aback by the scene that unfolded before him. Unbeknownst to Wen Nian and Jiang Chun, Shen Jun had been within earshot the entire time and had heard every word exchanged between them. Wen Nian found herself in a sour mood as well. The first trip she had envisioned as a special two-person experience turned out to be orchestrated by Shen Jun for Jiang Chun. However, she realized that giving in to her anger would only lead her into a trap. Determined to maintainposure, she decided to spend an hour at the arcade, immersing herself in games, before eventually returning to her hotel room. After realizing that her phone had not rung, Wen Nian sent a message to ask if Shen Jun had woken up. She had just sent it when she received a reply. Shen Jun: I¡¯m up. Wen Nian didn¡¯t notice anything amiss. When she passed by Shen Jun¡¯s room, she knocked on the door. Soon, Shen Jun opened the door. After entering the room, Wen Nian grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed the cap. Then, in a nonchnt tone, she asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send me a message when you woke up?¡± Shen Jun momentarily paused while closing the door, then reentered the guest room and regarded Wen Nian with a serious expression. ¡°Wen Nian, have I made you feel particrly insecure?¡± he asked. Wen Nian paused after taking a sip and regarded Shen Jun with suspicion. ¡°Why are you suddenly asking me this?¡± she inquired. Shen Jun spoke gently to Wen Nian, saying, ¡°I understand that you don¡¯t like Jiang Chun, but I hope you won¡¯t target her because of me. She didn¡¯t do anything to harm you.¡± Wen Nian chuckled self-deprecatingly. ¡°So, you were present at the scene this afternoon?¡± she asked. Shen Jun didn¡¯t hide it anymore and nodded in acknowledgment. Wen Nian asked again, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you appear at that time?¡± Shen Jun remained silent, prompting Wen Nian to answer on his behalf. ¡°You believe that if you had appeared in that situation, you would have defended the person you saw as the victim and argued with me, causing me to feel embarrassed, don¡¯t you? Should I thank you for presuming to think on my behalf?¡± Hearing the sarcasm in Wen Nian¡¯s tone, Shen Jun responded helplessly, ¡°Can¡¯t you try to be less prickly all the time? I didn¡¯t mean to criticize you.¡± As Wen Nian heard Shen Jun¡¯s words, a wave of grievance surged within her. However, she chose not to reveal her vulnerability at that moment. With determination, she asked firmly, ¡°If 1 tell you that 1 didn¡¯t push her, would you believe me?¡± Shen Jun thought of the scene he saw and finally said, ¡°I believe you.¡± Actually, Wen Nian already had an answer in her heart when Shen Jun pleaded for her not to target Jiang Chun. She couldn¡¯t quite exin why she still felt the need to ask the question. Seeing theplicated emotions in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian asked again, ¡°Then would you believe me if I tell you that she likes you?¡± Shen Jun sighed softly. ¡°Wen Nian, if you feel ufortable with my interactions with her, I¡¯ll interact less with her in the future..¡± Chapter 215 - 215: Paranoid Chapter 215: Paranoid Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun didn¡¯t believe that Jiang Chun had feelings for him. He simply felt that Wen Nian was paranoid. However, he has feelings for Wen Nian. Even ifpared to Jiang Chun, and even if Wen Nian mistakenly acted out in anger, he would still protect her and be on her side. He was willing to makepromises for the sake of soothing Wen Nian¡¯s heart. Wen Nian had no doubt about Shen Jun¡¯s current feelings for her, but their current issues were not about their emotions. The differing perspectives made Wen Nian feel powerless. All of Shen Jun¡¯s actions werepromises for her, but they also demonstrated hisck of trust in her. During the bonfire activity in the evening, Shen Jun made continuous efforts to entertain Wen Nian, but she found herself somewhat disinterested. They encountered Jiang Chun along the way. However, this time, Jiang Chun didn¡¯t initiate a conversation with Wen Nian. Her gaze towards Wen Nian was somewhat timid, but she remained as warm and friendly as ever when greeting Shen Jun. However, Shen Jun only nodded in response, and Jiang Chun didn¡¯t say much either, smiling as she left. Seeing Jiang Chun¡¯s masterful acting, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel defeated. Her already difficult mood became even more agitated. Shen Jun noticed this and suggested returning to the hotel. As they left, it was the liveliest time in the ancient town, with tourists wearing happy smiles. The silence between the two of them felt particrly discordant in that atmosphere. Because of the bet they made at noon, Shen Jun adjusted his mindset and yfully pestered Wen Nian to fulfill the promise. However, when the two of themy side by side on the bed, they both felt an invisible barrier separating them. Shen Jun started to feel a sense of unease and reached out to embrace Wen Nian in his arms. ¡°Nian Nian, please don¡¯t be unhappy. What do I need to do to make you happy?¡± In the darkness, illuminated by the moonlight streaming through the window, Wen Nian looked into Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, feeling a sense of sadness. ¡°You still don¡¯t understand what the problem is?¡± she asked. This sentence again! Shen Jun furrowed his brows upon hearing this. ¡°So, in your opinion, what is our problem?¡± Wen Nian paused for a moment before speaking, ¡°You don¡¯t genuinely believe the words 1 said from the bottom of my heart. Don¡¯t rush to argue or feel the need to respond to me. The answer is something you already know within yourself.¡± After wrestling with this issue for most of the day, Shen Jun was starting to feel impatient. He tightened his grip on Wen Nian¡¯s hand and suppressed his anger. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it matter that I¡¯m willing to keep my distance from Jiang Chun? Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Wen Nian sat up, looked down at Shen Jun, and eximed, ¡°I don¡¯t want yourpromises. What 1 want is for you to believe in me!¡± Shen Jun got up, switched on the bedsidemp, and looked at Wen Nian. Taking a deep breath, he said, ¡°And what happens after I believe you? Would you still prefer that I have no contact with Jiang Chun?¡± ¡°I¡¯m asking you, would the result be the same?!¡± Frantically, Wen Nian answered, ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t be the same! You currently think I¡¯m being unreasonable, don¡¯t you? You¡¯repromising because you like me, but what about in the future? When you get annoyed, what you¡¯re doing now will suddenly seem like a mistake. You¡¯ll think I¡¯m a treacherous and maniptive person who has deceived you!¡± Unconsciously, in their interactions, Wen Nian had already regarded Shen Jun as a reference point, distinguishing her present self from her person she was in her previous life. That sense of dependencepelled her to desperately hold onto Shen Jun, like a drowning person grasping onto a lifebuoy. Wen Nian cared about his perception of her. Others may not believe in her, but he couldn¡¯t be the same. Love is easy, but getting along is difficult. Sometimes, seemingly insignificant things in a rtionship can be the reasons for a breakup. Seeing Wen Nian in such a distressed state, Shen Jun felt helpless. After considering it, he realized they needed to address the root of the problem. He held Wen Nian¡¯s shoulders in his hands, attempting to persuade her. ¡°Nian Nian, Jiang Chun truly doesn¡¯t have feelings for me. When you doubted her today, didn¡¯t she deny it too?¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s confident tone, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. She poured out everything she had to say, ¡°That¡¯s because she must have seen you and denied it! Because I¡¯m with you, she can only use the childhood connection to get close to you, sow discord between us, and take advantage of the opportunity!¡± Rather than denying, Shen Jun thought for a moment and spoke tactfully, ¡°Could it be possible that because of her connection with me since childhood, you feel ack of security, which leads you to believe that Jiang Chun has feelings for me?¡± Wen Nian angrily red at Shen Jun after hearing this. ¡°So, you don¡¯t believe me.. You think I¡¯m paranoid and overly jealous!¡± Chapter 216 - 216: One Final Effort Chapter 216: One Final Effort Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian realized that this situation was a dead end. She felt that continuing to talk would not lead to any resolution. She turned around, facing away from Shen Jun, andy down. As soon as her head touched the pillow, tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly pulled the nket over her head. Shen Jun noticed this and leaned down, wanting to pull the nket away. Worriedly, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t cover your head; it¡¯s not good for your breathing.¡± Wen Nian tightly held onto the nket, and it was only then that Shen Jun sensed something was wrong. He forcefully pulled the nket back, only to see Wen Nian¡¯s tear-streaked face after just a moment. He quickly hugged her andforted, ¡°I was wrong. Please don¡¯t cry. I believe whatever you say, okay?¡± Shen Jun tried to console her for a long time, but the more heforted her, the less control Wen Nian had over her tears. Moreover, she already felt deeply aggrieved about this matter. She buried her face in the pillow and cried, saying, ¡°Just go. I don¡¯t want to see you right now.¡± Shen Jun held Wen Nian tightly, burying his face in her hair, and softly said, ¡°If 1 go, who will my little kitty¡¯s tears? As long as you stop crying, I¡¯ll do anything you ask.¡± Wen Nian thought about how if they were to break up, all these gestures offort would be Jiang Chun¡¯s. It made her feel even more miserable, and she continued to shed tears for a while before gradually stopping. She gazed nkly at the night view of the ancient town outside the floor-to-ceiling window. Shen Jun took a tissue and gently wiped away Wen Nian¡¯s tears. He looked at her with tenderness and said, ¡°My little kitten, you can get angry at me, scold me, and hit me. But you¡¯re not allowed to cry. Your tears make my heart ache like it¡¯s being stabbed by a knife.¡± Wen Nian turned over andy t on the bed, watching as Shen Jun attentively wiped away her tears, as well as the sweat-soaked hair at her temples from crying. She cupped Shen Jun¡¯s face with her hand and looked into his eyes, determined to make one final effort. ¡°After knowing me for so long, do you think I¡¯m an unreasonable person?¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s serious expression and was stunned for a moment. He didn¡¯t say anything. Wen Nian continued, ¡°I don¡¯t have any evidence to prove what 1 said, but Jiang Chun isn¡¯t the way you perceive her. She truly has feelings for you, but she¡¯s skilled at concealing them, so you can¡¯t see it. In your eyes, am I someone who would falsely use others?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s gaze wavered. Jiang Chun¡¯s childhood enthusiasm and kindness had left asting impression on him, and it was natural for him to have certain expectations of her after their reunion. However, upon careful consideration, people change, especially after not seeing each other for over a decade. On the other hand, Wen Nian was his partner, whom he spent every day with. Now, setting aside his perception of Jiang Chun, Shen Jun would choose to believe Wen Nian. Looking into Wen Nian¡¯s clear eyes, Shen Jun said, ¡°Although I don¡¯t know if Jiang Chun is as you specte, there may be misunderstandings, or maybe not. But I believe you.¡± Wen Nian revealed a genuine smile from the depths of her heart. Her slightly swollen eyes narrowed into slits as sheughed, causing Shen Jun to chuckle uncontrobly. He pinched Wen Nian¡¯s nose and said, ¡°You, you¡¯re simply my nemesis.¡± After the two of them talked it out, Wen Nian¡¯s mood greatly improved. Shen Jun turned off the light to prepare for sleep and turned to see Wen Nian still sitting there, gazing at the lively scene of the town center outside the window. The guest room was on the 20th floor, providing an unobstructed view of the entire town, as the buildings in the ancient town were no more than three stories high. Wen Nian felt a bit regretful and pouted as she said to Shen Jun, ¡°We could have had a great time tonight. It¡¯s all wasted now.¡± Shen Jun hugged Wen Nian in his arms and suggested, ¡°Then let¡¯s stay for another night. There¡¯s no rush to go back anyway.¡± Wen Nian nodded excitedly. The moonlight was perfect, and the atmosphere was right. Shen Jun lowered his head, looking at Wen Nian, and couldn¡¯t help but lower his head to capture her lips. Sometimes, arguments not only solve problems but also bring people closer. The previous barriers had dissipated after this turmoil. Wen Nian lifted her head slightly, responding to Shen Jun. In the depths of their passion, Shen Jun slipped his hand under Wen Nian¡¯s sleepwear, and the soft and delicate sensation of her skin beneath his fingers made his breath grow heavy. The strength in his hand involuntarily increased. Wen Nian¡¯s moans escaped from the corners of her lips as Shen Jun passionately ravished her with his tongue. After their intimate encounter, Wen Nian weaklyy on top of Shen Jun, smiling and jokingly said, ¡°Are you determined to be a virtuous gentleman like Liu Xiahui? Or can you not do it?¡± Shen Jun squeezed Wen Nian¡¯s slender waist, causing her to gasp in surprise, but he satisfiedly revealed a yful smile. ¡°Wait until we go back to the capital, and I¡¯ll show you if I can or not!¡± Shen Jun firmly believed that sexual intimacy should happen after both parties have reached adulthood, and he didn¡¯t want their first time to be in such a casual setting. After careful consideration, he felt that it would be more appropriate for them to prepare for this matter when they returned to the capital.. Chapter 217 - 217: Finding the Account Book Chapter 217: Finding the ount Book Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The next day, Wen Nian didn¡¯t run into Jiang Chun again and happily spent another night in the ancient town with Shen Jun before leaving. After returning home, Wen Nian continued to focus on her studies, feeling the pressure mounting. Due to the events from their childhood, Shen Jun carried a sense of guilt towards Jiang Chun. So, whenever he received a message from her, he would respond, but his attitude had be more distant. Wen Nian decided to take some time to visit her ancestral home and requested a day off from her studies, inviting Shen Jun to join her. Ever since the summer vacation began, the two of them practically saw each other every day. When Shen Jun found out that Wen Nian would be going alone, his eyes lit up. Shen Jun: What are you going to do tomorrow? Wen Nian: I¡¯m going back to my hometown to look for something. Upon learning that Wen Nian would be going alone, Shen Jun¡¯s eyes lit up. Shen Jun: 1¡¯11 apany you! I¡¯ll be your free driver andborer. Wen Nian thought that although their ancestral home wasn¡¯trge, it had two entrances, and it would indeed be challenging for her to search alone. So, she agreed to Shen Jun¡¯s offer to apany her. When they arrived at Linxi Vige, it was still early in the morning, just past 9 o¡¯clock. They parked the car in front of the ancestral home. Shen Jun followed Wen Nian into the Wen family house and curiously asked, ¡°What are you looking for when you mentioned finding something yesterday?¡± Wen Nian herself wasn¡¯t sure how it looked, so she thought for a moment and described, ¡°Take out any notebooks or books with words and numbers on them and put them aside.¡± Shen Jun teased with a smile, ¡°The way you¡¯re doing this reminds me of those scenes in TV dramas where they search for corrupt officials¡¯ ount books.¡± Wen Nian chuckled and replied, ¡°I¡¯m actually looking for ount books, but they¡¯re our own. My grandfather should have a ledger, but I don¡¯t know how big it is or what it looks like.¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian in confusion and asked, ¡°Should? Are you looking for something that you¡¯re not even sure exists?¡± Impatiently, Wen Nian asked, ¡°Are you going to help me look or not?¡± Shen Jun quickly responded, ¡°Yes, yes, yes.¡± Wen Nian led Shen Jun past the storage room near the main entrance and started searching. After all, she had already removed even the floor tiles from the storage room, so it was certain that there wouldn¡¯t be any ount books there. Four to five hours passed, and the two of them thoroughly searched the Wen family house. Due to the gold bar incident fromst time, Wen Nian didn¡¯t spare even the floor tiles this time. However, in the end, they only found a pile of her and her brother¡¯s old exercise books and textbooks. Shen Jun went to the car and fetched two bottles of water, unscrewing the caps and handing one to Wen Nian. He finished his own bottle in one breath and then regained hisposure. ¡°We almost dug up the whole ce. What¡¯s so important about these ount books?¡± Dejected, Wen Nian sat in the main hall and recounted the incident when they found the gold bar. ¡°I feel like there must be more than this. I suspect that my grandfather had a significant amount of money hidden somewhere, and 1 want to know where that money was spent.¡± Shen Jun felt that Wen Nian¡¯s wordscked context. Her grandfather was no longer alive, yet she was specting about a sum of money that may or may not exist. After some thought, Shen Jun said, ¡°Could it be that you suspect someone borrowed money from your family and now, after your grandfather¡¯s passing, they refuse to repay it?¡± Wen Nian initially didn¡¯t want to talk about the unpleasant aspects of her family, but Shen Jun¡¯s quick thinking led him to this conclusion. So, she shared those past events and suspicions. Upon hearing this, Shen Jun pondered for a moment. ¡°If your grandfather hid the money so well that even your father and uncle don¡¯t know about it, and assuming it was a loan, they would have exchanged it for gold at a jewelry store. There are so many jewelry stores in the city, and this happened over a decade ago, so it won¡¯t be easy to find.¡± Resting her chin on her hands, Wen Nian sighed, ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s why we still need the ount books. At least we¡¯ll know how much gold was exchanged.¡± ¡°If you were living in a house like this, where would you keep it?¡± Shen Jun stepped out of the main hall and surveyed the surroundings. The Wen family house had two entrances and was made of wood. Though it was a single-story building, it upied arge area. Shen Jun looked at the sturdy beams supporting the tiled roof in the main hall and murmured to himself, ¡°A small notebook. Without a secret room, it could only be hidden up high or deep underground. Jewelry would be kept underground, but ount books¡­ on the beams?¡± Shen Jun beckoned to Wen Nian with his fingers. Wen Nian hurriedly ran over, her face filled with excitement. ¡°Did you think of something?¡± Shen Jun smiled at Wen Nian and said, ¡°If 1 help you find it, what will you give me as a reward?¡± Wen Nian gave Shen Jun a disdainful look. ¡°Why do you always ask for rewards from me?¡± Shen Junughed and said, ¡°This is the product of my wisdom. Just agree to one condition for now. 1¡¯11 let you know what it ister. Plus, you owe me two favors now, including the previous one.¡± Eager to find the ount books, Wen Nian nodded repeatedly. ¡°Okay, as long as we find them, 1¡¯11 agree to your condition..¡± Chapter 218 - 218: Five Gold Bars Chapter 218: Five Gold Bars Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun brought Wen Nian to the bedroom of her grandfather in the Wen family house. He moved the table to the center of the room and stepped on it. Even with Shen Jun¡¯s height of 185cm, he was only half a head taller than the ceiling beams. Standing on tiptoe, he looked at the beams covered in ayer of thick dust, but there was no trace of any ount books. He frowned and bit his lower lip. Wen Nian watched as Shen Jun looked around without taking any action. ¡°Nothing?¡± Shen Jun shook his head. But after thinking it over, they had searched every essible ce on the ground, and if they wanted to ensure it wouldn¡¯t be identally found, the high beams were the safest option. Sighing, Wen Nian said, ¡°Could it be hidden in the walls? Maybe we should knock on the bricks as well.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes lit up upon hearing this. He reached up and carefully felt the wooden beams. There were a total of four beams in the room, and when Shen Jun reached the third one, he felt a gap with his hand. He looked at Wen Nian and said, ¡°Bring a damp cloth.¡± Seeing that there was a chance, Wen Nian excitedly fetched a damp cloth and handed it to Shen Jun. After cleaning the area, Shen Jun observed it carefully while using his hand to feel for any irregrities. He discovered a small rectangr gap on the beam. Pressing down with force, a faint sound emerged. Once he released his hand, Shen Jun noticed a slightly raised piece of wood. When he lifted it, he discovered a hollowed-out space inside, just deep enough to hold a small notebook. After taking it out, he restored the wooden beam to its original state. The notebook was only the size of a palm. Shen Jun jumped off the table and handed it to Wen Nian. ¡°Take a look and see if it¡¯s the one.¡± Eagerly, Wen Nian took it and eagerly flipped through the pages. The notebook wasn¡¯t thick, containing only a dozen or so pages. This notebook started recording from the time of Wen Nian¡¯s great-grandfather. Due to the turbulent times, her great-grandfather was concerned about those things being discovered, so he used symbols to represent gold and jewelry on the pages. Thest time it was used was half a year before Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather Wen Sheng passing. It only had dates and the mention of five gold bars, followed by the handwritten words ¡°approximately 75,000.¡± However, there was no mention of its purpose. Looking at this sum of money with no indication of its purpose, Wen Nian sighed in frustration. ¡°My grandfather was too reckless. He simply wrote down the amount for such arge sum of money, and that was it.¡± Shen Jun looked at the words ¡°approximately¡± and said, ¡°Moreover, this number is just an estimate. It means that your grandfather hadn¡¯t exchanged the money yet after taking it, so he only wrote down an approximate amount.¡± Wen Nian nodded. ¡°That¡¯s likely the case. But it¡¯s still a significant discovery. With the amount and dates, it will be much easier to find. Let¡¯s go back for now.¡± In thete 1990s, 75,000 yuan was arge sum of money. Most small jewelry stores wouldn¡¯t have had the capacity to handle it, so Wen Nian was confident about finding the right store. After leaving the Wen family house, Wen Nian went to lock the door while Shen Jun started the car to dissipate the heat inside. Li Ke took her daughter Wen Yan to the town to catch a ride, nning to go to the city to stroll around and buy some clothes. As they passed by the old house, Wen Yan¡¯s eyes lit up when she saw Shen Jun. Li Ke, on the other hand, had her eyes fixed on the car, thinking that if they could hitch a ride, they could save a few dozen yuan. Although both families had a falling outst year, as long as there was an opportunity to take advantage of, Li Ke wouldn¡¯t care about saving face. Can face be eaten as a meal? Li Ke held Wen Yan¡¯s hand and walked towards Wen Nian, smiling and greeting her, ¡°Wen Nian, why do you have time toe back today?¡± Wen Nian had known Li Ke for a while, so she was well aware of her shamelessness. She calmly greeted her, ¡°Auntie.¡± After locking the door, she got into the car with Shen Jun. Li Ke, in a conscientious manner, opened the back door and pushed Wen Yan inside. Wen Nian noticed the noise and turned her head to look at the mother and daughter who had already sat in the car. She furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°What are you two doing getting in?¡± Li Ke replied with a smile, ¡°You¡¯re going back to Hai City, right? We¡¯re also heading into the city. Young man, I¡¯m Wen Nian¡¯s aunt. Let us hitch a ride with you. Thank you!¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t even have a chance to say a word before Li Ke had made the decision. Wen Nian closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Since they were already in the car, kicking Li Ke out would inevitably lead to a struggle. It would attract the attention of idle gossips in the vige, and she would be the center of attention for the next few days. Considering that it was only a half-hour journey, Wen Nian turned to Shen Jun and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Li Ke sat in the back seat behind Wen Nian and turned her head to take a look at Shen Jun. She couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Young man, you¡¯re so handsome! You¡¯re even better looking than many celebrities! What¡¯s your name?¡± Wen Nian directly retorted, ¡°Auntie, there are four lives in this car. If you can¡¯t be quiet, we can drop you off in town to catch a bus..¡± Chapter 219 - 219: Just an Employee Chapter 219: Just an Employee Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Wen Yan found her mother¡¯s actions somewhat embarrassing, but in the presence of the person she had a crush on, she decided to suppress her dissatisfaction with Wen Nian¡¯sment about her mother and remained silent, bowing her head.¡± Li Ke pouted and said indignantly, ¡°This isn¡¯t your car. It¡¯s not up to you to decide!¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he interrupted, ¡°She can make the decision.¡± Li Ke¡¯s mouth twisted into a perplexed expression as she shifted her attention, scanning the car¡¯s surroundings. Upon realizing that it was just an ordinary car made in Japan that is worth a few hundred thousand yuan, Li Ke¡¯s eyes revealed a trace of disdain. Her restless mouth couldn¡¯t resist asking, ¡°Wen Nian, is this your boyfriend? The car seems rather ordinary. Young man, what do your parents do?¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Yan couldn¡¯t help but perk up her ears. Though she was one grade lower than Wen Nian, Shen Jun¡¯s academic achievements and appearance ensured that he received plenty of attention. Moreover, Shen Jun rarely shared personal information, which only heightened his mysterious allure and attracted even more female admirers. Shen Jun nced at Li Ke through the rearview mirror and calmly replied, ¡°They work for someone.¡± Indeed, there was nothing wrong with saying his parents worked for someone. A business owner had to support the livelihood of his employees. Therefore, from another perspective, the boss works for the sake of his employees as well. Li Ke raised an understanding eyebrow. She had guessed it right. How could someone with just a car worth a few hundred thousand yuane from a well-off family? However, as Li Ke looked at Shen Jun¡¯s face, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of regret. He had good temperament and appearance, but unfortunately, his family background couldn¡¯t match up. Otherwise, she would have made her daughter snatch him away by any means necessary. Li Ke finally stopped. She asked Shen Jun to stop at the entrance of the underground street in the city center. Without even saying a word of thanks, she pulled her daughter out of the car. Wen Yan released Li Ke¡¯s grip on her hand, hurried to the side of the car, and smiled at Shen Jun, expressing her gratitude. ¡°Shen Senior, thank you for giving us a ride into the city.¡± Shen Jun nced at Wen Yan, nodded in acknowledgment, and then merged into thene, driving away. As Wen Yan reminisced about the brief eye contact she had shared with Shen Jun, a smile yed on her lips while she watched the car vanish in the distance. Noticing Wen Yan¡¯s dreamy expression, Li Ke flicked her daughter¡¯s head and scolded, ¡°You mischievous girl, you don¡¯t happen to have a crush on him, do you?!¡± Wen Yan¡¯s daydream was abruptly interrupted, and she stomped her foot in frustration, ring at Li Ke. ¡°Do you realize how exceptional he is? He¡¯s ranked first in our year, and he¡¯s incredibly handsome too.¡± Annoyed, Li Ke retorted, ¡°All I know is that his parents work for a living! Good looks won¡¯t guarantee a stable future. Even if he¡¯s talented, he¡¯s still amon worker!¡± Refusing to ept her mother¡¯s perspective, Wen Yan countered, ¡°What if he bes a sessful entrepreneur and joins the ranks of the wealthy?¡± Suppressing her irritation, Li Ke patiently imparted her wisdom to her daughter. ¡°Starting a business is no easy feat. There¡¯s an old saying: a man¡¯s three greatest joys are career advancement, wealth, and marrying into a powerful family. Look at those aplished entrepreneurs. How many of them have their original partners by their side? Don¡¯t risk everything on mere possibilities. What if the business fails and he ends up burdened with insurmountable debt? Are you willing to take that gamble?¡± Wen Yan fell silent when she heard this. Li Ke pointed towards the nearby Baisheng Mall and posed a question, ¡°Let me ask you, do you envision yourself shopping for luxury goods at Baisheng in the future, or do you want to continue purchasing clothes that cost dozens of yuan with me in the underground street?¡± Wen Yan gazed at the striking contrast between the entrance gates on either side. On one side stood a towering building with pristine windows, disying a wide array of international brands, while weing staff stood poised at the entrance. On the other sidey the dimly lit underground street, illuminated by energy-efficient incandescent lights, with the echoes of bargaining filling her ears. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, Wen Yan replied, ¡°Of course, 1 would choose Baisheng.¡± Li Ke nodded approvingly, ¡°That stubborn Wen Nian probablytched onto that boy solely for his good looks. But you shouldn¡¯t be as naive as her. Mom won¡¯t lead you astray. If you heed my advice, a prosperous and affluent future awaits you.¡± Wen Yan nodded, yet she was unwilling to let her secret crush be snatched away by her cousin. When Li Ke found out, she revealed a mysterious smile. After obtaining Shen Jun¡¯s name, she promptly made a phone call to Zhou Mei. ¡°Zhou Mei, it¡¯s Li Ke. Is Wen Nian in a rtionship?¡± Zhou Mei instinctively denied, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense. Wen Nian is fully focused on her studies.¡± Li Ke clicked her tongue and responded, ¡°Come on, using studying as an excuse for a rtionship, right? That boy seems to be named Shen Jun. They came back to the old house today and they were holding hands and being very affectionate with each other. 1 just hitched a ride into the city with them and I witnessed firsthand the affectionate gestures they exchanged along the way. I saw it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°While it¡¯s true that our families have conflicts, Wen Nian is still underage. If she were to end up pregnant, we wouldn¡¯t want it to tarnish Wen Yan¡¯s reputation!¡± Zhou Mei angrily retorted, ¡°Enough with your baseless usations, Li Ke! Stop spreading rumors and defaming others!¡± Chapter 220 - 220: Hiding Chapter 220: Hiding Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Li Ke couldn¡¯t hide her satisfaction as she heard Zhou Mei¡¯s frustrated voice. Wearing a smug smile, she swiftly ended the call and turned to Wen Yan. ¡°Let¡¯s go shopping.¡± Wen Yan looked at Li Ke, her eyes widening slightly. ¡°Is that all? What if she doesn¡¯t believe it?¡± Li Ke replied confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t overdo it.¡± On their way back home, Wen Nian stole nces at Shen Jun while pondering Li Ke¡¯s earlier conversation. It was hard to ignore the way her cousin¡¯s eyes were practically glued to Shen Jun. Pouting, she remarked, ¡°You certainly know how to attract attention!¡± Shen Jun rubbed his nose and then had an idea. He smiled and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that just prove you have excellent taste?¡± Upon hearing his words, Wen Nian¡¯s lips curved slightly upward. They soon arrived at Wen Nian¡¯s house. Shen Jun held her hand, his voice slightly muffled. ¡°It¡¯s not even 4 o¡¯clock yet. Isn¡¯t it too early? Are you really noting to my ce for a study session?¡± Wen Nian smiled, pursed her lips, and straightforwardly declined, ¡°No, today is a day off.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes darted around, wearing a somewhat pitiful expression. He continued, ¡°By the way, we didn¡¯t even have a proper lunch. We only had a few slices of bread. We¡¯re still hungry. You¡¯re being too hard on me, your diligentborer. You must treat me to a meal.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun¡¯s aggrieved expression and understood that he wanted to spend more time with her. A smile gleamed in her eyes as she asked, ¡°Alright, what would you like to eat?¡± Shen Jun nced at the residential building behind Wen Nian and replied, ¡°1 want to eat the food you cook.¡± Following Shen Jun¡¯s gaze, Wen Nian chuckled softly and saw through his intentions. ¡°So, you want toe into my house?¡± Shen Jun met Wen Nian¡¯s gaze directly and responded without a hint of embarrassment, ¡°I¡¯m helping you save money and time.¡± Considering that her family members usually didn¡¯t return home until after 9 p.m., Wen Nian reluctantly agreed to Shen Jun¡¯s request. ¡°Given the effort you put in today, I¡¯ll reluctantly let you into my house.¡± Wen Nian and Shen Jun ascended the stairs, one after the other, with a single step between them. ¡°Wen Nian, did you juste back from an outing?¡± A seductive voice echoed from above the staircase. Wen Nian looked up and saw their neighbor, who loved to gossip, about to descend the stairs. She paused briefly, then continued climbing a few steps before stopping at her doorstep. The middle-aged woman, with voluminous wavy hair, curiously nced at Shen Jun standing behind Wen Nian. As her gazended on his features, a hint of amazement shed in her eyes, followed by a meaningful gaze directed at Wen Nian. Wen Nian discreetly made a gesture with her hand behind her back, and when Shen Jun noticed, he continued walking upstairs without hesitation. The woman was taken aback. ¡°Wen Nian, you don¡¯t know him?¡± Wen Nian casually nced toward Shen Jun¡¯s direction, then calmly turned back, shaking her head. ¡°Auntie Zhou, you look stunning today. Are you going out? Your nails look freshly done, they¡¯re really nice.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s figure had already disappeared at the staircase entrance. The woman withdrew her gaze, her attention captivated by Wen Nian¡¯s words. She raised her hands, satisfied, and smiled, ¡°I got them done a few days ago. You have good taste; it cost me a few hundred yuan.¡± Wen Nian engaged in small talk with the woman for a while before saying, ¡°Auntie Zhou, since you have ns to go out, I¡¯ll head home now. Let¡¯s chat another day.¡± After finishing her words, Wen Nian took out her keys, opened the door, and immediately crouched behind it, looking through the peephole. She saw her meddlesome neighbor ncing towards the staircase for a moment, then shifting her gaze towards Wen Nian¡¯s closed door. Afterward, she leisurely left. Wen Nian remained by the window, observing until the neighbor hadpletely departed, and then called Shen Jun toe down. Shen Jun entered the house expressionlessly, and Wen Nian promptly closed the door. She turned around, looking at Shen Jun with a reassuring gaze, knowing it was somewhat unfair to make him hide like this, especially for someone as remarkable as him. Wen Nian extended her finger and hooked Shen Jun¡¯s pinky finger. ¡°Auntie Zhou is infamous for being a gossipmonger around here. She can turn a molehill into a mountain. If she finds out about our rtionship, I bet she¡¯ll spread a version of us eloping. Please don¡¯t get angry, okay?¡± Shen Jun knew that, for now, they had to keep their rtionship underground. Apart from toning down their affection in front of Wen Nian¡¯s family, whether it was on set or in the ssroom, they had never intentionally sought suspicion. But now that they had entered Wen Nian¡¯s family circle, they had to pretend not to know each other even in front of strangers. Shen Jun felt like a nameless mouse crossing the street, unseen and unnoticed. However, he had chosen this path himself. Besides enduring, what else could he do? Shen Jun suppressed the lingering frustration, adjusted his mindset, and slightly curved his lips. ¡°I understand. I¡¯m not angry..¡± Chapter 221 - 221: He’s Not Worthy Chapter 221: He¡¯s Not Worthy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon seeing this, Wen Nian tiptoed and nted a gentle kiss on the corner of Shen J tin¡¯s lips. In that moment, a genuine smile appeared on Shen Jun¡¯s face. Wen Nian yfully shook Shen Jun¡¯s arm and softly asked, ¡°Shen Jun, my dear, what do you feel like eating?¡± Not wanting Wen Nian to go through too much trouble, Shen Jun thought that having egg noodles would be convenient. ¡°Let¡¯s have egg noodles.¡± Wen Nian pushed Shen Jun down onto the couch. ¡°Then you sit here for a while or explore on your own. Wait for me for 15 minutes!¡± Wen Nian headed to the kitchen to cook the noodles, while Shen Jun remained in the living room, curiously observing theyout of Wen Nian¡¯s home. It was a rented house, but it was kept clean and tidy, radiating a cozy and homely atmosphere. However, what caught Shen Jun¡¯s attention were the two family photos ced on the TV cab. One was taken earlier that year when they visited the Imperial Pce in the capital. The other was an old photo from a long time ago, capturing the entire family in the ancestral home of the Wen family. In the photo, Wen Nian appeared to be around six or seven years old, standing beside Zhou Mei on one side and Wen Xing on the other. Wen Nian wore a pale yellow dress, her hair styled into two braided pigtails. There was even a small beauty mark drawn with lipstick on her forehead, a popr trend among children during photo shoots. Shen Jun found young Wen Nian incredibly adorable and couldn¡¯t resist capturing the moment with his phone. After taking the photo, Shen Jun curiously made his way toward the bedroom area. Wen Nian¡¯s room was easily recognizable. From the doorway, he could spot the pale pink bedding on the bed, a small cloth doll adorning the bedside table, and on the study desk near the window, neatly arranged among the books, various girly essories and skincare products. Shen Jun entered Wen Nian¡¯s bedroom and noticed a small ss bottle tucked in the corner of a makeshift bookshelf, filled with carefully folded paper stars. It immediately caught his attention. During middle school, there was a period when the girls in Shen Jun¡¯s ss also followed a trend. It was said that if they wrote their wishes on paper, folded them into stars, and filled a bottle with 365 of them, their wishes woulde true. He saw through this as a marketing ploy and scoffed at the girls in his ss for making wishes in this way. Shen Jun never expected that Wen Nian also had such a childish phase. He walked over, picked up the bottle, and muttered, ¡°God doesn¡¯t have time to fulfill your wishes. It¡¯s more useful for me to see them.¡± Shen Jun opened the bottle without any guilt. ¡°I¡¯m not invading your privacy. 1 just want to help make your wishese true.¡± As he opened the first star, he read the wish written on it: ¡°I hope Wei Xiao will like me soon.¡± The smile on Shen Jun¡¯s face instantly vanished, leaving no trace. ¡°What a lousy wish. It¡¯s okay, everyone has their moments of blindness. Luckily, you are cured now.¡± Shen Jun opened the second star, but the wish on the paper remained the same. He took a deep breath and opened the third, fourth, and several more stars, only to find that they all contained the same wish, with not even a change in punctuation. Meanwhile, Wen Nian finished cooking two bowls of noodles and brought them to the dining table. Not finding Shen Jun in the living room, she walked towards the bedroom and saw him sitting at the desk with his back to her. ¡°Shen Jun, the noodles are ready. Come out.¡± Not receiving any response from Shen Jun, Wen Nian furrowed her brows in confusion and approached the desk. She noticed the scattered stars on the table, and the wishes written on them caught her eye. Wen Nian¡¯s expression slightly stiffened. If it weren¡¯t for Shen Jun uncovering them, she wouldn¡¯t have remembered that she had done such things in the past to win Wei Xiao¡¯s heart. Shen Jun lifted his gaze and looked at Wen Nian, saying in a somewhat sarcastic tone, ¡°1 never expected that you could be so patient. It must have taken you quite some time.¡± Wen Nian forced a dryugh. ¡°I was young and ignorant.¡± As Wen Nian spoke, she swept all the opened stars under the table into the trash bin and poured the remaining unopened stars from the ss bottle into it as well. Seeing Shen Jun staring at the bottle she was about to put away, Wen Nian quickly exined, ¡°This bottle can be used to hold other things. It¡¯s not worth using it as a burial ground for Wei Xiao. He doesn¡¯t deserve it!¡± The words ¡°he doesn¡¯t deserve it¡± pleased Shen Jun, and a subtle softness appeared in his eyes. He took the trash bag directly, saying, ¡°I¡¯ll go take out the trash. You can start eating first.¡± After saying that, Shen Jun left Wen Nian¡¯s house with the trash bag. He couldn¡¯t leave any chance for Wen Nian to change her mind! Wen Nian shook her head helplessly. Then she remembered the poems she had written for Wei Xiao during her teenage infatuation. She quickly took out her notebook, tore out those pages, and then folded and tore them into pieces before flushing them down the toilet.. Chapter 222 - 222: Driver Fatigue Chapter 222: Driver Fatigue Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Then, Wen Nian quickly searched the room to make sure there were no surprises before leaving the bedroom. Feeling in a good mood after taking out the trash, Shen Jun finished the bowl of noodles Wen Nian cooked and even conscientiously washed their bowls. It was only 5 o¡¯clock after all the fuss, and Shen Jun came up with another idea. Normally, they would have their tutoring sessions and part ways at 7:30 in the evening. Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to go home so early and be alone in an empty house. So he yawned and, with a sleepy expression, said to Wen Nian, ¡°Nian Nian, I¡¯m a bit tired. I want to sleep for an hour at your ce.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun skeptically. He was so energetic just now, and now he was sleepy so quickly?! Shen Jun yawned again, his eyes glistening with a hint of moisture. ¡°I¡¯m really tired. I got up early this morning, climbed up and down looking for things, and then drove around. Driving can be exhausting! If I drive home now, 1 could experience driver fatigue, and that¡¯s dangerous¡­¡± Before Shen Jun could finish speaking, Wen Nian quickly interrupted, ¡°Sleep, sleep, sleep! Don¡¯t keep saying those unlucky things!¡± Shen Jun obediently nodded, his lowered gaze concealing a triumphant smile. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go lie on your bed. Your sofa is too small, and it¡¯s ufortable to sleep on.¡± Both of them had already slept on the same bed before, so rejecting such a request would be a bit melodramatic. Wen Nian didn¡¯t think too much about it and agreed. Shen Jun took advantage of the situation and held Wen Nian¡¯s hand as they walked towards the bedroom. He said with a serious tone, ¡°You should also sleep with me for a while. You¡¯ve had a long day and still have to write your exams tonight. If you don¡¯t rest properly now, you¡¯ll run out of energyter.¡± Although she didn¡¯t feel tired before, yawning was truly contagious. After seeing Shen Jun yawn, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but yawn as well. Feeling a bit sleepy, shey down next to him and reminded him before closing her eyes, ¡°Wake me up in an hour so I can start working on the questions.¡± Shen Jun embraced Wen Nian in his arms and contentedly said, ¡°Sleep well. 1¡¯11 wake you up when it¡¯s time.¡± Shen Jun had originally intended to just hug Wen Nian and spend more time with her. He didn¡¯t n to sleep, but with his head resting on Wen Nian¡¯s pillow, covered by her nket, and even the air filled with her scent, his mind and body gradually rxed, and drowsiness overcame him, causing him to fall asleep. Since receiving the call from Li Ke, Zhou Mei had been distracted in her work. When Wen Xing noticed, he looked at his wife curiously and asked, ¡°This customer asked for braised beef, why did you give them pig¡¯s trotters?¡± Zhou Mei snapped back to attention, looked at the bag in her hand, and quickly apologized to the customer, saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯ll get you the beef right away.¡± Realizing that his wife must be tired, Wen Xing took over and spoke to Zhou Mei in a gentle tone, ¡°Let me handle it. You take a break.¡± After speaking, Wen Xing grabbed another bag, swiftly packed 2 pounds of beef as per the customer¡¯s request, and handed it over. The evening rush at the braised meat shop was busier than the noodle shop. Apart from Wen Yu, who was at the noodle shop, the couple came over to help at the braised meat shop. Once the peak hour passed around six or seven o¡¯clock, Wen Xing pulled Zhou Mei aside. ¡°What¡¯s the matter with you today? Are you tired or feeling unwell?¡± Zhou Mei shook her head and proceeded to recount what Li Ke had said. ¡°Did you say Nian Nian and Xiao Shen?¡± Wen Xing calmly shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s impossible. While our daughter is indeed exceptional, it¡¯s evident to anyone that Xiao Shenes from an affluent family. After you had dinner with him for the first time, didn¡¯t you say he showed no interest in Nian Nian? Why are you worried now?¡± Zhou Mei nced at Wen Xing unhappily. ¡°What do you know? Who can say for sure when ites to rtionships?¡± Wen Xing wasn¡¯t offended by her retort. He scratched his head, pondering for a moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go home earlier today and find out what our daughter thinks?¡± With two employees at the shop, they could leave a bit earlier and manage the workload. Zhou Mei nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s head home early. 1 won¡¯t feel at ease until we figure this out.¡± The couple arrived home around 8 o¡¯clock, only to find the house inplete darkness. Normally, Wen Nian would have sent them a message by this time. Zhou Mei changed into her slippers, turned on the lights, and curiously dialed Wen Nian¡¯s number on her phone, only to realize that the ringing wasing from inside Wen Nian¡¯s room. They followed the sound. The light in the living room was dim, but it was enough for the Wen couple to see the situation in Wen Nian¡¯s room. The phone ringing had already awakened both of them. Shen Jun, with his eyes still closed, drowsily extended his hand and passed Wen Nian¡¯s phone to her from the bedside table.. Chapter 223 - 223: Exposed Chapter 223: Exposed Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As Wen Nian opened her eyes to reach for her phone, she was taken aback to see two figures standing at the entrance, causing her to sit up in rm. ¡°Click!¡± The light switch next to the door was flipped on. The sudden brightness in the darkness made both Shen Jun and Wen Nian instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes from the ring light. After a few seconds, they adjusted and looked at Zhou Mei and Wen Xing, whose expressions were cold in that moment. Shen Jun and Wen Nian felt a sense of panic internally. Considering thements Li Ke made about a possible ¡°pregnancy,¡± Zhou Mei was seething with anger and scolded, ¡°Get your asses into the living room!¡± Zhou Mei turned and walked out of the room, with Wen Xing closely following. In a low voice, Wen Xing tried to persuade Zhou Mei, ¡°Don¡¯t be too harshter. Have you forgotten what happened with Wei Xiao? We strongly opposed it from the start, and it only pushed Wen Nian further away.¡± Zhou Mei furrowed her brows upon hearing this and nodded as she sat on the sofa. She asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Wen Xing¡¯s eyes flickered as he contemted, ¡°We need to be gentle but firm. We should engage in a constructive conversation. Above all, we can¡¯t repeat what happenedst time. We still need to convince Wen Nian to agree to break up on her own.¡± In the room, Shen Jun and Wen Nian had already risen from the bed. Shen Jun, hearing the conversation in the living room, furrowed his brows and nced at Wen Nian, who had already left. With a sense of worry, he followed them out of the room. Standing in the living room like an elementary school student, Shen Jun stood upright and obediently, waiting to be reprimanded. It was an experience he had never encountered in his 17 years of life. Wen Nian¡¯s heart pounded with unease. When Wen Xing advised Zhou Mei to watch her attitude, it was easier said than done. Upon seeing the ¡°pig¡± who had seemingly taken away his ¡°cabbage¡± standing before him, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t suppress his anger. Despite Shen Jun¡¯s exceptional qualities, the reality remained that he had managed to win over his daughter, whom Wen Xing had spent over ten years raising. This was a fact that Wen Xing couldn¡¯t simply overlook. Wen Xing, abandoning his usual pleasant demeanor, was the first to make the situation difficult for Wen Nian and Shen Jun. ¡°When did this start?!¡± Stepping forward, Shen Jun positioned himself in front of Wen Nian and replied, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, we started dating during winter break.¡± Wen Xing¡¯s eyes widened upon hearing this, while Zhou Mei red fiercely at Wen Xing. ¡°How did you take care of her in the capital?!¡± Wen Xing felt deted upon hearing Zhou Mei¡¯s question. During the first half of his trip to the capital, he himself had been taken care of by Shen Jun. He hadn¡¯t been able to fulfill his responsibilities towards Wen Nian, let alone take care of her properly. Zhou Mei, assessing the situation, decided to employ a divide-and-conquer strategy. ¡°Shen Jun, it¡¯s gettingte now. You should go home.¡± Concerned that Wen Nian might easily sumb to Zhou Mei¡¯s gentle approach as soon as he left, Shen Jun hastily interjected, ¡°Auntie, it was me who developed feelings for Wen Nian and confessed to her. If you have any dissatisfaction, me me, not Wen Nian.¡± Zhou Mei took a deep breath before saying, ¡°Both you and Wen Nian are still underage. Understanding love takes time and effort. You¡¯re both young, and it¡¯s too early to be in a rtionship and im to love each other.¡± Shen Jun fell silent for a few seconds before looking up sincerely. ¡°Auntie, 1 understand your concerns about us treating our rtionship lightly, but age and sense of responsibility don¡¯t necessarily go hand in hand. You¡¯ve also spent time with me and have some understanding of who 1 am. 1 hope you can set aside any bias rted to age and give me a chance to be with Wen Nian.¡± As Shen Jun spoke, his face remainedposed, but only he knew the nervousness he felt inside. He maintained a steadfast gaze as he looked at Zhou Mei. Zhou Mei nced at Shen Jun. During her private conversations with Wen Xing, she had indeed contemted that Wen Nian should find a boyfriend who possessed qualities simr to Shen Jun. She didn¡¯t perceive Shen Jun as a bad person. However, in Zhou Mei¡¯s view, rtionships should ideally begin after individuals start working and be more mature. She was concerned that if they started dating a few years before entering the workforce, they might still be too immature, and their rtionship might not stand the test of time. Zhou Mei recognized that in rtionships, girls often faced more disadvantages and challenges. Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun¡¯s tall figure standing in front of her. Regardless of the circumstances, she was always the one being protected. Without waiting for Shen Jun to say anything more, Wen Nian stepped out from behind him and earnestly addressed her parents, saying, ¡°Mom, Dad, 1 admit that I made a mistake by keeping this rtionship a secret, but please believe in my choice. Shen Jun and 1 are serious about each other.¡± The progress of their rtionship couldn¡¯t solely depend on one person¡¯s efforts. Shen Jun gazed at Wen Nian in a daze. Heprehended the immense worry and concern she harbored regarding their rtionship being discovered by her parents. He had expected that Wen Nian would be the one topromise, and he would ultimately face abandonment. However, he was taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s courageous decision to stand up for their rtionship.. Chapter 224 - 224: Top 100 Chapter 224: Top 100 Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhou Mei looked at Wen Nian with a look of disappointment. However, when she thought about how Wen Nian had argued with them over Wei Xiao in the past and how they had finally resolved their differences, she couldn¡¯t afford to ruin their rtionship again. So she softened her tone and said, ¡°Wen Nian, when you insisted on getting engaged to Wei Xiao, you were also very determined. At your age, your considerations are often not thorough enough.¡± When Wei Xiao¡¯s name was mentioned, Shen Jun¡¯s eyes turned dark. Wen Nian felt a bit embarrassed and nced at Shen Jun, quickly thinking and taking the opportunity to express herself, ¡°Indeed, 1 acted impulsively with Wei Xiao, but it¡¯s because of theparison that 1 now know what kind of boy 1 truly like. This time, 1 can take responsibility for my decision.¡± Seeing how stubborn Wen Nian was, Zhou Mei gave her a look. Wen Xing received the signal and quickly agreed, ¡°You¡¯re both students now, and the most important thing is to focus on your studies. Get into a good university first.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Nian saw a breakthrough and said excitedly, ¡°Mom, Dad, if you¡¯re worried that dating at a young age will affect my studies, 1 can assure you that 1 will only improve and never regress!¡± ¡°Starting from senior year, we have monthly exams, and I promise to enter the top loo in the first monthly exam. And the fact is, ever since Shen Jun and 1 got to know each other and got together, my grades have been consistently improving. You don¡¯t have to worry about my studies.¡± This time, the final exam consisted of over 6oo participants. Wen Nian achieved a ranking of 312th, cing her in the middle of the pack. It was a significant improvement, as she had climbed 200 to 300 ces within a year. This achievement was particrly noteworthy considering she was attending No. 1 High School, known for its highlypetitive environment where top talents abounded. The noticeable improvement in Wen Nian¡¯s grades was undeniable, and even Zhou Mei couldn¡¯t refute it. She shot her husband another re and inwardly scolded him for always causing trouble whenever she relied on him. Shen Jun also made a promise, saying, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, Wen Nian and 1 understand that in order to have asting rtionship, we need to grow together and help each other improve. 1 genuinely care about Wen Nian, and 1 am determined not to be an obstacle on her path to sess.¡± It must be acknowledged that Shen Jun¡¯s final words did manage to somewhat convince Zhou Mei and Wen Xing. As parents, they held concerns about their children falling in love at a young age, fearing that they might not fullyprehend the depth of emotions and the sacrifices required in a rtionship. They worried that their children would only focus on the pleasures of romantic love and taking things from each other, leading to unhealthy rtionships that would likely be short-lived. However, Shen Jun¡¯s words managed to dispel many of their doubts. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing exchanged nces, and then Zhou Mei motioned for Wen Nian toe into her bedroom. Chinese people have always been reluctant to discuss matters of love and rtionships, especially within the context of family. Such topics are often considered taboo, and as a result, the mother and daughter had never broached the subject of romance. Zhou Mei felt extremely ufortable as she observed the confusion on Wen Nian¡¯s face when she entered the bedroom. However, Zhou Mei feltpelled to ask despite her difort. She cleared her throat lightly and in a low voice, she posed the question, ¡°How far have your rtionship progressed?¡± Wen Nian took a moment to process the question. She pondered for a brief moment before responding, ¡°You just found out, so his parents probably don¡¯t know yet.¡± Seeing Wen Nian¡¯sck ofprehension regarding the implied question, Zhou Mei grew even more embarrassed. She decided to be more direct and pointedly rified, ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you about that. What I meant was, have you and Shen Jun done anything you shouldn¡¯t have? Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± Wen Nian then understood Zhou Mei¡¯s actual question and lowered her head, her cheeks flushed with a peachy hue. She spoke softly, her voice barely audible, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Mei felt relieved upon hearing this. After being together for six months and still maintaining their self-control, Zhou Mei¡¯s impression of Shen Jun improved a little. ¡°Ahem, you¡¯re still young. Don¡¯t think too much during your studies. I¡¯m not that old-fashioned either. If your rtionship progresses to the point of considering marriage in the future, just take proper precautions. Abortion can have serious consequences for a woman¡¯s health.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face grew even redder. ¡°Mom, what are you talking about? It¡¯s still too early. We¡¯ve learned about these things in biology ss.¡± Seeing her daughter¡¯s shy reaction, Zhou Mei felt relieved and chuckled softly. ¡°As long as you know what¡¯s best for yourself and take care of yourself.¡± Zhou Mei led Wen Nian back to the living room. Although they had given their consent, some things still needed to be emphasized. The necessary warnings couldn¡¯t be overlooked. Even though Shen Jun came from a good family background, if Wen Nian were to be mistreated or negatively influenced, their family wouldn¡¯t back down! Zhou Mei nced at Shen Jun and sternly stated, ¡°So, as you both have promised, your grades can only improve. Otherwise, don¡¯t me me when 1 step in and intervene!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s previously tense expression rxed, and he quickly responded, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, you can trust us!¡± Chapter 225 - 225: Entering Senior Year Chapter 225: Entering Senior Year Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun felt like he had been on an emotional rollercoaster throughout the day. From the frustration of pretending to be a stranger to his good neighbor, to the jealousy sparked by the paper stars, and the panic of their rtionship being discovered, followed by the surprise of being firmly chosen by Wen Nian. It had been an eventful and exciting day. Fortunately, the oue was still perfect. The revtion of their romantic rtionship was the most unexpected and joyful part of the day. As Shen Jun thought about Wen¡¯s family usually closing their shop after 9 p.m., he casually inquired, ¡°Uncle and Auntie, business was good today, right? You closed early.¡± Wen Xing and Zhou Mei didn¡¯t think much of it and replied casually, ¡°No, it¡¯s not that early. We usually close at 9:30 p.m. every day. But today, Wen Nian¡¯s aunt called and said that you two were dating at a young age, so we decided toe home early and rify the situation.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to continue their rtionship as a secret, but there was a difference between voluntarily revealing it and being exposed by others. Unexpectedly, the good deed he had done today had not been rewarded but rather met with punishment. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he lowered his eyes to conceal the dark expression in his gaze. While they were in Wen¡¯s house, they had to consider Zhou Mei and Wen Xing, but as soon as they left, Shen Jun immediately held Wen Nian¡¯s hand, intertwining their fingers. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s small gesture, Wen Nian smiled and teased, ¡°If you¡¯re brave enough, you should have held my hand while we were still in my house.¡± Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian and replied with a faint smile, ¡°You¡¯re provoking me, huh? Next time 1 hold your hand, don¡¯t even think about letting go.¡± Wen Nian yfully huffed but didn¡¯t dare to say anything else, afraid that Shen Jun would actually follow through with his words. She didn¡¯t have that much courage. Wen Nian walked alongside Shen Jun toward the parking lot in the courtyard. She nced up at him, hesitated for a moment, and then broached the subject of investigating the gold bars. ¡°I might need your help regarding the gold bars.¡± Prominent families often cultivate a group of loyal agents and establish their own intelligence systems, particrly families like the Shen family, which boast capabilitiesparable to national intelligence agencies in certain areas. Shen Jun tenderly touched Wen Nian¡¯s head and gazed at her with affectionate eyes. ¡°Of course, you have to ask me. If you were to ask someone else instead of me, it could potentially lead to trouble.¡± Wen Nian scratched her temple, feeling somewhat disheartened. ¡°1 just can¡¯t help but think that since we¡¯ve known each other, you¡¯ve always been there for me, but 1 haven¡¯t helped you much.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s stubbornness, Shen Jun curved his lips into a smile. ¡°Who said that? If it weren¡¯t for you cleaning up for me, I would have had to survive on sandwiches for an entire semesterst year. Besides, I ended up having numerous meals at your ced did tutor you in return. Therefore, this can be considered mutual assistance.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t waste time dwelling on these things. Instead, focus on doing a few practice test papers. Your parents have assigned us a task, and if you¡¯re not in the mood for writing, you can study how to breathe while kissing. Avoid getting too breathless every time.¡± As Shen Jun adopted a more lighthearted tone, Wen Nian¡¯s attention shifted from his words to his captivating smile. Fler lips couldn¡¯t help but curl up as she yfully rolled her eyes. ¡°You have two different personas¡ªone in public and another in private. You¡¯re getting better and better at disguising yourself.¡± Not able to resist, Shen Jun gently pinched Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks, his voice softening. ¡°Not everyone can see that side. It¡¯s exclusively for you.¡± Reluctantly, they continued their conversation for a while before parting ways. During the summer vacation, Wen Nian dedicated herself to studying harder than ever, aiming to exchange her rtionship with Shen Jun for excellent grades. The two-month break flew by quickly. In early September, a new school year began in Huaguo. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei felt confident enough to allow Wen Yu to go to Danfu University in the magical city of China on his own. Before departing, Wen Nian, Bai Zheng, and Zheng Mo gathered once more. Witnessing the bond between the two, who had once disliked each other just six months ago, and now embarking on a trip to the capital together, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel emotional. After bidding farewell to friends and rtives heading off to college, Wen Nian officially started her senior year of high school. On the first day of school, everyone arrived in the ssroom early. Even though they were physically here, their minds were elsewhere. Conversations in the ssroom mostly revolved around summer vacations,ints about parents enrolling them in various training programs, and discussions about the academic pressures they would face in their senior year.. Chapter 226 - 226: Transfer Chapter 226: Transfer Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Sigh, I¡¯ve been feeling down since yesterday when I thought about living on campus for the next year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. 1 have to stay on campus for four days straight, from Monday to Friday. I can¡¯t even use my phone freely. I¡¯ve prepared two high-capacity phone chargers just to make sure they¡¯llst me until the weekend.¡± ¡°The idea of having cafeteria food five days a week really annoys me. I really wish 1 could apply for day school.¡± ¡°Come on, do you think you¡¯re Shen Jun? Do you think you will get approved?¡± ¡°Hey, what do you think about Shen Jun¡¯s background? Even if it¡¯s a health issue, our school requires third-year students to provide a doctor¡¯s certificate from a top-tier Grade A hospital in order to apply for day school. Based on what 1 know from previous years, only a handful of individuals have been allowed to stay at home due to medical reasons. Shen Jun doesn¡¯t appear physically weak at all, so it seems highly unlikely for him to pass a regr application.¡± As the person being discussed in the back row seemed oblivious to the conversation, he focused on their newly modified palm-sizeputer, working with his team to ovee the final technical challenge faced. The other was scribbling on her test paper. Consequently, this small corner remained quiet, creating a contrast with the ssroom¡¯s overall atmosphere. Li Fang entered the ssroom with a serious expression, tapping on the ckboard to capture everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°ssmates! Today marks the beginning of our senior year, and we have less than a year left until the college entrance examination! Always remember that knowledge has the power to change your destiny!¡± Li Fang¡¯s tone grew more spirited. ¡°You must persevere, work hard for another 200 days, and once you enter college, you can enjoy yourselves however you want.¡± ¡°In addition, I have some news. Jiang Chun has transferred to another ss. That¡¯s all you need to know. Now, let¡¯s begin our morning study session.¡± Senior year is the most critical stage for all students. After Li Fang¡¯s brief opening speech, everyone immediately delved into studying, making the most of every second. Although Jiang Chun had only transferred to their ss six months ago, they had gained a reputation and poprity. With the title of school beauty, some students couldn¡¯t resist their curiosity and immediately started discussing the reasons behind the transfer once Li Fang left the ssroom. Wen Nian didn¡¯t anticipate Jiang Chun choosing to transfer sses after the turmoil that urred between her, Shen Jun, and Jiang Chun during the summer vacation. She looked at Shen Jun with a puzzled expression and softly asked him, ¡°Did you know about this?¡± Shen Jun furrowed his brow and shook his head. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s reaction, he decided not to delve deeper into the matter. Since the incident in the ancient town, Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t initiated any conversations with Shen Jun, perhaps sensing his distant attitude. Now that Shen Jun suddenly learned about Jiang Chun¡¯s transfer, he was not only surprised but also recalled the argument he witnessed between Wen Nian and Jiang Chun. The conflicting emotions within him made Shen Jun choose Wen Nian, but now, seeing Jiang Chun¡¯s current action, he became a little confused. After all, Jiang Chun¡¯s actions didn¡¯t align with someone who had genuine feelings for him. However, Shen Jun¡¯s conflicting feelings were exactly what Jiang Chun expected. The so-called transfer was merely a move from ss 2 to ss 1, and the two sses were adjacent to each other. When Jiang Chun noticed the change in Shen Jun¡¯s attitude towards her, she spected that Wen Nian must have intervened. She also recognized the difference in status between herself and Wen Nian in Shen Jun¡¯s heart. The power struggle between womenpeting for a man¡¯s affection and influence was apletely different battlefield. Jiang Chun skillfully manipted Shen Jun¡¯s limited understanding of rtionships to set up a trap and gain the upper hand. Jiang Chun couldn¡¯t admit her failure; she could only say that she temporarily lost to Wen Nian because Shen Jun was currently in a passionate rtionship with Wen Nian. Instead of continuing to entangle herself and push Shen Jun further away, Jiang Chun made a decisive choice to retreat and confuse the facts that Shen Jun had previously suspected. The news of Jiang Chun¡¯s ss transfer caused only a small stir in ss 2, and Wen Nian didn¡¯t pay much attention to it either. Her main focus was on her academic performance. Wen Nian had caught up with the ss¡¯s progress, and Shen Jun only needed to assist her with the questions she couldn¡¯t solve. Since he didn¡¯t live on campus, he would stay after school for an hour to exin the questions for Wen Nian before going home. After the video conference that evening, Shen Jun picked up his phone, which had been muted, to check his messages and the status updates on his social media Moments. While scrolling, Shen Jun noticed that Jiang Chun had posted something earlier in the day.. Chapter 227 - 227: The Real Battlefield Chapter 227: The Real Battlefield Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios It was a selfie with a bright smile, apanied by the caption: ¡°New ss, new beginning. Let¡¯s hope there won¡¯t be as many misunderstandings this time. Wishing everyone a good time!¡± Shen Jun read the caption repeatedly and finally decided to send a message to Jiang Chun. Shen Jun: Are you adjusting well to the new ss? Jiang Chun, ever watchful of her pocketed phone, sensed a slight vibration against her thigh. Swiftly retrieving it, her eyes lit up with joy as she discovered the message was from none other than Shen Jun. A triumphant smirk yed upon her lips, but instead of replying right away, she decided to wait until the final bell signaled the end of the ss, biding her time before crafting a response. Jiang Chun: ¡°I¡¯m not used to it. After all, 1 have to get to know all my ssmates again. Fortunately, my ssmates are very enthusiastic. I should be able to get used to it soon.¡± Jiang Chun: We are friends, and when 1 transferred to the new ss, I did consider telling you in advance. But I was afraid that Wen Nian might overthink again, and if it caused any more trouble in your rtionship, then the purpose of my transfer would be in vain. Jiang Chun deliberately emphasized that her decision to transfer was driven by Wen Nian¡¯s suspicions and her desire to avoid causing any trouble for Shen Jun. She chose to endure the difort and leave behind a familiar environment. When Shen Jun read Jiang Chun¡¯s message, his previous thoughts did waver slightly. However, in that moment, he decided not to delve deeper into the matter and made a deliberate choice to ignore it. Shen Jun: Jiang Chun, we¡¯re friends. I won¡¯t forget the bond we formed when you helped me conceal that scar. If you ever face any tricky problems in the future, don¡¯t hesitate to reach out to me. Jiang Chun could sense that although Shen Jun¡¯s overall attitude towards her hadn¡¯t shifted, the promise he made indicated that she still held a ce in his life. Shen Jun¡¯s lingering guilt could be the ideal angle to approach him in their interactions moving forward. Observing Shen Jun¡¯s response, Jiang Chun smiled faintly and muttered under her breath, ¡°No worries. I have plenty of time. The real battlefield awaits in the capital.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s new deskmate, who happened to overhear her muttering, misunderstood and thought she was addressing him. Apologetically, he asked, ¡°What capital were you referring to, Jiang Chun? I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t quite catch what you said.¡± As Jiang Chun looked up, the cunning glint in her eyes had vanished, reced by a genuine smile. Her tone was filled with admiration as she responded, ¡°I was actually saying that you will undoubtedly get into the top university in the capital. Even before I transferred here, I had heard about you being the highest-achieving student in ss 1.1 truly envy your impressive academic performance.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s new deskmate, despite being among the top three students in the cohort, had a formidable and intense appearance. Many of the girls in the ss held a certain level of fear towards him. He had never been particrly close to the opposite sex, but seeing the school beauty looking at him with admiration caused a shift in his perception of Jiang Chun. She transformed from being a mere decorative presence to a captivating goddess in his eyes. Feeling a bit flustered, he scratched his head in embarrassment and said, ¡°It¡¯s not as impressive as you think. If there¡¯s anything you¡¯re unsure of in the future, don¡¯t hesitate to ask me.¡± Jiang Chun expressed her gratitude, saying, ¡°Thank you so much! I¡¯ll definitely rely on you in the future!¡± Her new deskmate quickly shook their head and replied, ¡°No trouble at all! Don¡¯t worry about it!¡± Wen Nian decided not to delve deeper into the reasons behind Jiang Chun¡¯s transfer. For her, focusing on her studies was of utmost importance at the moment. The first monthly examination for the third year of high school had begun a month ago. In the third year of high school, everything received special attention, including the grading of papers. With over 600 papers to be marked, the results of the subjects taken that day would be announced on the second day. On the third day, the overall results and rankings of all the students would be calcted. However, the results of everyone¡¯s monthly exams were only announced within their respective sses. Only the midterm and final exam results of the top 100 scores were posted on the promotional board downstairs for everyone to see. During the morning reading ss, Li Fang walked into the ss with the monthly test results. When the students saw Li Fang walk up to the podium, they automatically fell silent. The monthly exam for the third year of high school was actually an exam that mimicked the questions set by the college entrance examination. Therefore, this was the first time everyone had systematically tested the questions for the third year of high school. They were a little curious about their examination standardspared to the other students. Li Fang maintained a serious expression as she scanned the room. After observing everyone, she spoke, ¡°The test papers for this exam were prepared by the subject teachers, utilizing the college entrance examination questions that have historically had the highest frequency over the past three years. These questions are considered ssic and highly challenging, testing everyone¡¯s foundational knowledge. It¡¯s worth noting that some individuals have shown significant regression in their performance, while others have made remarkable improvements.¡± Li Fang¡¯s gaze settled on Wen Nian, and her expression softened. ¡°This time, 1 would like tomend Wen Nian. In her previous performance, Wen Nian reached around the 600th ce. However, this time, she has achieved an impressive ranking of 92nd in the cohort..¡± Chapter 228 - 228: Happy Birthday Chapter 228: Happy Birthday Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Throughout this year, her efforts have been evident to everyone. With such a great example before us, I hope those ssmates who aregging behind don¡¯t get discouraged. The world is unpredictable, and anything is possible! Let¡¯s give a round of apuse to encourage Wen Nian.¡± As soon as the words fell, Li Fang took the lead in apuding, and the other ssmates followed suit. Life transformations are not unheard of, but everyone has only seen the protagonists in movies and TV dramas go through such transformations. Now, suddenly, there is one right here among them, and it feels somewhat unreal. Wen Nian is only used to being the center of attention on stage, so being scrutinized by her ssmates in the ssroom feels a bit ufortable. ¡°Wen Nian has indeed changed a lot in this year!¡± ¡°I feel like it¡¯s because Shen Jun came that Wen Nian¡¯s academic performance started getting better.¡± ¡°Shen Jun is the top student in our grade. If 1 sat next to him, I would improve too.¡± ¡°Come on, with your efficiency of daydreaming during ss, not even a deity could save you!¡± ¡°I think you all have guessed wrong. It¡¯s the power of love!¡± ¡°Are they really dating?¡± ¡°Bookworm, you¡¯re so out of the loop. It¡¯s practicallymon knowledge in the ss. Almost everyone knows, except for you and the homeroom teacher!¡± Upon hearing the words mon knowledge,¡± a faint smile appeared at the corner of Shen Jun¡¯s mouth. It seemed that he had gained quite a reputation among his ssmates. Suddenly, his impression of these unfamiliar ssmates improved considerably. After the ss ended, Wen Nian eagerly went to the podium to take a photo and sent it to Zhou Mei. Following the monthly exams, Wen Nian¡¯s 18th birthday was approaching. As it fell on a Thursday and considering that she couldn¡¯t leave the school, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing nned to celebrate with her on the following Friday night. The school dormitory was a four-person room, and in the second year of high school, Wen Nian and Huang Yue were assigned to the same room with two other female ssmates. However, after Huang Yue went to jail, no one else was assigned to their room, leaving only three people. Wen Nian had a bad temper and used to be close to Huang Yue. The other two roommates didn¡¯t enjoy interacting with her. Over time, Wen Nian stopped returning to the dormitory for afternoon rest, and their interactions became minimal. Fortunately, the other two roommates were not the confrontational type. When Wen Nian returned to live in the dormitory during her third year of high school, she felt relieved to have some peace and quiet. So apart from necessary dailymunication, the two ssmates did not actively engage with Wen Nian much. The morning ss for the third year of high school was half an hour earlier than usual. Wen Nian had to run in the morning, so she woke up at 6 a.m. She turned off the rm on her phone and saw that there were six unread messages in the Wen family¡¯s WeChat group. Wen Nian rubbed her sleepy eyes and casually opened WeChat. As she scrolled through the messages, she saw her parents and brother sending birthday wishes and red packets. Suddenly, she remembered that it was her birthday today and a smile spread across her face. She quickly replied to each of them, expressing her gratitude and sending heartfelt thanks. She exited the group chat and opened the chat log with Shen Jun. As she scrolled through their conversation, she noticed that it was still aboutst night¡¯s goodnight. It dawned on her that she hadn¡¯t mentioned her birthday date to Shen Jun yet. However, she hesitated, feeling that it mighte across as pretentious if she brought it up now. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes darted around. Then, she thought of a good idea! She took a screenshot of the chat page in the group and posted it on her WeChat Moments. The caption of the post was ¡°Happy day!¡± Wen Nian used to enjoy celebrating birthdays, but this year, her expectations were different from previous years. As she gazed at the red sun outside the window, its soft glow not yet dazzling, Wen Nian sat up and stretched. When she got out of bed, she noticed that her two roommates were already awake, engaged in their typical morning routine of scrolling through their phones right after opening their eyes. Wen Nian tiptoed into the bathroom and started washing up. When they were first assigned to the same dormitory in high school, everyone had added each other on WeChat. Therefore, Sun Min and Zhou Bei, who shared the dormitory with Wen Nian, also noticed her new post. They exchanged nces and immediately began messaging each other. Sun Min: ¡°Should we wish her happy birthday?¡± Zhou Mei: ¡°But we don¡¯t usually talk to her. If we suddenly wish her happy birthday, it might be a little awkward.¡± Sun Min: ¡°I think so too. But we are in the same dormitory, after all. Moreover, Wen Nian¡¯s temper isn¡¯t as bad as it used to be, and she¡¯s not as difficult to talk to anymore¡­¡± The two of them put down their phones at the same time and exchanged nces.. Chapter 229 - 229: Headache Chapter 229: Headache Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After washing up, Wen Nian changed into her running clothes and sat on the bench by the door, putting on her sneakers. Sun Min and Zhou Bei got out of bed and hesitated as they walked towards the door. They looked at Wen Nian, who was bending over to tie her shoces. Their mouths opened and closed, indicating their desire to speak, but they hesitated. Wen Nian stood up after putting on her shoes and noticed her two roommates looking at her. She smiled and greeted naturally, ¡°Good morning.¡± With Wen Nian initiating the conversation, the two of them seemed to break free from their muted state and quickly responded, ¡°Good morning.¡± Seeing Sun Min and Zhou Bei speaking in unison, Wen Nian was momentarily surprised. She pointed towards the door and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go for a run first.¡± Sun Min nudged Zhou Bei¡¯s arm, indicating for her to speak first. Noticing the subtle gestures between the two, Wen Nian smiled and asked, ¡°Is there something you want to say?¡± Zhou Bei no longer hesitated when she saw this and said, ¡°Wen Nian, today is your birthday, right? Happy birthday!¡± Sun Min followed, saying, ¡°Wen Nian, happy birthday!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s gaze slightly froze, feeling somewhat surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected to receive birthday wishes from her roommates. After all, their interactions were more familiar than with strangers, but this didn¡¯t stop Wen Nian from sensing their genuine sincerity. Her smile deepened, ¡°Thank you for your wishes!¡± In this moment, the thin ice between them started showing signs of melting. Because of the messages she had received, Wen Nian¡¯s WeChat had been filled with birthday greetings all morning. Looking at Shen Jun, who still hadn¡¯t noticed her birthday, Wen Nian pretended to casually ask, ¡°It seems like 1 haven¡¯t seen you on your phone much today.¡± Shen Jun turned his head to look at Wen Nian, slightly furrowed his brows, sighed lightly, and raised the book in his hand, ¡°The program we¡¯ve been developing is stuck at the final stage. We¡¯ve been discussing these past few days, but 1 still think it¡¯s not perfect. So, I¡¯m nning to find inspiration in my books again.¡± Knowing that Shen Jun had been working on the project for over a year and was now in the crucial stage, seeing his troubled expression, Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to disturb him with her birthday matter. She quickly said with concern, ¡°Then go ahead and read. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± Looking at Wen Nian¡¯s obedient appearance, Shen Jun smiled and gently scraped her cheek with his index finger, affectionately saying, ¡°1 might be a bit busy during this period, but no matter what happens, remember toe to me first.¡± Wen Nian smiled and nodded. Shen Jun would surely spend a lot of time preparing for her birthdayter. Thinking of this, she decided not to mention it this year and celebrate properly next year. Just as thest ss of the afternoon ended, Shen Jun suddenly held his head, his brows tightly furrowed. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s flushed face, Wen Nian asked in confusion, ¡°Are you not feeling well somewhere?¡± Shen Jun lowered his head, tightly pursed his lips, and clenched his fist against his forehead. After a while, he looked up at Wen Nian and replied, ¡°I suddenly have a severe headache and I feel a bit dizzy.¡± Shen Jun wasn¡¯t someone who would show pain for even a slight difort. So, seeing him in such pain, Wen Nian became even more worried, ¡°Let me apany you to the hospital.¡± Shen Jun shook his head, a sharp pain causing him to take a sharp intake of breath. However, he still softly declined, ¡°It¡¯s not that troublesome. It¡¯s just asional nerve pain. I¡¯ve had it before. 1¡¯11 be fine after a good sleep at home. You still have evening self-studyter, don¡¯t bother with me.¡± Seeing Shen Jun in this much pain, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t let it go. She stood up, her tone resolute, ¡°Why bother with self-study? I¡¯ll ask for leave and take you to the hospital.¡± After saying that, Wen Nian turned and left, heading to her teacher¡¯s office. Due to Wen Nian¡¯s remarkable improvement in grades, Li Fang¡¯s impression of her had be quite positive. Using her difort as a reason, Wen Nian applied for a sick leave to go home and rest for a night. Li Fang, without doubting, promptly issued a sick leave note. She also kindly reminded Wen Nian to take care of her health while focusing on her studies. With the sick leave note in hand, Wen Nian left the school with Shen Jun. However, Shen Jun absolutely refused to go to the hospital. ¡°It really is just nerve pain. I promise you, if I¡¯m not feeling better when I wake up tomorrow, 1¡¯11 definitely go to the hospital immediately. Standing around ufortably now, 1 just want to go home and lie down.¡± Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s difort, and worried that dying things might worsen his condition, Wen Nian reluctantly agreed and headed back to Xifeng Court. Shen Jun rested his hand on Wen Nian¡¯s shoulder, seeming to feel weak all over. As they exited the elevator, Wen Nian skillfully opened the door to Shen Jun¡¯s apartment.. Chapter 230 - 230: Gift Chapter 230: Gift Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian pushed open the door anxiously and realized that the room was pitch-ck. She fumbled along the wall beside the main door, her fingers searching for the light switch. Just as she was about to find it, two strips of light suddenly illuminated the floor in front of her. They extended from either side of the entrance, leading towards the dining area. The pathway between was adorned with scattered red rose petals. The unexpected and enchanting surprise caused Wen Nian¡¯s eyes to widen, her lips parting in astonishment. Seeing her happy reaction, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Shen Jun¡¯s lips. With a subtle press of a remote control concealed in his pocket, a small toy car, discreetly positioned in the shadows, started to follow a pre-defined path. It skillfully maneuvered and stopped right in front of Wen Nian. From behind, Shen Jun tenderly embraced Wen Nian, his voice soft and warm as he whispered, ¡°Happy birthday.¡± Shaken out of her initial surprise, Wen Nian nced at Shen Jun, seeking confirmation, ¡°Were you pretending to be sick?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s smile deepened, and he replied, ¡°Sometimes, surprises demand a little subterfuge.¡± A sigh of relief escaped Wen Nian as she realized the truth. yfully, she gazed at Shen Jun before crouching down to pick up the cake. Measuring a modest 6 inches, the cake boasted a simple yet refined design. Delicate white cream adorned the edges in an understated pattern, while the center featured a medley of mango slices, a few strawberries, and scattered blueberries. A small birthday card nestled beside it. This creation diverged from the borate confections of bakeries. Half-jokingly, Wen Nian spected, ¡°Did you try making this yourself?¡± Examining the cake that Wen Nian held, a hint of sheepishness crossed Shen Jun¡¯s face. He lightly scratched his temple, tilting his head, and made his case, ¡°Although it mightck intricate details, it¡¯s still a treat for the pte.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes crinkled at the edges, her smile bing more pronounced. She rose on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss on the underside of Shen Jun¡¯s chin. ¡°I absolutely love it!¡± Witnessing the joy sparkling in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, a smile involuntarily softened Shen Jun¡¯s features. With a flick of the room¡¯s lights, he guided Wen Nian to the dining table. Arranged on the table were three meticulously prepared dishes and a steaming soup. In stark contrast to the cake, the presentation of these dishes was an art form in itself. It was evident they were crafted by an expert chef. The steaming off of the food indicated that someone had intentionally made it at this time. Yet, Shen Jun had already given Wen Nian the fees he received for winter break tutoring. Wen Nian situated the cake near the table and, her mind lingering on Shen Jun¡¯s monthly allowance, she jested, ¡°Treating someone to such avish feast, are you nning to starve afterwards?¡± Lounging back in his chair, Shen Jun arched an eyebrow. A yful glint danced in his eyes, apanied by a teasing tone, ¡°Would you let me starve?¡± Caught in Shen Jun¡¯s maic gaze, Wen Nian¡¯s throat turned dry as his charm worked its magic once more. She retorted with a mock-serious air, ¡°I am very willing.¡± After their sumptuous dinner, the two settled onto the couch, snuggled together. Wen Nian suddenly wondered how Shen Jun knew that today was her birthday and her curiosity prompted her to ask Shen Jun. Shen Jun smiled and said, ¡°When I went to get your boarding pass, I saw your birthdate on your ID card and remembered it.¡± Wen Nian reciprocated Shen Jun¡¯s thoughtfulness with a peck on his cheek, understanding the importance of timely encouragement and surprises in a rtionship. After all, no matter how cliched it might seem, everyone enjoys a bit of romance and surprise from time to time. Concerned about eating toote affecting their digestion, they sat around for a while before deciding to start enjoying the cake. Wen Nian¡¯s wish for this year was simple. With her hands folded together and her eyes closed, she wished for eptance into her desired school and for the health and happiness of her loved ones. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to find arge gift box in front of her. Once again, she looked at Shen Jun in astonishment and eximed, ¡°1 thought 1 wouldn¡¯t have any gifts because you already gave me the phone.¡± Shen Jun ced the gift on the coffee table and raised an eyebrow at Wen Nian, his words carrying a meaningful undertone, ¡°This gift is quite unique and practical as well. If you¡¯re willing, you can give it a try tonight.¡± A certain idea crossed Wen Nian¡¯s mind, and a blush crept up her cheeks. She gave Shen Jun a mock re, but ironically, her shy expression only made her look more charming. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but be enchanted by it. Wen Nian yfully reached out and pinched the muscles around Shen Jun¡¯s waist, then lowered her head, lips slightly pursed, as she softly said, ¡°Could you be a bit more serious? You¡¯re always having these thoughts, and we still have to go to school tomorrow..¡± Chapter 231 - 231: Address Me As Your Big Sister Chapter 231: Address Me As Your Big Sister Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Shen Jun heard this, he froze and chuckled. His lips curled into a wicked smile as he leaned closer to Wen Nian and said, ¡°Then if you don¡¯t have to go to school tomorrow, is that okay?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face grew even redder, and she shyly pushed Shen Jun lightly, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t find loopholes in my words.¡± Shen Jun lightly pressed his hand into a fist against his lips, concealing the growing smile, ¡°Do you want to see what my gift is first, and then decide whether I¡¯m serious or not?¡± Wen Nian hesitated, sensing something off, and reached out to unwrap the packaging paper and open the gift box. Inside was a set of exercise books meticulously arranged by a popr publisher favored by high school students and teachers in China. Each book was about two or three centimeters thick, totaling six books, covering all the knowledge points from the three years of high school for various subjects. Wen Nian¡¯s expression stiffened instantly. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle when he saw Wen Nian shooting him a death re. He quickly suppressed hisughter, adjusted his attitude, and said, ¡°You can work on these at my ce tonight. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. But for now, blow out the candles quickly, or they¡¯ll burn out.¡± Only then did Wen Nian redirect her gaze, blowing out the candles in one breath. Shen Jun attentively handed her the cake-cutting knife. Wen Nian had thought she wouldn¡¯t be able to eat much after dinner, but the cake turned out to be both visually appealing and delicious! They managed to eat only half of it before stopping. Wen Nian put the rest in the refrigerator, nning to share it with her dormmates the next day. After putting away the cake, Wen Nian turned to Shen Jun, who was trailing behind her like a shadow, and said, ¡°I think I¡¯ll head back to schoolter. I didn¡¯t bring any spare clothes.¡± Shen Jun was prepared and calmly replied, ¡°I¡¯ve got everything ready for you.¡± With that, Shen Jun led Wen Nian into the bedroom, where he had built an entire wardrobe along one wall. They walked to the innermost side near the head of the bed. Following Shen Jun¡¯s signal, Wen Nian hesitated and opened the wardrobe. A row of summer dresses came into view, even the undergarments were prepared neatly. Shen Jun¡¯s face was filled with approval, ¡°I picked them all out, and I¡¯ve washed them once. You can just put them on.¡± Wen Nian touched the fabric with her hand, knowing that these clothes were definitely not cheap. She asked curiously, ¡°Where did you get so much money from?¡± Leaning against the wardrobe door, Shen Jun shared joyfully, ¡°The program I developed is finished and already in use. I¡¯ve started to recoup some of the money 1 invested earlier.¡± Wen Nian jumped with joy, hugging Shen Jun¡¯s neck and unable to contain her excitement. She praised him, ¡°My little Shen is amazing!¡± Only elders or superiors would add the word ¡°little¡± in front of the other party¡¯s surname or name when they were greeting someone. Shen Jun clicked his tongue, frowned slightly, and pretended to be angry. ¡°How rude of you to call me Little Shen.¡± Looking up mischievously, Wen Nian taunted, ¡°Why not? I¡¯m a few months older than you. If we¡¯re really calcting, you should be calling me ¡®big sister.¡¯ Go ahead, call me big sister.¡± Shen Jun hadn¡¯t realized that he was younger than Wen Nian before. He chuckled, affectionately rubbing Wen Nian¡¯s head, ¡°Big sister, Nian Jie.¡± Wen Nian shook her head proudly a few times, ¡°Good. So,st weekend, when you didn¡¯t help me with the tutoring, were you meeting a client?¡± Wen Nian shook her head proudly a few times, ¡°Good. So,st weekend, when you didn¡¯t help me with the tutoring, were you meeting a client?¡± Shen Jun wrapped his arm around Wen Nian¡¯s waist, patiently exining, ¡°Yes, I went on a trip abroad to sign a contractst weekend. I nned to tell you after your birthday, so I held back.¡± Although Wen Nian wasn¡¯t directly involved, she had witnessed it. She knew how much effort Shen Jun had put into this project. For him, the sess of the project wasn¡¯t just a validation of his abilities, but also the realization of his dreams. Understanding him well, she could empathize with his joy even more. Listening to Shen Jun express his feelings so sincerely, she said, ¡°I think this news is the best birthday gift for me this year.¡± Shen Jun lowered his head to rest against Wen Nian¡¯s forehead and gently kissed her slightly upturned lips. At this moment, words seemed unnecessary. They simply embraced each other, sharing their happiness in silence. Wen Nian¡¯s peripheral vision caught sight of the row of clothes, and the underwear in the small basket beneath. Suppressing her shy curiosity, she asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t even try them on, and you bought so many clothes. What if they don¡¯t fit? The tags are all torn off, so if they don¡¯t fit, I can only give them away..¡± Chapter 232 - 232: Premier Chapter 232: Premier Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun heard Wen Nian¡¯s question and raised his hand, a hint of obscure and indistinct emotion flickering in his eyes. lie looked at Wen Nian and a suggestive smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. ¡°My hand has already confirmed it for me. It told me that Sister Nian will definitely fit into these clothes.¡± In an instant, Wen Nian recalled all the times Shen Jun¡¯s hands had ignited her senses during their intimate moments. She yfully tapped Shen Jun¡¯s hand with a hint of embarrassment and shifted the topic, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you right now. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± Worried that Wen Nian would really ignore him out of embarrassment, Shen Jun smiled and stopped teasing her. That night was dedicated to serious studying as usual. The next morning, they rose early. Wen Nian packed the cake and returned to her dormitory. Zhou Bei and Sun Min had just woken up and washed up, preparing to change their clothes. Wen Nian walked in and greeted them, ¡°Good morning.¡± After breaking the ice the previous day, Zhou Bei and Sun Min found it more natural to respond to Wen Nian¡¯s greetings today. Wen Nian took out the cake and smiled, ¡°This is the birthday cake from yesterday. This half hasn¡¯t been touched. Would you like to try some?¡± Seeing the simple-looking cake, they felt it might not be that tasty. However, refusing a birthday cake didn¡¯t seem very polite, so they responded with smiles, ¡°Sure, we¡¯d love to share in your birthday joy. Just cut a small piece for us. We¡¯re not used to very sweet cakes in the morning.¡± Wen Nian brought out disposable utensils and cut two small pieces, handing them to Zhou Bei and Sun Min. Although the presentation wasn¡¯t impressive, Shen Jun was someone with apany that specialized in bread and cakes. It was a Rolls-Royce in the world of pastries in China. Shen Jun had consulted with the head pastry chef in thepany, who had flown in with top-notch ingredients specifically for this asion. While the handcrafted appearance couldn¡¯t be improved, the recipe and the baking process had been executed under the pastry chef¡¯s close supervision. The taste surpassed that of the majority of pastry shops on the market. After taking a bite, Zhou Bei and Sun Min¡¯s eyes lit up. They regretted their earlier words and stared at their empty tes. Then, they couldn¡¯t resist ncing at the remaining cake. Sun Min was a food enthusiast and disregarded saving face. She immediately changed her tune, ¡°I think having a little dessert in the morning once in a while isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯ll have some more.¡± Zhou Bei followed suit, ¡°I think so too.¡± Wen Nian was momentarily taken aback, then sheughed, ¡°If you want more, feel free to help yourselves. Don¡¯t be polite. I¡¯ve already had breakfast. If you like it, just finish the rest.¡± Could there be any better news? Both of them eagerly nodded. After leaving the cake in the dormitory, Wen Nian returned to the ssroom. As soon as she arrived at the ssroom, she received a WeChat message from Xu Chang. Xu Chang: ¡°Little Nian Nian, we¡¯ve set the time for the screening and premier.¡± Upon seeing the good news, Wen Nian¡¯s lips curved into a slight smile as she immediately replied to the message. Wen Nian: When is it? Xu Chang: November 1st. I¡¯m not afraid if we¡¯re onlypeting in terms of quality. Our content is good, but it¡¯s not a trending topic right now. I wonder how this will turn out. The beginning of October was a golden week during China¡¯s National Day holiday. Unless it¡¯s a film by a famous director or starring A-list actors, or a high-budget blockbuster, it¡¯s nearly impossible to secure a slot during this prime time. Additionally, films that aren¡¯t up to par don¡¯t dare to follow right after such movies, as the stark contrast can invite ridicule. Furthermore, because there are promotional activities apanying films released in October, people¡¯s consumption enthusiasm tends to be quickly exhausted. By November, fewer big films are released, and audience attention and enthusiasm for spending money decrease significantly. Films released during this time period usually have a lower box office performance. However, as Xu Chang didn¡¯t have much recognition, and the cinema chains offered only these less favorable time slots, he didn¡¯t have much of a choice. Wen Nian: Don¡¯t worry! I have a feeling that this time will be sessful. Originally, Wen Nian wanted to say that they would definitely achieve good results, but she thought about how she was now the lead actress, and she wasn¡¯t sure what changes her presence would bring to the project. So, she decided not to make overly confident statements and settled forforting words. Rather thanforting Xu Chang, it was more likeforting herself. Amidst the anxious wait for both Wen Nian and Xu Chang, the date of the premier arrived. As Xu Chang had anticipated, the box office performance on the first day was just over fifty thousand yuan. To support his daughter, Wen Xing had even taken half a day off, and he bought tickets for himself and his employees from both of his shops to go watch the film. Wen Yu also used money earned from part-time work to treat over twenty ssmates to the movie.. Chapter 233 - 233: Film Review Chapter 233: Film Review Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian had not revealed any news among her ssmates. Apart from Shen Jun, people at school had lost interest in the movie Wen Nian was working on after the rumors stirred by Huang Yue. There was no news of hte premier. However, half a monthter, the film unexpectedly began to gain traction and spread rapidly. Several major websites featured dedicated sections for movie reviews, and in the past few days, the movie review posts for ¡°Looking at the Starry Sky From the Gutter¡± had gained the most attention. [Today, I just went to see the movie rmended by the blogger. Although it¡¯s a small production, I¡¯ve always been interested in this type of theme. This film ispletely different from the bullying-themed movies I¡¯ve watched before. As someone who was once bullied in high school, watching this actually made me feel healed.] [Is the actress ying the lead role, Wen Nian, an amateur? Her acting skills have left me stunned! I¡¯ve already started following her on social media!] [Stunned +1. Wen Nian¡¯s performance doesn¡¯t seem like an amateur.] [Ever since the rumors about Wen Nian circted among her ssmates, I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on her. Her explosive energy and infectiousness are so strong. It¡¯s a pity she¡¯s still a high school student. I really hope she bes an actress in the future and brings us more great works.] [Wen Nian truly carries the aura of a leadingdy! ] [I recall a prominent director making a film on a simr theme before, butpared to this low-budget film, the difference is ringly obvious. Lately, I¡¯ve been vigorously rmending it to people I know.] [Neer passing through. Is this movie really as good as it seems? The movie review section looks quite active.] [Quickly go watch it, the person above! Whether it¡¯s the plot or the acting, nothing falls short. If you end up regretting watching it,e find me, and I¡¯ll reimburse your ticket money. I guarantee it!] However, Wen Nian remained unaware of thesements. Upon entering her senior year, her studies intensified, and even on weekends, she didn¡¯t dare let her guard down. As a result, she rarely checked her Weibo ount, sometimes leaving it untouched for weeks. On Monday, as she walked around the school, she noticed a few people staring at her, wondering if someone was plotting something behind her back. But soon, she got her answer. Since her birthday, Wen Nian¡¯s rtionship with her roommates had been steadily improving. As she entered the ssroom, Zhou Bei and Sun Min hurried over, their eyes brimming with admiration. ¡°Wen Nian! The movie you starred in is incredible!¡± Sun Min promptly pulled out her notebook and excitedly handed Wen Nian a pen. ¡°Quickly, give me an autograph. I want to be the first to get your autograph!¡± Wen Nian was momentarily taken aback by their words. ¡°Did both of you watch my movie over the weekend?¡± Both of them nodded vigorously. Zhou Bei handed her the notebook, while her other hand enthusiastically grasped Wen Nian¡¯s arm. ¡°We went to the cinema this week, and luckily, they were showing your movie. We had to support you! Your performance was outstanding. Mu Ci was both cool and beautiful, and you wlessly handled scenes with veteran actors! If you ever enter the entertainment industry, count me in as your dedicated fan!¡± Wen Nian smiled and took the pen to sign their notebooks. ¡°Entering the entertainment industry is not in my ns. Taking this role was a result of a fortunate coincidence.¡± Upon hearing this, Sun Min and Zhou Bei¡¯s faces immediately reflected their disappointment. At this point, Wen Nian remained unaware of her sudden surge in social media followers. It wasn¡¯t until she received a message from Xu Chang at lunchtime that she noticed her follower count had soared from less than 20,000 to over 1 million. She was genuinely surprised. [My dear Nian Nian¡¯s Weibo activity is so scarce! Since opening the ount five years ago, you¡¯ve only posted 23 times. I¡¯ve scrolled through it so many times that it¡¯s practically worn out! Please update!] [Thest post was a promotional image on the day of the movie¡¯s release. I check my ount every day, and even when the flowers have withered, I haven¡¯t seen any new updates.] [New follower reporting in, on the 12th day! Another day of looking forward to Big Sis Nian¡¯s updates.] Shen Jun leaned over to read with her and furrowed his brows, displeased. ¡°Big Sis Nian¡­ Why does he address you like that? You clearly belong to me. Hurry and reply to him. Don¡¯t let him address you that way..¡± Chapter 234 - 234: Posting an Update Chapter 234: Posting an Update Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at the childish and autocratic way Shen Jun addressed her. Propping up her chin, she looked at him with a mischievous smile and said, ¡°Fans call me ¡®Big Sis Nian¡¯ just like my parents call you ¡®Little Shen.¡¯ Although it¡¯s amon way of addressing each other, it takes on a different meaning when we say it to each other. It¡¯s something unique between us.¡± Despite his displeasure, Shen Jun reluctantly epted the exnation, realizing that terms of endearment like ¡°baby¡± and ¡°dear¡± were quite cliche. Returning her attention to her phone, Wen Nian snapped a photo of her desk, edited her post, and then showed it to Shen Jun. Caption: ¡°Thank you all for liking the movie. I haven¡¯t logged intely because I¡¯m in my senior year and busy with exam preparations. Thanks again for all the love and support!¡± She added a picture of herself making a serious heart gesture. However, Shen Jun¡¯s attention was fixed on the photo. On the corner of her desk was a set of practice problems he had given her, and his desk was visible on the left side of the photo, adorned with a programming textbook bearing the borate character ¡°Shen.¡± This juxtaposition greatly satisfied Shen Jun¡¯s vanity, and a pleased expression crossed his face. In just a matter of seconds after the post was published, severalments appeared. [What luck 1 have today! Right from the start, I see a post from my idol! No need for further words, just securing the firstment! ] [Second! Big Sis Nian is really diligent, truly worthy of my admiration. We¡¯re both in our senior year, and I¡¯ve decided it¡¯s time to work hard like Nian Jie! ] As the movie gained poprity through word of mouth, Wen Nian, as the female lead, attracted the most fans. Yet, the social media followings of the other cast members also increased to varying degrees. After the movie started gaining traction, Pan Jia secretly followed Wen Nian¡¯stest updates using an alternate ount, bearing witness to Wen Nian¡¯s follower count crossing the one million mark. But when shepared this to her own increase of merely five to six thousand followers, Pan Jia was left feeling frustrated. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s new update, Pan Jia eagerly startedposing a message, preparing to expose Wen Nian¡¯s true nature. [1 bet she¡¯s just putting on a show, pretending to be hardworking and inspiring to deceive her fans! Didn¡¯t ite out before that Wen Nian had good grades when she got into school, but they plummeted, and she was nearly at the bottom? Old fans should know about it!] [You, up there, you keep saying ¡®old fans,¡¯ and you seem to know quite a lot. Your words reveal that you¡¯re a fake fan! Are you here to stir up trouble?! Well, I have to use reality to p you in the face. Wen Nian climbed into the top 100 of the grade inst month¡¯s first monthly exam.] [Oh my! And I should believe you just because you said so? In that case, 1 am ranked first! Who are you trying to fool? Do you think 1 never attended high school? Going from the bottom to the top in just a year? It¡¯s easier to eat sh*t than believe that!] [Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean others can¡¯t!] Back in the dorm, Zhou Bei was furious. ¡°Sun Min, did you take a photo of our monthly exam scores?¡± Sun Min, who was ready to counter the fake fan, heard this and thought for a moment. ¡°Yes, I did!¡± She immediately opened her phone¡¯s photo album, found the ss¡¯s grade list, and pixted the names of all the other students except Wen Nian¡¯s. She then uploaded it to thements section. [Fake fan, there¡¯s evidence in the form of a picture. See it for yourself! Eat sh*t!] Pan Jia, who didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to be this fierce, stomped her foot in anger. Her eyes darted around before she picked up her phone to continue posting. [Could this be cheating?! After all, she¡¯s considered a celebrity now. She¡¯s already established a persona previously, so she has to make up for it.] [At Hai City No. 1 High School, our examination halls are organized based on the results of each exam. This means that students in the same exam hall as Wen Nian haveparable scores to hers. However, she¡¯s the only one from that hall who made it into the top loo. What more can you argue about?] There were plenty of ways to tarnish someone¡¯s image, and Pan Jia, looking at the supportivements, couldn¡¯t help but sneer. [1 didn¡¯t say her ssmates helped her cheat. With technology being so advanced these days, who knows what high-tech cheating methods she might have used..] Chapter 235 - 235: Keyboard Warrior Chapter 235: Keyboard Warrior Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Sun Min had always been in a rtively peaceful environment, surrounded by ssmates who were reasonable. This was the first time she had engaged in such a heated online argument. Seeing the unreasonable behavior of the other person, she was so annoyed that she kept talcing deep breaths. She turned to Zhou Bei and said, ¡°Now 1 finally understand what a ¡®keyboard warrior¡¯ is. This is just stirring up trouble without reason!¡± Zhou Bei was equally infuriated, looking at several bystanders who were being led astray. She picked up her phone, preparing to continue refuting thements. In the ssroom, Shen Jun saw thements from Pan Jia¡¯s ount and narrowed his eyes slightly. He pulled out his phone. ¡°Let me check their IP address.¡± Wen Nian calmly stopped Shen Jun. This was nothingpared to her confrontation with Huang Yue. Compared to the false usations she faced in her past life, this was hardly worth mentioning. Wen Nian calmly said, ¡°In the entertainment industry, this is normal. These are people who are unhappy with their lives and use the anonymity of the inte to attack others to find a sense of presence. If you care, you lose. Besides, there are plenty of people like this. Do you n to track the IP address of everyone who criticizes me? That would be a waste of time.¡± A trace of indifference yed at the corner of Wen Nian¡¯s mouth. ¡°Don¡¯t bother with these trivial matters. Our time is more precious than theirs. As long as we don¡¯t y along with their game, it¡¯s fine. Watch me.¡± ¡°The person who posted the picture is probably a student from our school or our ss. First of all, thank you for speaking up. The user with the nickname ¡®Little J,¡¯ I see that you¡¯re the most stubborn one. You want to see my results? Well, a fellow alum took a picture of it for you. After seeing my rank, you might use me of cheating again. But after proving that 1 didn¡¯t cheat, you might suggest 1 bribed the teacher for the test questions in advance.¡± ¡°1 think you¡¯ve probably already prepared various arguments to refute me. 1 won¡¯t fall into the trap you set. You im I cheated, but where¡¯s your evidence? The person who spread rumors about me before is still in the disciplinary institution.¡± Wen Nian ced her reply at the top of thements section. Zhao Jiao, who was far away in the capital, was about to post ament refuting the nder against Wen Nian when she saw Wen Nian¡¯s response. She nodded in satisfaction. ¡°The matriarch of our Shen family doesn¡¯t fear anything!¡± As for those keyboard warriors, upon seeing the response, they immediately started searching for information about Wen Nian online. It had to be said that Wen Nian¡¯s showdown with Huang Yue had made these keyboard warriors hesitant to cause a ruckus in herments section. The reply section became unexpectedly peaceful. [As expected of my idol. She¡¯s straightforward. She¡¯s not like those shy female celebrities.] [Hahaha, this youngdy is truly impressive! 1 admire her spirited personality! I initially began following the female lead on Weibo out of curiosity due to the movie. However, now I¡¯ve decided to be a genuine fan.] [Big Sis Nian is absolutely right. The burden of proof lies with those who raise questions, as even the national ¡°Civil Procedure Law¡± stiptes. These individuals are simply trying to gain attention by spreading baseless rumors. Fortunately, our youngdy possesses a sharp mind and has seen through their scheme!) [1 once again feel the horror of a self-incriminating trap. My brain is not working well, and I was almost led astray.] Pan Jia, who was waiting for the next scene on set, saw the detention center and immediately thought of Huang Yue. A chill ran down her spine. Taking a deep swallow, she nced at Wen Nian¡¯s response once again and muttered under her breath, ¡°Hmph! What¡¯s the big deal about making it into the top loo? When ced among all the high school students in the country, it¡¯s nothing remarkable! I¡¯d like to see what you¡¯ll achieve in the college entrance examination.¡± While Pan Jia refused to admit defeat verbally, deep down, she knew she had been bested. She promptly left Wen Nian¡¯sments section and refrained from further stirring up trouble. The tone of thements section transitioned from Pan Jia¡¯s provocations and gradually reverted to discussing Wen Nian¡¯s update. [All 1 can say is that there¡¯s a valid reason for her top loo ranking. Don¡¯t let yourself be disheartened. This is called the difference between humans. What intrigues me more is the individual who achieved 745 points out of a perfect score of 750 and secured the first ce. Judging from the partial mosaic, the surname ¡®Shen¡¯ seems likely. This same character appears in Big Sis Nian¡¯s desk mate¡¯s name. I believe I¡¯ve stumbled upon the reason for Nian Nian¡¯s improvement!] [There are many people with the surname Shen, aren¡¯t there? We have three in our ss.] Upon seeing this, Zhao Jiao joined the conversation. [I¡¯m an insider, though Ick concrete evidence, they truly are desk mates..] Chapter 236 - 236: A Distinguished Figure Chapter 236: A Distinguished Figure Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios [I¡¯m a fourth-yearputer science student. As far as I know, the book ¡°Simple Programs¡± that this student Shen mentioned, I¡¯ve seen it with our professor before. Our professor has been studying this book for a long time. I bought a copy, and it¡¯s like reading a heavenly book! The person beside Nian Nian is definitely a big shot. If he¡¯s not the one who scored first on the report card, I¡¯ll chop my head off!] When Shen Jun saw someone actively linking him to Wen Nian, his gloomy mood instantly lifted. ¡°There are still some clever people among your fans who understand that our connection runs deep.¡± Wen Nian chuckled, but she didn¡¯t burst the bubble of Shen Jun¡¯s overactive imagination. The person merely mentioned the reason for her academic improvement without even bringing up their romantic rtionship. How did he jump to the conclusion that they had a deep connection? In the dormitory during lunch break, Sun Min and Zhou Bei had already made friends in thements section. Many fans, after learning about their student rtionship with Wen Nian, greeted them proactively, and they followed each other, bing friends. Both sides made a pact that the next time someone tried to cause trouble in Wen Nian¡¯sments section, they would quickly inform each other to counterattack. With the numbers growing, Sun Min and Zhou Bei decided to create a WeChat group specifically for countering negativements aimed at Wen Nian. Zhao Jiao, who had been paying attention to Weibo, saw the QR code and her eyes lit up. She immediately scanned the QR code and joined. In the ssroom, Wen Nian had no idea that her future fan support group was taking shape at this moment. To respond to her fans who liked and supported her, Wen Nian set aside 2 hours each week for her Weibo activities. Her main focus was to update her recent activities and interact with her fans. By the end of December, the movie¡¯s sess was entirely driven by word of mouth. Two months after its release, the box office had surpassed 1.8 billion yuan, and it was still on an upward trend. Industry insiders predicted that it could reach 2.7 billion yuan within three months. After seeing the news posted on Xu Chang¡¯s WeChat Moments, Wen Nian finally felt relieved. In her previous life, the movie¡¯s box office had only reached 1.5 billion yuan. She had managed not to hold Xu Chang back this time. Xu Chang¡¯s life had undergone a tremendous change recently. The well-known cinemas that had previously declined his film for screenings were now reaching out to him, requesting the screening rights. Even those ssmates who had disappeared for a long time resurfaced. Rtives who used to look down on him changed their attitudes and either tried to get close to him or asked for money. Their attitude was so different from before, as if they had transformed into different people. Xu Chang was now on cloud nine, walking on air. Even his sleep was filled with joyousughter. Facing these people¡¯s sudden change of heart, Xu Chang merely smiled calmly. He knew the real motives behind their actions. He wasn¡¯t a saint. He would repay those who had helped him, but he wouldn¡¯t hold back against those who had tried to undermine him. Thinking about the uing three-day New Year¡¯s holiday, Xu Chang decided to organize a celebration. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to attend, but Xu Chang was clever. He immediately went to find Shen Jun. Shen Jun¡¯s agreement was entirely due to his concern for Wen Nian¡¯s months of intense studying. He wanted to take her to the capital to rx. If he didn¡¯t intervene, Wen Nian¡¯s mental state would likely remain tense until the end of the college entrance examination. With a practice book supporting her chin, Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun with her watery eyes. ¡°I¡¯ve been stuck around 65th ce in the past two monthly exams. Everyone¡¯s scores are so close, and 1 want to hurry up and spend more time studying.¡± After her rebirth, Wen Nian cherished the learning opportunities she now had. In her previous life, dropping out of high school was a major regret for over a decade. To her, getting into a good university in this life would provide her with a better path to start anew. If one did not suffer from studying, one would suffer from life. Wen Nian had already experienced this saying. She had experienced the hardships of life, and it had left a deep shadow on her. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t want to waste a single minute. Shen Jun furrowed his brows slightly, looking at Wen Nian with helplessness. ¡°You¡¯re not made of iron. Even though you¡¯ve been deluding yourself and instilling the idea of studying hard, your subconscious might already be silently protesting. The term ¡®work-life bnce¡¯ exists for a reason. You shouldn¡¯t ignore it..¡± Chapter 237 - 237: A Very Good Match Chapter 237: A Very Good Match Trantor: As Studios Editor: Attas Studios Shen Jun reached out and cradled Wen Nian¡¯s petite face in his hands. He gazed deeply into Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, his voice gentle yet authoritative as he spoke, ¡°You¡¯ve shown remarkable progress since your sophomore year of high school. However, it seems you¡¯ve hit a teau. Perhaps it¡¯s time to consider a different approach. Trust me on this. Let go of your studies, just for New Year¡¯s Day, and apany me to the capital. I have a feeling that the uing exam might hold a unique surprise for you.¡± Shen Jun seldom resorted to such firmness in making decisions for Wen Nian, but given Wen Nian¡¯s circumstances, he found himselfpelled to take a more assertive stance. Gazing into Shen Jun¡¯s deep, ebony eyes, Wen Nian discerned an unwavering resolve that resonated powerfully. The intensity in Shen Jun¡¯s gaze was so undeniable that it prompted an involuntary nod from Wen Nian. With New Year¡¯s Day merely two days away, Wen Nian expressed her desire to partake in the production team¡¯s festive gathering to her family. Upon discovering that Shen Jun would be in attendance as well, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei granted the approval without a hint of concern. Centered around a realistic theme, the film had ignited unceasingly fervent debates. Wen Nian, upying the role of the female lead, emerged as a focal point of intense deliberation. She had managed to captivate an immense following, drawing innumerous fans to her allure. Likewise, the ranks ofizens and online detractors who held animosity towards her were on the rise. In tandem, a contingent of devoted WeChat supporters, capped at 500 individuals, valiantly stood up to counter the orchestrated opposition. Even with an array of stringent criteria governing their assembly, Sun Min remainedpelled to select and organize five individuals from the eligible pool, adhering to the prescribed conditions. Fortunately, there were two administrators in each group to help manage it. She didn¡¯t have to worry too much. If not, her academic results would have regressed. Zhao Jiao didn¡¯t use her real name in the WeChat group. Instead, she named herself Big Sis Nian¡¯s Future Mother-in-Law. Zhao Jiao had given herself a nickname that reflected the genuine circumstances, yet within the group, this nomenture failed to garner any substantial attention. After all, within the context of the collective, Wen Nian was recognized as thepliant daughter and the forting spouse of Sister Nian, identified by simplistic sobriquets like ¡°No. 1,¡± ¡°No. 2,¡± and ¡°No. 3.¡± This pattern of using numerical identifiers prevailed for most unfamiliar online users, encapsting a digital realm where virtual aliases predominated. There were many simr fans. Everyone only thought that Zhao Jiao was a fan who was pretending to be Wen Nian¡¯s mother-inw. Zhao Jiao was very active in the group. She was also one of the first group members to join the group. She sessfully obtained the position of administrator and even sessfully added Sun Min on her personal WeChat. Zhao Jiao did not reveal her full name and only asked Sun Min to call her Sister Jiao. Zhao Jiao has her own entertainmentpany, but she¡¯s just a nominal owner. Lately, she¡¯s been involved in various activities to support the entertainment industry, watching as Wen Nian¡¯s poprity surpasses two million without a proper team. Feeling anxious, she reaches out to Sun Min for a private chat. Sister Jiao: Xiaomin, given Wen Nian¡¯s current momentum, do you think it¡¯s time to establish a fan support club? Sun Min is having dinner with Zhou Bei in the cafeteria and lets out a sigh when she sees the message. Sun Min: But from what 1 know, Wen Nian doesn¡¯t intend to enter the entertainment industry. So even if we establish a club, it might not serve a purpose. Sister Jiao: Is she considering studying something else? Sun Min: She hasn¡¯t decided yet. But during our previous conversations, she clearly stated that she doesn¡¯t n to enter the entertainment industry. Zhao Jiao strokes her chin, finding this situation a bit troublesome. Her daughter-inw hasn¡¯t made up her mind yet. In that case, she¡¯ll wait and see for now. Sister Jiao: Then let¡¯s wait and see. If Wen Nian shows interest, we can quickly establish the club. I¡¯ve noticed that fans who support others often hold banners and signs. Whatever others have, my daughter-inw must have it too! We can¡¯t fall short on the grandeur! When the timees, let me know how much money is needed, and 1¡¯11 fully support it. Sun Min sees the words ¡°daughter-inw¡± and immediately thinks of Wen Nian¡¯s official boyfriend, Shen Jun. She chuckles, covers her mouth, and then turns to Zhou Bei, saying, ¡°Sister Jiao¡¯s sincerity is ultimately misced.¡± Zhou Bei takes a bite of her apple and calmly responds, ¡°Sister Jiao is just talking. Those fans in the group who bring up Wen Nian¡¯s mother status still call her a good daughter in Wen Nian¡¯sment section all day.¡± Sun Min: Sister Jiao, just curious, how old is your son? Sister Jiao: He¡¯s 17, quite talented and handsome. A perfect match standing beside Wen Nian. Zhou Bei watches Sun Min and Zhao Jiao chatting, her apple-biting motion pauses. She turns to Sun Min and says, ¡°Uh-oh, it looks like she¡¯s really into this. She¡¯s even brought up her son. She wouldn¡¯t be thinking of arranging a blind date between him and Wen Nian after getting on good terms, would she?¡± Sun Min furrows her brows. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anyone better looking than Shen Jun. Even in the entertainment industry, I can¡¯t find anyone like him. Plus, he¡¯s a top student. From what I see, there¡¯s nopetition. But Wen Nian is a public figure now. I can¡¯t spill private matters from my mouth. 1¡¯11 give her a subtle reminder..¡± Chapter 238 - 238: The News About The Gold Bars Chapter 238: The News About The Gold Bars Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Sun Min typed rapidly with one hand while pondering how to get Zhao Jiao to give up on Wen Nian without hurting her pride. Sun Min: Sister Jiao, how should I put it? Wen Nian has her own standards for choosing a partner. It¡¯s not that your son isn¡¯t outstanding, but it¡¯s about rtionships.Your son might not be her type. Zhao Jiaoy on the sofa and yawned. She had been bothered by Shen Mo for the entire night and needed to catch up on some sleep. Sister Jiao: ¡°1 know her standards very well. My son is her type.¡± Sister Jiao: Let¡¯s pause our conversation for now; there¡¯s something urgent to attend to. We¡¯ll talkter. Sun Min and Zhou Bei looked at each other. ¡°It seems that Sister Jiao will only know how to give up when Wen Nian announces her rtionship. At that time, we¡¯ll know our ce and stop talking about this topic. Otherwise, it¡¯ll be awkward.¡± Zhou Bei took a bite of the apple and nodded. ¡°Understood. Sister Jiao is an elder. We indeed have to give her some respect.¡± On the final day of the year, when the afternoon school bell chimed, Wen Nian and Shen Jun made their way back to Xifeng Courtyard, carrying their packed luggage, and then headed to the airport. By the time they reached the capital, it was already 10 pm. Shen Jun hailed a taxi and took Wen Nian to his home near Qingyang Normal School. Having arranged for Shen Gang to prepare the ce in advance, it seemed as though the two of them were moving in smoothly with their bags. After freshening up, they settled on the living room sofa in silk pajamas, counting down thest half-hour until New Year¡¯s Eve. With Wen Nian unexpectedly having some free time, she felt a bit unsure about what to do. Shen Jun held Wen Nian close as they chose a leisurely-paced variety show to watch together. Beyond the window, snowkes drifted down from the sky, and the room held afortable warmth. Laughter from the television asionally punctuated the scene. As Shen Jun¡¯s hand rubbed Wen Nian¡¯s hand almost unconsciously, she nced at her small hand before turning her gaze towards Shen Jun, engrossed in the show. In that moment, she found herself captivated by the surreal beauty of it all. As time psed, Shen Jun remained engrossed in the TV. Yet, his lips began to curl into a slight smile. He yfully remarked, ¡°My dear Nian, you¡¯ve been studying me for over ten minutes now. If you keep at it, 1 might need to charge you. And just so you know, 1 only ept payment in the form of personal services.¡± Wen Nian, no longer the shy one, met Shen Jun¡¯s smug expression with a direct smile and replied, ¡°Well, who¡¯s to me for Little Shen being so irresistibly good-looking? He had me all confused.¡± From time to time, Wen Nian would respond flirtatiously, though the instances could be counted on one hand. It had to be fitting of the ambiance, the timing, and a host of other uncertain variables. So, Shen Jun was pleasantly surprised, raising an eyebrow in amusement. At that instant, the rm clock buzzed right on cue. Transforming from passive to proactive, Wen Nian initiated the action. She extended her arms around Shen Jun¡¯s neck, parted her lips slightly, and proceeded to gently nibble and suck on Shen Jun¡¯s lips. Shen Jun closed his eyes and felt Wen Nian¡¯s enthusiasm as he responded. The rm¡¯s sound blended with New Year¡¯s greetings, and Wen Nian felt as if Shen Jun had sucked all the oxygen from her lungs before releasing her. They pulled away, with Shen Jun burying his face in Wen Nian¡¯s tousled hair, his lips close to her earlobe. In a husky voice, he murmured, ¡°Nian Nian, Happy New Year.¡± Embracing Shen Jun tightly, Wen Nian rested her chin on his shoulder and sweetly replied, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± To prevent Wen Nian from waking up too early out of habit, Shen Jun pulled the ckout curtains, shrouding the bedroom in darkness. Undoubtedly, the tactic was sessful. Devoid of any light disturbance, Wen Nian slept until nearly io in the morning before fully rousing. Shen Jun treated Wen Nian to a traditional breakfast of soy milk and deep-fried dough sticks at an old shop. Watching the snowfall outside the window, a warmth settled within Shen Jun as he sipped on his steaming bowl of soy milk. At that moment, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang, and his smile gradually faded as he concluded the call. ¡°1 understand. I¡¯ll wait for further instructions.¡± Concern etched on her face, Wen Nian inquired, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Shen Jun nced at her and answered with a slow sigh, ¡°There¡¯s news about the gold bars.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyshes fluttered when the news about the gold bar reached her ears. ¡°What have you discovered?¡± she asked, her curiosity piqued. It had been three to four months since receiving the ount book, and Shen Jun had yet to provide an update. Wen Nian was well aware that this situation must be quite intricate. In a hushed tone, Shen Jun responded, ¡°I had someone use the old photograph you gave me to confirm the identity of the individual, Wei Feng. It turns out that your grandfather and Wei Feng were partners in its sale. The reason for the prolonged investigation is due to a change in ownership of the gold shop. A decade ago, the original owner¡¯s son got entangled in gambling. To rescue his son, he was forced to sell off family assets to settle his debts..¡± Chapter 239 - 239: A Familiar Way of Doing Things Chapter 239: A Familiar Way of Doing Things Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At this juncture, Shen Jun paused briefly before continuing, ¡°Interestingly enough, fate seems to have yed its hand cruelly. The son managed to break free from his gambling addiction after a long struggle. However, just as life was improving for the family of three, tragedy struck again. They were involved in a car ident, leaving only the son as the sole survivor. Although he survived, he was left with a crippled leg. Once he recuperated, he returned to his hometown in the county city and set up a fish stall. Fortunately, he retained the memory of that time and managed to identify the individual in the photograph. Otherwise, we might have been stuck with an unsolved case.¡± The familiarity of this pattern and routine once again implicated Wei Feng. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but sigh at the ruthlessness of Wei Feng¡¯s actions. Narrowing her eyes, Wen Nian unconsciously rubbed her thumb against her index finger as she spected with Shen Jun, discussing their subsequent strategies. In addition to her grandfather¡¯s life, the five lives of the Wen family from her previous existence had been repaid with nothing but ingratitude. Now, at this moment, Wen Nian felt the time hade. She had made up her mind to use Shen Jun¡¯s influence to bring down the Wei family before leaving Hai City for university. The production team¡¯s celebration was scheduled for 7 pm. Xu Chang had reserved arge private room in a five-star hotel near Wangfujing. Wen Nian had asked Shen Jun to drop her off at the hotel half an hour earlier. Afterward, Shen Jun drove back to the Shen family¡¯s old residence. Wen Nian located the private room ording to the address provided. Inside, only Xu Chang was present. Upon spotting Wen Nian, Xu Chang¡¯s eyes lit up. He quickly approached her and teased, ¡°What a rare guest! Your boyfriend had to pull some strings. Otherwise, with my status, 1 wouldn¡¯t be able to get you here.¡± Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°I should say I¡¯m almost out of your league now.¡± After sharing a light moment, Wen Nian addressed the matter at hand. She was genuinely anxious about her studies and that was why she had declined Xu Chang¡¯s invite. Understanding her concerns, Xu Chang nodded with a smile. ¡°I¡¯ve known you for over a year. I¡¯m well aware of your dedication to your studies. Let¡¯s have a seat on the sofa and talk.¡± Following Xu Chang to the reception area beside the restaurant, Wen Nian settled down. Xu Chang broached the topic that concerned him the most. ¡°How are things going? Are there any majors you¡¯re considering or particrly interested in?¡± Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m a bit uncertain at the moment. My priority is securing a high score. Once I achieve that, I¡¯ll have the freedom to choose the university and field 1 want.¡± Art schools differed from other universities. They required students to take both professional and cultural exams, with admission determined by thebined scores. Xu Chang¡¯s anxiety was palpable. It was already January, and preparation for the art school exams needed to start immediately once the next semester began. Yet, Wen Nian remained undecided. Seeing this, Xu Chang felt a mounting urgency. He pondered for a moment before switching to the topic of her fans. ¡°Wen Nian, I heard you¡¯ve amassed nearly three million fans. Congrattions! Your Weibo updates have be more consistent. You¡¯vee a long way from before.¡± Wen Nian smiled in embarrassment. ¡°They¡¯re too enthusiastic. 1 feel that I¡¯ve let them down. I¡¯ve mostly shared some school matters. 1 feel a little bored myself.¡± Xu Changughed. ¡°To them, you¡¯d look good even if you were just filming an ant. Your fans will appreciate anything you do.¡± Wen Nian found his words to be quite urate. In her previous life, her social media was managed by her manager, and thements section was often filled with negativity. This was the first time she had experienced such widespread support, and it felt both novel and heartwarming. Observing the genuine emotion on Wen Nian¡¯s face, Xu Chang continued, ¡°I¡¯ve noticed many fans in yourments section are eager to see you in a project. Some even messaged me privately, asking if we¡¯repatible on-screen.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more than willing. It¡¯s up to you now.¡± Wen Nian had indeed seen those hopefulments, but she had never directly responded. While she had firmly informed her family she wouldn¡¯t enter the entertainment industry in the future, facing fans who admired her acting skills and expressed their love and support made her reconsider.. Chapter 240 - 240: Careful Consideration Chapter 240: Careful Consideration Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian had an inherent interest in acting. Coupled with her previous life¡¯sck of recognition in the industry, the more distant the possibility seemed, the more she yearned to prove herself. Logically, her current achievements and fanbase should have alleviated the past humiliation. She could theoretically release this knot in her heart. However, in reality, Wen Nian still held on to fragments of her prior experiences. Ordinarily, the demands of her studies and her rational suppression kept her from dwelling on these matters. Yet, now that Xu Chang had brought this up, she had no choice but to confront the issue head-on. Wen Nian looked at Xu Chang with a conflicted expression. ¡°I admit I have an interest in acting, but the entertainment industry is incredibly intricate. 1 hope for a simpler life.¡± Xu Chang shook his head, disagreeing. ¡°Wen Nian, the moment we step out of the sheltered school environment and into society, we enter aplex realm from what¡¯s rtively simple. The division based solely on industry is arbitrary and inurate.¡± ¡°Wherever there are people, conflicts arise. Don¡¯t assume that working as an ordinary employee in apany is necessarily easier than being part of a production team. Rather than scheming against each other in an industry you don¡¯t favor, it¡¯s wiser to choose a profession you¡¯re passionate about. Just like how marriages founded on love can endure mundane challenges, the same applies to careers.¡± Wen Nian remained seated on the sofa, her gaze lowered, refraining from further arguments. Xu Chang sighed inwardly with relief. Over the past six months, he had talked incessantly, and Wen Nian hadn¡¯t budged. Fortunately, she seemed to be listening this time. Realizing that pressing her further might be counterproductive, Xu Chang extended a reassuring hand and patted Wen Nian¡¯s shoulder. Finally, he said, ¡°Remember not to discard a meal due to choking. You¡¯ve already achieved remarkable results in your debut film. Your starting point in this industry and the opportunities you¡¯ve encountered already surpass most others. This year¡¯s art exams are in mid-March. Think about it carefully.¡± ¡°Oh dear, I thought 1 was the first one here. Turns out I didn¡¯t even make it to second ce.¡± A somewhat raspy voice interjected. The veteran actor ying the father of the second female lead, apanied by another actor, entered the private room. Xu Chang rose from his seat, offering a boisterous smile as he greeted them. Jokingly, he quipped, ¡°You two seem to bepeting to out-busy each other. I¡¯d be surprised if I managed to arrive early today.¡± Wen Nian also stood up and joined in greeting the senior actors. Upon Pan Jia¡¯s arrival, Wen Nian found herself surrounded by four or five senior actors congratting her. Pan Jia observed them closely, noticing that only two of the seniors were slightly well-known. This eased some of her worries. It was still uncertain what would happen to an underage girl in the future. She was the rising star who had already stepped into this industry. Pan Jia surveyed the room and spotted Xu Chang at its center. She swiftly made her way over, smiling as she greeted him, ¡°Director Xu, it¡¯s been a while. Congrattions on your box office sess! Your film¡¯s been drawing quite the audience!¡± While Xu Chang had paid these actors, he shared a closer bond with those who had stood by him during his tougher times. Seeing Pan Jia arrive, Xu Chang also replied with a smile, ¡°Thank you! I¡¯ve noticed you recently joined Director Wu¡¯s production team. That¡¯s quite impressive. As they say in the industry, when Director Wu makes a move, it¡¯s bound to be top-notch!¡± When Pan Jia heard Xu Chang¡¯s words, the smile on her face deepened. She had gotten this opportunity after spending months in bed with that perverted financier. How could it not be good? Although Pan Jia took pride innding a role in Director Wu¡¯s film, she didn¡¯t want to appear too enthusiastic about her peers in front of someone like Xu Chang. She didn¡¯t want him to assume she was being insincere, so she humbly replied, ¡°I consider myself fortunate. I auditioned for the role and managed to understand it well. Director Xu, your reputation is growing rapidly. Remember to consider me for your future projects. I¡¯ll make myself avable anytime.¡± While the words wereden with ttery, Xu Chang couldn¡¯t deny he found them pleasant to hear. ¡°Certainly, if a suitable role arises, I¡¯ll definitely reach out. After all, we¡¯ve worked together once, so we can skip the adjustment period. I¡¯m always inclined to coborate with familiar faces.¡± The two exchanged more words before Pan Jia continued with greetings, tailored to the poprity and status of the present actors.. Chapter 241 - 241: Gathering Chapter 241: Gathering Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Pan Jia fluttered around like a butterfly, attempting to forge connections with everyone. She nced at Wen Nian, who stood somewhat isted in a corner, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Slowly, she approached Wen Nian. ¡°Congrattions, Wen Nian. You¡¯re undoubtedly the most sought-after actor among us now.¡± Pan Jia managed to conceal her animosity toward Wen Nian quite well. Although they had spent hours together during filming and some individuals could perceive Pan Jia¡¯s tendency to favor the strong over the weak, their interactions had been limited. Consequently, their rtionship had remained harmonious. Wen Nian hadn¡¯t formed a favorable impression of Pan Jia. Yet, as Pan Jia approached, Wen Nian maintained herposure and replied politely, ¡°Congrattions to you too. We¡¯re all beneficiaries of the film¡¯s poprity.¡± Pan Jia smiled and nodded, continuing the conversation. ¡°If my memory serves me right, you¡¯re talcing the college entrance exam this year, right? Have you decided on a university? Perhaps you¡¯d be interested in the Film Academy at the capital?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered. After speaking with Xu Chang earlier, she was even less certain about her future in the entertainment industry. She regarded Pan Jia and answered, ¡°I haven¡¯t made a decision yet. I¡¯m still considering my options.¡± Pan Jia inwardly pursed her lips, finding Wen Nian¡¯s apparent hesitation rather petty. However, she maintained her pleasant demeanor. Stepping closer, she took Wen Nian¡¯s hand and continued, ¡°Our school¡¯s acting program ranks third in the nation. It¡¯s a good choice. If you get epted, we¡¯ll be schoolmates. 1¡¯11 still be around for a year during my fourth year next year.¡± Pan Jia retrieved her phone from her handbag and essed WeChat. ¡°Let¡¯s connect as friends. Since we¡¯ll be operating in the same circle, it¡¯ll be easier to keep in touch.¡± During filming, their interactions had been minimal, confined mostly to their roles. Nevertheless, Pan Jia¡¯s overtures this time were strikingly enthusiastic, as if she had transformed into a different person. Wen Nian understood Pan Jia¡¯s nature. Despite this, Wen Nian ultimately retrieved her phone and added Pan Jia as a friend. Not due to embarrassment, but rather because Pan Jia¡¯s final remark seemed to link her to the entertainment industry. Although Wen Nian had yet to decide if she wanted to participate in the art exam, Pan Jia¡¯s words were like bait on a fishing rod that hooked her. It made her feel like she had added Pan Jia. No matter what her final decision was, she seemed to be connected to the entertainment industry and didn¡¯t have to treat it as a thought in her heart. The celebration party didn¡¯t end until 11 pm. Everyone took a big photo together. In order to post some different Weibo posts, Wen Nian had already developed the habit of collecting some meaningful photos in her life. Wen Nian casually posted the photo on Weibo and promoted the movie. Shen Jun was already waiting downstairs. Wen Nian recognized Shen Jun¡¯s low-key car at a nce. Hurrying to bid farewell to everyone, Wen Nian rushed toward Shen Jun. ¡°Did you wait long? 1 thought your family might want you at home.¡± Once Wen Nian was securely fastened in her seatbelt, Shen Jun started the car. ¡°I¡¯ve just arrived not too long ago. Since you¡¯re not familiar with the city, I¡¯d rather not leave you alone.¡± The drive back was tranquil. Shen Jun was preupied with his own thoughts, and Wen Nian was preupied with the uing art exam. The silence persisted, unnoticed by either of them. On the second day of the new year, Shen Jun brought Wen Nian to Xue Jiang¡¯s racetrack for a gathering. Although it was a horse farm, there was also a crossbow hunting area and a barbecue pit beside it. The same four people fromst year¡¯s private room gathering were present, joined by more than a dozen unfamiliar faces. Strangely, Jin Ting was absent. Shen Jun had always brought Wen Nian with him. Only when those people went forward to greet him did he introduce Wen Nian¡¯s name. Wen Nian could tell that the people of the same age who participated in today¡¯s gathering were all small groups with Shen Jun¡¯s generation as the core. If the family forces behind Jiang Zhen, Zhou Xi, Xue Jiang, and Lin Yang were the trusted aides of the Shen family, then the remaining people should be considered guards. Shen Jun casually rummaged through the marinated fresh ingredients on the table. He took a te and filled it with a few skewers of meat and prawns. ¡°Nian Nian, what do you want to eat?¡± Wen Nian redirected her gaze, selecting skewers of assorted meats. She filled Shen Jun¡¯s empty te and spoke with enthusiasm, ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time since 1 attended a buffet-style barbecue. What would you like to drink? I¡¯ll help carry it for you..¡± Chapter 242 - 242: Challenging the Mistress Chapter 242: Challenging the Mistress Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios On the table, wine and fruit juice were avable. Shen Jun recalled that he would be drivingter and responded softly, ¡°Coconut juice.¡± Following behind Shen Jun, Wen Nian carried two beverages and settled down beside the grill where Xue Jiang and the others were stationed. A short distance away, two separate groups observed Wen Nian, engaging in hushed discussions. ¡°Her ent suggests she¡¯s from Hai City. My maternal family hails from there, but I can¡¯t recall any family named Wen.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s a recent up-anding force? She seems elegant. Her family might possess some wealth.¡± ¡°What are you guys thinking? 1 bet she caught Young Master Shen¡¯s eye solely due to her looks. All 1 can say is that this girl seems to possess the knack for social climbing.¡± As they spoke, the discussion grew more animated. However, Gao Qu remained silent. He leaned back in his chair, directing his gaze at Wen Nian. She took a sip of her drink and then brought it to Shen Jun¡¯s lips. He drank the remainder from the container she held. Gao Qu¡¯s brow furrowed as he recognized that Wen Nian wasn¡¯t an ordinary presence in Shen Jun¡¯s life. Gao Qu shifted his gaze away from them and addressed the group, his voice slightly elevated. ¡°Alright, enough of that. This isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve encountered Young Master Shen. Even male mosquitoes that buzz around him don¡¯t stand a chance. Has anyone seen him so intimate with any girl before? Be cautious not to stir up trouble with your words.¡± Some individuals heeded Gao Qu¡¯s words, discontinuing the earlier conversation. Others offered indifferent nods, but Gao Qu couldn¡¯t be bothered to correct them all. After all, those determined to court disaster couldn¡¯t be restrained. His good intentions had their limits. He had no interest in getting himself embroiled in trouble due to another¡¯s foolishness. Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Yang Ting¡¯s expression turned cold as she watched Wen Nian and Shen Jun in the distance. Frustration led her to pour a ss of wine, which she downed in one go. Yang Ting¡¯s family stood as a pivotal force protecting the Shen family, being among the leaders of the factions supporting them. As they were all friends from the same circle, they naturally understood Yang Ting¡¯s feelings for Shen Jun. Observing her, Hu Yue hurried to offer sce. ¡°Tingting, don¡¯t worry. Young Master Shen is probably just ying around. Families like ours prioritize suitable matches. It¡¯s delusional for her to worm her way into Young Master Shen¡¯s bed and the Shen family. Don¡¯t let someone like her anger you.¡± Zhu Ming, who had been nursing an unrequited love for Yang Ting, also consoled her softly. ¡°Tingting, youe from a wealthy family. Don¡¯t stoop to being provoked by someone like her. Gold diggers like her are only interested in sleeping their way to riches¡­¡± Shen Jun gritted his teeth. The veins on his arm that was holding the bamboo stick bulged. He casually snatched the can of beer from Jiang Zhen beside him and smashed it directly at Zhu Ming¡¯s face. His actions were clean and ruthless, stopping Zhu Ming¡¯s even more unbearable words. The beer can struck Zhu Ming¡¯s mouth and nose with force, crumpling in the middle from the impact. Beer spurted out from the breach, drenching Zhu Ming¡¯s head and face. Blood streamed from Zhu Ming¡¯s nose, and his front teeth were embedded in his mouth, coated in blood. ¡°Some people¡¯s mouths really don¡¯t need to exist!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s face was expressionless, but it still frightened the people around him. Some people didn¡¯t dare to stop Zhu Ming¡¯s bleeding with paper when they saw his miserable state. The fact that his front teeth were shattered testified to the strength of the blow. Zhu Ming was in so much pain that he saw stars. He covered his mouth with his hand and finally came back to his senses. He looked at the suppressed violence in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes, and cold sweat broke out on his straight back. Shen Jun had never revealed his extraordinary sense of hearing. Combined with the fact that the grills were positioned two to three meters apart, everyone assumed their hushed tones remained unheard by Shen Jun. Other than Wen Nian, everyone else stood rooted to the ground, not daring to move. Those who had mentioned Wen Nian before also swallowed nervously, afraid that they would be next. Shen Jun nced at the gossipmongers, his emotionless voice tinged with a chilling intensity. ¡°Does anyone else harbor doubts about those close to me? I¡¯m giving you the chance to voice them now.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s aura of authority stifled them, leaving them unable to meet his gaze. As their eyes dropped, they submitted. Only then did he turn and resume his seat, tending to the chicken wings over the grill. To put it simply, this was a chain of social ss disdain. However, if it was ced on the spouse of the future head of the Shen family, these families, who were attached to the Shen family and interdependent with the Shen family, would be disrespectful to the future mistress of the Shen family and provoke the Shen family¡¯s status in the family.. Chapter 243 - 243: Coincidental Encounter in the Stable Chapter 243: Coincidental Encounter in the Stable Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The atmosphere on site had turned chilly. Zhou Xi, standing beside Shen Jun, was known for his approachability and knack for easing situations, a role he typically yed in such circumstances. With a warm smile, Zhou Xi stood up and strolled over to the other grill tables, as if nothing had urred. He gestured towards the grill and remarked, ¡°You guys are still learning. The charcoal fire is a bit strong, which makes it easy to overcook. Gao Qu, take out two pieces and re-grill them.¡± Gao Qu snapped back to reality and noticed that the fire was now at the right temperature. Hastily grabbing the fire tongs from the side, he rescued two almost-extinguished charcoal pieces before setting them aside. One of them moved, and the others slowly escaped from the suffocating shackles just now. Only those who were on good terms with Zhu Ming dared to help him to the bathroom and treat the blood on his face. Taking this as a cue, Zhou Xi continued, ¡°Little Master Shen rarely returns to the capital. Today, everyone¡¯s here to hang out, feast, and drink. If you need anything, just find me. I¡¯ll have it replenished right away.¡± Observing the crowd¡¯s reactions, the more perceptive individuals began conversing once more, and the atmosphere gradually regained its cheerfulness. Meanwhile, Shen Jun was grilling skewers for Wen Nian, who obediently epted them and indulged in eating. It was rare to see Wen Nian like this. Shen Jun chuckled and said, ¡°Did I scare you?¡± Wen Nian nodded and quickly shook his head. Shen Jun reached out and rubbed Wen Nian¡¯s head dotingly. During thest incident where Wen Nian was ¡°caught in the act,¡± Shen Jun had vented his anger. She wasn¡¯t afraid of Shen Jun¡¯s anger per se, but rather concerned about any possible misunderstandings. Just earlier, Shen Jun exuded an aura that seemed to sap the very oxygen from the air, producing an oppressive and suffocating ambiance. This invoked genuine fear deep within people¡¯s hearts¡ªa superior¡¯s aura. Wen Nian did feel a bit scared, yet she knew Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t harm her. Her fear was limited, a mere twinge rather than anything overwhelming. Jiang Zhen and Lin Yang looked at each other andpletely changed their attitude towards Wen Nian. After Wen Nian was full, Shen Jun took her to the racecourse to change into the riding clothes that he had already prepared. Looking at Wen Nian in the mirror, Shen Jun raised his eyebrows. Shen Jun didn¡¯t let the staff follow him and pulled Wen Nian into the stable. Wen Nian nced at the horses, their glossy coats shimmering in the light, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. Seeing Wen Nian like this, Shen Jun brought her straight to thest room. A reddish-brown horse was eating grass inside. At the sight of his master, the horse abandoned its meal, moving closer to Shen Jun and affectionately nuzzling his head against Shen Jun, seeking to be caress Observing the close interaction, Shen Jun grinned, his hand caressing the horse¡¯s fur. He conversed with the horse as though addressing a friend. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Wen Nian looked at their intimate actions and was a little envious. Noticing this, Shen Jun bent down and retrieved some grass from the ground. Offering half to Wen Nian, he encouraged her, ¡°Feed it a bit to acquaint it with your scent.¡± Wen Nian took the grass and fed it like Shen Jun. After seeing Wen Nian¡¯s practiced movements, Shen Jun introduced him to her. ¡°This horse is called Jueying. It was a loth birthday gift from my grandfather. It took me a long time to tame it. At that time, it was only three years old, so we grew up together.¡± Wen Nian wasn¡¯t well-versed in equine knowledge, but she could tell from its appearance that it was an exceptional horse. She extended her hand to touch it, but hesitated, wary of any sudden kicks. Observing that Jueying disyed no aggression towards Shen Jun, Wen Nian¡¯s envy resurfaced. ¡°Did you name it Jueying because it¡¯s really fast?¡± Shen Jun nodded, a hint of pride in his tone. ¡°It¡¯s so swift that even its own shadow struggles to keep up. A bit exaggerated, perhaps, but it¡¯s not far from the truth.¡± Shen Jun took Wen Nian¡¯s small hand and touched the tuft of hair on Jueying¡¯s head. ¡°Jueying, this is my future wife. When she rides youter, don¡¯t resist.¡± Wen Nian flushed at Shen Jun¡¯s words. His future wife? How had things escted to this point?! Wen Nian red at Shen Jun coquettishly and pursed her lips to hide the smile on her face. ¡°Who¡¯s your wife? What nonsense are you talking about?¡± Shen Jun was about to tease Wen Nian when he was interrupted by an excited voice. ¡°Brother Shen Jun! What a coincidence. I didn¡¯t expect to meet you here. We¡¯re really fated.¡± The voice sounded incredibly familiar to Wen Nian. She and Shen Jun turned towards the source and spotted Wei Lai hurrying towards the stall housing Jueying. Several paces behind her were three individuals¡ªJiang Chun, Jiang Ning, and to Wen Nian¡¯s astonishment, Wei Xiao! Chapter 244 - 244: Commercial Marriage Chapter 244: Commercial Marriage Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun appeared surprised upon spotting Shen Jun. A smile graced her lips as she approached, greeting, ¡°Wen Nian, Shen Jun, I didn¡¯t expect to see you back in the capital on New Year¡¯s Day.¡± Shen Jun ignored Wei Lai but acknowledged Jiang Chun, responding, ¡°We decided it spontaneously. Wen Nian¡¯s here for their production team¡¯s celebration.¡± Because there were outsiders around, Wen Nian retracted her hand and nodded indifferently as usual as a greeting. Wei Xiao hadn¡¯t seen Wen Nian for over a year. While she had appeared unchanged in movies, seeing her before him underscored her increasing beauty. Her disposition now was markedly different from the person he recalled. Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t recollect their initial meeting, but he remembered that Wen Nian used to dress conservatively and exhibit restrained behavior. She¡¯d doted on him openly, often going to great lengths to catch his attention, doing all sorts of endearing yet slightly embarrassing things. Jiang Chun continued chatting with Shen Jun for a while before gesturing towards Wei Xiao and introducing him, ¡°Shen Jun, allow me to introduce Wei Xiao, the young master of Wei Corporation in Hai City. Wei Lai is his cousin.¡± Jiang Chun nodded towards Wei Xiao, making the introduction, ¡°Wei Xiao, meet Young Master Shen from the Shen family in the capital.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s focus shifted as Jiang Chun spoke, and he moved towards Shen Jun, extending his hand with a respectful smile. ¡°Greetings, Young Master Shen.¡± This marked Shen Jun¡¯s first encounter with Wei Xiao. Given Wen Nian¡¯s past as his fiancee, he paid particr attention to Wei Xiao. After a quick assessment, he withdrew his gaze. One hand remained in his pocket, while the other continued to caress Jueying¡¯s fur. His response was unenthusiastic and his tone casual, ¡°Hello.¡± Wei Xiao had never been treated so coldly before. In Hai City, who didn¡¯t address him respectfully as Young Master Wei? A flicker of annoyance passed his face before he suppressed it. Regaining hisposure, he retracted his hand, recognizing the Shen family¡¯s prominent status. Even if it were a Shen family dog present, it deserved more respect than an ordinary person. Wen Nian observed the group of four, well aware of their ill intentions towards her. She sounded an internal rm, swiftly altering her strategy and opting for a proactive approach. Directing her attention to Jiang Ning, Wen Nian feigned curiosity, ¡°Jiang Ning, didn¡¯t you go overseas? 1 thought you had no intention of returning.¡± Jiang Ning grasped the implications behind Wen Nian¡¯s words. Mocking her for her past humiliation and her subsequent departure, Jiang Ning felt a surge of anger. However, when she thought of Wen Nian and Wei Xiao¡¯s previous rtionship, Jiang Ning immediately reached out and held Wei Xiao¡¯s arm. Her eyes were filled with the intention of showing off and dering her sovereignty. ¡°My fiance and 1 came back for the engagement ceremony during the winter break. Marriage is indeed about matching family backgrounds. Those who try to break these rules will not seed in the end.¡± Had Wen Nian still harbored feelings for Wei Xiao, Jiang Ning¡¯s words would¡¯ve packed a hundred percent punch. Unfortunately for Jiang Ning, Wen Nian¡¯s current emotions rendered her remarks ineffective. Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect these two families to get together. This was bing more and more different from her previous life. The Wei family¡¯s involvement in the Jiang family¡¯s affairs carried motives beyond mere kindness. Contemting the influence wielded by both families, she discerned that the Wei family perceived value in the Jiang family¡¯s capital connections. What kind of ce was the capital? A den of hidden talents andtent potential. A stray pebble on the road could harbor the power to harm others. The Wei family sought to extend their influence here. Wen Nian knew that she had to hurry up with her n. If they really formed an alliance, it would be even more disadvantageous for her. However, she only shrugged and replied nonchntly, ¡°Then 1 hope you will be happy in thismercial marriage.¡± The term mercial marriage¡¯ jabbed at Jiang Ning. An irritated flush crept over Jiang Ning¡¯s face, but she understood Wei Xiao¡¯s intentions. Regardless of his motives, as long as he stood by her side, she would invest time to earn his affection. Unlike Wen Nian, her current arsenal consisted of only acidic retorts. Jiang Chun averted his gaze, ufortable with the tense atmosphere. Turning to Wen Nian, shemented awkwardly, ¡°My apologies. 1 should¡¯ve inquired more diligently. Had I known you were visiting the racecourse, 1 would¡¯ve taken them elsewhere.¡± Originally, it was nothing. When Jiang Chun said this, it made people feel that Wen Nian and Wei Xiao still had some unclear matters because of their previous engagement. Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°There¡¯s no need to pick a date toe to the racecourse. If I cane, you can naturallye too..¡± Chapter 245 - 245: Jealousy Chapter 245: Jealousy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing Wen Nian¡¯s response, offering a relieved smile. ¡°1 knew you were carefree about such things. Let bygones be bygones.¡± As Jiang Chun discreetly observed Shen Jun¡¯s demeanor, she noted that his attention had been directed at her only during the introduction of Wei Xiao. Thereafter, he had busied himself feeding and interacting with the horses. His expression remained neutral, making it difficult to gauge his thoughts. When Wei Lai realized that Shen Jun waspletely ignoring him, a disappointed expression appeared on his face. He looked at Wen Nian beside him with hatred in his heart. He didn¡¯t understand why Shen Jun would let a poor girl stand by his side. Wasn¡¯t this making a fool of himself in the circle? The atmosphere grew tense. Sensing impending developments, Jiang Chun smiled and suggested, ¡°Wen Nian, Shen Jun, we haven¡¯t picked our horses yet. We¡¯ll leave you to your activities.¡± Shen Jun nodded at Jiang Chun, who then took her away. Seeing that Jueying was almost done eating, Shen Jun took Jueying and Wen Nian out of the stable one by one. After watching them depart, Jiang Ning grumbled irritably, ¡°Who does Shen Jun think he is? So arrogant! He shook hands with Wei Xiao andpletely ignored him!¡± Jiang Chun shot a quick look at the nearby racecourse staff before gripping Jiang Ning¡¯s arm. She spoke seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t say such things!¡± In the past, whenever Jiang Ning made mistakes, Jiang Chun would be the first toe to her defense. Yet, this was the first time Jiang Chun had treated her sternly. Observing this shift, Jiang Ning found herself at a loss. Only when the group moved away from the staff¡¯s presence did Jiang Chun speak again. Tapping Jiang Ning¡¯s head lightly, she addressed Jiang Ning earnestly, ¡°I was stern with you for your own good. The capital is where the aristocratic families converge. You have to remember to keep your mouth shut in front of them.¡± Jiang Chun provided them with insight into the capital¡¯s various power dynamics. As Wei Xiao was already the heir to the Wei family, he possessed some understanding of the situation. However, Jiang Ning and Wei Lai, being daughters of wealthy families, were ustomed to a carefree lifestyle in Ii City. They had noprehension of the intricacies underlying the upper echelons of society. After hearing this, the two of them finally understood Shen Jun¡¯s true identity. Concerned by her previousints, Jiang Ning felt a chill run down her spine. Apprehensively, she queried, ¡°Could the staff member report me?¡± Jiang Chun nced at Jiang Ning and chuckled. ¡°Now you¡¯re nervous? Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯te to that.¡± Wei Lai¡¯s thoughts turned even moreplex. She began to visualize the prospect of bing the Shen family matriarch, imagining the power and authority that would afford her. Even her grandfather would bepelled to show respect in her presence. Envisioning such a future, Wei Lai bit her lip and smiled softly. Yet, her thoughts shifted as she recollected Shen Jun¡¯s gentle demeanor towards Wen Nian earlier. Jealousy gnawed at her. How could Wen Nian, who was undeserving, stand beside Shen Jun? Such a genius could only belong to her, Wei Lai! Jiang Chun nced at the Wei siblings. One of them was smiling foolishly, while the other was looking down in deep thought. She silently wished that both of them would prove worthy of his expectations. On a hillside near a stream, Wen Nian leaned against a pomegranate tree while Shen Jun pressed her into his embrace, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. After a while, Wen Nian gently pushed Shen Jun away, cing her hands on his chest. She turned her head to catch her breath. Shen Jun¡¯s grip tightened slightly, his hand lifting to affectionately pinch Wen Nian¡¯s cheek. Gazing at her slightly reddened eyes and the tears that rendered them glistening, he found her pout endearing. The anger in his heart dissipated by more than half. He couldn¡¯t help but lower his head and peck Wen Nian¡¯s pouting mouth again. Wen Nian, annoyed by Shen Jun¡¯s affections, swatted his hand away and rubbed her cheek. Her stern re met Shen Jun¡¯s, using, ¡°You¡¯re always jealous.¡± Shen Jun snorted softly. ¡°Can¡¯t I be envious of him?¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s sarcastic words, Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°Are you envious that he became my ex-fiance? Or are you envious that 1 haven¡¯t even held his hand? Or are you envious that I want to uproot his family?¡± Shen Jun felt better when he heard this. The corners of his lips curled up slightly and he didn¡¯t dwell on Wei Xiao and Wen Nian¡¯s past. While the two were lost in their amorous moment, Jueying had wandered off to y. Shen Jun, retrieving a ring between his index finger and thumb, ced it in his mouth and emitted a whistle. Jueying promptly returned, trotting towards them.. Chapter 246 - 246: Always Accompanying You Chapter 246: Always Apanying You Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun lowered his head and suggested to Wen Nian, ¡°Let me teach you how to ride a horse.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes widened with excitement as she nodded eagerly. ¡°Every time I see heroines riding horses in ancient dramas, 1 feel so envious!¡± While she had acted in period dramas in her previous life, they had been limited to domestic or pce settings. She had rarely encountered horse-riding scenes and had only watched from the sidelines. Under the deterrence of Shen Jun¡¯s gaze, Jueying obediently followed Wen Nian¡¯s instructions. Although Jueying had been slightly unwilling at first, Shen Jun¡¯s riding skills were exceptional, and his teaching was adept. Wen Nian mirrored his movements under his watchful guidance and correction. After two hours of learning, Wen Nian dismounted and practically threw herself into Shen Jun¡¯s arms, radiating childlike excitement. ¡°Can 1 consider myself a rider now?!¡± Feeling Wen Nian¡¯s embrace, Shen Jun¡¯s gaze softened as he looked down at her. ¡°You¡¯ve barely scratched the surface! Each horse has its own temperament. Don¡¯t assume that every horse is as good-natured as Jueying. When you encounter unfamiliar horses in the future, don¡¯t assume they¡¯ll be as amodating as ours. If you just hop on without caution, they might refuse.¡± Jue Ying, who was standing at the side, agreed with him and exhaled a breath through his nostrils. When filming was mentioned, Wen Nian instinctively hugged Shen Jun¡¯s waist, tilting her head back slightly. She looked up, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. ¡°How did you know I¡¯d be filming again in the future?¡± The two of them had only mentioned that they wanted to enter a school in the capital, but they had never discussed what major they wanted to study. Shen Jun responded naturally to Wen Nian¡¯s query. ¡°You clearly enjoy the filmmaking process. Your passion for the industry is evident. Do you not intend to explore this profession?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes flickered as she responded thoughtfully, ¡°I hadn¡¯t given it much thought. Originally, I considered pursuing a technical field. I wanted job security for the future.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s chuckle was soft, and he lowered his head to rest his forehead against Wen Nian¡¯s. ¡°With me by your side, just pursue what you love. If you don¡¯t end up in filmmaking, you can work as my secretary, and I¡¯ll pay you. Furthermore, all the money I earn in the future will be handed over to you. If you like, you can count money at home every day.¡± Wen Nian chuckled. ¡°Isn¡¯t it best to change it to the one with the smallest face value? At the same time, you can experience the feeling of counting money until your hands cramp.¡± Shen Jun smiled and kissed the tip of Wen Nian¡¯s nose. ¡°Even if you change it to the one with the highest face value, my earnings will be ample for you to count until your hands cramp.¡± ¡°Wen Nian, life is short. Don¡¯t be afraid. You just have to remember that no matter what you choose in the end, I will always be with you.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s wavering heart made up its mind. ¡°Okay!¡± Three days of vacation passed in the blink of an eye, and everyone resumed their normal routines. Sunday. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were still busy in the shop and did not know that a group of uninvited guests had arrived downstairs. Wei Shi bowed outside the car window and said with his eyes lowered, ¡°Master, there¡¯s no one in the Wen family now. Do you want me to call Wen Xing?¡± Wei Feng checked his watch; it was already nine in the evening. ¡°No need. Let¡¯s wait in the car for now.¡± Wei Xiao had returned to Hai City two days earlier and reported all the events in the capital to Wei Feng. Although Wei Feng was taken aback by the revtions, he promptlyunched an investigation into the recent developments surrounding the Wen family. Wei Feng turned to look at Wei Xiao. ¡°Recap all the information you received that day.¡± Having heard it all, Wei Feng suspected that the next head of the Shen family resided on the top floor of Xifeng Court. Furthermore, Wen Nian and this person were in a rtionship, and there was also a noodle shop that had been established without their knowledge. Wei Feng felt that many things were going out of his control. Coincidentally, an employee at the noodle shop had something on at home and needed to take leave. Wen Nian worked on her practice exam paperes at home until five o¡¯clock before going to the noodle shop to help. After Wen Xing finished his work at the braised food restaurant, he went to the noodle restaurant to pick up his wife and children. The family only returned to the district at 10 pm. Wei Feng watched as the family of three chatted andughed as they walked towards the apartment building. Opening the car door, he stepped out. ¡°Wen Xing, Zhou Mei.¡± The Wen couple was stunned for a moment. They looked in the direction of the voice and saw Wei Feng and his granddaughter standing downstairs. Wen Nian¡¯s pupils constricted, her hand inadvertently clenching into a fist. Fortunately, the night¡¯s dimness, coupled with the subdued lighting in the old district, concealed her unease.. Chapter 247 - 247: A Heart-wrenching Act Chapter 247: A Heart-wrenching Act Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian chose to keep Shen Jun¡¯s investigation results and her own suspicions a secret from her parents. Her main concern was that her parents might inadvertently reveal crucial information to the enemy if they were to learn about it. When Wen Xing and Zhou Mei spotted Wei Feng, their expressions showed mild surprise, but they hastened their steps to greet him. ¡°Hey there, Old Mr. Wei! What brings you here sote? Is everything alright?¡± Wei Feng wore his usual warm smile and spoke with emotion, ¡°I had a dream about your father during my afternoon nap today. He even asked how you all were doing. Counting on my fingers, I realized it¡¯s been a whole year since Ist contacted you. I felt ashamed and thought 1 owed it to him. That¡¯s why 1 decided to drop by after work today.¡± As Wei Xing listened to Wei Feng¡¯s words, memories of his father flooded his mind. His heart skipped a beat, and his eyes welled up with tears. ¡°I¡¯m doing well. If my father visits you in your dreams again, please tell him that we¡¯re alright. Let him know there¡¯s no need to worry.¡± A hint of moisture gleamed in Wen Xing¡¯s eyes. After a pause, he managed a smile and added, ¡°Dad always had his own unique way of doing things. He only visited me in my dreams the second year after he passed away. After that, I never dreamt of him again. I never expected him to pop up in your dreams for a chat.¡± Wei Feng chuckled warmly. ¡°Your dad misses me, I suppose.¡± Seeing this, Zhou Mei knew that the conversation wouldn¡¯t end anytime soon, so she invited Wei Feng upstairs. Wen Nian felt a faint gaze on her. She didn¡¯t need to look to know that it was definitely Wei Xiao. After entering the Wen residence, Wei Feng and Wei Xiao settled onto the long sofa in the center. Zhou Mei reached for some tea leaves, but Wei Feng stopped her gently. ¡°Zhou Mei, don¡¯t go through the trouble. A simple ss of water will do. We¡¯re old folks, and drinking tea at this hour might keep us up all night.¡± Wen Xing grinned yfully and exchanged jokes with Wei Feng. After a few minutes of casual conversation, Wei Feng shifted gears and brought up a more serious matter. ¡°By the way, I had a talk with your boss today, and he mentioned that both you and your wife have resigned from your jobs for good. It¡¯s been quite some time. What¡¯s going on?¡± Nobody appreciated being discreetly investigated. Wei Feng yed it cool, leaving it to Wen Xing to share if he wished. With a slightly embarrassed smile, Wen Xing exined, ¡°Yes, our two kids at home needed a lot of funds for their education. Zhou Mei and I thought of opening a noodle shop to earn more money.¡± Wei Feng nodded, understanding the situation. Then, he cast a mock reproachful nce at Wen Xing. ¡°You rascal, how many times have I told you toe to me when you¡¯re in a tight spot? Your father and I were like life and death partners! But you two are too stubborn, trying to shoulder everything on your own, leaving me feeling useless.¡± Saying this, Wei Feng wiped his eyes¡¯ corners with the back of his hand, his voice choked, ¡°I know the exhaustion thates with running a kitchen. Seeing you like this, it really tugs at my heart. Poor Brother Wen!¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. I¡¯ll take care of the kids¡¯ school fees and living expenses. This time, I won¡¯t take no for an answer! If I don¡¯t do this, 1 won¡¯t find peace in sleeping or eating. Frankly speaking, I¡¯m a man who¡¯s halfway into the grave already. I could kick the bucket any day. Don¡¯t let me carry such a huge regret!¡± Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were straightforward people, devoid of pretense. Observing Wei Feng¡¯s sincerity and emotions, any lingering doubts they had about him began to fade. Had Wen Nian not been privy to Wei Feng¡¯s true nature, she would have been convinced that he was a loyal soul, the kind that repays kindness without question. Even an Oscar-winning actor might concede defeat! Wei Feng¡¯s words made it difficult for Wen Xing and Zhou Mei to reject him. The atmosphere of the conversation was very harmonious. Wei Feng noticed that Wen Nian had not spoken and was sitting alone in an armchair on the other side. Wei Feng¡¯s gaze fell on Wen Nian, a smile curving his lips. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, youngdy? You¡¯re unusually quiet tonight.¡± Meeting Wei Feng¡¯s gaze, Wen Nian replied with an obedient smile, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel right for a young girl like me to butt in while the elders are talking.¡± A twitch fluttered across Wei Feng¡¯s face. If he recalled correctly, the assertive individual who had confronted him in his officest year wasn¡¯t Wen Xing, but her. Suspecting that Wen Nian was scheming, Wei Feng had to repeat his words twice in his mind before addressing her. Wei Feng broached the subject of Wei Lai, speaking sincerely, ¡°I did fall short in guiding Wei Lai properly. Her actions brought a lot of distress to Wen Nian. I¡¯m at fault. The Wei Corporation faced difficultiesst year, and the business situation wasn¡¯t great. Towards the end of the year, thepany even discussed expanding to the capital in search of fresh business prospects..¡± Chapter 248 - 248: Siblings’ Fate Chapter 248: Siblings¡¯ Fate Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I¡¯m getting on in years and feeling a bit powerless. Wei Xiao returned recently and decided to put his overseas ns on hold. It¡¯s better for him to stay in the country and focus on his studies. This way, he can also get involved in the Wei Corporation¡¯s business beforehand, preparing himself to eventually take over thepany with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience.¡± With a smile, Wei Feng added, ¡°Wen Nian, when Wei Xiao starts attending sses, could 1 trouble you to help look out for him?¡± Wen Nian looked puzzled. ¡°Attending sses?¡± Wei Xiao quickly rified Wen Nian¡¯s confusion. ¡°Grandpa thinks the academic atmosphere at No. 1 High School is more intense. So, during my time here, I¡¯ll be preparing for exams at No. 1 High School.¡± Wei Feng¡¯s smile widened, and he turned to Wen Nian. ¡°Some connections aren¡¯t meant to be romantic, but rather sibling-like. 1 believe you and Wei Xiao fall into that category. He¡¯s mentioned how fond he is of you, treating you like a sister.¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but admire Wei Feng¡¯s strategy. Wei Xiao had only recently discovered Shen Jun¡¯s true identity, yet he had already managed to secure an international transfer. Wen Nian suspected that Wei Feng nned for Wei Xiao to gain Shen Jun¡¯s trust and curry favors from the Shen Family. Wei Xiao embraced his role swiftly. The corners of his lips curled up, revealing the charming and refined look that generally appealed to girls. ¡°Sister Wen Nian, the curriculum and learning approach overseas differ a bit from here. I might have quite a few questions to ask you when the timees.¡± Even with the old grievances, Wen Nian wanted to wipe the feigned smile off Wei Xiao¡¯s face. But giving in would jeopardize her ns. Furthermore, upon reflection, she realized Wei Feng¡¯s move could actually be advantageous for her. While they aimed to use her to get close to Shen Jun, she could simrly employ Wei Xiao to establish contact with the Wei family. This would greatly aid her scheme to dismantle the Wei family. Additionally, they were now in the open while the pain remained hidden. She had the upper hand, in a way. With these thoughts in mind, Wen Nian¡¯s smile became more genuine. ¡°Of course, if I have the answers, I¡¯ll be d to help.¡± Wei Feng was pleased with Wen Nian¡¯s cooperation. Meanwhile, Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t help but sneer internally. He believed that although Wen Nian¡¯s appearance had changed, she likely retained her naive demeanor and the unwavering kindness he once cherished. Wei Xiao felt even more convinced that Wen Nian had shunned him back in the capital due to Shen Jun¡¯s presence. A mere smile from him had led to a notable change in her attitude. This was evidence enough to confirm his suspicion. Wei Xiao¡¯s interest in his grandfather¡¯s challenge waned considerably. When Wei Feng and the others departed, it was already 11:30 p.m. Wen Nian yawned, took a quick shower, and then slipped into bed. Next morning, upon entering the ssroom, Shen Jun hadn¡¯t yet arrived. cing breakfast on his desk, Wen Nian retrieved hernguage book and began memorizing the text. Shen Jun entered the back door of the ssroom under the bell of the morning reading ss. At the same time, Li Fang brought Wei Xiao in through the front door of the ssroom. As Li Fang introduced the new student to the ss, Shen Jun¡¯s brow furrowed as he gazed at Wen Nian. ¡°How did this married man end up in our ss? Isn¡¯t his fiancee going to do something?¡± Wen Nian nearly burst intoughter. She shrugged in a helpless manner and whispered to Shen Jun, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he¡¯s not interested in me. You¡¯re their main target.¡± Shen Jun immediately understood what Wen Nian meant. Raising an indifferent eyebrow, he mused that he was amon target for many. One more wouldn¡¯t make a difference. Ever since Jiang Chun changed sses, the seat in front of Wen Nian had remained vacant. Wei Xiao had finished his introduction on stage and naturally chosen that spot. With his pretense of gentleness, kindness, and amiability, Wei Xiao became a hit among many girls. It was a contrast to Shen Jun¡¯s understated attire that gave no hint of his wealth. Wei Xiao¡¯s attire unabashedly showcased his affluence. Within a single morning, Wei Xiao¡¯s background at an international elite school in Hai City was public knowledge. His pleasant and polished image spread rapidly. He transformed into the top contender for Prince Charming in the hearts of the girls. Even girls from neighboring sses stole nces at him. The bolder ones even entered the room to slip him love letters. ss One, known for its rtive calm, found itself unusually boisterous even after the ss ended. The back rows, typically tranquil, were now bustling due to Wei Xiao¡¯s arrival. Wen Nian halted her writing, letting out another sigh. She watched the girls from other sses swarm around Wei Xiao, feeling a headache building up.. Chapter 249 - 249: No Entry Chapter 249: No Entry Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun had to suppress hisughter, his lips forming a tight line. Wen Nian gazed at him, perplexed. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it incredibly noisy?¡± Shen Jun brandished the book he held and proimed proudly, ¡°I¡¯m not like everyone else. 1 can read in the bustling market. Don¡¯t be bothered. 1 have a solution to shield you from it.¡± Wen Nian appeared skeptical. Shen Jun exited the ssroom, grinning as he did. Shortly after, Li Fang entered the room. Themotion in the ssroom drew her disapproving frown. She thumped the podium twice, the sound sessfully capturing everyone¡¯s attention. Only then did Li Fang announce loudly, ¡°The third-year students are quite stressed about their studies. Many of them are even studying between sses. Please engage in quiet conversations. If you¡¯re not part of this ss, kindly return to your own. Your voices are significantly disrupting others¡¯ concentration.¡± Inside their hearts, the girls around Wei Xiao muttered curses, but they dared not retort to the teacher. They turned and exited ss One. It was then that everyone noticed Shen Jun affixing sheets of paper to the front and back doors ¨C papers that Li Fang had printed out in the office. Wen Nian craned her neck for a glimpse. Written on them were the words ¡°Restricted ess for students from other sses.¡± She offered Shen Jun a thumbs-up as he returned to his seat. ¡°Only Shen Jun could do something like this without any concerns of offending people.¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s because he disrupted Wen Nian¡¯s studies. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t bother. In any case, my ears are finally at peace.¡± ¡°Shen Jun really did a good deed this time. It¡¯s been a whole day of disturbance. asional disruptions are fine, but someone barges in during every ss. It¡¯s unbearable!¡± Wei Xiao was a little displeased when he heard the softints. In his previous school, these were all things that he was used to. He did find them annoying, but it did not mean that others could overstep their boundaries and handle them for him. However, this person was Shen Jun. He couldn¡¯t teach him a lesson in private. Compared to the special treatment he received in Hai City¡¯s private schools, Wei Xiao was a little frustrated at the public No. 1 High School. However, Wei Xiao quickly reined in his emotions, put on a smile, and turned to thank Shen Jun. ¡°Young Master Shen, thank you for what you did just now. I¡¯m new here. Rejecting people directly can lead to misunderstandings. I was still trying to figure out how to address it.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s brow slightly furrowed. ¡°There¡¯s only Shen Jun in No. 1 High School.¡± Wei Xiao was stunned for a moment before he immediately reacted. ¡°Understood.¡± Shen Jun cast a sidelong nce at Wei Xiao and slowly stated, ¡°Young Master Wei¡¯s indecisive nature isn¡¯t suited for seeding the Wei Corporation.¡± Offending someone was the least of Shen Jun¡¯s concerns. After all, there weren¡¯t many people capable of intimidating him, especially not Wen Nian¡¯s ex-fiance! Wei Xiao had done his homework; he knew about Shen Jun¡¯s temperament. Still, being reprimanded this way stung his pride a bit. Nheless, maintaining aposed demeanor was a must for those in power. Wei Xiao still had the same smile as before and replied humbly, ¡°Compared to Young Master Shen, I do have a lot to learn.¡± Shen Jun focused his attention on the book and didn¡¯t say anything else. Seeing this, Wei Xiao looked at Wen Nian and said, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m sorry for disturbing your studies just now.¡± Initially, Wen Nian nned to ignore him. However, keeping her ns in mind, she forced a smile at Wei Xiao and responded softly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s resolved now.¡± As Shen Jun turned the page, he paused momentarily. He caught a glimpse of Wen Nian¡¯s actions from the corner of his eye and felt a pang of frustration. He forcefully flipped the page, producing a ripping sound. Wei Xiao didn¡¯t notice Shen Jun¡¯s small actions. Seeing that Wen Nian seemed to still have feelings for him, he was secretly happy. He took the opportunity to suggest, ¡°Let me treat you both to a meal as an apology for the trouble 1 caused today. Wen Nian, you know I treat you like a sister. It¡¯s been over a year and a half since west met. Let¡¯s seize this chance to reunite.¡± Wen Nian opened his mouth to answer. Under the table, Shen Jun¡¯s hand stealthily found its way to Wen Nian¡¯s thigh, concealed by the desk¡¯s cover. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but emit a soft exmation. Wei Xiao immediately asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Wen Nian nced sideways and saw Shen Jun¡¯s expressionless face as he focused on reading. He cursed the jealous Shen Jun in his heart. Wen Nian looked at Wei Xiao again andughed dryly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I suddenly thought of something.¡± Wei Xiao nodded, alternating his attention between the ignored Shen Jun and the distracted Wen Nian. ¡°So, what do you say about tonight¡¯s gathering?¡± In that moment, Wen Nian¡¯s focus was entirely on the big hand subtly maneuvering on her leg. Even with her winter casual pants, she could still feel the strength of that touch through the fabric. A strange numbness washed over her lower body, disrupting her thoughts about Shen Jun. Unaware of Wei Xiao¡¯s question, she became entangled in her own sensations.. Chapter 250 - 250: Bite Marks Chapter 250: Bite Marks Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao peered at Wen Nian, her face flushed and her expression dazed. A trace of doubt flickered in his eyes. Sensing this, Wen Nian quickly regained herposure. The hand on herp shifted to Wen Nian¡¯s inner thigh and came to a halt. He gripped Wen Nian¡¯s leg a bit harder. Knowing that this was Shen Jun¡¯s way of warning her, she replied, ¡°Not tonight. I¡¯m a boarding student.¡± Wei Xiao asked again, ¡°Can we do it on Friday night?¡± Wen Nian felt that the grip on her leg was stronger than before. She had no choice but to refuse again and reveal a slightly stiff smile. ¡°Well talk about itter. It¡¯s still early. It¡¯s only Monday today.¡± The bell rang and interrupted their conversation. Wei Xiao could only give up for the time being and decided to ask again on Thursday. When Wen Nian saw Wei Xiao turn around, she quickly looked around and realized that no one was paying attention to their table. Wen Nian quickly grabbed Shen Jun¡¯s hand and rolled up his jacket sleeve, revealing Shen Jun¡¯s strong arm. She lowered her head and took a bite to vent her anger. Shen Jun looked at the bite marks on his forearm and chuckled. While the teacher turned around to write on the ckboard, he whispered softly into Wen Nian¡¯s ear, ¡°Doggie Wen, who asked you to talk to him?¡± A warm breath brushed against Wen Nian¡¯s ear, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. She cleared her throat and shot a pointed look at Shen Jun. Did he really have the upper hand here? Wen Nian shared her entire n with him, although her concern about Wei Xiao overhearing prompted her to convey it to Shen Jun through written messages. Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s n and frowned even more. He immediately replied. Shen Jun: You want to take the risk?! Wen Nian: When I have you supporting me, where¡¯s the risk? Moreover, I¡¯m simply attempting to gather information and explore potential breakthroughs. Shen Jun: However, if it jeopardizes core interests, it won¡¯t matter whether it involves me or even his biological parents; it would still be futile. Shen Jun: I realize that you¡¯re getting bolder and bolder! Wen Nian: My baby Shen, I want to resolve this matter quickly. The college entrance examination is in half a year. Time is tight! Wen Nian turned to look at Shen Jun pitifully. Shen Jun sighed softly. He understood that Wen Nian was determined to exact revenge on the Wen family herself. He could only provide assistance as a support; ultimately, she had to be the one to carry it out. Shen Jun: I do have one request, though. Whenever you meet him, could you please activate the automatic audio transmission on your phone? I¡¯d like to have a constant update on your side of things. When Wen Nian saw the message, she smiled brightly and immediately turned to Shen Jun and made an OK gesture. Wei Lai saw that Wei Xiao didn¡¯t follow Jiang Ning to the original private school and found out about Wei Feng¡¯s n through her mother¡¯s spection. Hence, she mustered her courage and went to the study to look for Wei Feng. The grandchildren of the Wei family were a little afraid of Wei Feng because of his seriousness. Only Wei Xiao was very close to him because he had raised him single-handedly, so he favored Wei Xiao. Wei Feng saw Wei Lai loitering at the door through the gap that was not closed tightly. He was a little puzzled, so he took the initiative to shout, ¡°Is that Wei Lai outside?¡± Wei Lai pushed the door open and entered. She changed her usual domineering attitude and greeted timidly, ¡°Grandpa.¡± Wei Feng nodded and watched what Wei Lai was going to do next. Wei Lai hesitated, her lips moving as she looked down at the floor. After taking a deep breath, she finally spoke up, ¡°Grandpa, I have feelings for Shen Jun. If 1 could be a bridge between the Wei family and the Shen family through marriage, it would undoubtedly yield significant advantages for our family.¡± Wei Feng lifted his gaze to meet Wei Lai¡¯s eyes. Among his grandchildren, she was the only girl. It wasn¡¯t as though the idea hadn¡¯t crossed Wei Feng¡¯s mind before. Undoubtedly, a matrimonial alliance held more weight than Wei Xiao merely ingratiating himself with Shen Jun as a dependent. However, contemting their ages, Wei Feng let out a soft sigh. ¡°You¡¯re still quite young. Plus, keep in mind that Shen Jun ns to return to the capital for university afterpleting high school. You¡¯re just in your first year of high school. I worry he might see you as more of a child.¡± Wei Lai looked at her perky chest and said shyly, ¡°Grandpa, although I¡¯m only 14 or 15 years old, everyone in our ss says that if I walk on the streets, I¡¯ll beparable to those 18-year-old adult girls.¡± Wei Feng paused and quickly sized up Wei Lai. Suddenly, he felt that it was not impossible. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s see how your brother is doing first. If we can sessfully befriend him, 1¡¯11 give you a chance.¡± Wei Lai was delighted.. She bowed slightly to Wei Feng and said with a smile, ¡°Thankyou, Grandpa!¡± Chapter 251 - 251: New Idea Chapter 251: New Idea Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao was still adjusting to life in Hai City. Luckily, Wei Feng was covering his living expenses. With the prospect of nurturing a connection with Shen Jun and potentially bing the future sessor of the Wei family, Wei Xiao wasn¡¯t opposed to the lifestyle of a high school student in the city. In fact, he relished the attention from his ssmates. However, the weight of the mission his grandfather had entrusted him with still gave Wei Xiao a constant headache. Shen Jun was akin to an enigmatic and cold King of Hell. With his striking looks and academic excellence, even disregarding his family background, many girls would likely vie for his attention. Yet, Shen Jun¡¯s perpetually inscrutable countenance deterred most. Wei Xiao attempted to extend his friendly overtures several times, only to be met with silence from Shen Jun. He assumed an air of superiority that ignited Wei Xiao¡¯s ire. During sses, Wei Xiao caught a glimpse of Shen Jun and Wen Nian, leaning intimately against each other. Wen Nian¡¯s face bore a grave expression, punctuated by intermittent frowns, while Shen Jun attentively tapped the notepad with his pen, exining something. Seeing this, Wei Xiao suddenly felt a little depressed. When the bell rang, he promptly exited the ssroom. To dodge the attention of a few girls, he strategically retreated to a corner of the third-floor staff room. ¡°Wei Xiao? What brings you here?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice came from behind him, carrying a stack of graded papers. Wei Xiao swiftly masked his vexation and responded, ¡°The ssroom felt a bit suffocating. I wanted to get some fresh air.¡± Noticing his troubled demeanor, Jiang Chun offered a knowing smile. ¡°Seeing your former fiancee with a new boyfriend wouldn¡¯t sit well with anyone, right?¡± ¡°Cut it out! If Jiang Ning catches wind of this, he¡¯ll surely give me more trouble,¡± Wei Xiao hastily retorted. His union with the Jiang family was crucial at this point, forming the bedrock of his standing within the Wei family. Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes widened innocently. ¡°Oops, my bad. 1 was just joking! But you¡¯ve got to admit, Brother Shen Jun treats Wen Nian extraordinarily well. He seems to hang on her every word.¡± Wei Xiao regarded her with suspicion. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Jiang Chun nodded energetically. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Brother Shen Jun¡¯s support, how could Wen Nian, a girl from an ordinary background, have managed to achieve that when dealing with the matters involving Jiang Ning and Wei Lai?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s natural good looks were entuated by his impable acting skills. Wei Xiao¡¯s thoughts wandered to the interactions he had observed between Shen Jun and Wen Nian during ss. It did seem to be the case. Jiang Chun caught onto Wei Xiao¡¯s expression and sensed her words had taken root. Seizing the opportunity, she continued, ¡°And remember, you and Wen Nian were engaged once. Jiang Ning mentioned Wen Nian went to great lengths for you before. If Wen Nian speaks up for you now, won¡¯t that solidify the connection with the Shen family?¡± ¡°Do you really think Wen Nian would support me?¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s inquiry bore ack of confidence. Jiang Chun nodded once more, her expression tinged with longing. ¡°Which girl could easily forget her first love? Plus, you two were engaged.¡± ¡°And what kind of family is the Shen family? Wen Nian is indeed very good, but Uncle Shen and the others have to consider the Shen family¡¯s future, right? What kind of person do you think the mistress of the Shen family is?¡± Seeing the sudden glint in Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes, Jiang Chun knew that she had achieved her goal. Then, she quickly found an excuse to return to ss. A faint smile yed on Wei Xiao¡¯s lips. Jiang Chun¡¯s words were not without merit. Who was the Shen family, after all? How could a prestigious family like theirs not be open to marriage alliances? Beauty alone, even if Wen Nian possessed the allure of a fairy, wouldn¡¯t suffice. Such a woman wouldn¡¯t likely find favor with the Wei family, let alone the Shen family. They might seem loving right now, but they might end up breaking up during high school graduation. Recalling the day he visited the Wen family, Wei Nian¡¯s demeanor toward him had indeed softened. Contemting her current status as a minor celebrity, a new notion sparked within him. Wei Xiao coincidentally reentered the ssroom as the bell rang. Passing by Wen Nian, he intentionally bumped into her desk, causing her fountain pen to tumble to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this fountain pen is broken. 1-1¡¯11pensate you with a new one.¡± He took the fountain pen away. Wen Nian was about to request her pen back when the teacher entered the room, leading her to abandon the thought. About ten minutes into the ss, a notended on Wen Nian¡¯s desk from Wei Xiao. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to do that earlier. 1¡¯11 buy you a new fountain pen. Also, here¡¯s my WeChat number.. You removed me before, but could you add me back?¡± Chapter 252 - 252: Added On WeChat Chapter 252: Added On WeChat Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun cast a quick nce at the note¡¯s contents, and without dy, Wen Nian ced it right in front of him. ¡°Hmph!¡± Shen Jun crumpled the note into a ball, but just as he did, Wen Nian grabbed his arm firmly. ¡°Are you really considering adding him?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s hand rested on Wen Nian¡¯s thigh, his grip tightening slightly as a subtle warning. Wen Nian shot him an irritated look, her eyes rolling in exasperation. She spoke in a hushed tone, ¡°Have you forgotten the n? Our n!¡± Although Shen Jun felt a bit reluctant, he recalled that Wen Nian had crucial tasks to aplish. He handed over the crumpled paper ball to her. Wen Nian nced at the WeChat ID on the note with a helpless expression. Memory could be quite eerie. Even after being reborn, she still remembered Wei Xiao¡¯s WeChat ID. It was as though she knew it by heart, even without having written it down. She shifted her gaze to Shen Jun, who appeared somewhat jealous, and swiftly put on a pout of feigned distress. With a subtle gesture, she discreetly pulled out her phone. Using one hand to tug at Shen Jun¡¯s sleeve, she gave him a wide-eyed, pitiable look. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her expression. ¡°Remember, you need to save all the chat records. Otherwise, there will be consequences,¡± Shen Jun reminded her in a gentle murmur. Wen Nian nodded eagerly, resembling a chick pecking at grains. Only then did Shen Jun soften, smiling affectionately. ¡°Go ahead and add him.¡± Swiftly retrieving her phone, Wen Nian added Wei Xiao on WeChat as if she had been granted clemency. Observing her actions, Shen Jun¡¯s expression held a tinge of discontent. He nced at the note, amazed that he had managed to remember such a lengthy WeChat number. He couldn¡¯t decide whether she was exceptionally clever or if that number had been ingrained in her memory all along. Wei Xiao hadn¡¯t anticipated Wen Nian¡¯s swift response. His excitement escted as he promptly epted her request. Wei Xiao: ¡°I took a look at the fountain pen. It can¡¯t be used anymore. I¡¯ll buy a new one for you. Do you still like pink?¡± Wen Nian: No need, it¡¯s fine. Wei Xiao: ¡°I remember that you like pink. I know a brand that justunched a pink box this year. I¡¯ll get them to order a setter and bring it to you tomorrow.¡± Wen Nian: No need. My boyfriend will be jealous. Wei Xiao looked at the reply on his phone and didn¡¯t know how to reply. However, Shen Jun didn¡¯t strike him as the jealous type, did he? Additionally, word had it that the men in the Shen family tended to keep their distance from women. Both Old Master Shen and Father Shen were examples of this behavior. How could Shen Jun feel jealous about Wen Nian? Having sorted out his thoughts, Wei Xiao set aside his concerns. He sent a message and arranged for a pen set from a luxury brand to be ordered. He made up his mind to deal with Wen Nian first. Given her previous feelings for him, it wouldn¡¯t be too challenging for him to use her to get to Shen Jun. Thankfully, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t send any further messages to her after school. It was only then that Shen Jun returned Wen Nian¡¯s phone to her. The parting words, ¡°My boyfriend will get jealous,¡± hade straight from Young Master Shen. The following morning, Wei Xiao arrived at the ssroom ahead of time, anticipating Wen Nian¡¯s reaction when sheid eyes on the gifts adorning his desk. When Wen Nian arrived at the ssroom, she saw a huge pink gift box on the table. Even without thinking, she could figure out who had sent this gift. She didn¡¯t even bother to open it. Amidst the envious gazes of her female ssmates, she approached Wei Xiao with the gift in hand. ¡°Wei Xiao, as I mentioned yesterday, you really don¡¯t have to make up for the fountain pen. Plus, my fountain pen barely costs ten yuan. I can¡¯t ept this gift.¡± cing the box on Wei Xiao¡¯s desk, Wen Nian pivoted and headed back to her own seat. Wei Xiao acted quickly, grabbing her arm. Suppressing the urge to kick him, Wen Nian inquired, ¡°What¡¯s the idea? Don¡¯t create a scene at school. If your fiancee catches wind of this, she might just start a brawl with you!¡± Numerous ssmates had already arrived and witnessed the unfolding drama. Their minds couldn¡¯t help but conjure up a multitude of love-hate scenarios. Wei Xiao promptly rified, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong idea. It¡¯s merely a gesture ofpensation through a fountain pen. This brand is rather ordinary to me. Please, ept it.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made myself clear. Wei Xiao, do you notprehend my words?¡± Wen Nian impatiently shrugged off his hand. Seeing that their fellow students were trickling in, along with a handful of students from other sses who lingered near the doorway, Wei Xiao decided against persistently offering the gifts. Yet, he remained undeterred, persisting with a query, ¡°Rememberst time 1 mentioned treating you to a meal? Do you think we could arrange that by this Friday?¡± Fearing another rejection from Wen Nian, he hastily appended, ¡°Let¡¯s just call it an apology meal. Give me a chance to make amends.¡± Hearing that he was going to treat her to a meal, Wen Nian smiled brightly. ¡°Okay..¡± Chapter 253 - 253: Execution of the Plan Chapter 253 - 253: Execution of the n Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What?¡± Before Wei Xiao could react, Wen Nian had already given her agreement. ¡°Regretting it already? Or maybe you¡¯re having a hard time parting with your money?¡± Wen Nian inquired innocently, before swiftly adopting an expression that suggested she was addressing someone not quite all there. ¡°Never mind then.¡± ¡°No, wait. It¡¯s a deal! Friday it is,¡± Wei Xiao quickly said, ¡°Is Shen Juning? 1 said I¡¯d treat the two of youst time.¡± He knew that inviting only Wen Nian might still fuel Shen Jun¡¯s dislike for him. It made more sense to leverage Wen Nian¡¯s involvement to rope Shen Jun in. Wen Nian looked at the seat where Shen Jun had yet toe to ss. She nodded and said, ¡°1¡¯11 ask him. 1 wonder if he can go.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s confidence soared upon hearing this. If Wen Nian proposed the idea, there was little reason for Shen Jun to decline, right? Forming a favorable rtionship with Shen Jun during theirst year of high school was Wei Xiao¡¯s aim. Even if Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s rtionship faltered, he could still rely on the Shen family¡¯s connections in the capital to secure his backing. With these thoughts, Wei Xiao could almost visualize his ascent to bing the heir of the Wei family. A surge of optimism filled him. As Shen Jun entered the ssroom, he caught snippets of hushed conversations. ¡°Was Wei Xiao really Wen Nian¡¯s former fiance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what they say. Wen Nian even left her studies at one point for him and wanted to marry into a wealthy family.¡± ¡°But I heard they called off the engagement. Why is Wei Xiao giving her a gift now?¡± ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s regretting it because Wen Nian¡¯s movie did well? She¡¯s a bit of a celebrity now, with millions of fans!¡± ¡°Being a celebrity doesn¡¯t change much. With the Wei family¡¯s influence, he can probably find a woman of any caliber.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear Wen Nian say that Wei Xiao has a fiancee?¡± Upon seeing Shen Jun enter, the hushed conversations tapered off discreetly. Shen Jun and Wen Nian¡¯s connection remained a confidential topic. Wen Nian, engrossed in her work with her head down, suddenly felt the ambient temperature drop a few degrees. She raised her gaze to see Shen Jun, his expression still unreadable, but she could sense his anger. She had been diligently focused on the questions, effectively tuning out the chatter around her. Yet, she perceived that Shen Jun¡¯s displeasure likely stemmed from Wei Xiao. She quickly took out her breakfast ingratiatingly. ¡°1 brought these specially made jujube walnut crisps from my mom. Have a taste. They¡¯re great for boosting brainpower.¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m not smart enough?¡± Shen Jun gave her a sideways nce. ¡°I¡¯m not smart enough. My mother specially made it for me. 1 find them delicious and wanted you to try,¡± Wen Nian swiftly corrected herself. Donning disposable gloves, she extracted a sizable piece of the jujube walnut crisp and extended it toward Shen Jun. ¡°Truly scrumptious. 1 didn¡¯t even give any to Wen Yu, despite his requests.¡± Her fawning expression managed to lift Shen Jun¡¯s spirits. With a slight but deliberate nip, he yfully bit her finger. ¡°All!¡± The unexpected pain caused Wen Nian to yelp. Swiftly lowering her head, she pretended to be engrossed in her questions. ¡°Oh, no. 1 got this question wrong again. Silly me, making such mistakes.¡± Her cheeks turned rosy, and she shot a reproachful look at the culprit. Amused by her flimsy excuse, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile. He took out the jujube walnut crisp and savored its vor. It truly was delicious. Throughout the ss, Wei Xiao would periodically nce at Wen Nian. Feeling his gaze and the subtle tension from Shen Jun¡¯s end, Wen Nian felt as though she were walking on eggshells. Before the final bell rang, Wen Nian informed Shen Jun about the dinner Wei Xiao had nned for them. She aimed to put her scheme into action. Allowing Wei Xiao and Jiang Ning to be engaged wouldplicate her ns to dismantle the Wei family¡¯s power. She needed to elerate her efforts. Though Shen Jun exhibited some reluctance, he eventually relented after Wen Nian¡¯s coaxing. When school concluded on Friday afternoon, Wei Xiao promptly approached Wen Nian¡¯s desk. ¡°Shen Jun, Wen Nian, remember we agreed to have dinner together today? It¡¯s my treat.¡± While Shen Jun remained silent, he gave a nod before proceeding to pack his belongings. Observing these actions, Wei Xiao¡¯s spirits lifted. The first step had been taken. However, just as the trio reached the restaurant and settled down, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang. He stepped outside to answer the call, and within mere minutes upon his return, he announced an urgent matter requiring him to leave immediately. ¡°But we had ns! You can¡¯t just bail like this, Shen Jun,¡± Wei Xiao fretted. He had informed his grandfather about dining with Shen Jun today. ¡°An issue arose at home. You two go ahead and eat,¡± Shen Jun stated impassively, his gaze flickering toward Wen Nian. ¡°Finish your meal and go home..¡± Chapter 254 - 254: Unpresentable Chapter 254 - 254: Unpresentable Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out, then!¡± Wei Xiao promptly got to his feet. He might not be well-versed in ingratiating himself with others. In Hai City, it was usually people trying to get in his good graces rather than the other way around. But even if he hadn¡¯t personally experienced something, he knew how things worked. He had a fair idea about the dynamics at y. He knew that he had to please Shen Jun at this time. Moreover, Wei Feng knew that he was going to treat Shen Jun to a meal today. There must be his spies in the restaurant. Wei Xiao had to put on a good front. Oddly, Shen Jun didn¡¯t raise objections. He shot a significant look at Wen Nian before exiting the private room. Quickly, Wen Nian activated the automatic audio recording feature on her phone. She was confident that Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t venture too far away, so her nerves settled somewhat. After all, Wei Xiao was still a high school student, while she had a lifetime of experience in the entertainment industry. Extracting information from him wasn¡¯t a tough task. A mere ten minutester, Wei Xiao returned to the private room with a tinge of regret. ¡°Shen Jun indeed had some pressing matters. Are you familiar with his uncle? The Deputy Secretary of our mayor. I figure it won¡¯t be more than two years¡­¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s bewildered expression, Wei Xiao decided against borating further. He had just witnessed Zhao Wu¡¯s driver arriving to pick up Shen Jun. The prospect of getting involved with such a prominent figure left him so ted that words fell short. Unfortunately, these words were useless to Wen Nian. She was indeed the daughter of a small family and was not presentable. However, as he gazed upon Wen Nian¡¯s unembellished countenance and her already well-defined figure, Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t help but think that while she might not fit the mold for a marriage partner, there was a different allure to her as a lover. Wen Nian could sense his changing emotions and discerned the implications of his gaze. Pretending to lower her head and take a sip of juice, Wen Nian concealed the disgust churning within her. She had more significant matters to attend to, and a little revulsion was a minor inconvenience. ¡°I don¡¯t have much information about his family, but I¡¯ve encountered his uncle¡¯s acquaintances a few times. Some of them I¡¯ve seen in the news.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s response struck a chord with Wei Xiao. He swiftly inquired, ¡°Is that so? Then why would he take you to such a significant event?¡± ¡°Shen Jun has a wide circle of friends in the capital. I¡¯ve met a few of them. Hispanions are typically present at such gatherings.¡± As Wei Xiao refilled her ss, he posed a seemingly casual question, ¡°I see. Do you reckon he¡¯d bring his friends along as well?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s expression still bore traces of confusion. ¡°Yes, but I¡¯m not particrly acquainted with them. Most seem to be his friends from the capital. They tend to frequent upscale venues whenever they meet.¡± Inwardly sneering, Wei Xiao mused. Shen Jun hadn¡¯t introduced Wen Nian much, indicating their rtionship might not have been particrly serious. Yet, if he could establish ties with Shen Jun, attending such gatherings might pave the way for him into the upper echelons of the Beijing social scene. Nevertheless, his current reliance was on Wen Nian to bridge that gap. Hence, he adopted a gentlemanly demeanor and engaged in continued conversation. Originally, Wei Xiao had envisioned sharing a few bottles of alcohol with Shen Jun. After all, men often form friendships over drinking sessions. But Shen Jun¡¯s unexpected departure thwarted that n. Left with two bottles of beer, Wei Xiao decided to indulge himself. Perhaps it was due to a cheerful mood, but he singlehandedly polished off a significant amount of beer. ¡°Truth be told, Wen Nian, you truly shattered my heart back then.¡± He broached a topic neither of them had wanted to revisit. ¡°If not for that, I wouldn¡¯t have gone abroad. You can¡¯t imagine the days I spent overseas¡­¡± His demeanor bore a tinge of mncholy, and he continued to replenish Wen Nian¡¯s te. ¡°Eat more. You seem worn out from your incessant studying. You¡¯ve lost weight.¡± Upon hearing his reference, Wen Nian picked up the thread. ¡°You were resistant to the engagement back then. If it hadn¡¯t been for the fact that Grandpa Wei held my grandfather in high regard for saving his life, he wouldn¡¯t have suggested the engagement. 1 know it¡¯s Grandpa Wei¡¯s way of repaying our family.¡± As anticipated, Wei Xiao¡¯s tone turned sardonic upon her words. ¡°Repayment? Indeed. My grandpa has always been a benevolent soul.¡± Wen Nian perceived the implied message in his retort and responded sorrowfully, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you haven¡¯t been faring well abroad either. Yet, you¡¯re his biological grandson. He must have had great expectations for you. Look at how well he treats someone like me, an outsider. My grandfather has been gone for many years, but he still holds our family in fond regard.¡± ¡°He has great expectations for me?¡± Wei Xiao, having consumed some beer earlier, was starting to feel a tad lightheaded. ¡°He provided me with meager allowances overseas, nearly leaving me to fend for myself! He holds your family in high regard? Certainly. Without your grandfather, he wouldn¡¯t have reached his current position..¡± Chapter 255 - 255: Asking Babe For Help Chapter 255 - 255: Asking Babe For Help Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Hearing Wei Xiao¡¯s statements, Wen Nian was quick to counter, ¡°Don¡¯t speak like that. Grandpa Wei is genuinely kind-hearted. Even though my grandfather saved him, he¡¯s consistently shown gratitude by being exceptionally good to our family. Remember when you and your grandfather visited us?¡± ¡°Showing gratitude?¡± Wei Xiao acted as if he had heard a joke. ¡°Wen Nian, why are you still so naive? Things aren¡¯t as simple as they seem on the surface.¡± As anticipated, Wei Xiao appeared to be acquainted with the underlying narrative, yet Wen Nian didn¡¯t immediately question him about it. It was evident that he harbored a strong bias against Wei Feng. In her previous life, Wei Feng had fallen victim to his grandson¡¯s scheme and ended up paralyzed and hospitalized. The specifics of his ultimate fate remained unclear to Wen Nian, but it seemed to be less than favorable. Wen Nian spected that Wei Xiao might have uncovered Wei Feng¡¯s secret, which might exin how he managed to ascend to the position of chairman of the Wei Corporation at such a young age. ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Grandpa Wei is indeed good to our family, repaying our kindness. Moreover, during thest few years of my grandfather¡¯s illness, Grandpa Wei often visited him,¡± Wen Nian¡¯s expression turned somber, and her eyes welled up with tears. ¡°But my family has mentioned that every time the two brothers meet, my grandfather¡¯s health deteriorates. The doctors believe that my grandpa¡¯s health was deteriorating because he can¡¯te to terms with his paralysis.¡± Wen Nian was already quite beautiful, and her current pitiful appearance only enhanced her charm, causing Wei Xiao¡¯s throat to tighten. ¡°Repay kindness? Haven¡¯t you heard of repaying kindness with ingratitude? It¡¯s not surprising that your grandfather¡¯s health worsens after meeting him! Do you really think my grandpa¡­¡± Suddenly, Wei Xiao stopped speaking and vigorously shook his head. He was startled by his own words and broke into a cold sweat. Wen Nian¡¯s heart was in turmoil. She folded her hands, and she could feel a slight trembling in her body. Fortunately, Wei Xiao had consumed some alcohol and didn¡¯t notice any changes in her demeanor. He only saw her head hanging low. Wen Nian appeared oblivious to any issue with his words. In fact, she responded with a hint of indignation, saying, ¡°You¡¯re just being too resentful. Grandpa Wei sent you abroad for your own benefit. He envisions you bing independent and eventually taking over the Wei family. How can you harbor such thoughts about your grandfather?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it¡¯s my fault. I shouldn¡¯t have thought of him that way.¡± Hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, Wei Xiao heaved a sigh of relief. This silly woman still looked brainless. Had anyone else been present during their conversation, they would likely have sensed that something was amiss. Fortunately, Wen Nian was the only one present. After the unsettling episode, Wei Xiao offered mere pleasantries for the rest of their meal. As they finished eating, the two of them left the restaurant. However, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t see Wen Nian off. His immediate task was to share all the information he had gathered with Wei Feng. He needed to regain hisposure for that purpose. Wen Nian didn¡¯t say anything else. She left the restaurant and waved for a taxi. Once inside the car, Wen Nian noticed Shen Jun already seated in the back row. She hurriedly took her ce, careful to avoid Wei Xiao¡¯s attention. ¡°Feeling guilty?¡± Shen Jun grasped her small hand and began to rub it. ¡°Seems like Wei Xiao still holds some regrets. He¡¯s still hurting, huh?¡± As his grip tightened, Wen Nian yfully pinched his arm, prompting Shen Jun to ease his grip. Only then did Shen Jun not use so much strength. ¡°What do you think of what happened today? It looks like Wei Xiao knows the inside story,¡± Shen Jun asked. Wen Nian widened her eyes at him, then looked at the driver. Shen Junughed and said, ¡°We¡¯re on the same side.¡± Only then did Wen Nian feel relieved. ¡°He must be aware of something. Otherwise, his reaction wouldn¡¯t have been so strong. Plus, he seems dissatisfied with Wei Feng. There might be more actions he¡¯ll taketer,¡± Shen Jun spected. With a touch of regret, Wen Nian sighed, ¡°Unfortunately, I didn¡¯t extract much from him today. It looks like I¡¯ll need to try again.¡± ¡°Do you have a n?¡± Shen Jun arched an eyebrow. Seeing her expression, he knew she was up to her mischievous antics again. Cradling Shen Jun¡¯srger hand with both of hers, Wen Nian widened her innocent eyes and adopted a coquettish tone, saying, ¡°1 do have a n, but 1 might need to trouble you, my babe, to help me..¡± Chapter 256 - 256: Mrs. Shen Chapter 256 - 256: Mrs. Shen Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Naughty girl,¡± Shen Jun affectionately remarked as he gently touched Wen Nian¡¯s hand. ¡°So, what¡¯s your n? How do you intend to involve me?¡± Wen Nian maintained her innocent smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of caution. ¡°Naturally, I¡¯d use my sweetheart¡¯s charm to arrange another meeting with him.¡± ¡°You want me to arrange a meeting?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s lips curled slightly, a bit unnerved. Meanwhile, Wei Xiao had returned home and began recounting the day¡¯s events to Wei Feng. Wei Feng¡¯s underlings had already informed him that Shen Jun had left early. When he learned that Zhao Wu¡¯s associates hade to pick up Shen Jun, he surmised that something substantial was afoot. ¡°So, he agreed to the dinner because of Wen Nian?¡± Wei Feng sipped his tea, his demeanorposed. Standing nearby, Wei Xiao lowered his head and replied obediently, ¡°They¡¯re a couple now. He probably didn¡¯t want me to be alone with Wen Nian. Especially considering our prior engagement.¡± He nced up to find Wei Feng silent. Hastily, he added, ¡°But his attitude today was decent. He¡¯s usually indifferent to ssmates. However, he took the initiative to join me for dinner today and even asked me to escort him out. 1 think he¡¯s still open to maintaining a good rtionship.¡± Listening attentively, Wei Feng nodded. ¡°The Shen family holds significant sway in the capital. Numerous families rely on their connections. If you can forge a bond with Shen Jun, expanding our Wei family¡¯s business in the capital won¡¯t be much of a challenge.¡± ¡°Yes, Grandpa, I understand,¡± Wei Xiao quickly replied. ¡°Unfortunately, this time things didn¡¯t quite align. His uncle had no choice. I¡¯ve received information indicating that it won¡¯t be long before Zhao Wu makes further advancements in his career. Given his rapid ascent and the Shen family¡¯s influence, he could hold a central position of power within a few years.¡± Wei Feng spoke gravely, ¡°When the opportunity arises, you must establish more contact with him. The Shen family¡¯s standing surpasses ours. You must present yourself favorably. Additionally, you need to keep the Wen family¡¯s youngdy in check. Prevent any situation that might displease Shen Jun, but you have to make good use of her.¡± Contemting the Wen family¡¯s recent actions, Wei Feng felt they were bing increasingly uncontroble. However, he still needed Wen Nian¡¯s assistance to approach the Shen family, so he couldn¡¯t make a move against the Wen family just yet. Wei Xiao quickly reassured him, ¡°Grandfather, rest assured. Wen Nian hails from a modest background. She¡¯s not worthy of Shen Jun, and the Shen family wouldn¡¯t favor such a daughter-inw. Nevertheless, Shen Jun is currently close to her. 1 intend to leverage this rtionship effectively. You needn¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Very well. Hurry up. Once you¡¯re engaged to the Jiang family, the Shen family¡¯s support will be valuable.¡± Wei Feng stood and patted Wei Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°1 still have high hopes for you. Take the initiative to secure the Shen family¡¯s alliance.¡± Wei Xiao quickly agreed, but his downcast eyes betrayed hisck of respect. After finally reporting, Wei Xiao left the old man¡¯s study. Wei Lai, who was outside the door, had already waited for a while. Seeing Wei Xiaoe out, Wei Lai asked angrily, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that you were having dinner with Brother Shen Jun today?¡± ¡°Why should I tell you? Let me warn you! Don¡¯t get involved in Shen Jun¡¯s matters.¡± Wei Xiao was well aware of the ongoing power struggle within the younger generation of the Wei family. Wei Feng¡¯s sons had all been disappointments, leading him to pin his hopes on the next generation. Even though Wei Xiao had the right timing and positioning, the others were notcking inpetitiveness. The one who could secure the Shen family¡¯s support would likely be the future heir of the Wei family. Wei Xiao understood that he needed to seize this opportunity. Wei Lai rolled his eyes at Wei Xiao¡¯s retort. ¡°Grandfather gave me the green light to get involved. He even mentioned providing opportunities for Shen Jun and me in the future. When I marry Shen Jun, I¡¯ll be a part of the Shen family. Watch your words around me!¡± Wei Xiao squinted, a dangerous glint in his eyes as he stared at Wei Lai. However, Wei Lai interpreted his reaction as fear and dered confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t assume that you¡¯re Grandfather¡¯s favored one now. The Jiang family can¡¯t bepared to the Wei family. You¡¯d better keep me informed every time you interact with Shen Jun. If I be Mrs. Shen in the future, I¡¯ll ensure my family¡¯s interests are protected, no matter what.¡± With that statement, Wei Lai departed without looking back, her smug demeanor evident even before she turned around. Wei Xiao clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to regain hisposure. He reached for his phone and sent a WeChat message to Wen Nian.. Chapter 257 - 257: Ice Cream and Cake Chapter 257: Ice Cream and Cake Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon returning home, Wen Nian found a message from Wei Xiao requesting to add Shen Jun on WeChat. She rejected the request under the pretense that Shen Jun wasn¡¯t fond of adding strangers. Wei Xiao: ¡°I¡¯m treating you both today. Are you avable this weekend? I remember you¡¯re a fan of ice cream and cake on the fourth floor of Fortune Square. Shall we go together? There are new restaurants there too. Let¡¯s check if there¡¯s anything you like.¡± Wen Nian: ¡°Sorry, I have to study this weekend.¡± Wei Xiao: ¡°Do you need me to find you a tutor? The Wei family has several excellent private tutors for all subjects. Let me know if you need help. Don¡¯t worry about the cost; I¡¯ll take care of it. 1 hope to see your grades improve.¡± Looking at Wei Xiao¡¯s message on her phone, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but scoff internally. If Wei Xiao had spoken to her like this in her previous life, she would¡¯ve been ecstatic and sleepless even if he sent a few words on WeChat. However, now that she saw through his intentions, she felt nothing but disgust. She simply put down her phone without intending to respond further. Wei Xiao held his phone, waiting for a response for a long time, feeling increasingly anxious. In the past, Wen Nian used to be eager for his WeChat messages. Now, she dared not reply to him? Yet, he also understood that he couldn¡¯t afford to upset her at this juncture. Hence, he sent another message. ¡°I won¡¯t disturb you anymore. Good night.¡± Wen Nian sighed in exasperation as her phone vibrated again. Wei Xiao was certainly persistent. She took a screenshot of the conversation and sent it directly to Shen Jun. She remembered that she had to keep her boyfriend updated on everything. Shen Jun: Ice cream and cake? He¡¯s got quite the memory. Wen Nian: 1 don¡¯t like it. 1 refuse to eat it. It doesn¡¯t taste good at all. His memory is way off. Shen Jun: Haha. Wen Nian:¡±?¡± Shen Jun: Whether something tastes good or not often depends on who you¡¯re sharing it with. Wen Nian:¡±?¡± Shen Jun: Come to my ce tomorrow at io a.m. Shen Jun¡¯s cryptic words left Wen Nian a bit guilty. She did have a sweet tooth, and she hadn¡¯t expected Wei Xiao to remember her culinary preferences. She wanted to extract information from Wei Xiao but didn¡¯t want to annoy Shen Jun by delving into these old matters. Remembering how Shen Jun would narrow his eyes and look at her, Wen Nian felt a sense of danger. Thus, she quickly set an rm and decided to prepare breakfast to take over to Shen Jun¡¯s ce in the morning. Winning a man¡¯s heart starts with filling his stomach. Delicious food would stifle any inquiries, giving her time to act. Before ten o¡¯clock, Wen Nian stood in front of Shen Jun with two sizable thermos lunch boxes. To have some privacy, Shen Jun had given Auntie Jiang the day off early in the morning. Auntie Jiang was rather ¡°understanding¡± and had assured him she¡¯d be backter. ¡°1 made steamed custard buns and eight-treasure porridge this morning, along with assorted pickles. And this is my mom¡¯s homemade tomato sardine dish. It¡¯s way better than regr canned food. Usually, I can¡¯t bring myself to eat it.¡± Wen Nian gazed at Shen Jun with a pitiful expression. ¡°I woke up at five in the morning to memorize vocabry while cooking. Baby, can you do me a favor?¡± Shen Jun found her beseeching look amusing. He affectionately ruffled her hair before slowly savoring the breakfast she had prepared. Wen Nian had truly put in quite the effort. Although the dishes were light, the steamed custard buns were adorned with various cute cartoon designs. Her dedication was evident. ¡°This pink piggy really does look like someone.¡± Shen Jun bit off the pig¡¯s nose yfully. Wen Nian asked in confusion, ¡°What does it look like?¡± ¡°Someone,¡± Shen Jun replied, looking at her with a knowing expression, as if to say, ¡°Someone like you.¡± Wen Nian muttered softly, ¡°You¡¯re the pig!¡± Taken aback, Shen Jun leaned in and yfully nipped at her little nose. ¡°Just as I thought, this little piggy¡¯s nose tastes even better.¡± With his face so close to hers, Wen Nian felt her cheeks flush and her ears burn. Suddenly, Shen Jun grabbed the nape of her neck with hisrge hand and leaned in to give her a deep kiss. Shen Jun only released her when she was slightly breathless. He yfully pinched her nose. ¡°Can¡¯t you breathe even after a kiss? And you im you¡¯re not a little pig?¡± Seeing how flustered she was bing, Shen Jun swiftly shifted the topic. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a break this morning. Let¡¯s head to Fortune Square.¡± ¡°Holiday? Is that alright?¡± Wen Nian inquired cautiously. She understood that this was a crucial moment, and every second counted. ¡°Don¡¯t some people have a penchant for ice cream and cakes? With me as your boyfriend, no one else gets to treat you..¡± Chapter 258 - 258: Women Who Betray Their Trust Chapter 258: Women Who Betray Their Trust Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Even as they arrived at Fortune Square, Wen Nian still felt a little dizzy. How did she get here with Shen Jun? In the past, this ce used to be her favorite for desserts. However, she was already going through puberty then, making her prone to e and weight gain due to consuming sweets. Annoyed at the memory of being urged to eat more by Huang Yue at the time, Wen Nian sighed at how she had been ordered to lose weight while at the agency. Beside her, Shen Jun sensed that something was off with her mood, but before he could inquire, a voice called out to him from the side. ¡°Brother Shen Jun, are you here shopping as well?¡± Wei Lai approached with evident excitement, her cheeks flushed. Jiang Chun chimed in with surprise, ¡°What a coincidence! We also decided toe herest minute. Wen Nian, please don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± Jiang Chun looked somewhat awkward, tilting her head slightly as if she were wary of Wen Nian¡¯s reaction. However, her words were directed towards Wen Nian, implying that Wen Nian was the one always causing trouble. If Wen Nian made a scene, Jiang Chun would appear innocent. Wen Nian knew exactly what Jiang Chun was trying to convey. She responded graciously, ¡°Jiang Chun, you don¡¯t need to be so concerned every time. We just bumped into each other at the mall. There¡¯s no need to worry about any misunderstanding.¡± Wen Nian felt a sense of satisfaction in her acting skills. She had honed these talents in her previous life, and they were certainly proving useful now as she portrayed herself as an innocent character. Jiang Chun appeared momentarily taken aback, but then she smiled genially. ¡°That¡¯s a relief. 1 was worried you might misconstrue things again. Shen Jun would need to exin himself again if that were to happen. I¡¯m d there¡¯s no misunderstanding.¡± Although she was talking to Wen Nian, her eyes were still on Shen Jun. Shen Jun was slightly puzzled. He could sense the oddity in Jiang Chun¡¯s words, but he couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it, so he didn¡¯tment. ¡°What¡¯s there to misunderstand? Is she some empress who demands people retreat in her presence? Can¡¯t others be present if she¡¯s around?¡± Wei Lai fumed at the sight of Wen Nian and Shen Jun together. At the thought of Shen Jun¡¯s family background and looking at Shen Jun¡¯s appearance, he shouldn¡¯t have a b*tch like Wen Nian by his side. ¡°Miss Wei, is your memory failing you? Why are you so quick to jump to conclusions?¡± Wen Nian smiled at her. A mere nce from Wen Nian made Wei Lai take a step back, her expression betraying her fear. Recalling how ruthless Wen Nian could be, Wei Lai couldn¡¯t help but feel intimidated by her. Seeing her like this, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t be bothered with her. She reached for Shen Jun¡¯s hand and asserted her presence. ¡°We only have the morning avable, and it¡¯s already past ten. Let¡¯s move quickly.¡± Seeing that she took the initiative to hold his hand, Shen Jun smiled do tingly and nodded at Jiang Chun as a greeting. Jiang Chun offered a friendly nod in return, choosing not to follow them. However, as she watched the two of them leave, Wei Lai¡¯s gaze remained fixed on them. She felt far from satisfied. ¡°Brother Shen Jun must have been bewitched by that seductress. What¡¯s so special about her? Sister Jiang Chun, you¡¯re still the school¡¯s beauty and Brother Shen Jun¡¯s childhood sweetheart. Why hasn¡¯t he shown interest in you? That bitch Wen Nian must have stopped him!¡± ¡°Wen Nian really does seem to be bothered by it. She was upset with Shen Jun before because we coincidentally ran into each other,¡± Jiang Chun exined with a troubled expression. ¡°I truly wish she wouldn¡¯t misunderstand. A conflict between them due to me wouldn¡¯t be good. That¡¯s why 1 changed sses. Yet, here we are again, and it seems she¡¯s misunderstood once more.¡± Learning that Jiang Chun had switched sses due to Wen Nian¡¯s behavior, Wei Lai¡¯s anger only intensified. ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, you¡¯re being too considerate. How can you let this woman have her way? You¡¯re Brother Shen Jun¡¯s childhood sweetheart. If she genuinely cared about him, she wouldn¡¯t be misunderstanding you.¡± ¡°Well, she is Shen Jun¡¯s girlfriend? I can¡¯t make things difficult for Shen Jun.¡± Jiang Chun let out another sigh. ¡°I just wish Wen Nian had your way of thinking. After all, being in a romantic rtionship shouldn¡¯t mean that you can¡¯t keep your friendships, right?¡± ¡°If I were Brother Shen Jun¡¯s girlfriend, you¡¯d be a better sister than my best friend. 1 definitely wouldn¡¯t misunderstand you!¡± Wei Lai quickly held Jiang Chun¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go and see what they¡¯re up to. This mall doesn¡¯t belong to her family. We can¡¯t let her upy Brother Shen Jun like this.¡± Jiang Chun made a show of resisting a bit more before finally giving in, pretending that Wei Lai¡¯s determination was just too strong. Together, they headed upstairs. ¡°What kind of girl do you think Brother Shen Jun likes? Is beauty the only condition? I¡¯m certain 1¡¯11 be much prettier than Wen Nian when I¡¯m 18,¡± Wei Lai stated confidently. Jiang Chun remainedposed and offered a faint smile. ¡°While he¡¯s my friend, I don¡¯t actually know his type. However, my mom once told me that men don¡¯t like women who betray their trust..¡± Chapter 259 - 259: Unfortunate Chapter 259: Unfortunate Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Betray?¡± Wei Lai furrowed her brows, momentarily confused. Then, her eyes widened as if she had just realized something. Swiftly pulling out her phone, Wei Lai showed the contents to Jiang Chun. As Jiang Chun glimpsed the content, her lips involuntarily curled into a slight smile. When Wei Lai turned to her, Jiang Chun immediately looked away, though a subtle smile still lingered on her lips. The two of them followed Wen Nian and the others to the fourth floor. There, they observed Shen Jun proactively buying ice cream ¨C one vani-vored and the other strawberry-vored. Then, Wei Lai witnessed a sight that nearly prompted her to dash over and pull Wen Nian¡¯s hair. She watched as Shen Jun ced two ice creams in front of Wen Nian. Wen Nian took a bite of both the vani and strawberry ice creams, finally picking up the strawberry one and savoring it happily. To her astonishment, Shen Jun didn¡¯t seem to mind. He calmly ate the same vani ice cream that she had just taken a bite of. ¡°This is disgusting! How can that damn b*tch offer what she ate to Brother Shen Jun?¡± Wei Lai¡¯s anger reached boiling point. If Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t restrained her, she might have rushed forward. ¡°Wei Lai, don¡¯t be rash. Shen Jun will be angry if you do this.¡± Jiang Chun seemed to be holding her back, but her words were actually fanning the mes of Wei Lai¡¯s emotions. ¡°They¡¯re a couple. It¡¯s fine even if they swap food. Usually, when I watch television, it¡¯smon for couples to kiss. This sort of thing¡­¡± Before Jiang Chun could finish her sentence, Wei Lai cut her off with a shriek. ¡°They even kissed? Wen Nian is truly shameless. She¡¯s still a student, yet she¡¯s already seducing men like this? She just looks cunning; she isn¡¯t a good woman at all. She actually dared to kiss Brother Shen Jun. She¡­¡± Wei Lai was too overwhelmed with anger to continue speaking. Her hands were cold and trembling. Clearly, she was beyond furious. Jiang Chun kept trying to pacify her. ¡°It¡¯s normal for couples to behave like that. You¡¯ll understand when you fall in love in the future.¡± However, Wei Lai was too consumed by her anger to listen. She saw the smile on Wen Nian¡¯s face and noticed how Shen Jun lowered his head, as if preparing to kiss her any moment now! Just as she was on the verge of rushing forward, Wei Xiao arrived on the fourth floor of the mall. Panting slightly, he quickly approached Wen Nian and Shen Jun. ¡°Wen Nian? Weren¡¯t you nning to study today? 1 didn¡¯t expect to run into you here,¡± Wei Xiao gasped out, having clearly rushed to get there. Wen Nian appeared a bit flustered by the unexpected encounter. Shen Jun swiftly ced his hand on her waist and pulled her into his embrace. Wei Xiao also understood Shen Jun¡¯s unspoken signal of asserting his dominance. He chimed in, ¡°I was just strolling around today. You left early yesterday, and we didn¡¯t have a proper meal. Now¡¯s a good opportunity. Why not join us for a meal?¡± He was still a little happy. Wen Nian¡¯s current attitude towards him was alright. If she agreed, Shen Jun would definitely attend as well. ¡°Brother, you¡¯re here too?¡± Wei Lai had managed to calm herself and approached with a smile. ¡°Treating Brother Shen Jun, huh? In that case, I¡¯ll tag along with Sister Jiang Chun. The more, the merrier!¡± Jiang Chun looked apologetically at Shen Jun and whispered, ¡°1 did my best to dissuade her. However, she spotted her brother and insisted oning over.¡± She turned to Wen Nian and added, ¡°I¡¯ll take her away in a moment. Don¡¯t misunderstand.¡± After saying that, Jiang Chun dragged Wei Lai away. However, Wei Lai had finally found a chance to eat with Shen Jun. How could she let this chance go just like that? ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, since my brother is treating, why not join us? You and Brother Shen Jun grew up together and are great friends,¡± she proposed, then shot a provocative look at Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian and my brother can be considered childhood sweethearts. It¡¯s just that some people aren¡¯t lucky enough.¡± ¡°Wei Lai, don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Sensing that Shen Jun¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t good, Wei Xiao swiftly intervened. He turned to Wen Nian, saying, ¡°I recall you used to enjoy the cake over there. 1¡¯11 go line up. You can wait for me at the restaurant.¡± As he spoke, Wen Nian sensed Shen Jun¡¯s grip on her waist tightening once more. It was clear he was on the verge of losing his temper. The atmosphere was tense, and it was evident that Shen Jun was keeping his irritation in check. However, Wei Lai persisted in poking at Wen Nian. ¡°Just as expected of your ex-fiance. He even remembers what you like to eat.¡± Wei Xiao wished he could pull out Wei Lai¡¯s tongue. Why did he have such a thoughtless sister? However, Wen Nian had be tired of watching them act. She said, ¡°1 really don¡¯t have the fortune to eat with you guys. 1¡¯11 take my leave first..¡± Chapter 260 - 260: Overturned Jealousy Chapter 260: Overturned Jealousy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian tugged Shen Jun along, followed by three other people. Wei Lai was in a bit of a panic. She¡¯d originally asked Wei Xiao toe and annoy Wen Nian. Why on earth did Shen Jun end up leaving with her? Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be mad about how well Wen Nian¡¯s ex-fiance treated her? Wei Xiao apologized, saying, ¡°Sorry for Wei Lai¡¯s nonsense. She can be quite childish. You know how she is.¡± ¡°Shen Jun, I didn¡¯t mean to upset you. It¡¯s just that Wen Nian and my brother¡­¡± Wei Lai¡¯s voice had a tinge of grievance, and she choked up a bit. Jiang Chun quickly cut her off. ¡°Wei Lai, that¡¯s enough. Let¡¯s not give Wen Nian the wrong idea again.¡± Still, Wei Lai shook off Jiang Chun¡¯s hand with reluctance and seemed like she wanted to keep following Shen Jun. ¡°I mean it. If you keep following me, 1¡¯11 call the police!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice suddenly got louder, drawing the attention of onlookers. The Wei Family was well-known in Hai City, and thanks to the earlier video, many recognized Wei Lai. So, when they saw her tailing Wen Nian, a lot of people started whispering and pointing fingers at her. Thinking of what had happened previously, Wei Lai stood on the spot dejectedly and did not continue to follow. Wei Xiao, too, understood that Shen Jun was clearly upset. Going after him now wouldn¡¯t do any good, so he stopped pestering. Jiang Chun pulled Wei Lai to a corner. ¡°You were too impulsive just now.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, but it was just too much to bear. Why does Shen Jun like such a vixen?¡± Tears streamed down Wei Lai¡¯s face. She felt genuinely wronged. Shen Jun hadn¡¯t even spared her a nce from the beginning. ¡°Did you invite me here to create problems?¡± Wei Xiao chimed in, approaching with irritation. ¡°Don¡¯t forget who you are! If you stir up more trouble, watch out, or I might have to inform Grandpa.¡± ¡°Fine! Grandpa stands by me. Once 1 be Mrs. Shen, everything will change. Why are you being so harsh?¡± Wei Lai¡¯s voice dropped, but her frustration was evident. Jiang Chun¡¯s words, especially the reference to ¡°Mrs. Shen,¡± grabbed her focus. She spoke with a grin, giving her two cents. ¡°You¡¯re acting on impulse. They¡¯re in a serious rtionship now. Although Shen Jun and I have a history since childhood, I need to be cautious in my interactions with him. And the same goes for you. When two people are in love, they often overlook each other¡¯s ws unless something provokes them.¡± Her words made the two pause and reflect. Wei Xiao and Wei Lai fell silent. Wei Lai was thinking about how they were madly in love. But if Wen Nian were to betray Shen Jun, Shen Jun woulde to realize Wen Nian¡¯s true character and that would be her chance. On the other hand, Wei Xiao thought of how well Wen Nian had treated him in the past. At that time, Wen Nian was indeed very easy to control. She would do whatever he said and never resist. When did Wen Nian¡¯s feelings for him change? Taking in the sight of the two of them, Jiang Chun knew that she had aplished her goal. She quickly found an excuse to leave and head home. Upon reaching home, Jiang Chun¡¯s smile faded as she dwelled on Shen Jun¡¯s treatment of Wen Nian earlier that day. Nevertheless, she remained patient. While the capital city was her battleground, causing trouble for Wen Nian now was not an impossible task at hand. As they returned to the Shen residence, an awkward atmosphere hung between the two of them. The tension persisted even after lunch. Although they were still working on practice questions together and were discussing about the questions, Shen Jun was clearly not in a good mood. By the time Wen Nian finished thest question, the evening sky had already darkened. Wen Nian asked carefully, ¡°What would you like to have for dinner today? I noticed we have steak. Should 1 prepare that? And how about mango pudding?¡± ¡°Do you want to pair it with your favorite cake and have Wei Xiao wait in line?¡±Shen Jun asked. As soon as Shen Jun said this, Wen Nian knew that he was jealous again. ¡°You¡¯ve already said that the taste of food depends on who you¡¯re sharing it with. Naturally, if 1 eat with my beloved boyfriend, I¡¯ll find it delicious. If 1 were to eat with them, I¡¯d be so annoyed that the food wouldn¡¯t matter.¡± Wen Nian pouted and kept shaking Shen Jun¡¯s arm, smiling ingratiatingly. Whenever Shen Jun saw her expression, half of his anger would dissipate. He suddenly lowered his head and kissed her red lips fiercely. After several minutes had ticked by, he sensed his frustration ebbing away, and he couldn¡¯t help but notice Wen Nian¡¯s lips looking slightly swollen. ¡°Do you want me to help you cook?¡± Shen Jun finally smiled. However, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t felt happy. She didn¡¯t know when it started, but Shen Jun liked to bite her gently every time they kissed, causing her mouth to swell for a while. Just as she was about to ¡°bully¡± Shen Jun, an ill-timed WeChat message from Wei Xiao popped up on her phone.. Chapter 261 - 261: Don’t Want to Give Up Chapter 261: Don¡¯t Want to Give Up Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao: I¡¯m really sorry about today, I didn¡¯t expect Wei Lai to be so impulsive. Please forgive her considering she¡¯s still young. Wei Xiao: Also, please apologize to Shen Jun for me. It¡¯s my fault for ruining your date. To make it up to you, I¡¯d like to invite you to the newly opened Lai Feng Restaurant by my family. The new chef specializes in Sichuan cuisine, and 1 remember you like spicy food. Would you honor us with your presence? Wen Nian ced her phone between the two of them, implying that there¡¯s absolutely no romantic involvement between her and Wei Xiao, and Shen Jun could freely check her phone. Shen Jun looked at the WeChat messages, but he couldn¡¯t muster any happiness. He never expected Wei Xiao to have such deep feelings for Wen Nian, remembering her preferences like this. Last time it was ice cream and cake, now it¡¯s Sichuan cuisine. However, Wen Nian, who was focused on trying to lead the conversation, didn¡¯t sense hisck of enthusiasm. She was in a hurry now, knowing that if she waited until Wei Xiao and Jiang Ning got engaged, everything would slip out of her control. ¡°Should 1 say yes?¡± She looked at Shen Jun, her eyes filled with uncertainty. ¡°Last time, he had a slip of the tongue. He must know something. If we ask him together this time, maybe we can unearth some substantial evidence?¡± Seeing how serious Wen Nian looked, Shen Jun was suddenly less angry than before. Heprehended the gravity of the situation and how crucial this matter was to Wen Nian. He also sensed that being so jealous wasn¡¯t in line with his usual demeanor, so he relented and said, ¡°Alright, you decide.¡± Wen Nian then replied Wei Xiao. Wen Nian: Your sister had better not show up in front of us again. If she decides to join too, don¡¯t hold Shen Jun and me responsible if we choose to leave. Wei Xiao had waited for over ten minutes, his anxiety growing with each passing second. Just as he was on the verge of asking again, a WeChat message from Wen Nian finally popped up on his screen. Wei Xiao: ¡°No need to worry, it¡¯ll just be the three of us. I¡¯ve already promised to treat you, so there won¡¯t be anyone else.¡± Wei Xiao: ¡°Shen Jun will being too, right? Is he free tomorrow?¡± Wen Nian: I¡¯ll talk to him. Let¡¯s do it tomorrow night. We have to study during the day. Wei Xiao: ¡°Alright! Feel free to pick a time that works for you. I¡¯ll go ahead and reserve a table and the dishes.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t continue the conversation. It was evident that Wei Xiao was attempting to build a closer rtionship with Shen Jun, not to mention Wei Lai. After experiencing two lifetimes, if Wen Nian couldn¡¯t decipher Wei Lai¡¯s thoughts, then her time spent in the entertainment industry in her previous life would have been in vain. In that moment, Wei Xiao was feeling quite pleased with himself for sessfully arranging the meal with Shen Jun. Without dy, he promptly updated Wei Feng about the situation. Wei Lai¡¯s actions today were quite transparent. While her marriage to Shen Jun might bring benefits to the Wei family, it would not be beneficial to Wei Xiao. Even if the old man had a soft spot for his grandson, introducing a powerful granddaughter could change Wei Feng¡¯s perspective. Who knows if Wei Lai would indeed be the golden heir or if Wei Feng would need to seek favors from Wei Lai. This was something he refused to do. Wei Feng, on the other hand, was happy that he could ask Shen Jun out. The Shen family was indeed not easy to get close to. He had also investigated and found that the friends around Shen Jun were either rich or noble. Moreover, they were all rich second-generation heirs and third-generation heirs in the capital. There were even third-generation heirs. The Wei family could not afford to miss such a rtionship. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing I think 1 should tell you, Grandpa.¡± Wei Xiao pulled out his phone and disyed his chat history with Wen Nian to the old man. ¡°Wen Nian has a particr dislike for Wei Lai, especially. Furthermore, today she seemed unusually agitated, behaving as though she intended to edge out Wen Nian from her position. Both Shen Jun and Wei Lai remained silent today. I¡¯m concerned that if Wei Lai persists, it might end up working against us.¡± Wei Feng read the message. His face was expressionless, but he was already feeling frustrated. He had thought that Wei Lai was a smart person, but he did not expect her to find trouble with Wen Nian without his permission. Furthermore, it was such a clumsy trick. Wei Feng handed the phone back to Wei Xiao and said, ¡°You take care of this situation. Wei Lai won¡¯t be getting involved.¡± Upon receiving the old man¡¯s reassurance, Wei Xiao left the study with a contented smile. At this moment, Wei Lai, who had been hiding, walked out from behind the folding screen. ¡°Grandfather, I also want to go, if 1 can¡­¡± ¡°What can you do?¡± Wei Feng looked at her with some displeasure. ¡°You can only make Shen Jun dislike you. By then, you won¡¯t even be able to enter the Shen family¡¯s circle. Don¡¯t disrupt the n. I¡¯ve said it before¡ªif there¡¯s an opportunity, I will arrange things for you. Don¡¯t take matters into your own hands.¡± As the absolute authority figure in the Wei family, Wei Feng¡¯s word wasw. He had heard some hints about today¡¯s events, which was why he had summoned Wei Lai to inquire. Naturally, Wei Lai didn¡¯t dare to argue. But as soon as she returned to her room, she told Jiang Chun about the situation. ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, what do you think I should do? 1 don¡¯t want to give up so easily..¡± Chapter 262 - 262: I’m Here Chapter 262: I¡¯m Here Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I already told you not to get involved. By acting like this, you¡¯re making things difficult for me as Shen Jun¡¯s friend,¡± Jiang Chun said, feigning difficulty in handling the situation, though her expression showed a hint of satisfaction. Since she was on the phone, she didn¡¯t need to maintain her friendly facade. She continued, ¡°Furthermore, since your grandfather has made arrangements, he must see potential in Wei Xiao. After all, he¡¯s the future heir of the Wei family.¡± ¡°What heir is he? Just a motherless wild seed!¡± The thought of Wei Xiao being Wei Feng¡¯s most faithful grandson irritated Wei Lai even more. ¡°The Wei family doesn¡¯t revolve around him alone. Sister Jiang Chun, you must help me.¡± Hearing her words, Jiang Chun¡¯s lips curved into a smile, but her response was a refusal, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t help you. As I said, they¡¯re deeply in love. Unless there¡¯s a genuine conflict or if Wei Xiao has done something wrong to Wen Nian, Shen Jun won¡¯t give up on her.¡± ¡°A conflict? Something he did wrong? Could it be because of some conflict between Wei Xiao and Wen Nian in the past?¡± Wei Lai asked excitedly. ¡°Oh dear, Wei Lai, please don¡¯t ask me. I won¡¯t assist you. Well then, get some rest early,¡± Jiang Chun denied Wei Lai further questioning. She had said what she needed to, and it was up to Wei Lai to understand. After the conversation with Jiang Chun, Wei Lai had a n in mind. Even if her grandfather didn¡¯t allow her to go, what did it matter? This world was full of coincidences. If she could ¡°coincidentally¡± run into Shen Jun at the restaurant, she would dress up nicely. With her looks, she was certainly not inferior to Wen Nian. Who knew, Shen Jun might notice her. With her decision made, Wei Lai quickly went to select clothes and applied a hydrating face mask. She awaited tomorrow, ready to appear before Shen Jun in the best condition. As the time neared, Jiang Chun also took action. She reached out to Shen Jun on her phone. Jiang Chun: I¡¯m really sorry about today. Wen Nian must have misunderstood again, right? If she¡¯s upset, I can exin to her. It¡¯s my fault today. If I had managed to hold onto Wei Lai, things wouldn¡¯t have upset Wen Nian so much, and your date would not have been disrupted. I¡¯m truly sorry. Just after seeing Wen Nian off, Shen Jun noticed Jiang Chun¡¯s message. It was already ten in the evening, and he found it somewhat annoying that Jiang Chun seemed to prefer contacting him at night. However, as he read the message, he felt that her tendency to take responsibility was showing again. After some consideration, he replied. Shen Jun: She didn¡¯t misunderstand. Don¡¯t overthink it. Wen Nian isn¡¯t that kind of person. Besides, this has nothing to do with you. You don¡¯t need to apologize. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s defense of Wen Nian between the lines, Jiang Chun felt a hint of jealousy. But she still needed to maintain her facade. Jiang Chun: 1 know Wen Nian is a good girl. I just don¡¯t want any misunderstandings between you two. As long as there are no misunderstandings, 1¡¯11 sleep now. Good night. Shen Jun: Good night. Jiang Chun touched the words ¡°good night¡± on her phone, a smile forming on her lips. On Sunday, Wen Nian followed her study n diligently, but she couldn¡¯t sit still no matter what she did. Looking at the clock, it was already three in the afternoon. Wen Nian still had two sets of practice papers toplete. She kept ncing at her phone, her focus nowhere near her studies. ¡°Wen Nian,¡± Shen Jun was a bit annoyed, ¡°don¡¯t panic when things happen. Your top priority now is to study. Don¡¯t think about anything else.¡± Wen Nian blushed and stole a nce at him, feeling embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m just a bit worried. You know, this matter involves my grandfather¡¯s death and our family¡­¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t know how to exin. In her past life, the Wei family was destroyed by the Wei family, and everyone met a tragic end. The entire family of five perished, a tragedy others couldn¡¯t truly understand. She really couldn¡¯t stay calm. Shen Jun sighed and drew her close, embracing her. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯ll definitely help you find out the truth. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s chest was strong and broad, and listening to his powerful heartbeat, Wen Nian gradually rxed her mind. Eventually, she managed to finish the two sets of papers in a little over two hours. Looking at the reasonably urate answers on the papers, Shen Jun finally smiled. He caressed Wen Nian¡¯s hair and ced a gentle kiss on her forehead. ¡°That¡¯s right, as long as you focus, there¡¯s nothing you can¡¯t achieve.¡± Wen Nian nced at the papers and sighed in relief. She knew that studying was the most important thing. If she couldn¡¯t bnce everything, studying would alwayse first. Shen Jun handed her a ss of juice and said, ¡°I¡¯ll go over the mistakes with you at school tomorrow. Get ready now, we have a tough battle ahead.¡± With that, Wen Nian adjusted her mindset.. Chapter 263 - 263: Give Maotai a Try Chapter 263: Give Maotai a Try Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios It was almost six o¡¯clock, the time for the rendevous with Wei Xiao. When he saw the two people arriving at the entrance of Laifeng Restaurant, Wei Xiao¡¯s heart finally settled. He quickly greeted them warmly, ¡°You¡¯re here. Let me order the dishes first and see if there¡¯s anything else you¡¯d like to eat. I¡¯ll have them prepared immediately.¡± Shen Jun just nodded and remained silent. Although his aloof attitude irked Wei Xiao, he suppressed his annoyance, knowing he needed to curry favor with Shen Jun. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 apologize on behalf of Wei Lai for her behavior yesterday.¡± However, before Wei Xiao could continue speaking, a girl wearing a tight-fitting mini dress appeared before them. ¡°Indeed, I was in the wrong yesterday. If anyone should apologize, it should be me,¡± Wei Lai gazed fixedly at Shen Jun. ¡°Shen Jun, big brother, I was mistaken yesterday. Today, I¡¯m here to treat you and make amends.¡± Watching her, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes. This girl was barely a teenager, yet she had squeezed into a skin-tight modified qipao that was also extremely short, revealing her well-proportioned figure. However, no matter how you looked at it, her outfit didn¡¯t match her age. Clearly, Wei Lai had prepared for this encounter. Her voice dripped with sweetness, ¡°Shen Jun, big brother, can you give me a chance to apologize? Pretty please?¡± Wei Lai gazed at Shen Jun with eyes full of affection, and her soft gaze was unyielding. As she spoke, she approached Shen Jun, intending to take his hand, but Shen Jun firmly pushed her away. ¡°Make way.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s words were sharp, and Wen Nian burst intoughter at his direct and clueless manner. It appeared he was indeed a straightforward guy. Seeing that Shen Junpletely ignored her, and noticing the amused expression on Wen Nian¡¯s face, Wei Lai felt irritated. However, before she could approach, Wei Xiao intervened. With gritted teeth, Wei Xiao whispered, ¡°I told you not to interfere. Who allowed you toe?¡± ¡°This is a restaurant. Anyone cane here,¡± Wei Lai offered the prepared excuse she had in mind. ¡°Today was supposed to be a ssmate¡¯s birthday party, but he had somethinge up at home, so we ended it early. What¡¯s wrong with meing?¡± Wei Lai thought her excuse was impable, but being a teenager, it was riddled with holes. Wen Nian, deep inside, rolled her eyes in exasperation. Before the siblings could finish arguing, Wen Nian simply grabbed Shen Jun¡¯s arm and turned to leave. Wei Xiao quickly caught up with them and pleaded, ¡°Since you¡¯re here, don¡¯t leave. Wei Lai only came to attend a ssmate¡¯s birthday party, and they¡¯ve already finished. She¡¯s leaving soon.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Wen Nian looked at Wei Xiao mockingly. She knew very well that he couldn¡¯t control his sister. ¡°Absolutely,¡± Wei Xiao signaled to the two bodyguards behind him, and the next moment, they escorted Wei Lai away. ¡°Are you crazy? Do you even know who 1 am? Wei Xiao, how dare you¡­¡± Hearing Wei Lai¡¯s fading voice, Wen Nian¡¯s mouth twitched with amusement. It seemed Wei Xiao was really resolute this time, making sure to win Shen Jun¡¯s favor. ¡°Now that there are no outsiders, Shen Jun, don¡¯t leave either. What do you think, Wen Nian?¡± Wei Xiao thought to himself, fortunately, he was well-prepared and had brought his personal bodyguards along. Otherwise, Wei Lai would have spoiled things again. Shen Jun finally spoke, an unusual urrence. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the private room.¡± ¡°Sure, follow me. I¡¯ve prepared the best private room for you.¡± Wei Xiao quickly led them into an elevator. Looking at the table already set with lobster, abalone, king crab, and various ssic Sichuan dishes, as well as a bottle of wine, Wen Nian thought to herself that Wei Xiao really didn¡¯t spare any expenses. As they entered the private room, he had even prepared a bottle of red wine. ¡°Since we have school tomorrow, Wen Nian, have some juice. Let¡¯s enjoy Lafite, and Shen Jun, do you like it?¡± Wei Xiao was about to ask for some hangover remedies, but Shen Jun waved his hand, ¡°I¡¯m used to Lafite. How about trying Maotai?¡± Hearing that Shen Jun wanted to drink, Wei Xiao¡¯s face reddened with excitement. He quickly had Maotai brought to the table. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 didn¡¯t expect you to be knowledgeable about alcohol. This is a io-year-old Feitian Maotai. I wasn¡¯t prepared for this, but next time I¡¯ll get you an even better one Wei Xiao poured the Maotai, bowing as he served Shen Jun. Although Shen Jun was observing the situation on the surface, Wei Xiao¡¯s annoyance had dissipated. As long as the man was happy with his drinking at the table, what issue couldn¡¯t be resolved? Wen Nian felt a bit concerned and squeezed Shen Jun¡¯s hand. She knew the strength of Maotai, and it wasn¡¯t something you could casually drink. However, Shen Jun raised an eyebrow, then gave her a reassuring look that said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry..¡± Chapter 264 - 264: What Gold Bar Chapter 264: What Gold Bar Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At first, Wen Nian was genuinely worried. She had experienced social gatherings before and had consumed white wine. Even during her more social years, she had probably never had more than half a bottle at most. However, watching Shen Jun¡¯s drinking, who had already downed three or four cups, and seeing that Wei Xiao¡¯s speech was bing slurred, she was amazed that Shen Jun¡¯s face hadn¡¯t turned red. It wasn¡¯t until the fourth cup that he got up to use the restroom, and Wei Xiao was already somewhat disoriented. He rested his cheek in his hand, his gaze drifting. Wei Xiao was just a teenager after all, having never experienced such social interactions before. Coupled with his genuine happiness today, he identally drank too much. Even when Shen Jun left the room, Wei Xiao only nodded, then poured himself another ss of wine, finishing it in one gulp. Watching his drinking, Wen Nian sensed he was going to get drunk. She then activated the auto-transmit function on her phone and started to engage in conversation. Suddenly, Wei Xiaoined with resentment, ¡°Wen Nian, why did you turn your attention to Shen Jun so quickly?¡± At first, Wen Nian was taken aback, then she responded somewhat ironically, ¡°We were initially forced into an engagement. Isn¡¯t canceling the engagement just what you wanted?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s what you wanted!¡± Wei Xiao suddenly grew angry. ¡°Look at how close you and Shen Jun have be. If it weren¡¯t for you putting a cuckold¡¯s hat on me before, how could you have a boyfriend so quickly? You¡¯re so fickle, looking at both sides of the fence!¡± As Wei Xiao¡¯s tongue began to stumble, Wen Nian understood his words clearly. Since he had brought up the topic, she couldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. She said, ¡°It was Grandfather Wei who arranged our engagement. He wanted to make amends to our family. After all, my grandfather saved his life. He¡¯s repaying a debt of gratitude.¡± ¡°Repaying a debt of gratitude?¡± Wei Xiao waved his hand dismissively. ¡°You don¡¯t understand my grandfather. You don¡¯t know the whole story here. He¡¯s not the benevolent person you think he is.¡± Seeing an opening, Wen Nian pressed on, ¡°Why isn¡¯t he a good person? He has always taken care of our family, and even though my grandfather is bedridden, he stilles to visit him. Even after my grandfather passed away, he continued to be good to us and wanted his favorite grandson to marry me. He¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°He¡¯s surveilling you all, don¡¯t you get it?¡± Wei Xiao, growing more agitated, said. He had finally gained Wei Feng¡¯s approval with great effort. He had thought he would undoubtedly be the heir of the Wei family in the future. However, he didn¡¯t expect that Wei Feng would force him to marry Wen Nian. If he refused, he would lose everything Wei Feng had granted him. Reluctantly, he had toply. He had never been fond of Wen Nian. She had been of no help to him, aside from her looks. If he weren¡¯t afraid of going against his grandfather¡¯s orders, he would have cut ties with her long ago. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s beautiful and captivating face in front of him, Wei Xiao¡¯s mouth watered, and he downed half a cup of wine. ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯re just a naive woman. You believe whatever others say. Why do you think your grandfather¡¯s legs are crippled? Why is his health deteriorating? How many disabled people have lost both legs and yet still live well?¡± The more Wei Xiao spoke, the more impassioned he became. ¡°Wei Feng, he¡¯s capable of using anyone he can. If it weren¡¯t for the money he borrowed from your grandfather back then, could he have achieved what he has today? You¡¯re too gullible.¡± Wen Nian felt her body trembling. Her face had turned pale. If Wei Xiao were sober, he would surely notice something was off about her. Suppressing her anger, Wen Nian tried to understand the situation. She had a basic grasp of the cause and effect, but shecked evidence. Everything was based on spection, and she knew that without substantial evidence, her imagination was useless. If she wanted to bring down the Wei family, she needed concrete proof. ¡°Wei Xiao, you¡¯ve had too much to drink. Grandfather Wei isn¡¯t the way you described him. I don¡¯t believe it, and I¡¯ve never heard of him borrowing money from my family. The Wei family is so wealthy, how could they have borrowed money from my grandfather?¡± Hearing her question, Wei Xiao stumbled and sat down beside her, his gaze somewhat vacant. ¡°Wei Feng started his business with gold bars¡ªyour grandfather¡¯s gold bars. Those gold bars were redeemed and are still stored in the safe.¡± He unconsciously reached out to grab Wen Nian¡¯s hand, but she skillfully evaded his touch. ¡°Gold bars? What gold bars? I¡¯ve never heard of any gold bars in my family.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice was already trembling.. Chapter 265 - 265: Losing Control Chapter 265: Losing Control Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Of course, they¡¯re your family¡¯s gold bars. They even have the character ¡®Wen¡¯ engraved on them! These are the foundation of my family¡¯s fortune, but they are also the lifelong shame of my grandfather. He got rich with other people¡¯s money, but he didn¡¯t want to repay it.¡± Wei Xiao burped, and the smell made Wen Nian feel a little disgusted. However, Wen Nian endured the disgust and continued to ask, ¡°Grandpa Wei is so rich. He won¡¯t borrow money and not return it. Moreover, my grandfather¡¯s death has nothing to do with him. Grandpa Wei is a good person. After your mother died, no matter how your father ignored you, Grandpa Wei raised you single-handedly. Don¡¯t misunderstand him.¡± Wen Nian also knew that her words were full of loopholes, but it was enough to deal with Wei Xiao, who had drunk too much. ¡°Of course he has something to do with your grandfather¡¯s death! He was the one who found someone to concoct that medicine! Moreover, he raised me, but if he wants me to marry you, it means that he doesn¡¯t want me to inherit the Wei family. He wants to use me to kill you. Do you understand?¡± Wei Xiao was already a little confused and his words were incoherent. ¡°Each of his sons were all disappointing, leaving him in search of a fitting sessor. Astonishingly, I was not the one he opted for. Toplicate matters, at the sight of you and the Wen family, an uneasy feeling gnawed at him. Your grandfather¡¯s demise is imperative, as is yours. Extinction should befall your entire kin. Failing this, his own demise awaits. Yet here you stand, advocating for him. Why?¡± Wen Nian was greatly shocked by his words. It seemed that in her previous life, whether it was her grandfather¡¯s death, her parents¡¯ deaths, or even her own death, they were all rted to Wei Feng. Even Wei Xiao¡¯s actions towards her were all nned by Wei Feng from the very beginning. But before she could continue asking, Wei Xiao suddenly grabbed her hand. ¡°But I really can¡¯t bear to let you go. 1 really like you. It hurts me to see you with Shen Jun.¡± ¡°Let go of me, or 1¡¯11 break your hand!¡± Wen Nian got so angry that she stood up directly, intending to break his wrist. At that moment, the door to the private room was pushed open, revealing a gleeful Wei Lai and a pretend-shocked Jiang Chun, along with the expressionless Shen Jun. Seeing Shen Jun enter, Wei Xiao somewhat sobered up, but he had drunk too much and didn¡¯t immediately release Wen Nian¡¯s hand. Shen Jun strode over, forcefully prying Wei Xiao¡¯s hand open, and then he pulled Wen Nian out of the private room. ¡°Brother Shen Jun!¡± Wei Lai hurriedly followed, ¡°See, 1 told you! She¡¯s having an affair with my brother. Don¡¯t let her deceive you.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s steps wererge, and Wen Nian struggled to keep up. Wei Lai and Jiang Chun following behind were also panting. Jiang Chun still had an innocent look and took responsibility, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Shen Jun. It¡¯s my fault for not stopping Wei Lai. Don¡¯t be mad at Wen Nian. I think it¡¯s because Wei Xiao drank too much; otherwise, why would Wen Nian let him hold her hand?¡± Wen Nian chuckled at her words. She was starting to understand Jiang Chun¡¯s cunning nature. Every sentence she said seemed well-intentioned, but she was always trying to make others misunderstand you. At the moment, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t listen to anyone. Sensing that Wen Nian was struggling to keep up, he bent down and lifted her up. Being suddenly lifted off the ground startled Wen Nian, and she quickly clung to Shen Jun¡¯s neck. ¡°Shen Jun, what are you doing?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t speak!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice was hoarse, but his eyes were filled with stubbornness. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s expression, Wen Nian knew he was getting jealous again. She had already opened the app, and since she had nothing to hide, she was confident that there would be evidence proving her innocence. However, she didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun to bring her back to his home and then carry her into the bedroom. He threw her onto the bed. ¡°Shen Jun, calm down.¡± Wen Nian panicked. Shen Jun had always exudedposure and self-control. They had previously conspired to coax the secrets out of Wei Xiao. However, Shen Jun¡¯s response was undeniably scary. Observing her cautious expression, Shen Jun¡¯s anger intensified. He leaned in, capturing Wen Nian¡¯s lips with a forceful bite, and then his tongue intruded, exploring the space within her mouth. Despite having spent numerous years in prison, Wen Nian found herself powerless against Shen Jun¡¯s influence. A significant strength gap existed between them, rendering her unable to fend him off. She could not just kick his manhood, right? As the kiss deepened, Shen Jun¡¯s breathing became unstable. He started to touch her everywhere. After all, Wen Nian¡¯s body was still in her teens. How could she resist such torture? Soon, she felt her body softening into a pool of water. Just as Shen Jun¡¯s hand reached down, Wen Nian snapped back to reality. Faced with the realization that pushing him away was futile, she resorted to sinking her teeth firmly into his lips.. Chapter 266 - 266: Jealousy Chapter 266: Jealousy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Hiss,¡± Shen Jun felt the pain on his lips, and only then did he start to regain his rity. Looking at Wen Nian, who had tears in her eyes and a stubborn expression, he couldn¡¯t bear to see her like this. However, when he thought of the scene just now, he was extremely jealous. He thought of the star bottle he had seen at Wen Nian¡¯s house. It was filled with love for Wei Xiao. He tried to convince himself that he didn¡¯t care, but the truth was that he cared more than he was willing to admit. Every memory of Wen Nian and Wei Xiao¡¯s past moments together had taken root in Shen Jun¡¯s heart, fueling the fire of his jealousy. As his thoughts spiraled into chaos and he leaned in to kiss her once more, he was interrupted by Wen Nian¡¯s hoarse voice calling his name, ¡°Shen Jun.¡± He responded with a soft ¡°Um,¡± his voice a mixture of acknowledgment and murmur. His gaze remained intense as he looked down at Wen Nian, her face flushed, her hair disheveled, and her lips slightly swollen from their kisses. His fingers brushed her lips gently, and then he buried his head in the curve of her neck. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Both of them uttered apologies almost simultaneously, their words hanging in the air. Wen Nian took a deep breath and gently wrapped her arms around Shen Jun¡¯s neck, letting him lean closer. ¡°Shen Jun, you are my boyfriend. 1 only love you. What 1 said to Wei Xiao was recorded, and 1 have no connection with him. I love only you, and no one else.¡± Tears welled up in her eyes, whether from a sense of injustice or sadness, she couldn¡¯t discern. But she knew that the boy in her arms was her true love, and she was determined to clear any misunderstandings between them. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I love you too.¡± Shen Jun turned his head slightly and kissed away the tears at the corners of her eyes. Then, he kept repeating, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Wen Nian cradled his face with both hands and then pressed her lips against his, the kiss more like a confrontation than an affectionate gesture. A slight twinge pulsed in Shen Jun¡¯s teeth as they met hers. Then, she immediately moved away. ¡°You¡¯re so jealous. I am about to die from all this sourness.¡± Shen Jun was a little embarrassed by her words. He leaned over and bit her nose again. ¡°I¡¯ll go find you some clothes. I¡¯ll send you backter.¡± It was only at that moment that Wen Nian became aware of the deformity in her top and the torn cor caused by Shen Jun. It was then, with an unnatural movement, that she sat up and began to straighten her disheveled clothes. Observing her resembling a young girl in that moment, Shen Jun¡¯s lips curved into a gentle smile. He turned away and started to search for some clothes. As Shen Jun left, Shen Jun¡¯s phone began to ring. She called out to him, but he didn¡¯t hear, so she picked up the phone and saw ¡°Jiang Chun¡± on the screen. It was almost io pm, but Jiang Chun still called Shen Jun directly. Wen Nian was furious. This woman was definitely an expert. Wen Nian had encountered many people in the entertainment industry during her previous life, but few were as adept at managing situations and emotions as Jiang Chun. After a while, the call ended, and a WeChat message from Jiang Chun appeared. Jiang Chun: Are you alright? You¡¯re not mad at me, are you? I me myself for today. Wei Lai said it was her friend¡¯s birthday and asked for my support. She lied, and I¡¯ve repeatedly told her not to interfere between you and Wen Nian, but she won¡¯t listen. Next time, 1¡¯11 talk to her seriously. 1 won¡¯t let Wen Nian get upset. Jiang Chun: ¡°I see that you¡¯ve been drinking too. I¡¯ve made some hangover soup. I¡¯ll get the driver to send it to youter, okay? Otherwise, you¡¯ll have a headache when you go to school tomorrow.¡± When Shen Jun returned with a white T-shirt simr to the one Wen Nian was wearing, he saw Wen Nian holding his phone with a faint smile. Wen Nian really hadn¡¯t unlocked his phone. It was mainly because the contents of the message had popped up. It was difficult for her not to see it. Shen Jun took the phone suspiciously, then frowned. ¡°Why does she always take responsibility for herself?¡± ¡°It seems she¡¯s trying to portray herself as pure and innocent in your eyes. Her intention is for you to believe she¡¯s not involved in any scheming, and that she¡¯s genuinely kind.¡± Wen Nian had finally had enough of Jiang Chun¡¯s petty tricks. She didn¡¯t want to argue with Shen Jun either. Grabbing her T-shirt, she headed to the bathroom to change her clothes. Seeing that Shen Jun had not replied, Jiang Chun felt a little worried. After all, Wei Xiao was a little delirious from drinking. Shen Jun must have drunk a lot too. She continued to call, but the call was hung up. Shen Jun: What happened today has nothing to do with you. Wen Nian isn¡¯t angry either. I¡¯ve said it before. She¡¯s not the petty woman you think she is. Jiang Chun: 1 was waiting for your reply for quite a while and thought you might have had a bit too much to drink. It really startled me. You should becareful in Ii City. If you¡¯re feeling ufortable or anything, just let me know. We¡¯re friends, and 1 will definitely help you. Jiang Chun ignored Shen Jun¡¯s defense of Wen Nian. After all, Shen Jun had always defended that woman.. Chapter 267 - 267: Who Will Have the Last Laugh Chapter 267: Who Will Have the Last Laugh Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun thought about Wen Nian¡¯s expression and words earlier and had a faint feeling that Jiang Chun¡¯s words seemed a bit off every time. But he couldn¡¯t quite figure out where this strange feeling wasing from. He simply replied to Jiang Chun, not wanting to continue talking to her. However, Jiang Chun kept sending him messages. Jiang Chun: 1 noticed that Wen Nian seemed quite angry today. I can exin things to her. Besides, she and Wei Xiao have already called off their engagement. It was Wen Nian who proposed it first. Even if Wei Xiao still has lingering feelings for her, it has nothing to do with Wen Nian. Don¡¯t be angry with her. Jiang Chun: Send me your location, and 1¡¯11 have the driver bring you some hangover soup. Shen Jun: No need, thanks. Jiang Chun¡¯s hand holding the phone turned slightly pale. She had asked for Shen Jun¡¯s address twice, but he never gave it to her. Moreover, she clearly saw Shen Jun¡¯s anger today, and a man like Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t easily cool down once he got mad. Before returning to the private room, Shen Jun had already heard plenty from Wei Lai, and with the rumors spreading about Wei Xiao and Wen Nian at school, Shen Jun must have been aware. How could he not be angry when he saw the two of them pulling each other? But the reason he was so calm now had only one exnation¡ªWen Nian must have sessfully coaxed him Jiang Chun didn¡¯t press Shen Jun further. She muttered to herself, ¡°Wen Nian, you truly are apetent opponent, aren¡¯t you? Let¡¯s see who will have thestugh.¡± After Wen Nian changed her clothes, Shen Jun stood up and offered her the phone, taking the initiative to let her check. Seeing his efforts, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You want me to keep an eye on you? What¡¯s the password for your phone? I will check it at anytime from now on.¡± Shen Jun replied naturally, ¡°Your birthday. The password is your birthday.¡± Wen Nian skeptically entered the password, and indeed, the phone unlocked. Her ears turned slightly red, especially when she read Shen Jun¡¯s words defending her. She felt a warm sensation inside her. Yet, she also noticed Jiang Chun¡¯s attempts at stirring trouble. Jiang Chun was undeniably skilled. Her every word was perfectly measured, leaving no room for criticism. Yet, her words had a way of igniting one¡¯s imagination. It was hard to believe she was only in her teens; with time, she might evolve into a true master of toying with hearts. Wen Nian refrained from discussing Jiang Chun any further. Instead, she handed the phone back to Shen Jun. She chose to ce her trust in him, just as he had chosen to trust her unconditionally. Shen Jun sent her home, but Wen Nian couldn¡¯t fall asleep no matter what. She kept thinking about Wei Xiao¡¯s words today. As expected, Wei Feng didn¡¯t want to return the money he borrowed.The funds he had utilized to establish hispany were sourced from Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather¡¯s gold bars. In the end, he even poisoned Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather and redeemed the gold bars. She recalled the gold bar she had discovered in her family¡¯s ancient residence. Undoubtedly, a slightly skewed ¡°Wen¡± was etched onto it, likely the handiwork of her grandfather. Nevertheless, even if she managed to obtain the gold bar from Wei Feng¡¯s possession, it wouldn¡¯t prove anything. He could im that this a collectible item. Therefore, the most important thing was to find the evidence of Wei Feng poisoning her grandfather. However, when her grandfather passed away, no autopsy procedure was conducted. Many years have passed. Could she even find evidence? Wen Nian fell asleep amid these thoughts. As she had thought too much the day before, she was almostte for school the next day. Shen Jun handed her a bottle of water and looked at her worriedly. ¡°How are you? You didn¡¯t sleep well yesterday?¡± Wen Nian looked at the energetic Shen Jun and was a little speechless. Then, she looked at Wei Xiao¡¯s empty seat and sighed in her heart. Shen Jun¡¯s alcohol tolerance was really good. He had clearly drunk the most yesterday, but today, he acted as if nothing had happened. It seemed that she would need to be careful when drinking with him in the future. ¡°You slept well? Why are you so energetic today?¡± Wen Nian muttered softly. Shen Jun suddenly leaned over and chuckled, ¡°Exactly, when someone loves me, and loves me deeply enough to even bite me, of course, I¡¯ll be in high spirits.¡± He deliberately licked his lips, and Wen Nian noticed the scabbed wound on his lips, causing her face to blush again. Thankfully, the teacher walked in to start the ss, which could be considered her ¡°narrow escape.¡± At the Wei residence. Wei Xiao had drunk too much the previous day, and he fell asleep as soon as he returned home. However, he was still awakened by the noisy sounds from outside. ¡°Grandfather, why does Wei Xiao treat me like this? I refuse to ept it! Clearly, 1 was about to seed yesterday. It was all because he drank too much that he ruined my n!¡± At this moment, Wei Lai didn¡¯t feel like she had done anything wrong. She even thought that if Wei Xiao had been able to stop Wen Nian yesterday, she could haveforted the heartbroken Shen Jun and perhaps even taken advantage of his drunken state to have something happen between them. That way, she would secure her position as Shen Family¡¯s daughter-inw.. Chapter 268 - 268: Disappointing Grandson Chapter 268: Disappointing Grandson Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Nonsense! I told you not to interfere in this matter!¡± Wei Feng said angrily. Seeing him upset, Wei Lai held back the words she was about to say. Wei Feng gazed at his granddaughter before him and sensed a burgeoning headache. Wei Lai was acknowledged as beautiful, yet she was too young andcked guile. She wasn¡¯t stupid but she wasn¡¯t smart. These were the qualities that had prompted his throbbing headache. If Wei Lai could just keep her cool, Wei Xiao could establish a good rtionship with Shen Jun, and there would be plenty of opportunities for her to interact with Shen Jun in the future. Yet, she insisted on meddling, which only made things worse. Men didn¡¯t mind women who came to them, but most men weren¡¯t fond of women pushed into arranged marriages, especially considering Wei Lai¡¯s track record of foolish actions. At this moment, Wei Xiao also pushed open the door. With disheveled hair, he faced Wei Feng¡¯s scrutinizing gaze and quickly straightened up, ¡°Grandfather.¡± ¡°You,e with me to the study.¡± Then Wei Feng turned to Wei Lai and said, ¡°You better go to ss and stay away from Shen Jun for a while. Otherwise, you¡¯re going abroad for a few years!¡± Hearing the old man¡¯s threat to send her abroad, and considering the prospect of a life without the support of her family, Wei Lai felt genuine fear and promptly turned to prepare for school. Wei Xiao, on the other hand, lowered his head and entered Wei Feng¡¯s study. He couldn¡¯t remember much from yesterday, but he did remember the furious expression on Shen Jun¡¯s face and the image of him holding Wen Nian¡¯s hand. ¡°What happened yesterday? Did youy a hand on Wen Nian in the private room?¡± Wei Feng stared at his unruly grandson, almost wanting to kick him. Even if Shen Jun saw Wen Nian as a toy, what man would tolerate his ything being coveted by another man? Especially in his presence? Wei Xiao quickly exined, ¡°No, Grandfather, it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± His brain was racing at lightning speed. He knew if he couldn¡¯t exin this, things could go bad. ¡°Shen Jun and 1 were drinking together the whole time. Grandfather, we had a great conversation at the dining table. Otherwise, how could we have finished a whole bottle of Maotai?¡± Though Wei Xiao¡¯s voice was trembling, he realized that Shen Jun had indeed drunk a lot. While he wasn¡¯t very talkative, he did participate in the banquet, which was the first step in building a rtionship. At the thought of this, Wei Xiao felt that he was not lying. He started feeling more confident. ¡°And even if I were foolish, I wouldn¡¯t dare to make advances on Wen Nian in front of him. It was actually Wen Nian who said she still had lingering feelings for me and she grabbed my hand. Then Wei Lai suddenly burst in. Otherwise, Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t have seen anything.¡± He had decided to shift all the me onto Wen Nian. After all, everyone knew about her chasing after him before. Wei Feng would likely believe this too. ¡°Is what you¡¯re saying true?¡± Wei Feng was skeptical, but thinking back to Wen Nian¡¯s behavior in the past, it seemed usible. ¡°Grandfather, I¡¯ve known Wen Nian since we were kids. After so many years of connection, how could her feelings just disappear because she said so?¡± Wei Xiao continued exining, ¡°And she suddenly proposed to break off our engagement. Isn¡¯t that strange, Grandfather? People don¡¯t just change suddenly, right?¡± Wei Feng finally nodded. It was normal for young people to have their ups and downs. Didn¡¯t Wen Nian used to want to marry Wei Xiao? How could her feelings change so quickly? Perhaps there was really a misunderstanding. ¡°But regardless, she¡¯s Shen Jun¡¯s girlfriend now.¡± Wei Feng thought for a moment and added, ¡°But she still has feelings for you, and that¡¯s good. Even if you can¡¯t be husband and wife, you can still be good friends. Make good use of this rtionship. Establishing a connection with the Shen family is important.¡± An hourter, Wei Xiao emerged from Wei Feng¡¯s study. Wei Feng had questioned him quite a bit, but he couldn¡¯t recall much from when he was drunk. He had to gloss over some things. However, he distinctly recalled the moment Wen Nian inquired, ¡°What gold bars?¡± Nevertheless, he had refrained from sharing this particr detail with Wei Feng. He had stumbled upon the revtion that Wei Feng had redeemed the gold bars by chance. The disclosure took ce during an evening of drinks and conversation between Wei Jiang and Wei Ming. During that period, Wei Xiao was young. He was curious and this led him to tag along with his grandfather on a few asions.Subsequently, he found out that within his grandfather¡¯s bedroom safe rested the very gold bars in question. At that time, Wei Feng thought that he was just being naughty, so he didn¡¯t take it to heart and just scolded him a little. However, for some reason, Wei Ming suddenly found a private detective and often interacted with him. Once, when Wei Xiao went to find Wei Ming, he found the room empty. But there on the tabley an investigation report. The opening page detailed how Wei Feng had enlisted an individual to create a poison with dyed effects. In an unexpected turn of events, Wei Ming promptly reentered the room, prompting Wei Xiao to swiftly return the document to its original position.. Chapter 269 - 269: Delivering Medicine Chapter 269: Delivering Medicine Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios This incident had stayed with Wei Xiao for many years. From the initial shock to the subsequent investigation, he gradually realized that Wei Feng, the head of the Wei family, wasn¡¯t as virtuous as he appeared on the surface. His heart harbored darkness and malice, not only reserving sinister intentions for the family¡¯s descendants but also extending it to the Wen family. Wei Xiao still felt a lingering fear from that experience. He just couldn¡¯t recall how much he had revealed to Wen Nian at the time or whether she had be suspicious. With these thoughts in mind, he quickly picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Wen Nian. Wei Xiao: I¡¯m really sorry about yesterday. I drank too much. You didn¡¯t quarrel with Shen Jun, right? While Wen Nian was reviewing yesterday¡¯s incorrect answers, her phone buzzed. Seeing that it was a message from Wei Xiao, she handed the phone to Shen Jun to helppose a reply. Wei Xiao: Can you also apologize to Shen Jun for me? I had too much to drink yesterday. I wanted to cheer him up, so I thought we¡¯d have a few extra drinks. I didn¡¯t expect things to go south like that. I¡¯m really sorry about what happened. Wen Nian: We didn¡¯t quarrel and we won¡¯t quarrel. Wei Xiao: That¡¯s a relief. 1 really overdid it with the drinks yesterday. 1 just woke up. Did Shen Jun go to school today? Is he alright? Wen Nian: He¡¯s fine. He handles alcohol better than you. Wei Xiao: Yeah, I can tell. Let him know that if he¡¯s up for it, we can continue this weekend. We have some premium white wine at home. 1 promise not to go overboard this time. Wen Nian replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Wei Xiao: By the way, when I was drunk yesterday, you asked me about gold bars? Wei Xiao felt a bit uneasy; he didn¡¯t know exactly what he had mentioned to Wen Nian yesterday, but he distinctly remembered that line. The Wei family¡¯s matters were private, and he didn¡¯t want to give the Wen family any leverage that might lead to trouble for his own family. Seeing this message, Shen Jun furrowed his brows. He had listened to the recording from yesterday and hadn¡¯t expected Wei Xiao to remember that sentence while being so intoxicated. Wen Nian: Gold bars? Were you really that drunk yesterday? We just had dinner, and the priciest thing was that lobster. Where would gold barse into the picture? Wei Xiao: I must have been really out of it. Look at my memory. Anyway, don¡¯t worry about it. Focus on your studies. Seeing thest message, Shen Jun pursed his lips unconsciously and returned the phone to Wen Nian. After reviewing the incorrect answers, Wen Nian inwardly rolled her eyes at Shen Jun¡¯s reply. It seemed that he needed to emphasize his superiority over Wei Xiao even in casual conversations. Recalling that he had drunk a lot yesterday, Wen Nian was a little suspicious. ¡°Why are you so good at drinking? You weren¡¯t drunk at all yesterday?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been around family gatherings and social events involving alcohol since 1 was young. Now I asionally go out with friends for socializing.¡± Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s expression, Shen Jun further exined, ¡°I¡¯ve never actually been drunk, not even yesterday.¡± ¡°So, you were deliberately messing with me, weren¡¯t you?¡± Wen Nian narrowed her eyes yfully. Thinking back to yesterday¡¯s scene made her blush again. This time, Shen Jun didn¡¯t exin anything. He just grunted. Wen Nian was utterly done with him. Apart from focusing on her studies, her mind was consumed with plotting how to find evidence. Since Wei Xiao knew about Wei Feng¡¯s affairs, it was likely that other members of the Wei family were aware of it as well. Otherwise, how could a young boy like him know so much? The day passed uneventfully until school ended in the afternoon, and Wei Xiao finally returned to the ssroom. He walked straight to Shen Jun. ¡°Shen Jun, I¡¯m sorry about yesterday. This is a hangover medicine prepared by my family. It also has the effect of protecting the liver. This is for you.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t move or speak. Feeling awkward, Wei Xiao scratched his nose. ¡°Um, I truly had too much to drink yesterday. I¡¯m sorry, don¡¯t lower yourself to my level. I also apologized to Wen Nian. I really lost my memory yesterday. Don¡¯t be angry.¡± Several ssmates were still in the ssroom, and they couldn¡¯t help but watch Wei Xiao. The Wei family¡¯s young heir rarely tried to appease others like this. Their gazes at Shen Jun changed as well; evidently, this Shen Jun had quite a background. ¡°Shen Jun, you haven¡¯t left yet?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice came from the back door as she walked in, carrying a pink bag that seemed carefully chosen. ¡°My grandmother prepared these hangover remedies and some sugar-coated pills for you. She says they work wonders for relieving hangovers and headaches.¡± Jiang Chun wanted to send it over in the morning, but she thought that she might be able to go home with Shen Jun at night. She waited until school ended, but unfortunately, Wei Xiao also sent the medicine over. Nheless, Jiang Chun smiled at Shen Jun and then handed over the medicine. ¡°Come on, take these. 1 brought them especially for you.¡± Shen Jun furrowed his brow, unsure why he suddenly felt reluctant to take them. He nced at Wen Nian with a tinge of guilt.. Chapter 270 - 270: Defending Someone Chapter 270: Defending Someone Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°This is from my grandmother. She heard you drankst night and specially went out to buy these medicines. Just ept them. It¡¯s her way of showing kindness,¡± Jiang Chun maintained an innocent expression, but she suddenly felt a pang of resentment. Especially since she saw Shen Jun constantly looking at Wen Nian, she found it hard to control her jealousy. ¡°Well, thank you then,¡± Wen Nian naturally took the bag from Jiang Chun¡¯s hand. However, Jiang Chun seemed to hesitate, pulling the bag back instinctively, and Wei Chun tugged back with force. In their struggle, the bag tore open, and several pills spilled out. ¡°Wen Nian, you! My grandmother told me to bring these medicines to Shen Jun. How can you just waste her kind intentions like this?¡± Mist formed in Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes, and she looked on the verge of tears, as if she could start crying any moment. The strangeness in Shen Jun¡¯s heart became more and more obvious as he looked at her. Just a moment ago, she had been handing over the bag to Wen Nian. Why was she suddenly trying to pull it back? The ssmates around were unsure of what was happening. They only saw the medicines scattered on the floor and Jiang Chun on the brink of tears, seemingly about to burst into tears any second. Most of them sided with Jiang Chun. Even though she had transferred to another ss, her poprity was still good. Almost everyone in the ss liked her, so when they witnessed this scene, they immediately thought Wen Nian was at fault. ¡°I heard Jiang Chun and Shen Jun have known each other since childhood. Could Wen Nian really be jealous to this extent?¡± ¡°Yeah, these are medicines from the elders. How could she throw them on the ground?¡± ¡°Her jealousy is truly strong. What did Shen Jun see in her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Jiang Chun is so nice. She¡¯s obviously gentle and kind-hearted. Wen Nian is really mean.¡± Hearing thements from the ssmates, Jiang Chun quickly ¡°defended¡± Wen Nian: ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. I identally did that just now. It had nothing to do with Wen Nian. She definitely didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± She finished speaking and immediately crouched down to pick up the scattered pills from the ground, muttering to herself as if talking to no one in particr, ¡°My grandmother went out to buy these medicines personallyst night. We can¡¯t waste them like this.¡± The ssroom was rtively quiet, and though her voice was soft, every word was clearly audible. Many ssmates came over to help andfort her, while Jiang Chun continued to exin that Wen Nian really wasn¡¯t doing it ¡°intentionally.¡± Wen Nian looked down at her performance and sneered in her heart. Jiang Chun couldn¡¯t wait anymore? This wasn¡¯t her style. Jiang Chun struggled to pick up all the pills from the floor, pretended to wipe away a tear, and handed the bag back to Shen Jun. ¡°After all, this is a gesture from my grandmother. It¡¯s good to keep it as a backup.¡± Suddenly, Shen Jun lowered his head, picked up a small receipt from the ground, furrowed his brow, and said, ¡°It says this was delivered to the security guard during ss break today. Jiang Chun, did you receive it? Are you sure your grandmother personally bought this yesterday evening?¡± Jiang Chun looked at the receipt in his hand incredulously. She had tossed away the receipt from the takeout packaging, but how did one end up inside? Wen Nian nced at the receipt. ¡°It seems Miss Jiang doesn¡¯t understand the procedure for ordering medicine online. The outer one is from the food delivery app, while the inner one is the essential receipt from the pharmacy. It¡¯s required for exchanges and after-sales service.¡± ¡°Maybe my grandmother couldn¡¯t go out conveniently, so she ordered it online.¡± Jiang Chun felt somewhat guilty, but she regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. She had just said her grandmother personally bought themst night. She knew that saying more now wouldn¡¯t help. No matter how she exined, it would not make sense. Her eyes turned red and she took the bag away. Looking distressed and holding back tears, her voice slightly hoarse, she said, ¡°Since Wei Xiao gave you medicine too, and Wen Nian doesn¡¯t want you to take my medicine, then forget it. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Wen Nian truly admired this woman¡¯s mental resilience. Not only did she remainposed under pressure, but she also managed to find a way out instantly. Meanwhile, many ssmates also understood now. When Wen Nian showed the takeout receipt, it was clear that Jiang Chun was using her grandmother¡¯s name deliberately to give Shen Jun the medicine. A few students felt a bit awkward. They looked at Wen Nian with apologetic expressions before quickly grabbing their bags and leaving the ssroom. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to argue with her any longer, but suddenly she heard Shen Jun speak, ¡°Wen Nian didn¡¯t intentionally throw the medicine on the ground. It was you who tugged the bag back, causing it to tear and the pills to fall.¡± ¡°W-what?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s expression hadn¡¯t yet adjusted. It even carried a hint of anger. ¡°You tugged the bag, and that¡¯s why it tore. Wen Nian didn¡¯t purposely throw the medicine.¡± Shen Jun repeated himself. His face was expressionless, and his voice devoid of any emotional fluctuations, almostpletely shattering Jiang Chun¡¯sst trace of self-esteem.. Chapter 271 - 271: Falling from the Altar Chapter 271: Falling from the Altar Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian could see Jiang Chun trembling, but she quicklyposed herself and smiled, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re right. I¡¯ve exined to my ssmates just now as well. It wasn¡¯t intentional on my part.¡± Shen Jun repeated once more, ¡°You tugged the bag, causing it to tear. Wen Nian was just reaching out to take it.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chun¡¯s tears flowed uncontrobly. ¡°Shen Jun, we¡¯ve been good friends since childhood. We¡¯ve known each other for so many years. Don¡¯t you trust me? Are you saying that 1 intentionally framed Wen Nian just now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts as I saw them,¡± Shen Jun frowned, feeling a bit stifled. Jiang Chun had always been quick to take responsibility, sometimes overly kind. How could she say something like this today? ¡°Shen Jun, we¡¯ve known each other since we were young. How can you think like this?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s tears were flowing, her voice choked with sobs, ¡°I acted recklessly today, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ll go back now.¡± She turned around quickly, but Wen Nian noticed her steps were slow, clearly hesitating, probably waiting for Shen Jun to stop her. However, Shen Jun didn¡¯t say anything, and his expression didn¡¯t look very good. Watching this scene, Wei Xiao suddenly understood something. He had seen situations like this abroad. He didn¡¯t believe in purely tonic rtionships between men and women, and especially not Jiang Chun¡¯s im that she and Shen Jun had been close friends since childhood. The Wei family had investigated this matter, and to be fair, the two of them had only been kidnapped together for a few days in their childhood. There had been no significant interaction between their families. Jiang Chun¡¯s words were likely an attempt to bridge the gap between her and Shen Jun. Jiang Chun didn¡¯t expect that Shen Jun wouldn¡¯t stop her, and with many ssmates still around, observing the situation, she felt her pride couldn¡¯t be salvaged. Plus, she needed to salvage her image in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. In the end, she turned back around and deeply bowed to Wen Nian, saying tearfully, ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m sorry. 1 let so many ssmates misunderstand you just now. 1 hope you won¡¯t be angry and won¡¯t hold any grudges against Shen Jun because of this. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± After saying that, she looked at Shen Jun with tears in her eyes. Seeing that Shen Jun still didn¡¯t move, she really turned around and left. Wei Xiao wasn¡¯t nning to say anything at this point. Seeing that the situation had calmed down, he exchanged a few courteous words and left. Due to Shen Jun¡¯s defense earlier, Wen Nian was in a good mood. She walked Shen Jun out of the school and then returned to her dormitory. However, no one expected this scene to be posted online. Someone had taken a photo of Jiang Chun bowing and even picked up the receipt for her delivery. Although Shen Jun had thrown the receipt away, it was retrieved from the trash, and the photo was posted on the campus forum. The campus forum hadn¡¯t seen such a major event for a long time. Even though many people liked Jiang Chun, more were eager to see the school beauty fall from the altar. The post¡¯s content was straightforward, briefly exining the situation. Despitecking embellishments,izens still imagined a dramatic romance rivalry between the two school beauties for the handsome guy. No one dared to mention Shen Jun¡¯s name, but everyone knew which ¡°Shen¡± they were referring to. In just an hour, the post had already garnered thousands ofments. ¡°Could Jiang Chun have transferred sses due to Wen Nian¡¯s pressure? To prevent her from being close to Shen?¡± ¡°Are you out of your mind,menter above? What kind of family is the Jiang family? The Wen family is just an ordinary one. How could that be possible? It¡¯s more believable that the Jiang family pressured Wen Nian into transferring.¡± ¡°Wen Nian has been focusing on her studies and making noticeable improvements for over a year. How would she have the time for all this?¡± ¡°Wen Nian even acted in a movie recently. If she had ulterior motives, she might as well be a star. What a great opportunity! She has millions of fans! That¡¯s something many celebrities don¡¯t have!¡± ¡°I think Jiang Chun is just acting innocent. Always trying to appear good to everyone, but still showing off her uniqueness. She¡¯s extremely beautiful, but I¡¯m tired of her pretense.¡± ¡°Agree with thement above. She¡¯s scheming. Some boys just think she¡¯s innocent and kind. But she has finally received retribution.¡±¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s as pretty as Wen Nian. Who said she¡¯s the school beauty? Does being a school beauty not depend on looks?¡± ¡°Although Wen Nian was a bit stupid for a while, the movie she acted in really caught my attention. That face of hers is undoubtedly that of a top-notch school beauty!¡± ¡°Exactly! I¡¯ve always supported Wen Nian.. She¡¯s the true school beauty of our school!¡± Chapter 272 - 272: Should We Take Action? Chapter 272: Should We Take Action? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Back in her dormitory, Wen Nian was unaware of these events. She was diligently solving the math problems in her hands. However, her roommates and fans, Zhou Bei and Sun Min, were already engaging in a heated battle of words on the campus website with others attacking Wen Nian. They weren¡¯t just responding to other people¡¯s negativements. They had also shared the post on their fan support group, with a single goal in mind¡ªto defend Wen Nian¡¯s positive image. Thanks to their relentless efforts, the ¡°Wen Nian Fan Support Group¡± on WeChat had expanded to ten different groups. Although Wen Nian didn¡¯t usually post updates, the active participation of the members, coupled with asional stories shared by her roommates, kept the groups lively. Zhao Jiao returned home from her beauty treatment in high spirits, only to see the post in the group. When she saw Jiang Chun in particr, her brows furrowed continuously. She likely felt that Shen Jun was mostly left to his own devices. The Shen family and the Zhao family were both powerful, so she wasn¡¯t worried about Shen Jun¡¯s safety. However, if there was a family in Kyoto trying to disrupt Shen Jun, the situation would be different. She quickly found Zhou Bei and Zhou Min in the management group. Sister Jiao: What¡¯s going on with this Jiang Chun? Zhou Bei: She transferred here justst semester, but this semester she¡¯s in a different ss. She told others that she and Shen Jun have been childhood friends and that she transferred because of a misunderstanding with Wen Nian. And today, she came to see Shen Jun again.¡± Zhao Min: Wen Nian hardly spoke to her at all, and Jiang Chun usually talks more with guys. 1 think she¡¯s pursuing Shen Jun and failing, so she¡¯s taking it out on Wen Nian. Sister Jiao: Childhood friends? Howe I didn¡¯t know? Zhou Bei: Sister Jiao, how could you possibly know? We didn¡¯t know at first either. Jiang Chun said it. Otherwise, who would know what kind of rtionship they have? Zhao Min: But Shen Jun seems indifferent toward her. Did you not see the post today? She even used her grandma¡¯s name to deliver medicine to Shen Jun, but she got exposed and turned the situation around on Wen Nian. Sister Jiao: Please ask the people in the group not to continue attacking Jiang Chun. I suspect the post will be deleted by tomorrow. Don¡¯t make Wen Nian¡¯s fans appear as if they enjoy attacking others. Even if they are right, they¡¯ll end up looking wrong. Zhao Min: Really? Why would the post be deleted? Zhou Bei: Could it be the Jiang family? That¡¯s so shameless! Can money really control public opinion like this? Sister Jiao: Believe me, please delete any negativements. Otherwise, you might be handing others ammunition for the future. 1¡¯11 handle the rest, don¡¯t worry. Zhao Jiao looked at Jiang Chun in the photo and sighed. The Jiang family was really persistent. It seemed that they had forgotten the warning from back then. Shen Mo returned to the bedroom after a busy day and saw Zhao Jiao frowning. He hugged her in his arms. ¡°Didn¡¯t you go for a beauty treatment today? Are you not satisfied? Do you want me to give you a full-body massage tonight?¡± Shen Mo had just kissed Zhao Jiao when he was pushed away in disdain. ¡°You¡¯re so dirty. You didn¡¯t even take a shower. Don¡¯t touch me! You¡¯re so annoying!¡± Sensing that his wife was in a bad mood, Shen Mo hurriedly asked, ¡°What happened? Who made you angry, or what?¡± After much hesitation, Zhao Jiao showed Shen Mo the contents of the post. After all, Wen Nian also had millions of fans. This matter had received attention on the school forum from the beginning and was reposted on social media websites. Someone even found a photo of Wen Nian pushing Jiang Chun into the water in the ancient city a long time ago. At that time, there were many people sightseeing in the ancient city. Many people took photos and videos at the side. One person posted a photo, and many people took out the ¡°evidence¡± in their hands. ¡°When did this happen?¡± Shen Mo¡¯s expression was serious, his demeanor somewhat inscrutable. ¡°It¡¯s probably been a year. I didn¡¯t expect the Jiang family to extend their influence so far! Should we ask Shen Jun to be careful? This Jiang Chun must have ulterior motives.¡± Zhao Jiao took out her phone and scrolled through a few more videos. ¡°Look at her actions. If someone hadn¡¯t zoomed in to capture the scenery and happened to capture her retreating body, Wen Nian probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to exin it clearly. However, these videos have already been deleted, and I think the Jiang family is taking action. Do they really think our Shen and Zhao families are powerless?¡± Shen Mo quickly tried to soothe her, ¡°Darling, don¡¯t be angry.. Should we take action?¡± Chapter 273 - 273: Attempted Murder Chapter 273: Attempted Murder Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Of course! They dare to mistreat my daughter-inw. The Jiang family is really shameless.¡± Zhao Jiao was filled with anger. ¡°Even if there¡¯s no evidence of what happened back then, everyone knows the truth. They dare to let this Jiang Chun approach Shen Jun again, aren¡¯t they just eyeing Shen Jun as the sole heir of the Shen family? Hmph!¡± The more Zhao Jiao thought about it, the angrier she got. hy had Shen Jun been kidnapped back then? On the surface, it seemed like Jiang Chun had saved him. Back then, Jiang Chun was just a five-year-old girl, so the police didn¡¯t suspect anything. But what kind of family were the Jiang family and the Shen family in the capital? Shen Jun had snuck out himself, and Jiang Chun just happened to be outside as a small child, leading Shen Jun away? Dozens of bodyguards from the Shen family had been unable to find Shen Jun at the time, and the two kids had managed to avoid surveince cameras. If this was all a coincidence, it was too much of a coincidence, right? The more they investigated this matter, the more suspicious it became. However, the Jiang and supporting families ultimately obstructed the investigation. The Shen family had seen that Shen Jun wasn¡¯t harmed, and in the end, they had let it go. The two families had cut off all contact as well. However, anyone with a discerning eye knew what was going on. They were all pretending not to understand while having a clear understanding. Unexpectedly, after so many years, with Shen Jun about to enter college, the Jiang family was making a move again. And now, they had even targeted Zhao Jiao¡¯s favored daughter-inw. Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t bear it any longer. Seeing Zhao Jiao getting angry, Shen Mo remained silent for a moment before saying, ¡°Darling, 1 think we shouldn¡¯t get involved in this matter.¡± Hearing this, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She red at Shen Mo and said, ¡°Old Shen! Your daughter-inw has been bullied. Wen Nian is a girl from a small family. How is she going to handle this matter?¡± ¡°If you want her to be the future daughter-inw of the Shen family, there are certain experiences she must go through,¡± It was rare that Shen Mo did not go along with her words. Moreover, he looked somewhat serious. ¡°Wifey, Shen Jun is the only child in the Shen family. He not only has to shoulder heavy responsibilities in the future, but his wife also has to. You have the support of the Zhao family, and your two brothers are our allies. But what about Wen Nian? Besides, she¡¯s a budding star right now. She¡¯ll face even greater challenges in the future.¡± Hearing Shen Mo¡¯s words, Zhao Jiao sat back on the bed, feeling a little discouraged. ¡°I know you¡¯re right. It¡¯s not easy to be the matriarch of the Shen family. But my heart aches for this child. What if¡­¡± Shen Mo affectionately stroked her hair. ¡°There are no ¡®what ifs.¡¯ Let¡¯s see how the two kids handle this first. If it doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯ll definitely take action. Besides, Zhao Wu is still in Hai City, isn¡¯t he? If Shen Jun can¡¯t handle it, he¡¯ll go to him. So, don¡¯t worry.¡± Hearing Shen Mo¡¯s reassurances and considering that Zhao Wu was somewhat reliable when it came to handling such matters, Zhao Jiao finally nodded silently. However, she had already made up her mind. Even if she didn¡¯t take action directly, she would quietly guide the fan support group from behind, helping them present a united front to defend Wen Nian¡¯s image. This shouldn¡¯t be considered cheating, right? With her decision made, Zhao Jiaopletely ignored her clingy husband¡¯s desire to fort¡± her and went straight to the group chat to guide the fans on how to present a united defense for Wen Nian. The next morning, as soon as Wen Nian woke up, she saw the serious-looking Zhou Bei and Sun Min standing by her bed with dark circles under their eyes. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen?¡± Wen Nian nced at her phone. It was only 5:30 in the morning. Did these two stay up all night? Zhou Bei opened her phone and handed it to Wen Nian. As Wen Nian saw the content of the post, she was somewhat surprised. She hadn¡¯t expected that such a minor incident would attract so much attention. ¡°Quickly check your social media ounts. Some people are saying they found evidence of you pushing Jiang Chun into the water. They¡¯re saying¡­ saying you¡­¡± Sun Min¡¯s voice was tinged with a sense of grievance, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to finish her sentence. ¡°They¡¯re actually using you of attempted murder!¡± Zhou Bei eximed, her excitement palpable. ¡°Can you believe this? 1 clearly saw someone post evidence that Jiang Chun jumped in by herself yesterday. But today, all the evidence is gone. People defending you in the campus forum have had their IDs blocked, and many of my posts have been deleted. It must be the Jiang family. They¡¯re really bullying us!¡± Seeing the two visibly excited individuals in front of her, Wen Nian could only smile. ¡°You stayed up all night for this? We¡¯re in our senior year, it¡¯s a crucial time. Is this minor issue really worth it?¡± ¡°Is it not worth it? Aren¡¯t you angry?¡± Sun Min¡¯s face turned red. She had been so upset yesterday that she hadn¡¯t slept all night. She had wanted to find the video that had proven Wen Nian¡¯s innocence earlier, but she couldn¡¯t find it anywhere now. With a helpless smile, Wen Nian said, ¡°1 knew something like this would happen sooner orter since I started acting in movies. People used to say 1 sold myself to be a female lead, and now they¡¯re saying I attempted murder. There will be even more hurtful words in the future. If I get angry every time, 1¡¯11 end up being driven mad..¡± Chapter 274 - 274:1 Believe Everything Chapter 274:1 Believe Everything Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian finally got out of bed and patted the heads of her two roommates. ¡°Come on, girls. Today, Sister Nian will treat you to breakfast. How about we go to the cafeteria?¡± After beingforted by Wen Nian, the two girls felt a little embarrassed. They even secretly felt that Wen Nian was really like a caring big sister. Even in the face of such a big issue, she still considered their feelings. The two girls couldn¡¯t help but express their amazement in the fan support group chat and posted pictures of the ¡°love-filled breakfast¡± Wen Nian had given them. This sparked envy and jealousy among the fans in the group. However, Wen Nian was not as rxed as she looked. Someone must have done this on purpose. Initially, it had targeted Jiang Chun, but in the end, the focus had shifted to her. It appeared that Jiang Chun wasn¡¯t the only one against her; there were hidden forces at y. When she arrived at the ssroom, she carefully recalled yesterday¡¯s incident. In the end, she looked at a spot in the corner based on the location of the photo in the post. However, she could no longer remember who was there yesterday. Wen Nian shook her head. Her top priority now was her studies and finding evidence that Wei Feng had harmed her family. She couldn¡¯t afford to split her attention on other matters. Shen Jun had spent the previous night in a meeting with his overseas team. The testing phase of his program had received positive feedback, and the other party had even ced an order for the development of the second phase of the program. He had intended to share this good news with Wen Nian right away. However, he was confronted with the online public opinion instead. He was a little worried at first, but when he rushed to school, he saw that Wen Nian was already sitting in her seat memorizing words. The morning sunlight gently fell upon her hair. Wen Nian had simply tied her hair back into a ponytail, with a few stray strands framing her face. In the sunlight, her hair seemed to shimmer with a golden hue. The young girl lowered her head to study her book, asionally closing her eyes. Shen Jun traced her profile with his gaze, bing somewhat entranced. Suddenly, an untimely voice interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Shen Jun? Did you see yesterday¡¯s post?¡± Jiang Chun appeared before him with red-rimmed eyes. Her eyes were slightly bruised as well, indicating that she had also spent a sleepless night. Hearing the noise, Wen Nian turned her head to look. However, seeing Shen Jun and Jiang Chun near the back door, she simply turned her attention back to her book. She was truly tired of Jiang Chun¡¯s fake appearance by now. She felt that she could spend this time memorizing more vocabry instead. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s actions, Shen Jun did not want her to misunderstand. He only nodded at Jiang Chun and strode back to his seat. Jiang Chun had originally wanted to call him over, but she noticed that many students were already taking out their phones to take pictures. Thus, she returned to her own seat. Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t expected this matter to escte so quickly. If she hadn¡¯t acted quickly and sent out the photo that showed Wen Nian pushing her into the water, the situation would have been worse yesterday. Even though the situation hadn¡¯t been handled perfectly, Jiang Chun believed that as long as everyone focused on Wen Nian, it would be fine. She was just a high school student, while Wen Nian was the lead actress of billion-dor movies. Naturally, the media would be more interested in Wen Nian¡¯s news. As for her, the one who had been pushed into the water by Wen Nian, she was merely an innocent student caught in the crossfire. With the help of Jiang¡¯s family, unfavorablements against her were quickly deleted. Her current focus was on restoring her image in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. Winning over Shen Jun was her ultimate goal. Even if they weren¡¯t officially a couple yet, as long as he believed in her, it would be enough. Shen Jun, who had returned to his seat, exined first, ¡°Jiang Chun asked me if I had seen yesterday¡¯s post. She didn¡¯t say anything else.¡± ¡°Oh-¡± Wen Nian deliberately elongated her tone and then chuckled. ¡°I get it, I didn¡¯t say anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s unexpected apology left Wen Nianpletely puzzled. ¡°What did you do that you need to apologize for?¡± Shen Jun spoke seriously, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t promised herst time to let you go to the ancient town without consulting you, so many things wouldn¡¯t have happened. I will handle this matter; I won¡¯t let you be falsely used. And from now on, I won¡¯t make any decisions for you without asking for your opinion.¡± ¡°Do you believe it wasn¡¯t me who pushed her?¡± Wen Nian asked with her head tilted. Although Shen Jun had expressed his trust in herst time, the fact that he asked her whether there might have been a misunderstanding between her and Jiang Chun still bothered her. Shen Jun¡¯s response this time didn¡¯t disappoint her, ¡°Yes, I believe you. I trust everything you say..¡± Chapter 275 - 275: Proving Her Innocence Chapter 275: Proving Her Innocence Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s serious and earnest expression, Wen Nian felt a warm surge in her chest, and she sensed a lump in her throat. Whether in this lifetime or the previous one, the words ¡°I believe you as long as it¡¯s you saying it¡± from Shen Jun moved her deeply. For a moment, she was so touched that she didn¡¯t know how to respond. Seeing her like this, Shen Jun thought that she was still angry. He quickly said, ¡°Many ssmates were there yesterday and can vouch for you. 1 believe that someone must have taken photos of Jiang Chun falling into the water that day. There are ims online about evidence; I¡¯ll definitely find it. You don¡¯t need to worry. And¡­¡± Before Shen Jun could finish his sentence, Wen Nian discreetly took his hand under the desk, then beamed a wide smile. ¡°1 know, 1 believe you.¡± Shen Jun paused briefly, then immediately returned the gesture by holding her hand. Their hands remained entwined throughout the morning, bringing their hearts even closer. When school was over at noon, neither of them left the ssroom. They simply grabbed a bite to eat, and Shen Jun helped Wen Nian briefly review her mistakes. Suddenly, Zhou Bei rushed into the ssroom, nearly tripping over in her haste. Wen Nian quickly reached out and steadied her. ¡°Wen Nian! Something bad has happened. The police are here to arrest you!¡± Zhou Bei¡¯s words were somewhat jumbled. At this moment, Xie Min ran in. ¡°Wen, Wen Nian, y-you have to think of something. The police are here.¡± Wen Nian hadn¡¯t yet figured out why the police were looking for her when she saw two officers at the ssroom door. Behind them stood the stern-faced principal and Li Fang. Seeing their ssmates turning their attention toward them and noticing many students from other sses gathering around, Li Fang quickly said, ¡°Wen Nian,e out, please. Other students, return to your seats.¡± Considering the online rumors, Wen Nian suddenly realized that the police might be here to verify information. She stood up, and even though Shen Jun wanted to apany her, she shook her head at him. Having charges of attempted murder pinned on her was a serious matter. It was likely that hundreds of thousands of people were following this online. Police inquiry was inevitable. However, Wen Nian wasn¡¯t afraid. Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t blown up the incident, presumably because she knew that the incident wouldn¡¯t hold up under investigation. ¡°Are you Wen Nian?¡± The young female officer¡¯s tone was gentle. ¡°We¡¯re here to understand the situation. Don¡¯t be afraid. Come with us to the principal¡¯s office, okay?¡± Wen Nian nodded, then cast a quick nce at the slightly tardy but still teary-eyed Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun was also summoned. As she walked past Wen Nian, she even shot a resentful look at Shen Jun. However, Shen Jun¡¯s mind and heart were solely focused on Wen Nian. He didn¡¯t spare a nce for Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun lowered her head, concealing the fierce anger in her eyes. She needed to stayposed now; she couldn¡¯t act impulsively like she did yesterday. Wen Nian was first taken to the principal¡¯s office. At this point, the middle-aged male officer finally spoke, ¡°Wen Nian, can you tell us about the situation that day?¡± Wen Nian briefly recounted the events, not mentioning that Jiang Chun intentionally jumped in but simply stating that she didn¡¯t know why Jiang Chun fell. ¡°Are you saying that you didn¡¯t push her? Then how did she end up in the water? Do you have any evidence to prove you didn¡¯t push her?¡± The male officer¡¯s tone turned somewhat hostile, and his voice carried a hint of threat. The female officer looked displeased with his attitude and shot him a sidelong nce before addressing Wen Nian, ¡°Say whatever you remember; don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Wen Nian took a deep breath before speaking slowly, ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t push her. There was an event going on in the ancient town, and there were many people around. Surveince cameras were everywhere. If there were evidence of my attempted murder, wouldn¡¯t the police have initiated an investigation, gathered evidence, and filed charges against me instead of asking me to prove my innocence? Isn¡¯t that how it¡¯s supposed to work?¡± The two police officers were a little surprised. They didn¡¯t expect a teenage girl to know so much. Li Fang was also quite unhappy with the male officer¡¯s attitude. ¡°Have you questioned Jiang Chun as well? Without evidence or witnesses, are you implying that the police are conducting their investigation based solely on online opinions?¡± Wen Nian looked at Li Fang gratefully and then said to the police officer, ¡°Since you¡¯re here to inquire, I¡¯ll tell you everything truthfully. If you believe I¡¯m providing false information, you¡¯re wee to investigate on your own.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this attitude of yours? You need to understand that we¡¯re questioning you at school now. If there¡¯s evidence, you¡¯ll be taken to the police station! Think carefully before speaking.¡± The male officer attempted to continue his intimidation of Wen Nian, but the female officer was getting irritated. She reminded him softly, ¡°Old Li!¡± Chapter 276 - 276: Threatened Chapter 276: Threatened Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The male officer realized he had gone too far and just stared at Wen Nian, but she wasn¡¯t scared and stared back at him. ¡°The two of you have a recording, don¡¯t the police usually check recordings? And there are surveince cameras in the principal¡¯s office too. Everything I¡¯ve said is true and valid.¡± At this point, Wen Nian leaned slightly forward, squinting her eyes, ¡°If I face any verbal threats or if someone tries to force me to admit to a crime 1 didn¡¯tmit, not only do I have my teachers as witnesses, but also audio and video evidence.¡± The male police officer frowned and suddenly felt an inexplicable pressure from the little girl in front of him. Wen Nian sat back down obediently and smiled. ¡°Of course, if someone has bribed my teachers, deleted the surveince footage from the principal¡¯s office, and the police recordings just happen to go missing, then I won¡¯t be able to say anything, right?¡± Both officers were taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s words. However, when he thought of the benefits promised by the others, the male police officer still said, ¡°Little girl, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Are you questioning the police?¡± The male police officer was a little angry. He didn¡¯t expect a little girl to be so difficult to deal with. The female officer elbowed him lightly, gesturing for him to stop spouting nonsense. After all, Wen Nian was a student and there was a recording. If he continues questioning Wen Nian this way, she might be implicated and be punished. However, Wen Nian was not afraid at all. She smiled and said, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve watched too many crime dramastely and got misled? As you know, I recently acted in a movie, so I wanted to learn how others act.¡± ¡°So, you think being a celebrity means the police won¡¯t dare touch you? The police can still arrest you!¡± The male officer narrowed his eyes dangerously. At this point, Li Fang also sensed something was off. She firmly said, ¡°What can the police do to a student? Can the police arrest people casually? The police should be more rigorous? Why are you constantly threatening my student? I¡¯m going to call the police station and verify your identities!¡± Li Fang was angry. She held Wen Nian¡¯s hand, ring at the officers. The female officer felt awkward, wanting to smooth things over, but she heard Wen Nian say calmly, ¡°Celebrities also can¡¯t stand above thew, and neither can anyone else.¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t it because I acted in a movie and became famous that you¡¯reing to me now? This incident has garnered a lot of attention fromizens and caused significant societal impact. Is that why you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Because youmitted attempted murder¡­¡± The male officer¡¯s words were cut short as he realized he had, in the investigative stage, dered Wen Nian guilty in front of school teachers and colleagues. Wen Nianughed upon hearing his words, ¡°In that case, as you said, I should be arrested. So, shouldn¡¯t I be taken to the police station instead of being questioned in the principal¡¯s office? If the police believe I¡¯m guilty, then I have nothing to say. If you want to continue questioning me, I believe I have the right to request awyer¡¯s presence, otherwise, I won¡¯t say another word.¡± She turned to Li Fang and said, ¡°Teacher, I need the surveince footage from the principal¡¯s office. After all, I¡¯ve been wrongfully used and threatened. I need evidence.¡± Li Fang didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to have such an aura and thoughts. Hearing her words, she subconsciously nodded. Wen Nian stood up. The male police officer panicked, but he still raised his voice and asked, ¡°Who allowed you to leave? Sit down.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave? I¡¯m being forcefully detained?¡± Wen Nian looked at him sarcastically. ¡°I don¡¯t think you have the right to do that, right?¡± ¡°After all, the movie 1 starred in has grossed billions, and I have millions of fans. Since I¡¯ve been implicated by the police in an attempted murder case, I must inform the director and producer. The movie can¡¯t continue to be screened.¡± ¡°I might also be facing significantpensation ims, and the director and others might be subject to scrutiny. There are also exnations to give to my fans. There¡¯s just too much going on, and I need to consult with awyer. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t continue to apany you. Can I leave?¡± She didn¡¯t look at the male officer but nced at the female officer, who met her gaze and subconsciously nodded. Wen Nian didn¡¯t press any further. It was clear that the male officer had been bribed; he hade here today to pressure her. She needed to obtain the surveince footage from the principal¡¯s office first. But as soon as she left the principal¡¯s office, a row of camera shes illuminated her, and reporters swarmed around her. ¡°Wen Nian, did the police find the school to inquire about the incident where you pushed someone into the water?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship with that girl? Did jealousy drive you to murder?¡± ¡°Does the police involvement prove that you did have a motive for murder? Do the police have any evidence?¡± Chapter 277 - 277: The Situation Escalated Chapter 277: The Situation Escted Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Faced with the barrage of questions, Wen Nian didn¡¯t immediately provide answers. Instead, Li Fang rushed to her side, her voice filled with anger, ¡°Who said Wen Nianmitted murder? Can the media just spread false information like this? Who let you in? Have you also been bribed to threaten Wen Nian?¡± Li Fang¡¯s tone grew more emotional. The words of the police officers earlier were already quite clear ¨C they were attempting to cast suspicion on Wen Nian and intimidate her into confessing. And now the media seemed to be doing the same. Li Fang protected Wen Nian behind her tightly. ¡°Do you reporters have a conscience? Force a little girl? You speak nonsense without evidence. Did you take money to defame her? I definitely won¡¯t allow anyone to frame my student, be it the police or reporters!¡± The reporters were momentarily taken aback by her strong response, and then they quickly seized on the key points. ¡°So the police have also concluded that Wen Nian attempted murder?¡± ¡°If the police have determined that Wen Nianmitted murder, why haven¡¯t they arrested her?¡± ¡°You say the police were bribed? Do you have evidence?¡± Li Fang had never encountered a situation like this before. Aside from shielding Wen Nian, she wasn¡¯t sure what to do next. At this moment, Wen Nian tugged at Li Fang¡¯s clothing and said, ¡°Let me exin, Teacher.¡± Li Fang turned to see Wen Nian, whose eyes were red and brimming with grievances. Li Fang had intended to say something, but Wen Nian had already started addressing the reporters. ¡°The police did indeed im that 1 attempted murder and said they could arrest me at any time.¡± As soon as she spoke, the reporters erupted with excitement, bombarding her with rapid-fire questions. Wen Nian raised her voice slightly, ¡°The police also told me to cooperate and not assume that my acting career would protect me from any consequences.¡± Her voice trembled, and tears swelled in her eyes, but she managed to keep them at bay. ¡°I thought that investigations would follow the procedures I¡¯ve seen on TV. Police find evidence and witnesses, then arrest the suspect and proceed to prosecution and trial. It turns out that a few online photos can result in my beingbeled a criminal, and they can evene to the school to arrest me.¡± After saying this, tears finally rolled down Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks. But she didn¡¯t stop there, ¡°I need to go to the security office and retrieve the surveince footage from the principal¡¯s office, where they questioned and used me. The police also recorded the conversation. I¡¯m not sure if I need to get awyer involved. Please excuse me, everyone. 1 may also need to inform Director Xu Chang. If my situation affects the movie and it can¡¯t be screened¡­¡± She lowered her head, preventing anyone from seeing her expression. She appeared deeply wronged. However, she had already made up her mind to blow this matter up. Her opponents had pushed her onto the frontlines, and she had no strong evidence. Her only advantage was her status as a non-entertainment industry celebrity. She had to use public opinion to help uncover the truth, rather than let herself be controlled by money. The reporters were sharp-minded individuals. They had been summoned by an anonymous source, which was strange enough. The police had directly used Wen Nian. Wasn¡¯t it obvious that someone was messing with her? At this moment, the principal also walked over. The two police officers in the office did not dare to show their faces. The principal frowned and asked, ¡°You still want the surveince video of the principal¡¯s office?¡± ¡°Yes, Principal,¡± Wen Nian looked at him sincerely. ¡°I cannot confess to something I didn¡¯t do just because the police said so. They used me without evidence. I need to consult awyer.¡± Then, with a sudden realization, she added, ¡°Is the security office supposed to be empty today? That¡¯s why there was no surveince footage, and reporters were able to enter freely?¡± ¡°The No. 1 High School has top-notch security! How could there be no one on duty?¡± The principal wished he could shut Wen Nian up. Then, he avoided the main point and said, ¡°I won¡¯t allow anyone to frame my student. Now, I¡¯ll personally get the surveince video. Don¡¯t worry, the school won¡¯t let you suffer.¡± Wen Nian expressed her gratitude, and despite everyone¡¯s attempts to hold her back, she quickly headed toward the security office. Li Fang stood by, shielding her from the reporters. She wasn¡¯t sure if the police recording could be made public, but she had to get the recording of the principal¡¯s office. As she turned a corner, she caught sight of Jiang Chun, who looked disheveled and tearful, and Shen Jun, who seemed indifferent. Seeing her approach, Shen Jun hurriedly ran over, asking, ¡°How did it go?¡± But upon seeing the tear tracks on Wen Nian¡¯s face, Shen Jun¡¯s chest tightened. Jiang Chun called after him a few times, but he didn¡¯t even turn to look at her. ¡°Wen Nian, look at me. What did the police ask you? Did they threaten you?¡± Seeing his nervousness, Wen Nian quickly sniffled, ¡°I need to get the surveince footage from the security office. The police threatened me and used me of attempted murder..¡± Chapter 278 - 278: Thoughts Chapter 278: Thoughts Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What? How dare the police do something like that?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s anger surged. He grabbed Wen Nian¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go get the video first. We¡¯ll talk about the restter.¡± With Shen Jun¡¯s help, Wen Nian sessfully obtained the surveince footage from the principal¡¯s office. Wen Nian also told Shen Jun what had happened just now. His expression became darker and darker. Anyone could understand that someone was determined to mess with Wen Nian. ¡°What do you n to do? I can help you rify things online. 1 was there. I can delete posts andments that are unfavorable to you,¡± Shen Jun felt extremely guilty. He had never thought that things would turn out like this. ¡°You didn¡¯t see it clearly either, did you? If you weren¡¯t at the scene, she wouldn¡¯t have thought of framing me. Wasn¡¯t it just for you to see?¡± Although Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to me Shen Jun, all of this did originate from him. Especially when she thought about how Jiang Chun had been crying in front of him earlier, her acting skills from her previous life and this life couldn¡¯t evenpete with the daughter of the Jiang Family. The thought of this made her sulky. Shen Jun frowned and said, ¡°Jiang Chun also mentioned just now that she¡¯s willing to help you rify. Just exin that she didn¡¯t stand her ground at that time, and you didn¡¯t push her. Besides¡­¡± ¡°So you believe her, right?¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words, Wen Nian finally couldn¡¯t hold back and expressed her inner thoughts. ¡°Shen Jun, you said you believe it wasn¡¯t me who pushed her, and you¡¯re willing to trust me. But you are also willing to believe Jiang Chun,right?¡± Seeing that she had misunderstood, Shen Jun hurriedly exined, ¡°Wen Nian, listen to me. I believe you.¡± However, Wen Nian did not want to continue listening to his exnation. While Shen Jun was intelligent, he was a novice when it came to matters of the heart. He had allowed Jiang Chun to exploit his trust. ¡°Shen Jun, you¡¯re very smart. So think about why someone managed to take a close-up photo of me pushing Jiang Chun into the water. Why did they release it just yesterday? Why didn¡¯t they try to capitalize on my movie¡¯s sess? Why did they choose to release it yesterday, when Jiang Chun¡¯s im of delivering medicine for her grandmother was exposed and the campus forum was abuzz? Was it to incriminate me against Jiang Chun?¡± ¡°Someone had clearly rified for me on the Inte before and filmed the video at that time. Why can¡¯t 1 find the video at all? Manyments that were unfavorable to Jiang Chun have been deleted, and many IDs that targeted her have been blocked, but the attacks on me are still there?¡± ¡°Even if someone is trying to use Jiang Chun against me, let me ask you this who else knew about Jiang Chun¡¯s idea to get you to invite me to the ancient town? Who could have made these preparations in advance?¡± Wen Nian sighed again. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the surveince cameras in the principal¡¯s office just now, right? That male police officer must have been instructed by someone. You can tell that, right? So, who do you think has the power to manipte the police to threaten me and frame me for attempted murder?¡± Wen Nian posed a series of questions, and Shen Jun was unable to answer any of them. In the past, he might have found excuses, thinking that Jiang Chun was merely being used, and she hadn¡¯t said anything bad about Wen Nian to him. But each question from Wen Nian highlighted the holes in Shen Jun¡¯s reasoning as well. Seeing that her words had an impact, Wen Nian softened her tone. ¡°I believe in you too. But did Jiang Chun always tell you that 1 was upset with her every time? Did she make you believe that I¡¯m petty and unreasonable? Even when it¡¯s not her fault, she always manages to find a way to apologize?¡± ¡°Shen Jun, did you ever feel that I was being unreasonable and tiring you out? But with Jiang Chun, you always thought she was understanding and took responsibility for everything. What made you have this impression?¡± ¡°You told me that you only knew Jiang Chun for a short time when you were kids, so you still see her as that innocent five-year-old girl. Is that right? But is the Wen Nian you¡¯ve known just a woman who throws tantrums for no reason?¡± Shen Jun was silent for a long time before saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± But aside from ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he didn¡¯t know what else to say. He had indeed found Wen Nian tiring at times, and he had even suspected her for a moment when he saw Jiang Chun falling into the water. All of these were manifestations of hisck of trust. Even though he didn¡¯t voice it, he was aware of it deep down. But today¡¯s events had given him a new understanding of Jiang Chun¡¯s words and actions in the past. ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the ssroom. I¡¯ll get my family to contact thewyer after school.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t say anything else and returned to the ssroom. Watching her solitary yet determined figure, Shen Jun suddenly felt a sense of loss.. Chapter 279 - 279: Video Evidence Chapter 279: Video Evidence Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Wen Nian returned to her seat, many ssmates nced at her, but she remained expressionless. She knew the situation was tricky, but now she had to sort out her thoughts. Regardless of who the mastermind behind this was, she needed aprehensive n. Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s serious expression, several times wanting to speak, but words failed him each time. In the end, he watched as Wen Nian kept using her phone to contact someone. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Wen Nian, let me contact awyer, and my uncle¡­¡± ¡°No need,¡± Wen Nian said without lifting her head, still focused on her phone. Seeing her attitude, Shen Jun grew anxious. ¡°Wen Nian, this matter isplicated. I truly believe in you. Let me help you.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need. Director Xu helped me contact awyer and we¡¯re prepared to report this to the police,¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice remained even. She didn¡¯t doubt Shen Jun, but this time, she had to resolve the situation on her own. Whether it was to bring down the Wei family or to get rid of the person who was causing trouble for her, she had to do it herself. She nced at the nervous Shen Jun and felt a pang of sympathy. Then, she said, ¡°Then help me investigate the fakementors. As long as we can find out who hired someone to defame me, we might be able to find the mastermind.¡± ¡°Alright, don¡¯t worry! I¡¯ll definitely catch all these stinky bugs!¡± Shen Jun quickly agreed and started publishing the video on his phone while promoting it on various tforms. He also contacted Zhao Wu in advance, asking him to investigate the male officer¡¯s background. Even if he hadn¡¯t taken bribes, his conduct at work must have been problematic. He couldn¡¯t be let off so easily. The reason Wen Nian asked Xu Chang to find awyer for her was to gain some leverage. Her main asset in this situation was her online presence. As long as people paid attention to her, if they saw the evidence, she could clear her name and uncover the mastermind. At this point, social media had exploded with activity. Keywords like #WenNianAttemptedMurder, #WenNianArrested, #PoliceSuspectedOfBeingBribedToFrameWenNian all climbed the trending headlines. Wen Nian also updated her social media ounts. She posted a simple caption: ¡°Questioned by the police in the principal¡¯s office.¡± Below that was the surveince video from the principal¡¯s office. Initially, manyizens thought that Wen Nian was staging a show for her future entertainment career, to gain poprity for her application to drama school. But the fact that the police had actually approached her, with questionable questioning, had been pointed out byizens. ¡°They didn¡¯t even inform the parents and directly questioned her at school?¡± ¡°The police¡¯s tone is clearly threatening, right? If that were me, I¡¯d be scared to death. Sister Nian is truly awe-inspiring, staying calm in the face of danger!¡± ¡°Agreed with thementor above! Don¡¯t forget that Sister Nian is just in her teens! I¡¯m in my twenties, and I¡¯d be scared by the police¡¯s intimidation.¡± ¡°How can the police convict someone without evidence? How can they say that Wen Nian attempted murder?¡± ¡°Wen Nian has a powerful background, huh? She doesn¡¯t even get arrested for attempted murder, (sarcasticment, please don¡¯t scold me.)¡± ¡°How powerful is the mastermind behind this? They even managed to manipte the police?¡± Thements fromizens were overwhelmingly supportive. Especially given the narrative that the police might have been bribed to falsely use a female celebrity, Wen Nian¡¯s name suddenly became known to everyone. Several media outlets that hade to the school for interviews quickly organized the video content. Taking advantage of the hype, they also released the video of the incident. What surprised everyone even more was Xu Chang being the first to step forward to support Wen Nian. He retweeted her post and shared her update. After that, a few senior colleagues who had treated her well on set also stood up to support Wen Nian. They posted messages on social media in her support. Even those who hadn¡¯t paid attention to this matter before began spontaneously searching for evidence to support Wen Nian. The fans in the fan club group even spontaneously began to control thements. Sister Jiao: Is Wen Nian still at school? Did she cry? Zhou Bei: Sister Nian is almighty! Haven¡¯t you seen the video? Even the police couldn¡¯t intimidate her. She¡¯s indeed the goddess of war!¡±! Zhao Min: No, she didn¡¯t cry. She¡¯s still doing her homework! Her mental fortitude is extraordinarily strong, isn¡¯t it? Zhou Bei: Who still has the evidence video from yesterday? With evidence, rumors will be debunked naturally! Zhao Min: I¡¯m inexperienced. I just retweeted it yesterday, and now the videos have been deleted! It¡¯s frustrating. I wonder if the Jiang family is involved! Seeing the intense discussion in the group, Zhao Jiao decided to help her daughter-inw. Zhao Jiao: 1 have the video, and I¡¯ve also contacted the photographer who took the video.. Chapter 280 - 280: The Mastermind Chapter 280: The Mastermind Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Although the majority of Wen Nian¡¯s fan club consisted of students, there were also many adults among them. Some of these adults possessed video evidence that they discovered would be deleted no matter how many times they uploaded it online. This was the reason why Wen Nian had been targeted by malicious rumors for so long. Zhao Jiao had saved evidence a while ago, but considering her husband¡¯s advice, she had refrained from intervening and let Wen Nian handle things. However, with the situation escting to the point of videos being systematically removed from the entire inte, she couldn¡¯t remain passive any longer. Zhao Jiao quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number. She shed her usual demure demeanor and spoke with authority. ¡°I don¡¯t care who¡¯s behind this. This video must be released. If you delete it again, think about the consequences of offending the Shen and Zhao families.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t ept any excuses. I know it¡¯s likely the Jiang family¡¯s doing these petty tricks. Wen Nian is someone I¡¯m protecting. You figure it out!¡± After hearing a satisfactory response from the other end, Zhao Jiao hung up the phone and then contacted the photographer who had captured the video. In less than two minutes, Zhao Xin, the Chief Photographer of Z Nation¡¯s Geographic Magazine, updated his personal status. This time, he used his work ount to publish the videos of Wen Nian and Jiang Chun from that moment, as his personal ount had already been banned. Coincidentally, Zhao Xin was also part of a distant branch of the Zhao family and should have called Zhao Jiao ¡°Aunt¡± ording to their family hierarchy. He had been in the ancient town that day for work reasons. It was Jiang Guo¡¯s initiative to promote the ancient town that led to a coboration with Z Nation¡¯s Geographic Magazine. Jiang Guo invited the team to capture promotional materials. At that time, his eyes lit up when he saw Wen Nian. Coincidentally, the Geographic Magazine needed a cover photo for an uing issue featuring humans in nature. He had already taken a few photos from different angles. Just as he was about to exin to Wen Nian that he might need to use her photos, he saw Jiang Chun jumping into the water. His camera happened to be filming the activities in the ancient town and recorded this scene. Since there were no casualties, Zhao Xin had thought that the incident had been slightly problematic, so he hadn¡¯t used Wen Nian¡¯s photos for the cover. He hadn¡¯t anticipated that the video footage he captured would be crucial evidence. What he didn¡¯t expect was that his aunt, Zhao Jiao, whom he only met a couple of times a year, would contact him immediately when she found out that his alternate ount had posted a video. She even wanted him to continue supporting Wen Nian. Though skeptical, Zhao Xin didn¡¯t hesitate. He followed Zhao Jiao¡¯s instructions and posted the video. Zhao Xin: Invited to the ancient town to capture promotional photos and videos, I happened to witness this scene. If you need a witness, you can contact me. @WenNian @SeasidePoliceDepartment Under this post was a video that had been deleted and processed by the entire Inte. Theizens also quickly gathered toment on Zhao Xin¡¯s post. ¡°See! I told you I saw someone post an evidence video yesterday, but I couldn¡¯t find it on the Inte!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve had this video on hand all along, but no matter how many times I try to upload it, it fails. I wonder if the tform is blocking the video on the backend?¡± ¡°Thank goodness it was the Chief Photographer from Z Geographic Magazine who posted it. Otherwise, Wen Nian would¡¯ve been truly wronged this time!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too obvious that she jumped into the water from this angle? Who said that Wen Nian deliberately murdered her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! Could it be that Wen Nian used her internal energy to injure someone? Does she know Qigong?¡± Many media outlets had released videos of Wen Nian being interviewed in the afternoon. The video showed Wen Nian, who looked aggrieved, and her teacher, Li Fang, who was trying her best to protect her. The videos evoked a strong sense of empathy from viewers. Now, with the evidence taken by the chief photographer of Geographic Magazine, the fact that Wen Nian had been framed was already set in stone. Shen Jun spent a few hours and found the real IP address of the paidmentors. Zhao Wu even contacted the police. The head of the paidmentors had also been arrested. Without much interrogation, he directly announced the mastermind behind the scenes¡ªWei Lai. Wen Nian specially applied for leave after school. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei received Li Fang¡¯s notice in the afternoon and were waiting for her at the school gate after school. Wen Nian knew that the school wouldn¡¯t be able to keep such a matter from the parents, but she hadn¡¯t expected both her father and mother to show up. ¡°Mom, Dad, if you are both here, who¡¯s taking care of the shop?¡± Zhou Mei embraced her tenderly, saying, ¡°You dear child, at a time like this, you¡¯re worried about the shop? Were you scared? Your parents are here, so you can rx!¡± Beside her, Wen Xing clenched his fists and added, ¡°Absolutely. This time, Dad won¡¯t let whoever falsely used you get away with it. It doesn¡¯t matter who they are, they won¡¯t be able to harm our Wen family!¡± Shen Jun remained silently behind her, observing the family¡¯s embrace. As their emotions gradually settled, he finally spoke, ¡°The police have identified the mastermind behind this. We¡¯ll discuss how to proceed when we go to the police station..¡± Chapter 281 - 281: Turn Yourself In Chapter 281: Turn Yourself In Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios A group of people arrived at the police station, and at the entrance, Wen Nian saw Wei Lai, who was crying uncontrobly, along with several members of the Wei family and a group of media. Wei Lai¡¯s eyes were swollen, and her voice was hoarse. ¡°Sir, 1 really didn¡¯t know this would have such a big impact. I¡¯m so young and really don¡¯t understand. But my parents said 1 must take responsibility, and I didn¡¯t know the consequences would be so severe. Police uncle, I¡¯vee to turn myself in.¡± Wei Lai was crying so hard that she was gasping for breath. After all, she was a minor, and her parents were surelying to the police station with her. With a group of reporters at the station¡¯s entrance, the Wei family took the initiative to turn themselves in, making the police hesitant to take any action for fear of negative consequences. Li Bing also secretly wiped her tears at the side. ¡°Officer, it¡¯s our fault for not disciplining her well. Since she hired the a group of onlinementors to nder others, we have to punish her. Otherwise, she won¡¯t know what she did wrong when she grows up.¡± Wei Feng, on the other hand, noticed Wen Nian and her group approaching and hurriedly stepped forward. ¡°Wen Nian, 1 am sorry. My granddaughter has caused trouble for you repeatedly. I¡¯m truly ashamed to see you again. But she¡¯s just a teenager. Can you give her another chance? 1 beg you, 1 am begging you.¡± The reporters initially focused their cameras on Wei Feng and then quickly shifted their attention to Wen Nian, bombarding her with a series of questions. ¡°Wen Nian, what¡¯s the grudge between you and Wei Lai? She¡¯s targeted you multiple times, hasn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Wei Lai is still a minor. Will you forgive her? If she¡¯s found guilty, will she be sent to a juvenile detention center? Her life might be ruined forever.¡± ¡°The Wen family and the Wei family have always been on good terms. Are you going to be ruthless?¡± Hearing the reporters¡¯ questions, Wen Nian already understood that Wei Feng had brought them to help his granddaughter. She held Wen Xing¡¯s hand, who was about to re up, and said to the reporter, ¡°Are the reporters not well-educated? Is that how you use the term ¡®ruthless¡¯?¡± She then looked around at the reporters and continued, ¡°If this matter hadn¡¯t been exposed, 1 would have been arrested on charges of attempted murder. At the very least, 1 would have been imprisoned for three to four years, unable to take the college entrance exam, my life ruined. Even if I were to be released, I¡¯d struggle to find work due to the false usations, and my family would suffer.¡± ¡°As the victim, I haven¡¯t even asked why someone wanted to be ruthless toward me. Are you all helping the criminal by speaking for them? Can I understand that some of you have been instigated by someone to intentionally defame me? Since we¡¯re at the police station now, let¡¯s deal with this together. I¡¯ve already hired awyer, so we will sue you too and let the police investigate.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s words left no room for sentiment, and the reporters who had questioned her took a step back. Wei Feng red at the reporter. He suddenly felt that things were bing more and more difficult. It was true that Wei Lai had sought others¡¯ help, but Wei Feng had already inquired and realized that these ideas ultimately came from Jiang Chun. However, Wei Lai had no evidence. After the incident, the Jiang family in the capital contacted him directly. This was also the first time the Jiang family in the capital contacted him since Wei Xiao and Jiang Ning¡¯s engagement was confirmed. However, this time the contact meant that Wei Lai would bear all the consequences, and the Jiang family would erase all traces of their involvement. Ultimately, this matter boiled down to a jealousy-fueled rivalry between two young girls. Furthermore, Wei Lai was still a minor, so at most, she would receive some education. Moreover, the Jiang family would assist the Wei family in acquiring a piece ofnd in the capital, which would be used for constructing a shopping mall for the Wei Group. However, the Jiang family¡¯s condition was that this matter must not implicate Jiang Chun in any way and should have no connection with the Jiang family. In the past, Wei Feng might not have allowed the Wei family to suffer such a huge loss, but considering the benefits brought by the Jiang family, he naturally wouldn¡¯t miss out on such a lucrative opportunity. However, due to the extensive impact of Wen Nian¡¯s incident, he had no choice but to let Wei Lai bear the burden. Li Bing gave Wei Lai a firm push, but Wei Lai was reluctant to step forward and apologize. Having to perform this act in front of the media was already embarrassing enough, and she also noticed Shen Jun by Wen Nian¡¯s side. How could Li Bing not know what her daughter was thinking? She said resentfully, ¡°Your grandfather willpensate you for what you¡¯ve done now. When the Wei family gains a foothold in the capital, you¡¯ll be the eldest daughter of the Wei family. Even if you can¡¯t marry Shen Jun, are you afraid that there won¡¯t be a better one?¡± Wei Lai felt indecisive initially, but after hearing her mother¡¯s words, she suddenly felt that this course of action was reasonable. Moreover, she had taken the me for Jiang Chun this time. The Jiang family would definitely not mistreat her. With newfound courage, she walked up to Wen Nian and said, ¡°Sister Wen Nian, please forgive me considering my young age.. I¡¯ve turned myself in, so please spare me, okay?¡± Chapter 282 - 282: Accountability Chapter 282: ountability Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian looked at how the media had practically shoved their cameras in Wei Lai¡¯s face and found it amusing. Wei Lai¡¯s acting skills had indeed improved. Her eyes were filled with remorse, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Wen Nian responded with indifference, ¡°Isn¡¯t turning yourself in something you do inside the police station? Are you surrendering to the media?¡± She nced at the surrounding reporters and continued, ¡°And it seems the reporters are quite well-informed, huh? Making such a fuss outside the police station¡¯s entrance. Police officers, are you just going to let this slide? Or is it the same as the officer who interrogated me, assuming I attempted murder and not caring whether 1 want to report to the police station?¡± The reporters hadn¡¯t anticipated Wen Nian¡¯s sharpness. She not only tangled them up but also ensnared the police officers in her remarks. The police officers had heard of this sharp-tongued girl¡¯s abilities and quickly came over to maintain order. At this moment, Zhao Wu¡¯s car also arrived at the police station¡¯s entrance. However, upon seeing the reporters, he frowned. The Wei family had actually called the reporters here. It seemed just like what his sister had said. The Jiang family had made a move, and the Wei family was ying the role of the scapegoat. Zhao Wu didn¡¯t get out of the car; his status was special. He simply made a phone call to the police station, exining the situation and requesting that things be handled ording to regtions. Afterward, he left the police station. When Shen Jun received his WeChat message, he felt relieved. In the end, the reporters were kept outside the police station. Thewyer Xu Chang had arranged had also arrived at the police station, ready to help Wen Nian deal with the situation. The situation was actually quite clear. The initial release of the photo showing Wen Nian pushing Jiang Chun into the water had been orchestrated by Wei Lai, and the subsequent online trolls had also been arranged by her. All of this was to solidify the charge of attempted murder against Wen Nian. However, it was impossible for Wei Lai to have prepared the photo of the ancient town. If she had such a photo, she would have released it long ago; why would she keep it until now? Besides Wen Nian and Shen Jun, the only other person who knew about that day¡¯s incident was Jiang Chun. Plus, the fact that videos rifying the situation for her were blocked on various websites couldn¡¯t have been done solely by Wei Lai. So, the only usible answer was that the Jiang family had intervened. And it wasn¡¯t the Jiang family in Hai City, but the Jiang family behind Jiang Chun. That¡¯s why Wei Lai was willingly taking the me. Wei Lai¡¯s unprecedented cooperation led her to ept all the me, and her motives for targeting Wen Nian were quite clear. She liked Shen Jun and felt that Wen Nian wasn¡¯t worthy of him, so she wanted to break them apart to have a chance with Shen Jun herself. Although the reasons seemed far-fetched, they strangely made senseing from a teenage girl¡¯s perspective. ¡°Wei Lai has already confessed; this is her confession letter.¡± The female police officer who had previously questioned Wen Nian now faced her again, with a different male officer apanying her. The female officer¡¯s demeanor remained measured, but there was evident fear in her eyes when facing Wen Nian. She still remembered how her colleague had been harshly criticized by the chief and was now suspended for investigation. If Wen Nian continued to press the issue, her colleague might even lose his job as a police officer. ¡°So I can sue her, right?¡± Wen Nian asked thewyer beside her. Thewyer nodded, ¡°Although the other party is a minor, she can still be sued. Despite her confession, she has indeed caused significant harm to you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great, then let¡¯s proceed with thewsuit. I believe thew is fair.¡± Wen Nian turned to the female police officer and asked, ¡°This time, 1 came to report a crime. I won¡¯t be forced to stay, right?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± The female police officer still had lingering fears. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei, who were standing nearby, hadn¡¯t expected things to go so smoothly. They had anticipated further dys. The female police officer pondered for a long moment before speaking again, ¡°Wen Nian, the Wei family hopes for a reconciliation with you, especially considering that Wei Lai is still a minor. Could you consider reconciling?¡± ¡°Are you acting as a mediator?¡± Wen Nian had a favorable impression of the female police officer, but she was wary of her using this approach. ¡°I¡¯m not a mediator. I just think that if we can deescte the situation¡­ Well, forget it. I¡¯ve conveyed the Wei family¡¯s intention to reconcile to you. As for what to do, it¡¯s up to you. The police can only mediate. After all, you¡¯re the victim. I have no right to make a decision for you,¡± the female police officer said in a somewhat disheartened tone. Wen Nian replied, ¡°Thank you, but 1 will definitely pursue this matter to the end. And you should know as well, this isn¡¯t the first time she has targeted me like this. Since the first instance of forgiveness didn¡¯t yield positive results, 1 will certainly hold her ountable for her actions..¡± Chapter 283 - 283: Secretly Happy Chapter 283: Secretly Happy Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Li Bing had been apanying Wei Lai to exin everything about turning himself in. Wei Feng had also called Wei Xiao over. Shen Jun had been guarding the police station. Although he wanted to build connections, he was an elder after all. He didn¡¯t want to lower his status like this. When Wei Xiao got wind of the situation, he was furious, almost letting out a string of curses. He had warned Wei Lai to stay out of this mess, yet she still managed to create this massive disaster. However, Wei Xiao still felt that it was strange that Wei Feng asked Wei Lai to turn herself in. However, Wei Feng didn¡¯t tell him the reason. He only said that it was for the Wei family¡¯s future development in the capital. Wei Xiao may not be exceptionally smart, but after struggling in the Wei family for many years, he sensed something unusual. Apart from the Jiang family, no one else could possibly make Wei Fengpromise to this extent! And as the biggest beneficiary of this matter, he naturally wouldn¡¯t reveal the truth. When he hurriedly arrived at the police station, Wen Nian and Wei Lai had note out yet. He only saw Shen Jun and a few others sitting in the reception room. Wei Xiao didn¡¯t even greet his family members, he went straight to Shen Jun¡¯s side. ¡°Shen Jun! How is it going?¡± ¡°You heard about it?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s words were in the form of a question, but the certainty in his tone was apparent to Wei Xiao. ¡°Yes, my grandfather called me. My cousin is at fault, and since she¡¯s at fault, she should admit it. There¡¯s nothing more to say.¡± Wei Xiaosao said with a righteous demeanor. Shen Jun was slightly surprised, but he didn¡¯t continue the conversation. In Wei Feng¡¯s eyes, a trace of relief appeared. In any case, Wei Xiao had managed to establish a rtionship with Shen Jun. Although the Wei family had lost Wei Lai this time, they were gaining property in the capital and Shen Jun¡¯s connections. No matter how it was calcted, they wouldn¡¯t suffer a loss. When the Wen family members came out, Shen Jun quickly approached. ¡°How did it go?¡± Wen Nian shrugged and then casually nced at Wei Feng, ¡°Wei Lai confessed. 1¡¯11 press charges, and the police have promised to clear my name online. We just have to wait for the trial.¡± Wei Feng really didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to be so determined. In his impression, the Wen family members were all kind, at least they would give Wei Lai a chance. He hurriedly walked over, his eyes filled with tears. ¡°Wen Xing, Zhou Mei, can you give Wei Lai a chance? She¡¯s just a teenager. If she goes to jail, her life will be ruined.¡± But neither of them was moved. They did not even say a word. Without a doubt, in any location where the Wei family was present, tranquility eluded the Wen family. Wei Lai¡¯s repeated framing of Wen Nian had far surpassed the Wen family¡¯s threshold for tolerance. Noticing the quietness of the Wen family, Wei Feng once again brought up the family connection. ¡°If Wen Sheng was here, he¡¯d also ask for kindness if anything went wrong with Wen Nian. She¡¯s his granddaughter, after all. I too want to ask for kindness for my granddaughter, who has let me down.¡± ¡°Grandpa!¡± At that moment, Wei Lai had finished speaking as well. At first, she held onto some lingering resentment, but when she witnessed Wei Feng imploring the Wen family on her behalf, a wave of intense frustration washed over Wei Lai. Wei Lai cried and said, ¡°Grandpa, it¡¯s all my fault for implicating you!¡± Wen Nian let out a cold snort as she observed the affectionate scene before her. Wei Lai stared back at her without flinching. ¡°I¡¯ve already admitted my mistakes. Why are you still mocking me? You¡¯re so cruel. I honestly can¡¯t understand what Shen Jun finds appealing about you.¡± Hearing her impulsive words, Li Bing hurriedly stepped forward and ced a hand over her mouth. Then, she turned to Wen Nian with an apologetic expression. Nevertheless, Wen Nian chose to ignore Li Bing and Wei Feng¡¯s beseeching looks. She spoke with a touch of scorn, ¡°He probably likes that 1 am vicious? Yes, I might be vicious, but it was you who falsely used me of attempted murder. If I hadn¡¯t been strong-willed, 1 could have ended up imprisoned because of your actions, couldn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, don¡¯t talk nonsense. Our Wei family wouldn¡¯t do such a thing!¡± Wei Feng interjected, thinking of Shen Jun standing beside him, and swiftly offered an exnation. Thinking about her grim fate in her past life, Wen Nian¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. She gazed upward and inquired, ¡°Is that really the case?¡± Leaning in once more, she raised her voice for everyone nearby to hear, ¡°Why is my exnation video being blocked everywhere online? Why were there pre-taken photos of the ancient town? And why did the police officer who confronted me use me of attempted murder?¡± As the silence hung in the air, even the police officers present held their breaths, afraid to make a sound. It wasn¡¯t that they hadn¡¯t looked into these matters, but their investigations had hit a dead end. After ncing around at the crowd, Wen Nian turned to Wei Feng and said, ¡°There are some things I am not holding you ountable, so you should be happy about it..¡± Chapter 284 - 284: You Can Rely On Me Chapter 284: You Can Rely On Me Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios With that, Wen Nian grabbed Zhou Mei and Wen Xing¡¯s hands and left the police station. After bidding farewell to thewyer at the entrance of the police station, Wen Nian did not go home with her parents. Zhou Mei felt a bit concerned. She gently held onto Wen Nian¡¯s hand and spoke, ¡°Come back home with Mom. Mrs. Li and I already requested a leave for you. I understand you must be feeling really unwell.¡± Wen Xing also nodded beside them. He had been thest to find out that his daughter had been bullied. In that moment, he was already cing the me on himself. However, Wen Nian smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve already been dyed by them for so long. I have to work on today¡¯s practice papers. Moreover, the matter has been resolved. 1 feel fine. Don¡¯t worry.¡± In the end, they couldn¡¯t convince Wen Nian otherwise, and they had no choice but to agree to let her go back to school. Naturally, Shen Jun became the escort. Shen Gang¡¯s car was already waiting at the entrance of the police station. He first dropped off Wen Xing and Zhou Mei before sending Wen Nian off. However, Shen Jun directed Shen Gang to drive back to Xifeng Court. Seeing that Wen Nian didn¡¯t object, Shen Gang started the car. While they were on their way there, Wen Nian stared out of the window without saying a word. Shen Jun held her hand, but she didn¡¯t react. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived at Shen Jun¡¯s residence that he spoke up, ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten anything all night. Should I order something for you to eat?¡± Wen Nian shook her head. Then, in a soft voice, she said, ¡°Thank you, Shen Jun.¡± Shen Jun gently enveloped her in his embrace, his heart going out to this young girl. If it had been an ordinary girl, she would have likely been paralyzed with fear. However, from the moment the incident happened to herposed response, she appeared at ease, though he knew she must have been under considerable psychological pressure. ¡°Wen Nian,¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice was slightly rough, ¡°you can rely on me. I have the ability to help you. Trust me.¡± Feeling the slight trembling in her body, Shen Jun exerted a little strength in his arms and hugged her even tighter. After a while, Wen Nian managed to steady her emotions and said, ¡°Shen Jun, can I skip doing the exercises today? I¡¯m really exhausted.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Shen Jun slightly loosened his embrace, ¡°I¡¯llpile the questions that you often get wrong tomorrow. You just need to work on those key questions.¡± Upon hearing his words, Wen Nian rxed a bit and even managed a smile, ¡°You¡¯re truly a responsible teacher, not letting anyone rest for even a day.¡± Seeing her finally lighten up a bit, Shen Jun inquired, ¡°Is the situation settled with Wei Lai?¡± He had looked into it as well; the online videos andments against Jiang Chun had been deleted by tform administrators, suggesting that the Jiang family was involved. While he understood that the Jiang family was protecting Jiang Chun, considering the impact it had on Wen Nian, he wasn¡¯t nning to leave it unresolved. Wen Nian thought for a moment before sharing her thoughts, ¡°You¡¯ve surely asked your uncle for help, right? But even the video clearing my name wasn¡¯t released immediately. It indicates the other side¡¯s influence is powerful, capable of rivaling your uncle¡¯s connections. That¡¯s not something the Wei family can easily achieve.¡± Shen Jun nodded in agreement. He understood that no matter how influential the Wei family might be, many websites would likely give consideration to Zhao Wu¡¯s reputation. After all, Zhao Wu had alreadye to Wen Nian¡¯s aid once before. A prudent individual wouldn¡¯t risk offending Zhao Wu and tarnishing Wen Nian¡¯s reputation. Such interference likely came from a powerful family. Observing Shen Jun¡¯s understanding expression, Wen Nian sensed that he had a clear grasp of who was behind all of this. Wen Nian sighed inwardly. There were certain things that couldn¡¯t be exined step by step to her boyfriend. He wouldn¡¯t fully believe it until he experienced it himself. ¡°In order to get Wei Lai to confess, the other party must have substantial backing. Furthermore, the various websites are apprehensive. Even if we keep investigating, who knows when we¡¯ll achieve results? And even if we do, what difference will it make? The opposing party can easily im technical glitches prevented the video from being uploaded, or they could pin the me on a few scapegoats.¡± Observing that Shen Jun¡¯s expression was growing darker, Wen Nian pressed on, ¡°Let¡¯s press charges against Wei Lai first. Afterward, we can continue gathering evidence against Wei Feng for my grandfather¡¯s death. We can¡¯t rush through these matters. I understand. Shen Jun moved his lips, but no words came out. There were certain matters he needed to confirm. Wen Nian excused herself to the bathroom. She needed a moment to rx and collect her thoughts. Now that she had openly severed ties with the Wei family, the task of finding evidence would be even more challenging. Meanwhile, as Shen Jun was researching online, he was suddenly interrupted by a phone call. ncing at the caller ID on his phone, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a throbbing headache.. Chapter 285 - 285: Going to Be a Grandma Chapter 285 - 285: Going to Be a Grandma Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The phone rang for the umpteenth time. Eventually, Shen Jun still picked it up helplessly. ¡°Mom, what¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I call my own son for no reason? You brat!¡± Zhao Jiao¡¯s voice came through with a hint of irritation. ¡°I heard your little girlfriend got tangled up in another mess?¡± At that moment, Zhao Jiao was in the middle of a WeChat group conversation with members of Wen Nian¡¯s fan club, brainstorming ways to salvage her poprity and boost her image. Simultaneously, she was trying to figure out a way to remind her son to pay attention to the Jiang family. She felt a couple more wrinkles forming on her forehead. Thinking that she was calling to gloat, Shen Jun responded with a touch of annoyance, ¡°The situation has been resolved. No need to worry.¡± Zhao Jiao cursed the brat countless times in her heart. If she hadn¡¯t turned the tide, Wen Nian might have been ndered to death. She, this unfilial son, still didn¡¯t know how to repay kindness.
However, maintaining the facade of an evil mother-inw, Zhao Jiao nonchntly remarked, ¡°As long as it¡¯s settled, I¡¯m not concerned. I just hope this won¡¯t affect the Shen family.¡± Before Shen Jun could respond, Zhao Jiao continued, ¡°Don¡¯t you own a piece ofnd in the western suburbs? 1 heard that Wen Nian¡¯s ex-fiance, the Wei family, has secured the plot ofnd right next to yours. You two seem to have simr tastes!¡± Shen Jun was caughtpletely off guard by the sudden change of topic. He couldn¡¯t fathom why Zhao Jiao was abruptly bringing up this matter. He replied incredulously, ¡°There has been no news about the Wei family wanting to acquire thatnd. And besides, they wouldn¡¯t be able to navigate the approval procedures.¡± His bewilderment only deepened. He had obtained thend in the western suburbs through the Shen family¡¯s connections. The Wei family was rtively unfamiliar with the capital city andcked the necessary foundations. How could they secure a prime piece of real estate that was highly coveted by many? ¡°Why should you be concerned about how they manage their affairs? ording to your father¡¯s information, they¡¯ve already secured it. They¡¯ll be finalizing the procedures next month,¡± Zhao Jiao responded. ¡°Why do you care how they manage it? Anyway, I heard from your father that they¡¯ve secured it. They¡¯re nning to finalize the procedures next month.¡± Hearing the silence on the other end, Zhao Jiao sensed that Shen Jun was likely uncovering something. She was about to hang up when she suddenly heard a sweet female voice from Shen Jun¡¯s end of the line. ¡°Shen Jun, I¡¯m done showering. Why don¡¯t you go take a shower?¡± Wen Nian had just finished showering when she saw Shen Jun holding the phone. She quickly stopped talking. A hint of guilt swept over Shen Jun. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m still busy with something. I¡¯ll hang up.¡± Listening to the beeping sound indicating the call had ended, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t contain her tion. After taking a shower, Shen Mo saw Zhao Jiao¡¯s excited eyes. She rushed over and gave Shen Mo a tight hug. ¡°I-I think I might be a grandmother soon!¡± Then, she kissed Shen Mo¡¯s face a few times. ¡°I¡¯m going to be a grandmother soon. I¡¯m going to be a grandmother!¡± The couple on the other end blushed. Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun¡¯s mother to call at this time. She felt that the other party must have heard what she said just now. Seeing her awkward expression, Shen Jun quickly exined, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s far away. My mother can¡¯t hear you.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to continue dwelling on this problem with him, so she whispered, ¡°Go take a shower first.¡± Shen Jun also blushed and went into the bathroom with his head lowered. Sensing that his aura in the room had faded a little, Wen Nian took a deep breath. However, before she couldpletely rx, Shen Jun¡¯s phone suddenly rang, scaring her. Jiang Chun: ¡°Shen Jun, things went wrong because of me. I¡¯m really sorry, especially to you and Wen Nian. 1 want to apologize to her, even though she might not forgive me. Could you help me tell her I¡¯m sorry? I tried telling Wei Lai many times to stay out of your and Wen Nian¡¯s business, but she wouldn¡¯t listen. She thought Wen Nian, from a small family, wasn¡¯t good enough for the Shen family. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t stop her and that it caused problems for Wen Nian.¡± Jiang Chun: Wen Nian won¡¯t be mad at you, right? The police talked to me, but 1 didn¡¯t say she pushed me. If I did, they might have arrested Wen Nian and not let her go. If she¡¯s upset with you because of me, I can talk to her and exin. Jiang Chun: ¡°I heard that Wen Nian wants to sue Wei Lai, but Wei Lai is only in his teens and the Wei and Wei families have always been on good terms. If Wei Lai is really arrested, her life will be ruined. Wen Nian is so kind. She definitely won¡¯t do that, right?¡± Watching Jiang Chun¡¯s WeChat messagese in one by one, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but sneer in her heart.. It seems that Jiang Chun really can¡¯t remain patient, huh? Chapter 286 - 286: New Idea Chapter 286 - 286: New Idea Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Indeed, Jiang Chun couldn¡¯t hold back her temper. The impact of this incident is too significant. She also didn¡¯t expect that Wen Nian would truly disregard the Wei family¡¯s reputation and directly choose to sue Wei Lai. Since her situation had impacted the Jiang family, many online users had discovered her true identity. Yet, the Jiang family employed tactics to erase thesements, preventing public outrage. Instead, the focus remained on Wen Nian. However, Jiang Wei also reprimanded Jiang Chun harshly. His exact words were, ¡°If youck the skill to frame someone, don¡¯t attack recklessly. Otherwise, you¡¯ll only invite trouble.¡± Jiang Chun believed she had executed the n wlessly, forgetting that Shen Jun would undoubtedly support Wen Nian. With the Shen family¡¯s involvement, what couldn¡¯t they uncover? Ultimately, only under Jiang Chun¡¯s grandmother¡¯s pressure did Jiang Weie forward to let the Wei family take responsibility.
Though this framing offense wasn¡¯t excessively severe and the Jiang family had the power to suppress it even if sued, they couldn¡¯t afford to lose face. Jiang Chun was the capital¡¯s sole offspring of the Jiang family. Her reputation couldn¡¯t be tarnished. Jiang Chun med Wen Nian for everything. She vowed to make Shen Jun side with her. Even if she couldn¡¯t break his rtionship with Wen Nian, she¡¯d at least earn Shen Jun¡¯s sympathy. Recalling Shen Jun¡¯s trust in Wen Nian, Jiang Chun felt humiliated. She was the one who had known Shen Jun first. She refused to believe there was no ¡°firste, first served¡± principle at y. But when she sent the message, Shen Jun didn¡¯t reply. Jiang Chun scrutinized her message repeatedly. Despite her conviction that her words were justifiable, she couldn¡¯tprehend why there was no response. Even if Shen Jun didn¡¯tfort her immediately, he should¡¯ve at least answered. Complete silence seemed imusible. Jiang Chun retrieved her phone once more, deciding to ce a call. At this hour, Shen Jun should be home. Having just finished his shower, Shen Jun stepped out of the bathroom when he heard his phone ring. Wen Nian, without a hint of emotion, recited her words as she looked at the phone. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering the phone?¡± Shen Jun asked. Wen Nian lifted the phone and waved it. ¡°Are you sure you want me to answer this call? The Jiang family¡¯s eldest daughter is quite persistent. She¡¯s called multiple times now. It¡¯s already sote. Are you two really that close?¡± Shen Jun naturally caught the hint of sarcasm in Wen Nian¡¯s voice. Taking the phone, he ended the call and then pulled her into an embrace, nting a kiss on her forehead. ¡°Apart from you, I don¡¯t share a close rtionship with anyone else.¡± Wen Nian pouted in disbelief. Shen Jun enveloped her in his arms. ¡°I told herst time not to contact me at night. If you don¡¯t believe me, see for yourself.¡± Wen Nian initially hesitated to look at his phone, but Shen Jun insisted on showing her. It wouldn¡¯t be polite to decline, so she agreed. True enough, Shen Jun had explicitly conveyed this request, but it appeared Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t taken his words to heart. ¡°Take a look. She¡¯s written a full-length essay for you. This could pass as a college entrance exam piece. Aren¡¯t you going to respond?¡± Wen Nian handed him the phone. Shen Jun frowned as he read the contents of the WeChat. He was getting more and more confused about Jiang Chun. He inquired, ¡°Why does she always assume you¡¯re upset with me because of her? This time, her reasoning doesn¡¯t hold. You¡¯re not upset.¡± ¡°Ah, so you finally realized,¡± Wen Nian teased, patting his head mockingly. ¡°It¡¯s quite a rare disy of intelligence from you.¡± Shen Jun rolled his eyes. ¡°Ranking first in the entire school year doesn¡¯t make me smart. Does that mean you, ranking 92nd, are?¡± ¡°Heh, your intelligence only shines in academics. Your emotional intelligence is reallycking.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t back down. ¡°You can deal with your matters with her, but she has never apologized to me. If she¡¯s genuinely remorseful, why does she keep apologizing to you instead of reaching out to me?¡± Shen Jun nestled his head into the curve of Wen Nian¡¯s neck. The lingering scent of their shower gel brought an inexplicable sense offort. Each time, he would seriously contemte the content of Jiang Chun¡¯s WeChat messages. After a while, he replied to Jiang Chun¡¯s WeChat message. Shen Jun: You didn¡¯t do anything wrong to me. If you truly regret what happened to Wen Nian, you can apologize to her directly. Whether she epts it or not is her choice. It¡¯s useless if you don¡¯t talk to me about it but don¡¯t reach out to her and apologize to her. Jiang Chun, upon receiving Shen Jun¡¯s reply atst, read the message and flung her phone aside. ¡°You want me to apologize to Wen Nian? Dream on!¡± she snapped vehemently. Hearingmotion from her room, Jiang Ning¡¯s voice emerged from outside the door. ¡°Jiang Chun, are you okay? I heard noise.¡± Hearing Jiang Ning¡¯s voice, Jiang Chun rolled her eyes and suddenly had an idea. She swiftly sprayed perfume into her eyes, prompting tears to flow instantly. It took her a moment to regainposure before she opened the door.. Chapter 287 - 287: Rekindling Old Feelings Chapter 287: Rekindling Old Feelings Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon opening the door, Jiang Chun¡¯s appearance genuinely rmed Jiang Ning. Her eyes were bloodshot from crying, and she continued to sob, her body trembling. ¡°What happened to you? Who bullied you?¡± Jiang Ning looked at her worriedly. Jiang Chun only shook her head and pulled her in. ¡°Don¡¯t let Uncle and Aunt see me like this. Come in quickly.¡± ¡°Jiang Chun, what¡¯s wrong? 1 heard about Wei Lai¡¯s involvement. Wen Nian even considered suing her. She just finished crying to me about it.¡± Thinking of Wei Lai¡¯s cries, Jiang Ning asked tentatively, ¡°Will minors go to jail if they are sued?¡± Although the Wei family held significant influence in Hai City, this incident had garnered widespread attention online. Numerous celebrities and directors lent their support to Wen Nian. Suppressing the matter seemed unlikely for the Wei family. Jiang Chun inquired anxiously, ¡°Did Wei Lai say anything else? Did she only mention this?¡± Though the Jiang family had entrusted her with this task, Wei Lai wasn¡¯t particrly astute. Who knew if she would reveal anything to Jiang Ning? Apart from the elder members of the Jiang family, nobody else knew of Jiang Chun¡¯s involvement. She certainly didn¡¯t want to tarnish her image in everyone¡¯s eyes. ¡°What else could she say? She just cried,¡± Jiang Ning responded irritably. ¡°She even hopes Wei Xiao can intercede on her behalf. You know, there¡¯s history between Wei Xiao and Wen Nian¡­ Let¡¯s not dwell on this. It¡¯s so annoying. But what¡¯s wrong with you? Why are you crying too?¡± Although Jiang Ning wasn¡¯t the sharpest, she had picked up on certain things from her constant proximity to Jiang Chun. She suspected that Jiang Chun harbored feelings for Shen Jun, unknowingly defending him all the time. ¡°Could it be that Wen Nian said something to Shen Jun that made him mad at you?¡± Jiang Chun remained silent, simply wiping her eyes with her hand. The perfume that had entered her eyes caused fresh tears to well up. Seeing her like this, what else did Jiang Ning not understand? Indignant, she remarked, ¡°I think this Shen Jun is just book-smart and oblivious. You even saved him when you were kids. You two are practically childhood sweethearts. What¡¯s Wen Nianpared to you?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say that. It¡¯s only right that Wen Nian isn¡¯t forgiving me. After all, it all began because of me.¡± Although Jiang Chun took responsibility, she continued to deflect me onto Wen Nian. ¡°At that time, I tried to plead for you and Wei Lai, so I asked Shen Jun to bring Wen Nian to the ancient town. 1 never expected that Wen Nian would¡­¡± Jiang Chun let the sentence trail off, but in Jiang Ning¡¯s ears, it painted a different picture. She understood it as Jiang Chun advocating for her and Wei Lai, while Wen Nian pushed Jiang Chun into the water without a second thought. Seeing Jiang Ning¡¯s angered expression, Jiang Chun offered a smile and continued, ¡°This matter truly isn¡¯t about me. If 1 intended to pursue it, I would¡¯ve done so the day I fell into the water. This time, 1 sincerely wished to apologize to Wen Nian, yet she declined. I¡¯m not sure what she told Shen Jun, but he also believes I¡¯m at fault.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll apologize to Wen Nian in front of the entire ss tomorrow. I can¡¯t let Wei Xiao apologize. Wei Xiao is your fiance. 1 can¡¯t let them reconnect.¡± The phrase ¡°rekindling old feelings¡± struck a chord within Jiang Ning. She had always held feelings for Wei Xiao. Being with him hadn¡¯t been easy, so she wouldn¡¯t relinquish this chance. ¡°Jiang Chun, 1 can¡¯t let Wei Xiao interact with her. He¡¯s my fiance.¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s tone had already shifted. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault. Clearly, it¡¯s Wei Lai¡¯s doing¡­ but¡­¡± She struggled to articte her thoughts. Wei Lai was Wei Xiao¡¯s sister and her friend, so ignoring her entirely wasn¡¯t an option. Yet, she adamantly opposed any reconciliation between Wei Xiao and Wen Nian. Sensing the timing was right, Jiang Chun spoke up, ¡°1 wish Wen Nian could consider letting Wei Lai off the hook. Do you think the Wei family will simply back down? If Wei Lai gets sued, the repercussions will extend beyond Wei Xiao¡¯s situation, won¡¯t they?¡± ¡°However, 1 heard that Wei Xiao¡¯s grandfather visited today, and Wen Nian wasn¡¯t willing to drop thewsuit. She even disregarded the old man¡¯s feelings. She seems resolute about opposing the Wei family.¡± Jiang Ning had conducted her own inquiries. Wei Feng¡¯s attempts to reach out to Wen Nian¡¯s parents had been fruitless. Who could control her? ¡°That¡¯s urate. Wen Nian is now a popr celebrity with millions of fans. The police have to consider public sentiment and are likely hesitant to take action against her.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t loud, yet each word reached Jiang Ning¡¯s ears distinctly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that to repay the debt of gratitude to Old Mr. Wen, Old Mr. Wei paid for Old Mr. Wen¡¯s funeral. He didn¡¯t allow the Wen family to spend a dime, even offering Wen Nian¡¯s family one million yuan. He even permitted Wei Xiao to get engaged to Wen Nian. It¡¯s apparent that Old Mr. Wei holds Wen Nian in high regard. He must be very sad that Wen Nian did this..¡± Chapter 288 - 288: Let Me Apologize to You Chapter 288: Let Me Apologize to You Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What? The Wen family took a million from the Wei family?¡± Jiang Ning didn¡¯t know the inside story. However, Jiang Chun already knew all of this on the third day aftering to Hai City. The Jiang family in the capital had extensively investigated the Wen family since they were connected to Shen Jun. Naturally, they couldn¡¯t afford to overlook this. ¡°Indeed. To their family, earning a million yuan would probably take years, right? Yet, Wen Nian, a minor celebrity now, wields such tremendous influence.¡± Jiang Chun sighed again, conveying a sense of regret. ¡°Sigh, if not for Wen Nian¡¯s sway over public opinion, the Wei Lai incident could have be a minor issue.¡± ¡°Celebrity status? Influence?¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s smile turned sly. ¡°If the tide of public opinion doesn¡¯t favor her and her pristine image copses, do you think she¡¯ll continue pressing charges against Wei Lai under such pressure?¡± ¡°Jiang Ning, what are you doing? Don¡¯t do anything stupid.¡± Jiang Chun hurriedly grabbed her hand. ¡°You have to know that the Shen family behind Shen Jun is not someone we can afford to offend.¡± After all, the Jiang family was just one faction. Having already muddled things up, they couldn¡¯t afford to meddle with Wen Nian any further. Considering the Shen family¡¯s influence, Jiang Ning hesitated. Wei Xiao had warned her multiple times not to provoke Shen Jun and Wen Nian. ¡°Jiang Ning, let it be. Wei Lai is still young; the sentence might not be too severe. We can extend our help and keep a clean record for her.¡± Jiang Chun shifted the topic. ¡°It¡¯s in everyone¡¯s best interest if Wei Lai behaves now. Stirring trouble due to her discontent won¡¯t be beneficial.¡± As expected, Jiang Ning¡¯s eyes brightened upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s words. However, she was also aware that Jiang Chun would probably advise against taking any actions to sabotage Wen Nian. Jiang Ning tried to persuade Jiang Chun once more before returning to her room and sharing the newly acquired information with Wei Lai. Wei Lai was rtively young and seldom involved in the Wei family¡¯s affairs. She only knew about Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather having saved Wei Feng, but she had no knowledge of the rest. It was astounding for her to learn that Wei Feng had not onlypensated Wen Nian¡¯s family marily, but also had a role in the old man¡¯s burial. ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s fame from a movie stirred up attention, which is why you¡¯ve be ensnared in this situation. If the incident hadn¡¯t caught public attention, the police wouldn¡¯t have gotten involved,¡± Jiang Ning remarked with a touch of excitement in her voice. ¡°But now, the Wen family is biting the hand that fed them. They took your family¡¯s money and then tried to have you imprisoned. What fan would tolerate that? Her actions go against her own image. When the public¡¯s perception shifts, no one will forgive her even if she tries to press charges against you again.¡± Hearing Jiang Ning¡¯s words, Wei Lai finally had some confidence. Initially, she was extremely unwilling to turn herself in when Wei Feng asked her to. However, Jiang Chun had only said a few sentences. She had indeed taken the initiative to defame Wen Nian. However, Jiang Ning¡¯s n this time sounded pretty good. If the public opinion was not on Wen Nian¡¯s side, her matter might be left unsettled. However, Wei Lai had learned her lesson and decided to be cautious this time. She recorded her conversation with Jiang Ning. After ending the call, Wei Lai swiftly reached out to a few friends and media contacts she had cultivated. She even dipped into her personal savings to mount an extensive campaign aimed at discrediting Wen Nian all at once. After a day of rest at the Shen Jun residence, Wen Nian experienced an exceptionally tranquil sleep. As she stirred awake, she shifted her gaze towards Shen Jun¡¯s profile. It was finely sculpted and striking. His eyes, when open, exuded an air of detachment and coolness, but when closed, he emanated a softer, more tender demeanor. While she was lost in thought, Shen Jun¡¯s voice suddenly sounded, ¡°Do you like what you see?¡± Wen Nian quickly turned around awkwardly and coughed lightly. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Shen Jun extended his hand, softly turning her head back, and gently kissed her forehead. ¡°Good morning, Miss Wen.¡± Wen Nian grinned and yfully nibbled his chin. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Shen of Miss Wen.¡± After some moments of cuddling, they arose, their energy renewed by the night¡¯s sleep. However, as soon as they reached the ssroom door, they saw that many students had already gathered at the door to watch. As Wen Nian and Shen Jun approached, the students respectfully made way. At the front of the ssroom stood Jiang Chun, her eyes puffy from crying. Sensing the two approaching, Jiang Chun felt a surge of apprehension, but she still forced herself and said, ¡°Wen Nian, Shen Jun asked me to apologize to you yesterday.¡± As Jiang Chun¡¯s words reached their ears, the students¡¯ nces exchanged between the trio. Her statement held a surplus of information.. Chapter 289 - 289: The Thought Process of a Straight Man Chapter 289: The Thought Process of a Straight Man Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun deliberately altered the narrative. Many were aware that she and Shen Jun were childhood sweethearts. With her words, people inferred a strong bond between her and Shen Jun. Yet, the request for an apology came due to Wen Nian being Shen Jun¡¯s girlfriend. Jiang Chun¡¯s intention was for Wen Nian to overhear. Her message conveyed that Shen Jun had reached out to her the previous day, affirming their enduring friendship. And if it wasn¡¯t for Shen Jun, she wouldn¡¯t havee to apologize to Wen Nian. Wen Nian easily deciphered Jiang Chun¡¯s maniption. She smiled. ¡°Are you sure Shen Jun asked you to apologize to me? When did he say that?¡± ¡°Last night,¡± Jiang Chun murmured, her voice barely audible. Despite this, neighboring students caught her words clearly, exchanging astonished nces. ¡°Wen Nian, I admit my fault. However, I never implicated you for pushing me to the police, nor did I pursue the matter back then. But if my actions have distressed you, I¡¯m prepared to apologize. I sincerely apologize.¡± After her statement, Jiang Chun humbly bowed. Upon rising, her teary gaze fixed upon Shen Jun. However, Wen Nian remained unmoved by the situation. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have informed the police that 1 pushed you, because that simply didn¡¯t happen. There¡¯s no point in pursuing this matter, as it¡¯s based on a false premise, right?¡± Just then, a female voice chimed in from the corner of the ssroom. ¡°Why the act of ying the victim? Wen Nian is correct. If she had truly pushed you, would you be letting it go so easily? Quit with the pretense.¡± Jiang Chun shot an angry nce towards the voice. Sun Ying, stationed in the corner of the ss, regarded her with a disdainful expression. From Jiang Chun¡¯s angle, it seemed like the photo from that day had been taken from Sun Ying¡¯s viewpoint. Sun Ying, however, met her re with defiance. ¡°What are you looking at? Did I say anything inurate? First, you faked being all caring and insisted on giving Shen Jun medicine, painting this picture of you two being so chummy. Turns out, you got caught and imed that Wen Nian didn¡¯t allow Shen Jun to take your medicine. And now, you¡¯re iming that Shen Jun asked you to apologize to Wen Nian. So, you¡¯re not really nning to apologize to Wen Nian, huh? Are you even sure that Shen Jun asked you to apologize to her?¡± Sun Ying typically assumed the role of a big sister in the ss. Even the boys hesitated to cross her. With her probing question, even the articte Jiang Chun was rendered speechless. In this moment, Shen Jun¡¯s ck of emotional intelligence¡± was on full disy. ¡°I did not ask you to apologize. You¡¯ve misunderstood. What I mean is, if you genuinely feel like you¡¯ve let Wen Nian down, you can apologize directly to her instead of apologizing to me every single time.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t want Jiang Chun to feel embarrassed. He rified, ¡°You¡¯re always assuming responsibility, but you don¡¯t need to keep apologizing to me. Wen Nian isn¡¯t one to hold grudges. Your actions haven¡¯t caused her to be upset with me.¡± As soon as Shen Jun said this, Wen Nian wished he could apud. His straight man¡¯s way of thinking was indeed extraordinary. He was honestly stating the facts, but it was this kind of truth that anyone observant could see was detrimental to Jiang Chun. Amidst the silence, one student suddenly eximed, ¡°F*ck?¡± The rest of the students burst forth as well. ¡°Who would¡¯ve guessed? She¡¯s quite cunning. Is she using this excuse every time to get close to the most handsome guy in our ss?¡± ¡°And she used Wen Nian of being angry for her presence every time? The stench of feign innocence and victimhood is strong!¡± ¡°The beloved ss goddess seems to have lost her filter. So many underhanded tactics?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been saying this all along. What gives her the right to overshadow Wen Nian, the school¡¯s belle? It¡¯s justughable!¡± Jiang Chun could no longer bear her ssmates¡¯ sarcasm. She wished for Shen Jun to sympathize with her, but his exnation was better than none. Finally, Jiang Chun mustered her courage and uttered, ¡°So I had it wrong. I¡¯m genuinely sorry. Wen Nian, I offer you a sincere apology. ss is about to begin. I¡¯ll head back now.¡± Looking at Jiang Chun¡¯s fleeing back, Wen Nian felt much better. Still slightly puzzled, Shen Jun questioned, ¡°Was 1 mistaken in what I said earlier? But it¡¯s the truth. I genuinely never told her to apologize to you.¡± Wen Nian smiled widely and patted his shoulder. ¡°Student Shen, you¡¯re very honest.. You said it very well!¡± Chapter 290 - 290: Interview Video Chapter 290: Interview Video Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios This situation didn¡¯t seem to affect Wen Nian much. She had a solid understanding of Jiang Chun¡¯s character. Instead of getting angry, she decided to focus on working through more sets of questions. However, as Wen Nian was immersed in her studies, her WeChat began to vibrate repeatedly. Despite the notifications, she resisted the urge to check her phone. There were still unanswered questions from the previous day, and time was running out. She needed to push herself harder. Only after the ss ended did Wen Nian finally nce at her phone. At that moment, Sun Ying approached her, tapping her phone on the table to get Wen Nian¡¯s attention. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you looked at your phone?¡± Sun Ying appeared concerned. ¡°This is as urgent as someone who has their eyebrows burned. Why are you still working on those questions?¡± ¡°Whose eyebrows were burned?¡± Wen Nian held a positive view of Sun Ying, recalling that in her previous life, Sun Ying had also attended the police academy and embodied a strong sense of justice. Sun Ying sighed as she unlocked her phone, but before she could open the page, Zhou Bei hurried over. ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯ve got to see this. Can you believe it? Are these your uncle and aunt? It¡¯s infuriating!¡± Only then did Wen Nian ess the news page on her phone. An article featuring an interview with Wen Xun and Li Ke caught her attention. Reporter: Has Chairman Wei Feng consistently looked after the Wen family? Is there a close rtionship between the Wei family and the Wens? Wen Xun: Certainly. In my father¡¯s final years, Old Mr. Wei would visit him nearly every week. Sadly, my father couldn¡¯t hold on for more years. Reporter: Does the Wei family treat Wen Nian well? I heard that she and the Wei family were originally engaged? Reporter: Has the Wei family treated Wen Nian well? We heard that she was initially engaged to a member of the Wei family? Reporter: ¡°Do you agree that Wen Nian shouldn¡¯t sue Wei Lai?¡± Wen Xun: ¡°The Wei family has done so much for us. They ultimately covered my father¡¯s funeral expenses. What¡¯s the sense in siblings fighting? Must they be so heartless? Wen Nian is truly excessive. She¡¯s still so young. Is her life going to be ruined?¡± Li Ke: Absolutely, absolutely. Wen Nian has consistently been ungrateful. She¡¯s an ingrate. Reporter: ¡°Did you know that the Wei family gave one million yuan to Wen Nian¡¯s family?¡± Wen Xun: A million? What million? Li Ke: So she received a million yuan and she¡¯s still pressing charges? Can she be any more shameless? The interview clip concluded abruptly. The article essentially painted Wen Nian as a fame-hungry celebrity who was suing Wei Lai for attention. She showed herself as a righteous champion of justice when she was really motivated by greed for money and poprity. Moreover, reporters had interviewed neighbors from around the Wen family¡¯s old home, most of whom recounted how Wei Feng had been kind to the Wens, which turned public sentiment even further in his favor. Although no one directly criticized Wen Nian, the public sentiment was clearly leaning against her. Within hours, this news piece became a hot topic. Some busybodies managed to unearth a receipt indicating a one million yuan transfer from Wei Feng, addressed to ¡°Wen Xing.¡± However, the date of the transaction wasn¡¯t disclosed. Netizens who didn¡¯t know the truth thought that Wen Nian must have taken the Wei family¡¯s money and sued Wei Lai for poprity. A few media outlets were even paid to post a video of Wei Lai crying at the entrance of the police station and pleading for Wen Nian¡¯s forgiveness. In the video, Wen Nian was very cold and even had a mocking expression on her face. Netizens swarmed Wen Nian¡¯s social media ounts withments soon after. ¡°Wen Nian, step up and clear the air. Did you really ept money from the Wei family?¡± ¡°Is this even possible? She epted the money and is suing a young girl? Isn¡¯t that going too far?¡± ¡°The Wei family supported your grandfather¡¯s funeral. They looked after your family for so long, yet you repay them with ingratitude. How despicable.¡± ¡°I must have been blind to have liked you. Clearly, you¡¯re a master at acting. Unbelievable!¡± While there were a fewizens expressing skepticism, they were swiftly drowned out by a flood ofments from online influencers and propaganda ounts. Wen Nian read thesements with a smile. She had been nning to look into the situation surrounding her family¡¯s past, but it seemed someone had saved her the trouble. Who would have thought that this foolish individual would inadvertently bring up old events? Instead of causing trouble, this individual had helped her. In the study of the Wei family mansion, Wei Feng was seething with anger. He grabbed his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Get rid of all the trending topics rted to this incident and delete any content connected to it! I don¡¯t care what methods you employ!¡± Clenching his teeth, he continued, ¡°Find out who¡¯s behind this.. You¡¯ve got two hours!¡± Chapter 291 - 291: Even Fate Favored Him Chapter 291 - 291: Even Fate Favored Him Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios In under an hour, Wei Feng received reliable information, intensifying his resentment towards the mastermind behind the scheme. He never could have foreseen that his own past, a history he desperately wished to bury, would be unearthed by his own disappointing granddaughter, Wei Lai. Knowing he was in the wrong, he had taken measures to prevent any potential post-mortem revtions. He even spent considerable money to personally oversee the burial of Old Master Wen, hoping to bury his secrets alongside the man. Yet, after so many years, Wei Lai had managed to bring it all back to light. Though he appeared to have taken care of the Wen family, a thorough investigation could expose many of the unsavory events from that time. Rather than immediately summoning Wei Lai, he first ordered the removal of all pertinent online content. Following this, he retreated to his room and unlocked a safe, revealing a collection of gold bars. With these in hand, he descended into the basement.
To ensure privacy, Wei Feng had dispatched all the household staff to tend to the garden, expecting them to return in two hours¡¯ time. He even deactivated the home¡¯s surveince system. Unbeknownst to him, due to the events of the previous day, Wei Xiao had skipped school. He was already aware that the Jiang family in the capital had manipted the Wei family into acquiring a valuable piece ofnd. The potential value of thend had captivated his attention, and he was determined to find a way to make it his own. Contemting the matter, he decided he should approach Jiang Chun. However, as he opened the door, he caught sight of Wei Feng making his way downstairs, holding a small leather bag. Wei Xiao¡¯s brow furrowed at the thought of Wei Feng¡¯s ostensible concern for the Wen family. The Wei family was renowned for their cold-blooded nature, willing to sacrifice kin for personal gain. How, then, could they be genuinely caring for the Wens? Especially when he thought of Wei Ming¡¯s previous investigation and looked at the sneaky Wei Feng, Wei Xiao started following Wei Feng. Wei Xiao had never anticipated the presence of a secret room within the basement of the vi. Concealed behind the innermost shelving, a door lurked, protected by a password lock. However, looking at the location where Wei Feng had pressed the password, Wei Xiao guessed that he must have used his lunar birthday. Wei Feng¡¯s phone password was also his birthday. Wei Feng didn¡¯t stay in the dark room for long. After ten minutes, Wei Xiao witnessed the room¡¯s door reopening. Swiftly concealing himself behind a heap of discarded items, Wei Xiao only emerged once Wei Feng had left. He then approached the entrance to the room, using Wei Feng¡¯s lunar birthday to unlock the door. As expected, the door swung open. The room was a modest few square meters, with an entire wall adorned with drawers. Wei Xiao noticed traces of disturbed dust on one of them¡ªevidence of Wei Feng¡¯s recent interaction. Upon opening the drawer, Wei Xiao discovered neatly arranged gold bars with the word ¡°Wen¡± crudely etched upon them. An envelope rested within as well. Upon glimpsing the contents of the envelope, Wei Xiao¡¯s heart constricted. On the first card, various chemical forms were apanied by a 500,000 yuan check stub. Astonishingly, the payee was none other than¡ª¡±Yang Shu¡± Wei Xiao recognized the name. This individual had originally been a private doctor Wei Feng had poached from the central hospital, but he had quit shortly after joining the Wei family. He picked up a page with a chemical form and took a closer look. Indeed, there was a ¡°Y¡± at the signature. Clearly, these were all Yang Shu¡¯s doing. Furthermore, records detailing Yang Shu¡¯s eptance of bribes were enclosed, each apanied by a corresponding number. This information served as leverage Yang Shu could employ against Wei Feng. Wei Xiao was acutely aware that these materials were likely connected to the Wen family and held significant importance. However, theirplexity proved insurmountable for him to decipher. Ultimately, he resolved to remove the envelope¡¯s contents and pocket one of the gold bars. He then carefully returned the drawer to its original position. The prospect of possessing valuable evidence against the influential Wei family stirred a feverish excitement within Wei Xiao. Thend in the capital seemed destined to be his, as if even fate itself was on his side. Meanwhile, Wen Nian, attending school, found herself puzzled as she noticed the trending topic disappearing. After contemting the situation, she opted to consult Shen Jun. ¡°Did you reach out to your uncle for assistance? Or did you somehow hack the tform¡¯s system?¡± Wen Nian struggled to identify any other potential savior in her predicament apart from Shen Jun. Shen Jun, however, merely shook his head without uttering a word. While he had indeed contacted Zhao Wu, before Zhao Wu could initiate any action, the Wei family had proactively erased the trending content, expunging rted videos andments.. Chapter 292 - 292: Muddy Waters Chapter 292 - 292: Muddy Waters Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun thought for a moment and told Wen Nian what he knew. ¡°The Wei family proactively asked for the trending topic to be removed.¡± ¡°Wei Feng?¡± Wen Nian frowned even more. ¡°As expected, he¡¯s still feeling guilty.¡± Had the Wei family not intervened, allowing the situation to gain momentum online, Wen Nian might have beenpelled, under pressure, to ¡°forgive¡± Wei Lai. Otherwise, the controversy could easily implicate the broader Wen family. From any perspective, it seemed to serve the Wei family¡¯s interests. However, this sway of public opinion was precisely what Wen Nian desired. It was an opportunity to bring the past to light, perhaps coaxing Wei Feng into disclosing something unexpected. Yet, she hadn¡¯t anticipated his swift response. His actions were unlikely to be truly altruistic toward Wen Nian. His primary motive was likely to suppress any mention of his history with Wen Sheng. Given their shared associations from the past, exposing the matter would undoubtedly spell his downfall.
¡°No, we must still secure evidence. If we can¡¯t obtain it now, we¡¯ll create confusion,¡± Wen Nian contemted aloud. Shen Jun inquired promptly, ¡°Do you want me to revive the trending topic? What¡¯s your n?¡± Wen Nian thought for a while, then quickly wrote the content on his phone and sent it to Shen Jun. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s brow furrowed. Wen Nian appeared to be taking an indirect approach. Wen Nian responded, ¡°1 realize weck evidence at the moment. However, if Wei Feng could kill someone, is it possible he could eliminate anyone familiar with him and my grandfather? No wall is imprable. Someone must possess knowledge of this. An anonymous expose online might be powerless, but it could prompt a reaction.¡± She shed a conciliatory smile. ¡°Mr. Shen is an expert in this realm. Concealing your identity and fabricating pseudonymousmenters shouldn¡¯t pose a challenge, right?¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Shen Jun snorted coldly, then quickly operated his phone. In the midst of their conversation, Wen Nian¡¯s phone buzzed. A WeChat message arrived from an unexpected sender. Wen Yan: Since when did Grandpa Wei give your family a million yuan? Did he truly ask you not to sue Wei Lai? Why didn¡¯t our family know about this? When she saw Wen Yan¡¯s WeChat message, Wen Nian almostughed out loud. She was just worried that no one could throw away their pride and make a scene! Wen Nian: ¡°If I epted the money and pursued legal action, do you believe the Wei family would have spared me? Furthermore, it seems I received this million yuan quite some time ago. I believe it waspensation on behalf of Grandpa. The specifics elude me.¡± Wen Yan: Why give it to your family and not mine? We¡¯re also part of the Wen family. Shouldn¡¯t we have received care too? Initially, Wen Yan didn¡¯t want to look for Wen Nian, but the more Li Ke thought about it, the more she felt that something was wrong. FFirst, someone had offered them an interview, sweetening the deal with 10,000 yuan. There was no need to fabricate falsehoods; they merely had to acknowledge Wei Feng¡¯s family care. Li Ke and Wen Xun, viewing this sum as unexpected fortune, readily epted the offer. They hadn¡¯t foreseen the reporter¡¯s assertion that Wei Feng had given one million yuan to Wen Xing¡¯s family. The difference between 10,000 and a million was like heaven and earth. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that something was wrong. That was why she instigated her daughter to ask Wen Nian why. Wen Nian also said everything she knew ¡°sincerely¡±. Wen Nian: A million yuan means little to their family. The Wei Corporation likely has billions in assets, doesn¡¯t it? Nheless, my parents expressly declined the money. They¡¯re bound to return it. I truly can¡¯tprehend why Grandpa Wei insisted we ept this million yuan for no apparent reason. Li Ke read Wen Nian¡¯s WeChat message attentively, pondering the situation involving her brother and sister-inw, who appeared genuinely honest. It seemed improbable that they would resort to extortion. So why would Wei Feng offer a million yuan? And why did he insist for Wen Xing to take the money? Before she could make sense of the situation, Wen Yan eximed, ¡°Mom, Dad,e take a look! Is this true? Do you know about it?¡± ¡°Why are you shouting like that? You want to give me a heart attack?¡± Li Ke scolded, taken aback. Wen Yan¡¯s voice escted further as she held out a tablet, proiming, ¡°Someone here ims that Wei Feng initiated his business by borrowing money from our family. The one million yuan wasn¡¯t meant to dissuade Wen Nian from legal action; it was repayment of the Wen family¡¯s loan.¡± Wen Yan¡¯s voice was filled with excitement. ¡°At least half of that one million yuan should belong to our family!¡± Wen Xun, catching the enthusiasm, chimed in, ¡°Absolutely, absolutely. We should find our elder brother and request 500,000 yuan! This money rightfully belongs to our family!¡± However, Li Ke remained motionless. A remarkable calm enveloped her.. She then remarked, ¡°Could it be that our father supported the rise of the Wei family¡¯s entrepreneurial endeavors? Without our father, how could the Wei Corporation grow to the size it is today?¡± Chapter 293 - 293: You Can’t Take This Money Chapter 293: You Can¡¯t Take This Money Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before Wen Xun could react, he mumbled, ¡°That¡¯s right, we should ask our older brother for 500,000 yuan!¡± ¡°What 500,000 yuan?¡± Li Ke exploded,nding a heavy p on the back of his head. ¡°Have you even considered why your older brother and the others rejected this one million yuan? Why did Wei Feng insist on arranging the engagement between Wen Nian and Wei Xiao? What is he aiming to gain from currying favor with the Wen family?¡± Wen Xun, reeling from the blow, replied weakly, ¡°Wife, I don¡¯t get it.¡± Li Ke unleashed another stern blow and rebuked, ¡°The Wei family is now worth billions, correct? Wei Feng doesn¡¯t possess a single dime; his enterprise began with our Wei family¡¯s money. How on earth does he have control over the Wei Corporation? It rightfully belongs to the Wen family. Our family name is Wen!¡± ¡°Why do you think he pushed for Wei Xiao¡¯s engagement to Wen Nian? Isn¡¯t he apprehensive about the truth emerging, making things tough for him? Once they¡¯re wed, our families will be linked. What distinction would there be?¡± ¡°Even an honest person like Wen Xing knows that he definitely can¡¯t ept a million yuan. Why? Isn¡¯t it because the Wei family owes us more than just this bit of money?¡± Wen Xun remained baffled, while Wen Yan quivered with excitement. ¡°Yes! The interview between you two was deleted. It must be because Wei Feng doesn¡¯t want to bring up the past. Maybe Grandpa¡¯s friends know about it!¡± Wen Yan often pondered the stark contrast between Wei Xiao¡¯s gentle and refined demeanor and Wei Lai¡¯s arrogance. Thetter always had a flock of youngdies from affluent backgrounds fawning over her, which used to stoke her jealousy. Yet, with her mother¡¯s words resonating, everything seemed rightfully theirs. This realization heightened her excitement. ¡°Mom is right. This should rightfully belong to the Wen family. Not just a million yuan, even if they offer ten million yuan, we can¡¯t simply let it go like that.¡± The family was already enveloped in the jubtion of ascending to prosperity. On the opposite end, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei had already been apprised of this situation. The duo earnestly wished to avoid implicating Wen Nian in this matter. Moreover, they were averse to touching the one million yuan. Thus, after thorough deliberation, they decided to head straight to Wei Corporation and return the money in front of everyone. Upon arriving, the receptionist recognized them and inquired if they should proceed directly to the chairman¡¯s office. Unexpectedly, another group also sought an audience with Wei Feng. Observing Wen Xing and Zhou Mei, Li Ke quickly approached. ¡°Brother, Sister-inw, you¡¯re here too?¡± Wen Xun simply nodded, refraining from speaking. Beside him stood Wen Yan as well as Li Ke¡¯s two siblings. Zhou Mei frowned. ¡°Why are you here?¡± If it was in the past, Li Ke would have scolded her long ago. But now, gazing at the twenty-story edifice of Wei Corporation and its opulent embellishments, she couldn¡¯t suppress her inner tion. This might eventually be hers. ¡°All, doesn¡¯t Uncle Wei have a close bond with our father?¡± Li Ke tried to hook her arm through Zhou Mei¡¯s, but Zhou Mei evaded her. Nevertheless, Li Ke remained unfazed as she said to herself, ¡°Uncle Wei gave your family a million yuan. You don¡¯t want that money, right? Of course. The Wei family¡¯s vast enterprise relies heavily on our Wen family. Are they trying to dismiss us with a mere million yuan? Impossible!¡± Li Ke¡¯s words prompted a swift exchange of nces between the receptionist and a security guard. Truth be told, for the past few days, the Wei and Wen families had been grappling with sessive waves of discussions regarding this matter. Almost all the groups in the Wei Corporation were discussing this matter, but they still had to deal with it when it came to thepany. At this moment, Wei Feng¡¯s secretary came down to usher them up. When the secretary saw so many people, a look of astonishment flickered across the secretary¡¯s visage. Swiftly, she adopted a professional smile. ¡°Mr. Wen, Mrs. Wen, the chairman is ready to meet you. Would the two of you kindly apany me upstairs?¡± As she spoke, she moved to lead Wen Xing and Zhou Mei upwards, yet Wen Xing promptly interjected, ¡°We¡¯re here today to return a million yuan to Old Mr. Wei. We said from the beginning that we couldn¡¯t take this money. Now that my daughter is implicated, I can¡¯t take this money anymore.¡± Zhou Mei quickly retrieved a bank passbook. ¡°Not a single cent of the million yuan has been touched by us. Furthermore, this money wasn¡¯t given recently. The date is clearlybeled. My daughter has never been bribed to drop charges against Wei Lai. We don¡¯t want this money..¡± Chapter 294 - 294: Havoc at the Wei Corporation Chapter 294: Havoc at the Wei Corporation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The hall of Wei Corporation bustled with peopleing and going, attracting the attention of many onlookers. Seizing the opportunity, Li Ke raised her voice even louder. ¡°Absolutely right! Wei Feng built his fortune using our Wen family¡¯s money. A million yuan to shoo away a beggar? He¡¯s even trying to manipte this million yuan to falsely use my niece. If this issue isn¡¯t resolved, we won¡¯t leave.¡± In response to this, the two brothers standing behind Wen Xun also rose to their feet, and security guards began to encircle them. Wen Xun felt a twinge of anxiety and sought refuge behind Li Ke. However, Li Ke disyed no fear and her voice grew even more resounding. ¡°Wen Yan, take out your phone and start that thing. Livestream! Livestream! Let everyone witness how the Wei family, despite its debts, is now summoning security guards to take aggressive action against us, right?¡± Wen Yan was initially hesitant due to feeling embarrassed. However, with her anticipated future role as a young mistress here, she gathered her courage and started a live stream using her phone. She even spent 500 yuan to promote the stream. On the opposing side, the security personnel from Wei Corporation had already begun ushering them out. Wen Xing was taken aback by the sudden turn of events. Raising his voice, he called out, ¡°Hold on, no fighting! We¡¯vee to return the money to Old Mr. Wei. I¡¯ve handed over the passbook. We¡¯re leaving now!¡± Without further ado, Zhou Mei ced the passbook on the front desk. Sensing the situation escting, the secretary hastened over to intervene. ¡°Sir and Madam, the chairman wishes to speak with you. Think about how this situation might negatively affect Miss Wen Nian. We¡¯re all parents; naturally, we want the best for our children.¡± However, her well-intentioned words had an unintended effect. At the mention of Wen Nian, Zhou Mei¡¯s eyes welled up with tears. ¡°You talk about considering the child¡¯s well-being? Outwardly, you may appear concerned, but who knows what your true intentions are when you handed us this money?¡± ¡°At that time, we feltpelled to ept this money, living in apprehension ever since. And now, just as expected, it¡¯s being used to falsely use my daughter! My daughter is the actual victim here!¡± Witnessing his wife¡¯s emotional state, Wen Xing quickly approached and draped an arm around her shoulders. He then addressed the secretary, ¡°I¡¯m here to give the money back in front of everyone. Tell Wei Feng and Wei Lai that since Wei Laimitted actions that harmed my daughter, he must bear the consequences. Just because he wields power and influence doesn¡¯t mean he can bully regr people.¡± The secretary wanted to stop him, but the security guards in the hall were already fighting with Li Ke¡¯s two brothers. Li Ke also stopped the secretary. ¡°Tell Wei Feng toe out and see us. This issue can¡¯t be resolved with a meager sum!¡± Baffled by Li Ke¡¯s unyielding attitude, the secretary, who had never encountered such an unreasonable woman, found herself stopped by Wen Yan. Moreover, Wen Yan¡¯s live stream had amassed tens of thousands of viewers within minutes, with a cascade of virtual gifts pouring in. The security guard also wanted to snatch the phone, but Wen Yan was broadcasting live and she was a little girl, so they didn¡¯t dare take any drastic actions against her. Throughout the afternoon, Wen Nian remained oblivious to the online situation. Her focus was fixed on her revision n, as every minute counted. Afterpleting her final set ofprehensive practice papers, Wen Nian assessed the number of incorrect answers with satisfaction. Though perhaps not achieving a top score, if she continued at this pace, gaining entrance to the top ss wouldn¡¯t pose a problem. Seeing her rxed demeanor, Shen Jun then handed over his phone. ¡°Take a look at your handiwork.¡± Puzzled, Wen Nian took the phone and her mouth instantly opened into an ¡°0¡±. The video disyed Li Ke engaged in a scuffle with Wei Feng¡¯s female secretary. Security guards had their clothing torn, and the situation had escted to involve police intervention. There was even a high-definition pixted photograph. Wen Nian scrolled through the news on her phone once more. Never could she have imagined that Wen Yan would start a live broadcast, and that Wei Corporation would permit it to continue for over ten minutes. When Wen Nian saw that Wen Xing and Zhou Mei had actually returned the money in public, her eyes turned red. They hadn¡¯t touched the money, primarily because they believed Wen Sheng¡¯s death was connected to Wei Feng. While this money could potentially y a pivotal role in the future, they promptly returned it for her sake. Online discussions were also picking up pace. Thanks to a straightforward strategy employed by Shen Jun, the anonymous post garnered hundreds of thousands of likes. Furthermore, a significant number of individuals concurred, suspecting that Wei Feng must have an ulterior motive.. Chapter 295 - 295: A Calming Pill Chapter 295 - 295: A Calming Pill Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The keywords #Wei Feng¡¯s Family Story#, #WeiWen¡¯s Family#, #Wen¡¯s Family Causing Havoc in the Wei Corporation# were all trending at the same time. Netizens had recently witnessed Wen Nian¡¯s ingratitude in the morning after being treated kindly, only to then see the Wei family face humiliation. Even the news of Wen Xun¡¯s adoption was exposed. In the current digital age, online users were drawn to melodramatic stories involving affluent families. Additionally, with Wen Nian being a beautiful celebrity, coupled with Li Ke¡¯s irrational actions, the situation was truly captivating. This issue dominated the front pages of almost every website. Previously, the Wen family had been obscure, while Wei Feng had always held a dominant position as the chairman of the Wei family. Theplicated history behind these two families were totally unexpected. Wen Nian hadn¡¯t anticipated Li Ke¡¯s audacity. She presumed that Wen Xun¡¯s family would merely approach either Wen Xing or Wei Feng for financial assistance.
However, regardless of whom they sought help from, they were bound to attract significant attention. Unfortunately, Li Ke had been too greedy. In the video, Li Ke kept saying that the Wei Corporation should be called the Wen Corporation, which amused Wen Nian. Over half an hour had passed since school had ended. At this juncture, Wen Nian¡¯s phone unexpectedly began to ring. It seemed that today was her lucky day as everything was progressing smoothly. Wei Xiao: ¡°Wen Nian, 1 apologize sincerely. Your Second Uncle and Second Aunt came to thepany and caused a disturbance. We had to involve the police. I heard that your parents have already bailed them out. Nheless, the repercussions of this event are substantial. Grandfather wishes to know if you¡¯re willing to reconcile?¡± Wei Xiao: ¡°I know you¡¯ve suffered in this matter. I¡¯ll apologize to you on their behalf. I also know that an apology won¡¯t make you forgive me. You can ask for anything. 1 will do my utmost to advocate for your wishes. I won¡¯t let you suffer.¡± Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian¡¯s phone from the corner of his eye and then turned his gaze to her cheerful expression, feeling a tinge of unhappiness. Wen Nian sensed the sudden chill in the atmosphere. Hastily, she extended the phone to him with a conciliatory tone. ¡°My Mr. Shen, could you suggest how I should reply?¡± Arching an eyebrow, Shen Jun remained silent. Wen Nian continued to coax him. ¡°Help me reply him please! Thanks for your hard work!¡± Only then did Shen Jun take the phone. Coincidentally, the phone began ringing at that exact moment, almost as if it knew when to showcase good timing. Seeing that it was Wei Xiao, Shen Jun nced at Wen Nian and received her nod before answering. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Shen¡­ Shen Jun?¡± Wei Xiao didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun to pick up the call, but this was better. Wei Xiao cleared his throat swiftly. ¡°Shen Jun, are you aware of the situation with Wen Nian¡¯s family? Her uncle and aunt visited Wei Corporation today¡­ In any case, they¡¯re now at the police station. The impact of the matter is quite bad. Could you help memunicate to Wen Nian that we¡¯re open to her desiredpensation? I¡¯mmitted to assisting her in securing her interests.¡± ¡°You treat her quite well, don¡¯t you?¡± Shen Jun responded with a mock smile, while Wen Nian leaned against him, listening to the conversation. ¡°Please, it¡¯s all in good humor. We were just goofing off before. The main issue this time is that the impact is too great.¡± Wei Xiao was well aware of how possessive Shen Jun was of Wen Nian. Hastily, he added, ¡°Your involvement, as her boyfriend, can undoubtedly help. Why don¡¯t we discuss this in person? Given the substantial events surrounding Wen Nian¡¯s family today, how about she take a leave and we meet tonight?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t say anything else and hung up. Although Shen Jun¡¯s response was sinct, it was like a calming pill to Wei Xiao. He had inquired around and discovered that the plot ofnd the Jiang family had promised to assist Wei Feng in acquiring was located adjacent to the Shen family¡¯s property. As he was inevitably going to deal with the Shen family in the future, with Wei Feng now under his control, if he could establish rapport with Shen Jun¡­ He took a deep breath. From now on, he would be in charge of the Wei family in the capital. ¡°Why did you agree so readily?¡± Wen Nian pouted. ¡°You didn¡¯t even ask me for my opinion?¡± ¡°Give your parents a call so they won¡¯t worry.¡± Shen Jun yfully tapped her forehead before affectionately adding, ¡°1¡¯11 go talk to Teacher Li and arrange for you to take a leave.¡± He smiled at the pouting Wen Nian and left the ssroom. Just as he reached the corner upstairs, he was stopped by Jiang Chun behind him. ¡°Shen Jun, wait for me.¡± Shen Jun turned around, feeling somewhat helpless. Jiang Chun¡¯s face was pale, her eyes brimming with tears yet reflecting deep affection.. Chapter 296 - 296: A Real Apology Chapter 296 - 296: A Real Apology Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun was not one to exhibit tenderness or concern towards women. In the presence of anyone else, he might not have spared them a nce before pivoting to depart. However, Jiang Chun had oncee to his aid during his youth. Their bond, forged through life-and-death experiences,pelled him to pause. Observing that Shen Jun hadn¡¯t immediately left, Jiang Chun hastened her steps. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 knew you wouldn¡¯t be able to ignore me.¡± Her voice trembled, and a solitary tear traced the edge of her eye. She gazed at Shen Jun with tearful eyes, a blend of grievance and tion evident in her gaze. Had it been anyone else in her presence, they would have extendedfort long ago. However, Shen Jun met her with a frigid tone. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jiang Chun was momentarily taken aback before taking a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m here to apologize. I shouldn¡¯t have used my grandmother¡¯s name to deliver the medicine to you that day, causing a rift between you and Wen Nian. Subsequently, so many things have transpired.¡± Having heard Jiang Chun¡¯s apologies numerous times, Shen Jun was beginning to feel a touch annoyed. He was growing increasingly perplexed. Why did this woman keep apologizing to him every time? Shouldn¡¯t she be apologizing directly to Wen Nian?
Convinced that Wen Nian was awaiting him in the ssroom, Shen Jun merely nodded and turned to ascend the stairs. Yet, just as he lifted his foot, Jiang Chun seized his hand. Shen Jun¡¯s brow furrowed, his face revealing his displeasure, but Jiang Chun remained oblivious, gripping his hand firmly. Tears welled in her eyes as she continued to speak through her sobs. ¡°But the photograph of me apologizing that day and the subsequent post targeting me had something to do with Wen Nian. If it weren¡¯t for her, this situation wouldn¡¯t have escted to this extent.¡± Shen Jun quietly withdrew his hand and looked down at Jiang Chun. ¡°Look, it¡¯s this individual who posted the photograph. Do you recognize her?¡± Jiang Chun promptly fetched her phone. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to frame Wen Nian. It is true that she didn¡¯t publish that post, but her fans were the ones who did.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already verified this. The post¡¯s ID belongs to a fan of Wen Nian. Furthermore, she identifies herself as ¡®Wen Xiao Nian¡¯s Dearest Mom¡¯ in the fan club. She frequently interacts on Wen Nian¡¯s social media ount. I suspect she¡¯s even a member of Wen Nian¡¯s fan group. She¡­¡± Shen Jun waved his hand impatiently. ¡°So? What does this have to do with Wen Nian?¡± ¡°Wen Nian has never liked me. She even warned mest time. This time, it¡¯s her fans who published the post to attack me again¡­¡± The more Jiang Chun ruminated on the day¡¯s events, the more she sensed something awry. In the end, she had someone investigate the post¡¯s ID and discovered that it indeed belonged to a fan of Wen Nian. Moreover, this fan happened to be none other than Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate, Sun Ying. She was also an active member of Wen Nian¡¯s fan club. Even if this matter wasn¡¯t directly linked to Wen Nian, Jiang Chun felt it was crucial to convey this information to Shen Jun. She believed that the behavior of these fans reflected the kind of person Wen Nian was aligned with. Furthermore, the entertainment industry was known for its tumultuous nature. Who could guarantee that Wen Nian would remain untarnished? It was just that Jiang Chun had yet to unearth any concrete evidence against her. Before she could provide additional proof that Wen Nian and her fans were deliberately defaming her, Shen Jun interjected. ¡°If presenting a factual statement qualifies as an attack on you, then I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll experience a great many ¡®attacks¡¯.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s tone was chilly, tinged with a hint of mockery. Jiang Chun had already iterated this point. If Shen Jun couldn¡¯t grasp her meaning by now, he would indeed be rather stupid. Confronted with his indifferent expression, Jiang Chun grew flustered as well. ¡°Shen Jun, do you not believe me? I¡­ I¡¯ve already apologized, yet Wen Nian still won¡¯t forgive me. She¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t a real apology one that is heartfelt and prepared to ept any reaction from the other party?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s demeanor had taken on an impatient edge. ¡°Could your apology be reduced to ¡®I¡¯ve already apologized. Why can¡¯t you forgive me¡¯?¡± Jiang Chun found herself momentarily rendered speechless. A sudden sense of fear washed over her. Given Shen Jun¡¯s intelligence, any inkling of doubt he harbored about certain matters would likely uncover numerous truths. She quickly changed her words. ¡°You¡¯re right. This is my fault. I¡¯ll reflect on myself and apologize properly. 1 won¡¯t find trouble with Wen Nian again. Please forgive me.¡± With that, Jiang Chun offered another deep bow before departing resolutely. She understood full well that persisting further would only erode thest remnants of friendship between her and Shen Jun. Shen Jun observed her retreating figure, his mind drifting to his earlier investigations. The Jiang family in the capital had already resolved thend dispute. The Wei family was probably on the cusp of entering the capital, and the driving force behind all this was likely Jiang Chun, the person who had once saved his life.. Chapter 297 - 297: You Lost Chapter 297 - 297: You Lost Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Jiang Chun left, she felt a pair of cold eyes on her back. She knew that it was Shen Jun looking at her. When she got home, she still felt a little anxious. She hade to Hai City for the sole purpose of being near Shen Jun again, and the Jiang family had orchestrated this opportunity. Yet, she had failed. She was too anxious and too hasty. In a state of unease, her phone rang. She nced at the name on the screen, her heart skipping a beat. She took a deep breath before answering. ¡°Mom, I just finished school. What¡¯s the matter?¡±
Xu Li¡¯s frail voice emanated from the other end. ¡°Jiang Chun, do you have anything to do with what happened to the Wen family today? Your father is already furious. You¡¯d better make sure he doesn¡¯t find out you¡¯re involved!¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Jiang Chun hurriedly said, ¡°I know that 1 can¡¯t do anything at this time. I didn¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°No one from the Wei family knows about the one million yuan from the Wen family.¡± Xu Li¡¯s voice dripped with sarcasm. ¡°Jiang Chun, you¡¯re not mature enough for this. Don¡¯t leave any evidence for others!¡± Jiang Chun did not retort. She was indeed not mature enough. When Xu Li saw the news on the Inte today, she immediately understood that all of this was Jiang Chun¡¯s doing. Fortunately, Jiang Chun was smart enough not to be directly involved. In the end, it was Wei Lai who executed the n. Xu Li spoke as if giving an order, ¡°The Wei family has traced it back to Wei Lai for leaking the interview. But now that the situation has escted so dramatically, it won¡¯t be easy to contain. Starting today, keep a low profile. Don¡¯t initiate contact with Shen Jun anymore.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice trembled. She could bear many things, but she couldn¡¯t bear to give up on Shen Jun. ¡°Why?¡± Xu Li¡¯s voice dripped with disdain. ¡°You¡¯ve lost this round entirely. In order to protect you, the Jiang family had to let go of a piece ofnd in the capital. Don¡¯t you think Shen Jun understands what was at stake when the Wei family got thatnd? The Shen Family isn¡¯t engaging in conflict with us because there¡¯s no evidence, and it would be futile for them to do so over a girl who hasn¡¯t even married into their family.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t lost!¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice broke. ¡°I haven¡¯t lost. Shen Jun still trusts me. He¡¯s even acknowledged me as his childhood sweetheart.¡± Her words prompted a sudden chuckle from Xu Li. ¡°Jiang Chun, don¡¯t lie to yourself. You and Shen Jun didn¡¯t even know each other for long back then, right?¡± ¡°You appeared toote. Shen Jun already has a girlfriend, and you missed your chance. The Jiang family in Hai City is too weak, and youck the right strategic position. The public opinion is on Wen Nian¡¯s side, and Shen Jun is siding with her. You have no allies. Do you understand that you¡¯ve already lost?¡± Xu Li sighed, not wanting her daughter to feel too much pressure. ¡°Shen Jun will eventually return to the capital. That¡¯s where your main battlefield is. Wen Nian won¡¯t be able to cause much trouble. Do you understand?¡± Jiang Chun closed her eyes in resignation. Her mother was right. The capital was where she needed to focus her efforts. By then, she¡¯d have the right circumstances and connections. Together with the Jiang family¡¯s influence in the capital, she would certainly be thest person standing beside Shen Jun. Xu Li was a little worried and shared a few more words of advice. Jiang Chun repeatedly promised that she would never take the initiative to provoke Shen Jun and Wen Nian again before she hung up. Meanwhile, Shen Jun and Wen Nian had been ushered into a private room at the private club. Wei Xiao approached them with a sycophantic smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. The media attention is intense right now, so I couldn¡¯t pick you up directly. Please, everyone, have a seat.¡± He signaled the waiter, who promptly brought wine to the table. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 apologize for my behaviorst time. 1 was too impulsive. Let me make amends by starting with a toast.¡± With that, he downed a small ss of white wine. Shen Jun raised an eyebrow, his expression turning grim. Wei Xiao, however, didn¡¯t feel awkward. He understood that Shen Jun was granting him face by agreeing to dine with him. And given the information he had gathered from Wei Feng, his mood was certainly lifted. From the beginning to the end, Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes were fixed on Shen Jun. Wen Nian spoke up, her tone yful, ¡°Are you here to apologize to me, or is your gaze permanently fixed on him?¡± ¡°How can that be? I¡¯m just afraid that I¡¯ll lose myposure.¡± Wei Xiao hastily refilled his ss. ¡°Let me apologize to you for this round. Bottoms up.¡± Wen Nian regarded him with surprise. As far as she knew, Wei Xiao¡¯s alcohol tolerance wasn¡¯t particrly high. It appeared he was well-prepared this time. In any case, she hadn¡¯t managed to extract all the information from Wei Feng during theirst encounter. If she could glean more, she might even uncover evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s involvement in the murder. She gently tugged at Shen Jun¡¯s sleeve. His lips curled upwards, and he gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.. Chapter 298 - 298: Weakness Chapter 298 - 298: Weakness Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun naturally picked up the wine bottle, and Wei Xiao immediately reached for the bottle. ¡°How can 1 let you pour the wine? Come on, 1¡¯11 pour wine for you!¡± Wen Nian was in a daze as she watched the two men exchanging ideas at the wine table. She had indeed socialized with Wei Xiao many times in the past, but Wei Xiao was not as inexperienced back then. Looking at the current Shen Jun, although he rarely spoke, he already carried a hint of dignity. Before the three rounds of wine were finished, Wei Xiao had consumed too much. He shifted his chair closer to Shen Jun and asked mysteriously, ¡°Shen Jun, I heard that you own a piece ofnd in the western suburbs of the capital. You¡¯re truly remarkable.¡±
Shen Jun responded with a fake smile, ¡°I heard that the Wei family is also acquiringnd in the western suburbs. Equally remarkable.¡± Although Wei Xiao had drunk a little too much, he was still smart. He smiled helplessly. ¡°Indeed, nothing in the capital can escape Young Master Shen¡¯s eyes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as powerful as the Wei family. The few influential families in the capital arepeting fiercely for this piece ofnd.¡± Shen Jun tapped his fingers on the table. ¡°1 wonder whose name will end up on the Weifamily¡¯snd?¡±¡± The Wei family was keen on entering the capital, and thisnd marked their initial foray. The person chosen to manage thisnd would likely be the future sessor of the Wei family. Wei Feng was old now, and his sons and grandsons were in their prime. It was an opportune time to select a sessor. Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes lit up. Shen Jun¡¯s wisdom was undeniable. If Shen Jun allied with him, he might very well be the head of the Wei family. Wei Xiao promptly grabbed the wine bottle to pour another ss for Shen Jun. ¡°My family hasn¡¯t reached a verdict on this matter yet. Who do you think my grandfather will choose?¡± ¡°I heard you¡¯re engaged to Jiang Ning?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s unexpected question prompted Wei Xiao to instinctively nce at Wen Nian, who was sipping her drink. Wei Xiao felt an unusual sense of guilt for no apparent reason. Observing the look in his eyes, Shen Jun responded somewhat discontentedly, ¡°The Jiang family in Hai City doesn¡¯t wield much influence. Ultimately, you¡¯ll need to consult your grandfather.¡± Hearing his words, Wei Xiao smiled. ¡°The Jiang family in Hai City is indeed not much, but my grandfather doesn¡¯t have much choice.¡± Wei Xiao was unsure if it was the alcohol or another reason, but he felt his heart racing faster. He found himself in an unusually good mood, and his head felt oddly light. However, he still stopped when he saw Wen Nian¡¯s gaze. This matter was rted to the Wen family, so he couldn¡¯t tell anyone. Wen Nian¡¯s expression turned into a frown. She excused herself to use the restroom and left the private room. With only Shen Jun left now, Wei Xiao finally rxed. ¡°Young Master Shen, I¡¯ll still need to rely on your support when we¡¯re in the capital.¡± Observing Wei Xiao raising his ss, Shen Jun merely nced up. ¡°You¡¯re relying on me? Are you confident that you¡¯ll be the future head of the Wei family?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s implication was clear. He, as the Shen family¡¯s only heir, was destined to lead. However, the Wei family operated differently, and Wei Xiao might not yet be qualified to lean on Shen Jun¡¯s influence. Nevertheless, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t think much of it. ¡°Of course! Who else could it be but me?¡± ¡°While Wei Lai might be a girl, it¡¯s not impossible for her to make significant contributions to the Wei family,¡± Shen Jun said nonchntly. Wei Xiao snorted coldly. ¡°Is she worthy? Apart from indulging in foolish actions, what else can she do? She dredged up the old Wen family issues this time and nearly brought harm to the patriarch. Wei Lai should face the consequences. The Wei family¡¯s efforts were justified. If not for her, why would the Wei family go to such lengths?¡± Upon hearing his words, Shen Jun¡¯s grip on his wine ss tightened, and he let out an almost idental ¡°ah.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s reaction, Wei Xiao leaned in and said, ¡°Do you know why my grandfather insisted that 1 marry Wen Nian?¡± Shen Jun looked at him with a faint smile. ¡°Why?¡± Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t discern any hostility in Shen Jun¡¯s eyes. Emboldened, he shared, ¡°He needs to keep the Wen family in check for his peace of mind.¡± ¡°Are you implying that the online rumors about the Wei family¡¯s reliance on the Wen family¡¯s wealth are true?¡± Shen Jun probed. ¡°No wall is imprable. Otherwise, do you think Wei Feng would be so considerate toward the Wen family? What can the Wen family offer us? Wei Feng even abandoned his own granddaughter to assist an outsider,¡± Wei Xiao responded, finishing another ss of wine. ¡°But everyone has their vulnerabilities. As long as you exploit those weaknesses¡­¡± He mimicked grasping something in his hand. ¡°Then you have them under your control. If you doubt that I¡¯ll be the Wei family¡¯s next head, who else could it be?¡± Shen Jun finally broke into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re quite confident..¡± Chapter 299 - 299: Yang Shu Chapter 299 - 299: Yang Shu Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao was in a good mood and waved his hand dismissively. ¡°1 can¡¯t say I¡¯m brimming with confidence, but I¡¯m reasonably assured. Well have to support each other when we¡¯re in the capital.¡± Shen Jun held back his disdain and didn¡¯t snort derisively. Instead, he shifted the topic, inquiring, ¡°It¡¯s merely a matter of owing money. It¡¯s not a substantial sum. The Wen family could probably borrow only a few hundred thousand yuan at most. Didn¡¯t your grandfather give them a million yuan? That should make it even. Furthermore, your grandfather took care of the funeral expenses for Old Master Wen.¡± ¡°Even?¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s words came out slightly slurred, and his speech wasn¡¯t entirely clear. ¡°Perhaps money can be even, but can lives? Can human lives?¡± Growing increasingly impassioned, Wei Xiao downed another ss of wine. The fiery sensation made him shudder. Finally, in a somewhat incoherent manner, he continued, ¡°Profound kindness can sometimes be intense animosity, particrly for those of higher status. You¡¯ve seen his most vulnerable side. You extended your help when he was at his lowest point, so now you¡¯re his adversary. How do you think my grandfather will treat someone who has rendered him such a significant favor? Why do you think he insisted on having Doctor Yang treat Grandfather Wen Nian? Hehe, the Wen family is still naive!¡±
A few more slurred words followed, but it was evident that Wei Xiao was quite intoxicated. Suddenly, he clung to the back of his chair, retching. Shen Jun promptly moved to the side. Wei Xiao grabbed the chair¡¯s back haphazardly, dislodging his jacket. A few folded sheets of paper tumbled from his jacket pocket. Shen Jun discreetly picked them up. The papers contained chemical forms. Though Shen Jun wasn¡¯t an expert in medicine, he could discern that they outlined the process of creating some kind of medicine. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that the form looked familiar, like that of a potent painkiller. Additionally, there was a record of payments to an individual named ¡°Yang Shu.¡± Each transaction was meticulously documented. This seemed to be the ¡°Doctor Yang¡± Wei Xiao mentioned. While Wei Xiao was still vomiting, he quickly took a photo of these pieces of paper with his phone and secretly put them back. Wei Xiao was vomiting so much that it seemed impossible for him to say anything else. Only then did Shen Jun call the waiter to send him back. As soon as Wen Nian walked in, she smelled an unpleasant smell. She quickly pulled Shen Jun away. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a clean freak? How can you stand it?¡± Shen Jun, clearly lost in thought, only responded once Jiang Chun posed the question. He returned to his senses and asked, ¡°Are you familiar with a Dr. Yang Shu? Did he treat your grandfather?¡± ¡°Doctor Yang?¡± Wen Nian frowned. ¡°1 was too young at that time. I¡¯ll go back and ask my parents.¡± Shen Jun, however, shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t ask. I¡¯ll look into this matter. If Dr. Yang Shu is indeed connected to Wei Feng, it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to unearth the truth. Wei Xiao wouldn¡¯t have mentioned this person without a reason; there must be something to it.¡± Looking at the worried Wen Nian, he hugged her again. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there¡¯s already some progress. Once the truth is unveiled, we¡¯ll be able to piece together the entire puzzle. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Wen Nian wanted to speak but only managed an affirmative ¡°Mm.¡± Her heart warmed at Shen Jun¡¯s assurance. In her two lifetimes, only Shen Jun had given her such warmth. Wei Xiao, who was drunk, had yet to sober up when he returned home. Wei Feng was so angry that he spat the water in the teacup on his face. ¡°Grandpa?¡± Wei Xiao woke up slightly. When he opened his eyes, he saw the angry Wei Feng. ¡°What time do you think it is? How can you drink when the Wei Family is in deep mes?¡± Wei Feng felt like his head was about to explode at the thought of what the Wen family had done in the corporation today. He hadn¡¯t anticipated anyone daring to expose the issue. He hadmissioned an investigation into the IP address responsible for the online posts, but due to the fact that the posts had been made from a disposable phone and had remained inactive thereafter, they had gleaned no useful information. The ounts interacting with those posts seemed legitimate, leading the investigation team to conclude thatizens had engaged with the matter out of sheer curiosity about the drama among wealthy families. While the investigation had yielded no results, the Wei family remained under scrutiny, its public image tarnished. What infuriated Wei Feng more was the fact that Yang Shu had contacted him as well. Recalling how Yang Shu had demanded a 10 million yuan payment over the phone, Wei Feng clenched his teeth. Especially when Yang Shu kept evidence that Wei Feng had poisoned Old Wen, Wei Feng regretted not killing him when he had the chance. Upon seeing Wei Xiao still unconscious due to intoxication, Wei Feng erupted.. ¡°The family is in chaos, yet you still find time to revel in alcohol?¡± Chapter 300 - 300: Being Awared Chapter 300 - 300: Being Awared Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Grandpa!¡± Wei Xiao only came back to his senses after being kicked. ¡°1 drank with Shen Jun. Thend the Jiang family gave us is beside Shen Jun¡¯snd!¡± Hearing that he had been out with Shen Jun, Wei Feng¡¯s anger subsided by half. Wei Xiao continued, ¡°The Shen family must have had news long ago. Otherwise, why would they let Shen Jun buy that piece ofnd? I just want to build a good rtionship with them and rely on the Shen family when I go to the capital in the future.¡± Hearing that, Wei Feng sat down. ¡°What did Shen Jun say? Is this piece ofnd really that profitable?¡± ¡°Sure thing, Grandpa. Didn¡¯t you also do some investigation?¡± Wei Xiao felt a twinge of guilt. His joy today had led him to drink excessively, causing him to forget what Shen Jun had said. Nevertheless, he mustered his courage and lied, ¡°The Shen family seems to have some insider information. Why else would they let Shen Jun secure thatnd early? The government is developing it now, right? The Shens have influential connections in the capital. It¡¯s smart to follow Shen Jun¡¯s lead. He even mentioned that we¡¯ll meet again in the capital and asked for my support!¡±
¡°Really?¡± Wei Feng¡¯s skepticism lingered. Shen Jun didn¡¯t strike him as someone who¡¯d make such statements. ¡°Absolutely!¡± Wei Xiao asserted, without a hint of guilt. ¡°Why else would he hang out with me so often if he wasn¡¯t interested in befriending me? Check around ¨C Young Master Shen isn¡¯t the type just anyone can invite in the capital.¡± Seeing Wei Feng¡¯s demeanor soften, Wei Xiao pressed on, ¡°Shen Jun also hinted that the Jiang family in Hai City won¡¯t be of much help.¡± Wei Feng frowned. He was well aware that the Jiang family in Hai City wasn¡¯t a reliable ally. They weren¡¯t even on par with the Wei family. If not for the shared surname, he wouldn¡¯t have even considered a marriage alliance. Still, when Shen Jun mentioned this, he sensed there was more to it. ¡°Did he mention anything about the Jiang family in the capital? Any conflict between these two Jiang families?¡± Wei Xiao shook his head. ¡°Shen Jun just asked about my engagement with Jiang Ning and whether the Wei family ns to expand to the capital. He brought up this topic.¡± Wei Xiao had always been dissatisfied with Jiang Ning. Shecked looks and her background was ordinary. She even threw tantrums when she was idle. She was more vexing than Wen Nian used to be. At least Wen Nian had exceptional looks. Thinking of Wen Nian, Wei Xiao suggested, ¡°Grandpa, what if we postpone the engagement banquet, citing third-year students being anxious about studies? We could discuss it after we go to university and explore the capital. Let¡¯s see what the capital¡¯s Jiang family wants.¡± This was exactly what Wei Feng wanted to do. Previously, he had relied on the Jiang family to contact the Jiang family in the capital. Now that Wei Lai had taken the me, it was not impossible for him to contact the Jiang family in the capital in the future, let alone Shen Jun. Wei Feng only thought about it for about ten seconds before making a decision. ¡°1¡¯11 talk about this. The Wei family isn¡¯t peaceful now, and the Jiang family will probably agree. You should build a good rtionship with Shen Jun. There¡¯s less than a year left. We can¡¯t rely on your sister.¡± ¡°Grandpa! Who said 1 can¡¯t be relied on?¡± Wei Lai had been eavesdropping upstairs for a while now. She couldn¡¯t remain silent any longer. She had cried for countless days. She thought she had secured victory this time and that Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t press the matter. Yet, Wei Feng reprimanded her and even quashed the trending topic. ¡°Grandpa, if 1 marry Shen Jun, the Shen family will stand behind the Wei family in the future. Will we even need the Jiang family?¡± Wei Lai¡¯s voice was strained. She was struggling toprehend the situation. ¡°As long as Wen Nian is in the wrong, she wouldn¡¯t dare press charges. There won¡¯t be awsuit. When 1 head to the capital¡­¡± p! Before Wei Lai could finish, Wei Feng pped her. ¡°Shut up!¡± Li Bing and Wei Jiang rushed over, concerned. Li Bing embraced Wei Lai tenderly, though she dared not speak. The old man had spoken, and no one could meddle in this matter. But Wei Jiang was furious. ¡°Dad, what¡¯s gotten into you? Wei Lai is shielding you from trouble, paying the price for our Wei family. How can you hit her? Moreover, how would she know about the Wen family?¡± Suddenly, Wei Jiang stopped talking and looked at Wei Feng in horror. Wei Xiao grasped the situation. Wei Jiang seemed to have always been aware of the matter too. He knew but he didn¡¯t have evidence. In addition, the Wei Family prospered collectively. Wei Feng looked around and said in a low voice, ¡°Go back to your rooms. Wei Jiang,e to the study with me..¡± Chapter 301 - 301: Don’t Do Stupid Things Chapter 301 - 301: Don¡¯t Do Stupid Things Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Jiang followed his father guiltily into the study. Upon entering, he hastily closed the door. Seeing Wei Feng¡¯s stern expression, he quickly owned up to his mistake. ¡°Dad, I spoke recklessly earlier. I genuinely didn¡¯t mean it. I was just upset that my daughter was treated unfairly¡­¡± ¡°Upset?¡± Wei Feng¡¯s tone was icy. ¡°You want to drag the entire Wei family down with you? If this matter bes public, think about Wen Sheng¡¯s adopted son¡¯s family. They¡¯d create a massive scandal. They dared to stir up trouble at the Wei Corporation with no evidence. Imagine what would happen if your words spread.¡± Wei Jiang paled, sweating profusely. ¡°Dad, no one can expose this. You gave them a million yuan, and even if they returned it to us, they rejected it. Plus, you said you had no 1OU at the time.¡± Initially, Wei Jiang had only known fragments about borrowing money from the Wen family. He wasn¡¯t fully informed. He assumed the old man wanted to save face and conceal the situation.
But Wei Feng didn¡¯t want the news to leak. He harbored concerns, and he would only entrust the execution of the n to individuals he truly trusted. After careful consideration, he concluded that Wei Jiang was the more dependable choice. Thus, he divulged certain information to Wei Jiang. However, he did not reveal everything. After some contemtion, Wei Feng continued, ¡°First, discreetly find someone trustworthy to locate Yang Shu. Don¡¯t alert him.¡± ¡°Yang Shu? The doctor? Didn¡¯t he resign?¡± Wei Jiang had a vague idea that Wei Feng had given Yang Shu a sum of money. After Wen Sheng¡¯s death, Yang Shu left the Wei family. Wei Jiang wasn¡¯t aware that Wei Feng had been the one to end Wen Sheng¡¯s life. Wei Feng red at him. ¡°Just do as 1 say. This guy knows more than he should, and now he¡¯s trying to ckmail me? Hmph!¡± Seeing his father¡¯s anger, Wei Jiang refrained from speaking further. He swiftly exited the study, determined to investigate Yang Shu. Wei Jiang believed that Yang Shu, having been close to Wei Feng for a time, might possess unique knowledge. Therefore, he ordered someone to investigate Yang Shu. Without hiding anything, he started to make a phone call in the corridor on the second floor. ¡°Yeah, Yang Shu used to work as a doctor at Central Hospital. Later, he became my father¡¯s personal physician.¡± ¡°Is it necessary for me to tell you that I¡¯m already aware of his whereabouts? If you manage to locate him, rest assured, the reward will be substantial.¡± ¡°Keep things low-profile and notify me of any developments.¡± Wei Ming, who hade to the front-yard vi to fetch a couple of books, overheard Wei Jiang¡¯s conversation. The mention of ¡°Yang Shu¡± prompted him to crack the door open and eavesdrop. After hanging up, Wei Jiang exited the room just as Wei Ming opened the door. Observing Wei Ming¡¯s ashenplexion, Wei Jiang couldn¡¯t help but chide, ¡°Why are you here? Look at your face. If you have nothing to do,e out more often. 1¡¯11 take you for a walk one day. It¡¯s been years; you should move past this.¡± Wei Ming spoke slowly but didn¡¯t answer his question directly. ¡°Second Brother, did you say you were looking for Doctor Yang?¡± ¡°Why would I be looking for him? Our father hasn¡¯t disclosed the reason why he is looking for him.¡± Wei Jiang said without hiding anything. Wei Ming had remained in seclusion for many years, and the old master didn¡¯t pay him much attention. Yet, his two brothers treated him well, fostering no enmity. Wei Jiang whispered once more, ¡°Seems like this Doctor Yang might have upset Grandpa Yang. It sounds like extortion. In any case, keep me updated if you find anything. Ande out more often, don¡¯t stay cooped up in that shabby vi behind.¡± Wei Jiang then gave Wei Ming a pat on the shoulder and left. However, Wei Ming clung to the book, his knuckles turning white. Thoughts of the documents locked away in his drawer chilled him further. In the end, Wei Ming took a deep breath and thought that he would nevere here again. Out of sight, out of mind. The Wei family had spent a lot of money to suppress this matter, but a few media outlets still refused to let go of this matter. Especially when a prominent paparazzo¡¯s social media ount insinuated foul y in Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather¡¯s death, attaching an expose from an insider, the inte erupted. Around the same time, Shen Jun received the chemical form analysis report he hadmissioned. It revealed not only a painkiller ingredient but also records of other experimental drugs. Jiang Zhen sounded concerned over the phone. ¡°Shen Jun, what are you up to? I¡¯ve tasked someone with investigating. Those twopounds are both slow-acting poisons. If you encounter any issues in Hai City, inform me.. Don¡¯t do anything reckless!¡± Chapter 302 - 302: The Authority to Speak Chapter 302 - 302: The Authority to Speak Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun snorted coldly. ¡°I am not someone to murder with poison. I am better than that. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± After ending the call, Shen Jun re-examined the report¡¯s contents on his phone. He promptly dialed another number. ¡°Yes, his name is Yang Shu. He used to be a doctor for the Wei family. Locate him and gather all the information about his time with the Wei family. Do it quickly.¡± Upon Shen Jun¡¯s return to the ssroom, he noticed Wen Nian diligently engrossed in writing. Science had always been a challenge for her, particrly since she struggled with the concepts in her third year of high school. Consequently, she channeled nearly all her energy into schoolwork. Shen Jun intended to utilize the vast number of practice questions to help her establish a deeper connection with the subject matter.
Sensing Shen Jun¡¯s presence, Wen Nian briefly looked up and smiled at him before resuming her task. Shen Jun contemted speaking a few times but ultimately chose to remain silent. Wen Nian didn¡¯t want him to interfere in many things, but this matter was too big. If it truly involved Wei Feng¡¯s murder, the Wen family wouldn¡¯t be capable of managing it alone. He still decided to help Wen Nian. When school ended, Wen Nian started massaging her sore neck.At this rate, she might develop cervical spondylosis even before going to university. Naturally, Shen Jun reached out and began massaging her neck. Nearby students were ustomed to this and pretended not to notice. At this moment, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang again. Noticing Jiang Zhen¡¯s caller ID, he hesitated to answer. However, Jiang Zhen¡¯s insistence led to several missed calls. In the end, Shen Jun acquiesced, answering the phone as Wen Nian observed curiously. Soon, Jiang Zhen¡¯s voice erupted, ¡°The ns for the satellite city in the western suburbs are settled! Thend¡¯s value will double again. When are youing back to celebrate?¡± Shen Jun quickly muffled the phone. Fortunately, the ssroom was rtively empty, and no one seemed to pay attention to his conversation. However, Wei Xiao, with keen hearing, turned around from the front row. He overheard the term ¡°western suburbs,¡± immediately sparking his interest. Shen Jun nodded at Wen Nian, indicating that he was going out to answer the call, and left the ssroom. Wei Xiao contemted for a moment, then followed suit. At the corridor¡¯s far end, he could still hear Shen Jun¡¯s voice. ¡°That is the government¡¯s n. They can only execute the n in the western suburbs.¡± ¡°The Wei family in Hai City already secured it. We¡¯ll need toplete the procedures. Your family might not stand a chance.¡± ¡°I estimate thend value will more than double. The formal documents haven¡¯t been released yet, right? There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t decided whether it¡¯ll be a viplex or residential development. Either way, the documents are pending. Let¡¯s wait and observe.¡± In fact, Shen Jun, through the ss, spotted Wei Xiao¡¯s retreating figure. Recalling the papers Wei Xiao possessed ¨C likely evidence against Wei Feng ¨C he realized he still needed to use Wei Xiao. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 was quite intoxicated that day. I appreciate your arrangement for my transportation. I haven¡¯t properly thanked you yet.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s gratitude was sincere, devoid of awkwardness. Shen Jun merely nodded and headed toward the ssroom. Observing hisck of intention to converse, Wei Xiao hastened his pace to keep up. ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors about the nned development in the capital¡¯s western suburbs. Is there any truth to it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± That was Shen Jun¡¯s answer. Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes brightened, and he continued inquisitively, ¡°So, what¡¯s the government¡¯s proposal? Or could this parcel be developed independently? I¡¯ve noticed our family¡¯s plot is ted for either a mall or small apartments. It¡¯s not particrly spacious ¨C a constraint. Nheless, what are your thoughts about its location?¡± Hearing his words, Shen Jun stopped walking. However, instead of answering, he asked, ¡°Have you acquired thend? It seems the Wei family hasn¡¯t finalized the procedures. Ultimately, your grandfather would make the call, right?¡±¡± Wei Xiao choked at Shen Jun¡¯s question. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t even graduated high school and wasn¡¯t part of Wei Corporation. He doesn¡¯t have much authority. Observing his silence, a faint smirk tugged at Shen Jun¡¯s lips, a hint of mockery. ¡°Ask me when you have the authority to speak.¡± Wei Xiao clenched his fists. Shen Jun¡¯s air of superiority irked him, but Shen Jun had the capital to do so. Thinking of what Wei Jiang had mentioned at home that day, he felt that the evidence he had was probably not enough to obtain this piece ofnd. Indeed, there were some things that he had to do as soon as possible.. Chapter 303 - 303: Good Kid Chapter 303 - 303: Good Kid Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Wei Xiao got back home to the Wei residence, he heard Wei Lai crying again. He frowned and walked inside. ¡°Isn¡¯t Wen Nian overdoing it? We didn¡¯t even do anything bad to his uncle and aunt when they wrecked havoc at the Wei Corporation. Why is Wen Nian still after me? Dad, I don¡¯t wanna end up in jail!¡± Recently, Wei Lai had been crying almost all day. Wen Nian¡¯swyer was extremely efficient and had already started the prosecution process. For now, Wei Lai was allowed to remain home, which was a sort of face-saving gesture. However, after the trial, it seemed likely she might end up in jail. ¡°Wei Xiao, remember you were engaged to Wen Nian. Can¡¯t you plead for leniency on my behalf? Plus, aren¡¯t you about to get engaged to Jiang Ning? I¡¯m doing this for the Jiang family¡­¡± Before she could finish, Li Bing quickly covered her mouth. Li Bing felt a headacheing on too. Despite her considerable connections, Wei Feng had the final say. With the Jiang family¡¯s influence in the capital, Wei Lai would probably take the me even if she didn¡¯t deserve it. Moreover, theycked evidence against Jiang Chun¡¯s involvement.
¡°Enough, stop talking!¡± Wei Jiang rubbed his temples. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve looked into this, and at most, it might take a year. Considering your age, with my connections, we might expedite it in a few months. Your grandfather won¡¯t mistreat you by that time.¡± Li Bing exchanged a quick look with Wei Lai. ¡°You¡¯re the one making the biggest sacrifice this time. Are you scared you¡¯ll lose your support in the capital?¡± The idea of possibly staying connected with Shen Jun when she moved to the capital calmed Wei Lai¡¯s tears. Li Bing then guided her back to her room. Wei Xiao saw that Wei Lai had also made a fuss and was about to return to his room when Wei Jiang¡¯s phone rang. He picked it up impatiently and immediately stood up from the sofa when he heard what the person on the other end of the call said. ¡°Are you sure Yang Shu is in Hai City? He¡¯s really ying with fire. Fine, keep tabs on him!¡± After the call about Yang Shu, Wei Jiang hurriedly went upstairs to find Wei Feng, without sparing Wei Xiao a nce. However, Wei Xiao was so shocked that he did not move. When he reacted, he quickly returned to his room. The current situation was a littleplicated and he needed to think carefully. However, after thinking about it, no one in this family would help him, except¡­ He saw the small vi in the backyard through the window. Thinking of the documents Wei Ming had investigated, Wei Xiao felt that only Wei Ming could help him now. He quickly organized his thoughts. Then, he picked a few pastries from the kitchen and headed for the small vi. When Wei Ming heard the doorbell and saw that it was Wei Xiao, he was also a little surprised. Besides festive asions, Wei Xiao rarely initiated contact. Nevertheless, they were still father and son, so Wei Ming opened the door. ¡°Dad, they made some delicious pastries in the kitchen today. Thought I¡¯d bring you some.¡± Wei Xiao smiled innocently, though Wei Ming¡¯s expression remained impassive. Seeing Wei Ming¡¯s demeanor, Wei Xiao lowered his voice. ¡°I overheard Second Uncle on the phone. He mentioned Grandpa looking for Doctor Yang, and it seems he¡¯s in Hai City.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± Wei Ming gripped Wei Xiao¡¯s arm tightly. ¡°Come inside and exin.¡± Wei Xiao felt depressed when he entered the vi. If possible, he¡¯d rather avoid this ce altogether. However, his future in the capital depended on it, so he had to try. ¡°I eavesdropped on Second Uncle¡¯s conversation. He said Grandpa paid Doctor Yang. It seemed to involve Wen Nian¡¯s family, but I couldn¡¯t catch all the details.¡± Wei Xiao tried his best to make his expression look conflicted. ¡°Dad, have you seen the online rumors? They say Grandpa might have had a hand in Wen Nian¡¯s dad¡¯s death. Do you think it¡¯s true? Dad, I¡¯m scared.¡± Looking at the boy in front of him who had grown a lot taller and resembled histe wife, Wei Ming was in a daze for a moment. Seeing Wei Ming¡¯s hesitation, Wei Xiao grew more anxious. Knowing Wei Ming and Wen Xing were close friends, he added, ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s parents are good people. Dad, did you see what Wei Lai did to Wen Nian online? If the Wei family targets the Wens again, they¡¯ll ruin an ordinary family. I¡¯m worried¡­¡± Sure enough, before Wei Xiao could finish speaking, a mixture of anxiety and conflict flickered across Wei Ming¡¯s face. However, Wei Ming quickly regained hisposure. He awkwardly patted Wei Xiao¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Go back first. Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll handle this matter.¡± ¡°Dad, if there¡¯s anything I can do to help, let me know. You and Uncle Wen grew up together, and Wen Nian and I practically grew up as siblings. Despite breaking the engagement, I still want to protect her.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s sincerity touched Wei Ming. Wei Ming¡¯s lips moved, but ultimately, he said nothing. He simply nodded to Wei Xiao. ¡°Good kid, you¡¯re a good kid..¡± Chapter 304 - 304: Discussing Countermeasures Chapter 304 - 304: Discussing Countermeasures Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Leaving the small vi, Wei Xiao¡¯s forehead furrowed. He had figured that Wei Ming would spill the investigation details, but Wei Ming was intent on handling it himself. What was his move now? Wei Xiao felt a surge of frustration. Wei Ming hardly ever left the vi, so what could Wei Ming do? Seemed like cranking things up was his only option to getting more evidence. Wei Xiao had toyed with the idea of tracking down Yang Shu. But the sly moves of Wei Feng held him back. Even if he managed to trace Yang Shu, odds were he¡¯de up empty-handed for proof. Unexpectedly, Yang Shu came back to Hai City to ask Wei Feng for money. Back then, the Wei Family didn¡¯t have such a big business, so Yang Shu took 500,000 yuan, which was a lot. But now, the Wei Family was no longer the same as before. Since Yang Shu could help murder someone, it¡¯s not impossible for him toe back and ckmail Wei Feng.
Since Yang Shu had rushed back, it meant that he must have other evidence. At the thought of this, a n chimed in Wei Xiao¡¯s mind. When he heard that Yang Shu was in Hai City, Wei Feng¡¯s face darkened, especially when he learned that someone else was investigating Yang Shu. In Wei Feng¡¯s opinion, the ¡°insider¡± on the inte seem more likely to be Yang Shu himself. He was the kind who¡¯d kiss up to anyone for perks. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have helped Wei Feng find a slow-acting way to harm Wen Sheng back then. Maybe some showbiz reporter had paid Yang Shu some money for him to reveal such important information. This got Wei Feng thinking ¨C Yang Shu must not be allowed to stay much longer. However, the problem was that the Wei family was at the center of the storm, unable to do much. After thinking for a while, he realized that he had evidence that Yang Shu had epted bribes, so it wasn¡¯t a bad thing for them to keep each other in check. Therefore, reached out to Yang Shu and negotiated. In the end, he forked over three million yuan and a shiny Mercedes as hush money. Yang Shu gave Wei Feng the evidence and skedaddled from Hai City on the same day after receiving the money. At the same time, Shen Jun also received news from Yang Shu. This matter was very important. He had to tell Wen Nian. Shen Jun took advantage of the weekend to tell her everything. When Wen Nian heard the news, it took her more than half a day to process the news. A lot from her past seemed to weave into her current life. In that earlier chapter of her life, the million yuan was a mystery. Maybe the Wen pair had their suspicions way back then. Perhaps they even had some evidence pointing at the ident being staged. Wen Nian¡¯s death was fishy too. And from her entrance into showbiz to her prison stint and death, Wei Feng was the sole one reaping benefits. After killing all the relevant people, no one would investigate the truth This mean that Wei Feng could sleep easy. When she thought about how her entire family had died tragically in her previous life and how she had died with remaining grievances in prison, her face drained of color as her heart ached. ¡°Wen Nian? Wen Nian, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Jun quickly helped her smooth her chest while Wen Nian grabbed his arm tightly. Her eyes were bloodshot, a furious glint in them. Shen Jun was stunned when he saw her expression. It was an expression of hatred, with anger, unwillingness, and even a trace of bloodlust. Shen Jun gripped her shoulder, shaking her a bit. His arm¡¯s pain didn¡¯t deter him as he eximed, ¡°Wen Nian! Focus on me, look at me.¡± Hearing his voice, Wen Nian came back to her senses, but at this moment, her face was already covered in tears. The memories of her previous life were still vivid in her mind, and she could no longer control the hatred in her heart. Shen Jun¡¯s heart ached as he held her close. Seeing that her expression had recovered, he felt relieved. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked someone to keep an eye on Yang Shu. He must have evidence. As long as we can validate the evidence, everything will be fine. I¡¯ll take care of everything. I¡¯ll handle it all. Your folks won¡¯t suffer, and your grandpa will be avenged.¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s voice, Wen Nian¡¯s tears flowed uncontrobly. She hugged Shen Jun tightly. Only when he was there did she have a point of reference in her life. She could feel that she had really lived again. He was her lifeline, the oxygen to her life. She only truly felt alive with him near. After a while, she eased her grip, her voice shaky. ¡°1 need to talk this over with my family. It¡¯s not just my call. But involving the police is a must.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll go back with you in a while. 1 think the Wei Family already knows that Yang Shu is in Hai City. Some things should be done sooner rather thanter.¡± Shen Jun nodded in agreement. The two of them packed their things and arrived at the noodle shop. It was just past noon, and there were fewer customers. As they walked in, Zhou Mei rushed over to greet them. ¡°Did you guys eat? Shall I cook something for you?¡± Wen Nian said solemnly, ¡°Mother, where¡¯s Dad? Let¡¯s close up this afternoon. I have something to tell you..¡± Chapter 305 - 305: Yang Shu is Dead Chapter 305 - 305: Yang Shu is Dead Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing her daughter¡¯s serious expression, Zhou Mei sensed something amiss and promptly called over Wen Xing. They all returned home together. After a while, Wen Nian began to share what she knew. Shen Jun supplemented it by ying the recording of his chat with Wei Xiao. For a moment, everyone in the room fell silent. Without warning, Wen Xing mmed the coffee table with force, creating a loud ¡°ng.¡± ¡°I knew it! Wei Feng¡¯s a snake in the grass!¡± His eyes reddened. ¡°I asked for an autopsy, but he brushed it off. My father saved his life! Even lent him money to start his business. How could he¡­¡±
As he spoke, Wen Xing¡¯s voice became softer and softer until he ovee with sobs. Zhou Mei wiped away her tears andforted him with a pat on the back. She and her husband had long suspected this, but the Wen family was a small fry against the Wei family. They had been powerless. Now that they had the truth and evidence on their side, they couldn¡¯t let Wei Feng escape the reckoning. ¡°Mom, Dad, I think we should call the police. Yang Shu is in Hai City now. If we catch him, we can gather evidence. By then, the truth will be revealed. If we wait a few more days, I¡¯m afraid he¡¯ll escape. By then, we¡¯d have no proof left.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s parents nodded silently in response. Then, she added, ¡°Plus, what we¡¯ve got isn¡¯t direct evidence. We might need to perform an autopsy.¡± Wen Nian understood her parents¡¯ traditional beliefs. They probably wouldn¡¯t agree to touching the ancestral grave. Even if they agreed, the elders of the Wen family might not agree either. When the time came, they might argue again. At this moment, Shen Jun chimed in, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, I checked. These two drugs work slowly, embedding deep into organs over the years. There could be traces on the bones. Without concrete evidence, I¡¯m afraid that opening the coffin and performing an autopsy will be thest way to bring the murderer to justice.¡± Initially, Wen Xing wanted to object, but Shen Jun¡¯s words made him swallow his objections. It was indeed unlucky to open the coffin and perform an autopsy, but what was more important than catching the murderer and avenging the old man? As they brainstormed how to approach the police, Shen Jun¡¯s phone jolted. A nce at the WeChat message stirred a pang in his chest. Seeing his demeanor shift, Wen Nian asked hurriedly, ¡°Shen Jun, what¡¯s wrong? What happened?¡± Shen Jun looked at her, then at Wen Xing and Zhou Mei, before he managed, ¡°Yang Shu¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Dead?¡± The others echoed nearly simultaneously. With their evidence tied to Yang Shu, his death was a major setback to their investigation. Wen Nian took a few deep breaths and finally asked, ¡°How did he die? Did the police not intervene?¡± ¡°The guys I had watching him lost track. By the time we located him, he¡¯d been found near a canal bridge.¡± Hearing his words, Wen Nian sank into the couch, frustration etched across her face. The key witness, Yang Shu, was gone. She was still a step toote. ¡°They ¨C they dared tomit a murder in broad daylight? Isn¡¯t there anyw?¡± The more Wen Xing thought about it, the angrier he became. He could not control his voice. ¡°Then let¡¯s head to the police ourselves. We can¡¯t let this slide. We can¡¯t just let them do whatever they please!¡± Wen Nian quickly stood up and pulled him back. ¡°Dad, we have to consider this matter at length.¡± Wen Xing was a little agitated. ¡°Think about it at length? Isn¡¯t it obvious that Wei Feng¡¯s trying to silence us? We hand all our evidence over to the police. I don¡¯t believe that they can still do whatever they want!¡± Zhou Mei also came over to stop him. ¡°We can¡¯t rush this matter. Besides, I keep feeling that something is wrong. If Wei Feng wanted to kill someone, he would have done so back then. Now, many people are paying attention to this matter on the Inte. He wouldn¡¯t dare to do it.¡± What Zhou Mei said was exactly what Wen Nian was thinking. From the very beginning, this matter was ignited by Shen Jun through some guiding posts from his alternate ount. With such a massive impact and potentially millions ofizens watching, Wei Feng shouldn¡¯t have dared to go to the extreme of silencing someone like this. As they pondered, news of Yang Shu¡¯s death made headlines. The police imed he had drowned while intoxicated. Seeing this, Wei Xiao¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. He picked up his spare phone and transferred the money quickly. He received a notification that the transfer was sessful and saw that the other party had replied with an ¡°OK¡± emoji. He then powered off the device, yanked the SIM card, and flushed it down the toilet.. Chapter 306 - 306: Killing to Silence Chapter 306 - 306: Killing to Silence Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios With Yang Shu¡¯s death, many ns hit a roadblock. Ultimately, the Wen family chose not to immediately involve the police. Sounding the rm could y into the hands of their adversaries. ¡°Nian Nian, it¡¯d be best if you and Shen Jun step back from this investigation,¡± Wen Xing advised with a serious tone. ¡°This matter is beyond what you kids should handle. Lives are at stake.¡± Zhou Mei nodded in agreement. ¡°I don¡¯t wish for much. All I want is for you and your brother to grow up safely and lead peaceful lives. We¡¯ll handle the investigation.¡± Wen Nian was about to retort when Shen Jun said, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, this is a crucial matter. The Wei family¡¯s influence in Ii City is formidable. I¡¯ll ensure Wen Nian¡¯s safety. My uncle will help probe into this. We¡¯ll make sure the Wen family doesn¡¯t suffer. Just continue running the shop as usual for now. Don¡¯t worry about Wen Nian. I¡¯ll ensure her safety.¡± Taking into ount the Shen family¡¯s capabilities, Wen Xing and Zhou Mei felt somewhat reassured.
Wen Nian didn¡¯t stay at home. Instead, she told her family that she would be going back to school to study. Zhou Mei reminded her repeatedly not to act rashly before letting her leave. After leaving home, Shen Jun took a taxi and brought Wen Nian back to Xifeng Court. Their somber moods lingered as they returned home. ¡°I don¡¯t think Wei Feng¡¯s the culprit,¡± Wen Nian shared, revealing her thoughts. ¡°It seems too obvious for him to murder now. 1 sense another yer, but who else could be meddling?¡± ¡°Wei Xiao.¡± Shen Jun had figured out the answer on the way back. ¡°Wei Xiao?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s confusion showed. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t have killed Yang Shu first, would he?¡± Seeing her expression, Shen Jun chuckled. ¡°You don¡¯t look scared at all. Aren¡¯t you surprised that he killed someone? So, who do you think he¡¯d kill first?¡± Wen Nian fell silent. In her past life, Wei Xiao would have targeted her. However, in this life, she had already broken off the engagement with him. Apart from Wei Feng aiming to end her life, Wei Xiao seemed to have no reason to eliminate her. Shen Jun pressed on, ¡°Wei Xiao possesses evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s murder. He¡¯s well-informed. Now, the Wei family covets thatnd in the capital. Aside from Wei Feng, no one else in the Wei family has the right to make any decisions. Wei Xiao likely aims to leverage this evidence against Wei Feng. However, what he has might not be sufficient.¡± ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t he locate Yang Shu and get more substantial evidence? Isn¡¯t it too ostentatious to silence him?¡± Wen Nian still couldn¡¯t figure it out. ¡°Alright.¡± Shen Jun stroked her hair dotingly. ¡°I¡¯ll get someone to investigate this matter. If Wei Xiao did it, there will definitely be some clues.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t want her dwelling on this, but he held back information. Wei Xiao might have a backup scheme beyond helping Wei Feng. The Wei family was likely to face internal upheaval soon. Indeed, chaos was brewing within the Wei family. ¡°He¡¯s dead?¡± Wei Feng pointed at Wei Jiang, exasperated. ¡°Was it you? I clearly instructed you. Pay him off, take the evidence, and make sure he leaves! You can¡¯t do anything right!¡± Wei Jiang, his face still tingling from a p, covered his cheek in dejection. ¡°Dad, the moment I reached the bar, the police were already on scene. Hadn¡¯t it been for his absence, I¡¯d never have learned about his death.¡± It was indeed unfair to Wei Jiang. Wei Feng didn¡¯t even tell him anything. Wei Jiang was just an errand boy and Yang Shu¡¯s death had nothing to do with him. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Wei Feng narrowed his eyes. ¡°Do you dare to say that you didn¡¯t do it?¡± ¡°I swear! Dad, why do you think I killed him?¡± Wei Jiang said confidently, but he suddenly thought of something. ¡°Dad, you agreed on three million yuan and a car, right? You, you¡­¡± ¡°You what? It¡¯s not me!¡± Wei Feng red at him and sat down in the chair dejectedly. ¡°You can leave now. Keep this to yourself.¡± As soon as Wei Feng spoke, Wei Jiang hastened to exit the study. He barely reached his room¡¯s doorway when Wei Ming approached. ¡°Wei Ming is here to get books again?¡± Wei Jiang covered his face unnaturally. He didn¡¯t want his brother to see him like this, but it was obvious that he couldn¡¯t cover it. ¡°Brother, what happened? Here, let¡¯s get some ice on that. Swelling can set in if we don¡¯t.¡± Wei Ming turned and went to fetch an ice pack. When he appeared in Wei Jiang¡¯s room again, he had already prepared an ice pack. Looking at his little brother¡¯s serious expression, Wei Jiang was a little touched. He started toin, ¡°Do you think our father is going through menopause? He¡¯s getting so angry.¡± ¡°He tasked me to locate Yang Shu. I found him, but how¡¯s his drowning my fault? I¡¯m an adult, yet he still pped me.¡± Hearing that Yang Shu was dead, Wei Ming¡¯s hand suddenly paused.. Chapter 307 - 307: Protecting the Wen Family Chapter 307 - 307: Protecting the Wen Family Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Ming barely paid attention to Wei Jiang¡¯sints. Wei Jiang saw the stoic expression, a sight he had be ustomed to over time. Wei Ming didn¡¯t know how he walked out of the vi and made it back to his small vi. Upon entering the vi, Wei Ming quickly turned on hisputer and found the news of Yang Shu drowning. Although the police¡¯s initial assessment indicated that Yang Shu had slipped and fell into the water, Wei Ming¡¯s emotions churned. He knew that things were not that simple. After Wen Sheng¡¯s death, Yang Shu resigned and left. Back then, Wei Ming hadn¡¯t paid it much thought. However, as he investigated further, things became clearer and clearer. Yang Shu was more than just an insider; he was the mastermind behind the concoction of the poison.
Gazing at the pixted image on the webpage, Wei Ming found himself in a trance, the memory of Yang Shu¡¯s appearance slipping away from his grasp. He silently retrieved the documents concealed within the drawer. The folder had weathered with time, yet its contents remained discernible. Enclosed were numerous blood test reports predating Wen Sheng¡¯s passing, along with information that Wei Feng had borrowed funds to uncover. The events epassed the tragedy endured by the shop owner. Wei Ming knew what Wei Feng had done, but he didn¡¯t want to delve deeper into the investigation. Everyone thought that he couldn¡¯t move on from the pain of losing his wife, but only he knew the truth. The truth was that he couldn¡¯t bear to look at his father or face the Wen Family. In the midst of his restless thoughts, the doorbell chimed once more. After a brief moment, Wei Ming opened the door and saw Wei Xiao who was panicking. ¡°Dad, Dad, I¡­¡± Wei Xiao was frightened and couldn¡¯t speak coherently. Wei Ming quickly pulled him in. ¡°What happened?¡± Wei Xiao vigorously shook his head, taking in several deep breaths before speaking, ¡°Yang Shu, Dr. Yang died. Dad, Grandpa was about to look for him a few days ago. And he suddenly passed away. Is that even possible? Could Grandpa be involved?¡± Wei Xiao quickly covered his mouth, fearful that he would say something treasonous. Wei Ming¡¯s expression had already grown somber as he unintentionally nced at the folder resting on the desk. When Wei Xiao saw the folder, his eyes lit up. However, he promptly lowered his head, maintaining his act of trepidation. ¡°Wei Xiao, you must pretend that you know nothing about this. Don¡¯t tell anyone that you¡¯re aware of Grandpa¡¯s search for Yang Shu, alright?¡± Wei Ming rarely spoke so seriously. Hearing his words, Wei Xiao¡¯s eyes turned red. Perhaps this was how a father should be when he cared about his son? However, this was not the time to be concerned. Wei Xiao looked up and said with red eyes, ¡°Does that mean that the rumors online are true? What about the Wen family? What about Wen Nian? Yang Shu is dead, and Grandpa Wen is dead. Dad, do you think Uncle Wen¡¯s family is in danger?¡± Hearing Wei Xiao¡¯s words, Wei Ming¡¯s eyes darkened. His throat moved a few times, and his lips opened but he couldn¡¯t make a sound. Wei Xiao knew that Wei Ming was having a mental struggle. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety were difficult to achieve, so he decided to add fuel to the fire. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m in the same ss as Wen Nian now. Why don¡¯t 1 remind her family secretly?¡± Wei Xiao took another deep breath, as if he had made a major decision. He looked at Wei Ming steadily. ¡°Why don¡¯t 1 investigate what evidence Yang Shu has? When the timees, I¡¯ll tell Grandpa that if he dares to touch Wen Nian, 1¡¯11 make the evidence public!¡± ¡°Wen Nian and I grew up together. Grandpa Wen is also very good to me. The two of us almost got married. 1 can¡¯t watch the Wen family fall apart.¡± ¡°Dad, Uncle Wen is also your childhood friend. You two used to be so close! We can¡¯t just watch and do nothing!¡± Every word Wei Xiao said hit Wei Ming¡¯s fragile heart. Wei Ming¡¯s face turned paler and paler. He covered his chest and took a few steps back, bumping into the table. He held the table with his hand and touched the folder. ¡°Wei Xiao.¡± Wei Ming asked hoarsely, ¡°Do you really want to help the Wen family and protect Wen Nian?¡± Hearing his question, Wei Xiao¡¯s heart almost stopped. He nodded vigorously. ¡°Dad, I¡¯m your son. Don¡¯t you believe me? I¡¯ll definitely protect the Wen family!¡± Wei Ming looked at Wei Xiao appraisingly Looking at the boy¡¯s face, which bore a striking resemnce to his wife¡¯s, and observed the unwavering determination in his eyes, Wei Ming let out a slow breath. ¡°Take a look at the documents inside..¡± Chapter 308 - 308: Document Obtained Chapter 308 - 308: Document Obtained Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao¡¯s hand trembled as he held the document. He flipped through it page by page. He had assumed that Wei Ming had already looked into the entire situation, but he was taken aback by the thoroughness of the investigation. To his astonishment, even Wen Sheng¡¯s medical report had been included in the findings. What¡¯s more, given the age of the document, it was apparent that Wei Ming must have been aware of this information for quite some time. Wei Xiao wanted to speak a few times, but he was too shocked and excited. His entire body couldn¡¯t help but tremble. To Wei Ming,it appeared as though Wei Xiao was grappling with the inability to ept his grandfather¡¯s true nature. Reflecting on the emotions Wei Xiao must have experienced upon uncovering this truth, Wei Ming¡¯s grip on Wei Xiao¡¯s shoulder tightened slightly. It had been quite a while since he had shared such an intimate moment with his son. ¡°Wei Xiao, you, you¡­¡± Wei Ming¡¯s voice quivered as he took a series of deep breaths, his attempt to regain control over his emotions evident. ¡°I¡¯ve kept this hidden from everyone. This matter is ultimately a wrongdoing by the Wei family against the Wen family. However, he is still my father, your grandfather. In good conscience, 1 can¡¯t involve the police.¡±
For many years, Wei Ming had been unwilling to go out because he could not face his best friend. Every time he thought of Wen Sheng¡¯s kindness to him and Wen Xing¡¯s bright smile, a sense of shame washed over him. The resentment from the act of killing someone¡¯s father would forever remain irreparable, yet Wei Ming couldn¡¯t send Wei Feng to prison. ¡°Wei Xiao, I know I¡¯ve never been a good father, and I¡¯m not a qualified son. I can¡¯t even be considered Wen Xing¡¯s good friend.¡± Wei Ming¡¯s voice grew increasingly strained. ¡°But the Wen family is innocent. Regardless of whether you and Wen Nian are engaged or not, if you truly want to protect her, I hope you can try your best. You can negotiate with your grandfather, but ensure that these documents remain hidden from outsiders, do you understand?¡± Looking at the materials in his hand, Wei Xiao was so excited that he didn¡¯t know what to say. He only nodded heavily. Wei Xiao jogged back to his room. His heart was beating uncontrobly, and the smile on his face was getting wider and wider. In the past, the evidence in his hands only proved that Wei Feng and Yang Shu had some unfathomable secrets. Even with the gold bars, it was not substantial evidence. However, Wei Ming¡¯s investigation was reasonable. Whoever possessed this evidence wielded a potential leverage against Wei Feng. Nheless, Wei Xiao was in no rush. He had to consider this matter at length. It was imperative to secure the acquisition of thend in the capital withoutplications. Once hepleted his final year of high school, he would leave to attend university in the capital. When that moment arrived, both the Wei family and him would relocate to the capital. That would be his battlefield. Yang Shu¡¯s death was very strange. The other party¡¯s actions were not watertight. With Zhao Wu¡¯s interference, they still found some clues. The suspect had locked onto two fugitives. ¡°Both of these individuals are wanted criminals from different provinces. They bear the weight of human lives on their shoulders, likely arriving in Hai City to earn some funds before making an escape. Unfortunately, I don¡¯t know which province they are in now. The police are actively pursuing them as well. It¡¯s expected to be a time-consuming task to locate them,¡± came Zhao Wu¡¯s voice through the phone. ¡°Do you want me to send someone to protect you and your little girlfriend? Why don¡¯t the two of you eat and live together? Don¡¯t say that I didn¡¯t give you a chance.¡± Hearing that Zhao Wu still had the mood to joke, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but roll his eyes. ¡°Sister Bai Ling has been quite kind to youtely, and you¡¯re still in the mood for jokes?¡± Zhao Wu scratched his nose sheepishly. Then, his gaze shifted to Bai Ling, who was engrossed in ying with the cat by the side. Thest time he had gone out for socializing, the female secretary of the other party had made persistent efforts to get close to him. Coincidentally, Bai Ling happened to witness this encounter, and she had subsequently ignored him for over a week. Thankfully, under the pretense of ¡°adopting a stray cat,¡± he managed to persuade Bai Ling toe over and assist in taking care of the kitten. He also convinced Bai Ling to stay for a while. Observing Bai Ling lifting the cat and sniffing it once more, Zhao Wu¡¯s mood considerably lifted. ¡°I¡¯m only considering your well-being, you know. I offered you an opportunity, but you turned it down. Hmph.¡± Contemting the fact that Zhao Jiao would call him every other day to inquire about Wen Nian, Zhao Wu felt a headache looming. His sister was proficient in many areas, yet she had a tendency to insert herself into situations unnecessarily. He ventured cautiously, ¡°On another note, are you certain that you don¡¯t require assistance from the Shen family regarding this issue? Aren¡¯t you nning to inform your mother? I¡¯ve heard rumors that the Wei family is poised to expand their ventures in the capital.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Shen Jun replied firmly, declining the offer. He added a reminder, ¡°And don¡¯t inform her either. That¡¯s all.¡± As the phone emitted a beep, Zhao Wu¡¯s lips formed a slight pout. One of them had a penchant for drama, while the other was putting on a show of depth. Regrettably, he found himself caught in the middle, busy with both situations. After ending the call, Zhao Wu noticed Bai Ling¡¯s smile as she held the cat and turned around. Zhao Wu leaned over pitifully. ¡°You are so kind, aren¡¯t you? Just look at how skillfully you¡¯re taking care of the kitten.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Bai Ling sneered and said, ¡°Yeah. How can a ragdoll cat that costs a few thousand yuan be anything but excellent? This ragdoll cat practically wandered right up to the doorstep of Deputy Secretary General Zhao. It¡¯s only right that 1 take exceptional care of it, don¡¯t you agree?¡± Bai Ling rolled her eyes at him and carried the cat to the living room. Zhao Wu touched his nose awkwardly. He was really ostracized everywhere.. Chapter 309 - 309: Huang Yue’s Release Chapter 309: Huang Yue¡¯s Release Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Although Yang Shu¡¯s death was suspicious, his entire family wasn¡¯t in Hai City. Since the police was still investigating, the Wei Family wasn¡¯t implicated and people soon forgot about it. Nheless, the Wei family¡¯s situation didn¡¯t subside. Wen Nian, true to her word, didn¡¯t let Wei Lai off the hook. However, given Wei Lai¡¯s status as a minor and her decision to turn herself in, she received a ten-month sentence and was ordered to pay Wen Nian 100,000 yuan aspensation for emotional distress. Wen Nian then donated 100,000 yuan she received to the local orphanage, but she didn¡¯t say anything. The impact of these things was indeed not small. Unknowingly, Wen Nian¡¯s fans had already reached five million. This had already far exceeded many second- and third-tier celebrities. Numerous film offers and invitations for variety shows flooded in her direction. Luckily, Wen Nian usually stayed on campus. Otherwise, she would have likely faced relentless and constant harassment. Right as Wen Nian was on the verge of taking part in the first provincial examination, an unexpected trending topics emerged seemingly out of thin air. #TheGirlWhoFramedWenNian #WenNianHuangYue #WhoisHuangYue Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to pay attention to these things, especially since she was at a crucial juncture. It was almost winter break for the third year of high school, and she really didn¡¯t want to waste her energy. However, around that time, the situation between Huang Yue and herself garnered significant attention. Many of her fellow students were aware of the incident, and as news of it spread online, discussions among students ensued. ¡°Wasn¡¯t Huang Yue sentenced for a year? Why is she out so quickly?¡± ¡°If she behaves well, her sentence could be shortened. Plus, she wasn¡¯t even 18 back then. It¡¯s likely her family had done something.¡± ¡°She intends to step into the entertainment industry? Oh my goodness, is she aiming to portray viinous roles?¡± ¡°Did you see that video of her tearful apology? She seems to have quite the knack for acting!¡± ¡°Why is Wen Nian not responding to this? It¡¯s evident that this apology is just for show. She didn¡¯t even extend an apology to the person directly affected.¡± ¡°It¡¯s simply because Wen Nian is well-known and she¡¯s capitalizing on her fame. Did you notice that all the tforms are mentioning Wen Nian?¡± ¡°I saw that many of Wen Nian¡¯s fans went over to scold her. They were practically having a showdown in thements section of the video.¡± Listening to the chatter of those around her, Wen Nian felt a headacheing on. She was acutely aware that the past incident wouldn¡¯t directly bring Huang Yue down. Nevertheless, Huang Yue¡¯s venture into the entertainment industry could work in her favor. In due time, Wen Nian would methodically address the grievances from her previous life. Seeing her look up, Shen Jun handed the phone over. ¡°Huang Yue is out. Do you want me to ask someone?¡± Wen Nian shook her head silently and looked at the video on her phone. One couldn¡¯t deny that Huang Yue¡¯s acting skills had improved since the past. In the video, she portrayed tearful emotions akin to a pear blossom drenched in rain. She even tagged Wen Nian¡¯s ount on the tform. With the help of paidizens inting the situation in thement section, it seemed an argument between those hired supporters and Wen Nian¡¯s fans was bound to happen. It seemed that Huang Yue had found a good managementpany. At least, she had spent a lot of effort on her debut. These were all tacticsmonly employed in the entertainment industry. After all, Huang Yue was young and attractive. Moreover, there was a slight connection between her and Wen Nian. By morning, Huang Yue¡¯s fan count had surged to hundreds of thousands, though the majority had followed her to criticize her. Seeing that Wen Nian¡¯s fans were already prepared to attack in the group, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. Sister Jiao: ¡°Everyone, please take note. Huang Yue is intentionally trying to bring Wen Nian down in order to boost her own poprity. Instruct all the fans not to engage in replies or arguments. Act as if she doesn¡¯t exist and let¡¯s move past this matter without further attention.¡± Zhou Bei: ¡°But it¡¯s incredibly exasperating. Individuals like her are only seeking attention. Why is she even taking part in web dramas? Is she nning to debut?¡± Sun Min: ¡°Absolutely. She clearly used Wen Nian¡¯s fame as a stepping stone to boost herself. If Huang Yue truly intends to apologize, why didn¡¯t she extend her apology directly to Wen Nian?¡± Zhou Bei: Yes, she should apologize in person! 1¡¯11 post ament now! Sister Jiao: Don¡¯t say that! Uttering such words could inadvertently give Huang Yue a chance. If she orchestrates media coverage at the school and manages to appear on screen alongside Wen Nian, just imagine the kind of attention she¡¯ll garner. Hearing her say this, the other fans in the group finally gave up. They didn¡¯t want Huang Yue use Wen Nian¡¯s poprity to boost her own poprity. The fan club had just been pacified, and a hush fell over all the fans. Huang Yue was no longer the focus of attention, yet Zhao Jiao¡¯s assessment was still spot-on. That afternoon, Huang Yue arrived at school apanied by a group of reporters. As the school day concluded, Huang Yue indeed led them into the teaching building.. Chapter 310 - 310: A Deal Chapter 310: A Deal Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Through the window, Zhou Bei spotted individuals entering the teaching building and swiftly seized Wen Nian¡¯s arm, pulling her away. ¡°Wen Nian, hurry,e with me. Let¡¯s head back to the dormitory and hide. Sun Min, go and stop Huang Yue. She¡¯s absolutely shameless.¡± Sun Min didn¡¯t waste any time either. She even knelt down to tie her shoces. ¡°Unbelievable. Sister Jiao¡¯s prediction was right? How can she have the nerve to show up at school? Is it solely to capitalize on the fame?¡± ¡°Sister Jiao?¡± When Shen Jun heard this name, the corners of his mouth twitched unconsciously. Could this Sister Jiao be the person he was thinking of? ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s the eldest sister in our fan club. You don¡¯t know that she¡¯s¡­¡± Sun Min wanted to continue, but she immediately stopped herself. They haven¡¯t told Wen Nian that they had started a fan club. They couldn¡¯t expose themselves now. Fortunately, Shen Jun merely arched an eyebrow without saying a word. Sun Min, feeling reassured, chimed in, ¡°Go into hiding for a while. Sun Ying and 1 will stop them. We must ensure that Wen Nian and Huang Yue do not appear together on camera.¡± Without another word, Zhou Bei pulled Wen Nian out of her seat, leaving Shen Jun alone. In less than two minutes, arge group of people had already appeared outside the ssroom. ¡°Is Wen Nian here?¡± Huang Yue shouted hoarsely. ¡°Wen Nian, it¡¯s Huang Yue. I¡¯m here to apologize to you.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s tears came very quickly. After saying that, she immediately started crying. The students beside her pouted, but no one spoke to her. Sun Ying blocked her way even more impolitely. ¡°You¡¯re not a student from our school. How did you get in? Don¡¯t tell me you bribed the school or the security guards again? How can such arge group of people enter the school so casually?¡± Huang Yue was on the brink of a retort upon hearing those words, but the presence of the media by her side made her recall Zhao Cheng¡¯s advice. This was a golden opportunity for her to generate publicity. Swiftly, she adopted an expression of feigned distress. ¡°We¡¯re all ssmates. I just want to apologize to her. Is Wen Nian really unwilling to even ept my apology? I¡¯ve already served time in jail and deeply remorseful for my actions. Is she still unwilling to forgive me?¡± Huang Yue¡¯s cries became louder and louder, and many people gathered at the ssroom door. Initially, the principal had already warned Li Fang not to interfere in this matter. Huang Yue¡¯s family had donated 200,000 yuan ofputer equipment to the school, so he allowed her to enter the school building. He could not let Li Fang ruin things again. However, Li Fang still could not ept it. She walked to the ssroom door angrily. ¡°Huang Yue, what are you doing?¡± Seeing Li Fang¡¯s angry expression, Huang Yue instinctively cowered. Then, she said pitifully to Li Fang, ¡°Mrs. Li, I¡¯m here to apologize to Wen Nian. Even if she doesn¡¯t forgive me, I still have to apologize.¡± ¡°Apology? Is this your version of an apology? You¡¯ve brought a swarm of reporters to the school to create chaos?¡± Li Fang¡¯s anger was palpable, her body trembling with emotion. ¡°1 don¡¯t care if you¡¯re filming a movie or a TV show. If you aspire to be a celebrity, go ahead and pursue that path. But if you truly intend to apologize, why involve these reporters? I won¡¯t say anything harsher. Leave immediately and don¡¯t disrupt the studies of the third-year students! My advice is to focus onpleting high school and putting an end to these misguided endeavors.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No one knows what intention she has in mind. I think she just wants to rely on Wen Nian to be popr.¡± ¡°Fortunately, Wen Nian isn¡¯t around. Otherwise, Wen Nian would have been taken advantage again.¡± ¡°The school¡¯s security is getting worse. Is this ce even safe anymore?¡± Suddenly, a few ssmates began engaging in loud discussions. Sun Min and Sun Ying joined in, theirmentsced with sarcasm directed at Huang Yue, which left her visibly flustered. She nced at Wei Xiao, who shook his head at her. Huang Yue then left the ssroom dejectedly. However, she did not leave the school. Instead, she hid in the small forest at the entrance of the field and waited. Half an hourter, when most of the people in the school had left, Huang Yue received Wei Xiao¡¯s WeChat message. Only then did she sneak out of the school and get into Wei Xiao¡¯s car. Huang Yue hung her head and uttered in a timid tone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I arrived toote today, didn¡¯t 1? 1 also failed to secure a shot with Wen Nian. I¡¯m concerned this won¡¯t attract much attention online.¡± She managed to secure an early release from prison by a few months due to a deal she struck with Wei Xiao. Wei Xiao yfully tugged at her hair, twirling it around his fingers. ¡°Aren¡¯t you interested in bing a celebrity? This is a prime chance. With fame, who would dwell on your past mistakes? Moreover, you¡¯re still quite young.¡± Previously, Wei Xiao¡¯s actions would have filled Huang Yue with excitement. However, considering what he had tasked her with, an overwhelming fear enveloped Huang Yue. ¡°You look stunning today. It¡¯s a shame you¡¯re not being filmed,¡± Wei Xiao remarked as he released her hair. He then said, ¡°Let¡¯s carry out what I instructed you aboutst time. I will drop you off now..¡± Chapter 311 - 311: Give My Virginity to You Chapter 311 - 311: Give My Virginity to You Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue wanted to object, but in the end, she closed her eyes and consented to Wei Xiao¡¯s proposal. Only then was Wei Xiao satisfied. He gave her head another pat before addressing the driver, ¡°Take us to Feni Hotel. Let¡¯s not keep my uncle waiting for too long.¡± He turned around and said to Huang Yue, ¡°Be smartter and put this in the wine.¡± He slipped a capsule into Huang Yue¡¯s hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This dissolves when it touches water. It¡¯s has no color and odor. Someone will escort you to the room.¡± Huang Yue gazed at the capsule in her hand, inhaling deeply. She lifted her head and scrutinized the man before her who had once captivated her. In this instant, he felt incredibly foreign to her.
¡°Don¡¯t you aspire to surpass Wen Nian? Don¡¯t you yearn to be the most renowned female celebrity? I can fulfill those desires for you,¡± Wei Xiao murmured as his fingers traced her wless skin. ¡°However, you must understand that there are no free lunches in this world. If you go through with this, you¡¯ll assume the role of the second female lead in that webdrama.¡± Considering the prospect of bing a renowned female celebrity in the future, Huang Yue managed to conjure a smile. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll undoubtedly carry it out sessfully.¡± Upon their arrival at the hotel room, Wei Jiang¡¯s patience was wearing thin. ¡°Wei Xiao, can¡¯t you discuss matters at home? Must you¡­ Is this your ssmate?¡± When he saw Huang Yue, Wei Jiang almost choked. Huang Yue had applied a lightyer of makeup in light of the media filming scheduled for the day. Despite her stint in prison over the past few months, her growth had been rapid. She had transformed into a tall beauty. Paired with her meticulously chosen attire that day, it entuated her graceful contours. Upon noticing his gaze, Wei Xiao deduced that the situation was under control. ¡°This is Huang Yue, a former ssmate of mine. You¡¯ve met her before.¡± Wei Xiao exchanged a nce with Huang Yue. She understood his unspoken message and casually settled beside Wei Jiang. ¡°We¡¯ve met previously, but it¡¯s been quite some time. Big Brother Wei, I¡¯m afraid you have forgotten about me?¡± Upon hearing her refer to him as ¡°Brother Wei,¡± Wei Jiang¡¯s joy was palpable. Although Huang Yue was merely two years older than Wei Lai, Wei Jiang perceived her as an amalgamation of girlhood and womanhood. She radiated a distinct allure. He chuckled and said, ¡°How can I? Huang Yue, how can I forget the beauty Huang Yue? Come,e,e. Our reunion after all this time deserves a toast. I¡¯ll drink to you!¡± At this moment, Wei Jiangprehended that Wei Xiao likely needed a favor, which was why he had arranged for thispanion. However, his focus was primarily on Huang Yue, the enchanting beauty. Such a fresh and youthful beauty was a rare sight for him. Huang Yue was also very obedient. She didn¡¯t refuse to drink and even downed a few sses of wine for Wei Jiang. While he was talking to Wei Xiao, she ced the capsule in her hand in his ss. The topics Wei Xiao talked to him about were also quite simple. Other than thend in the capital, he could only talk about the recent events that had ured at home. And so, he even talked about how Old Mr. Wei had asked him to locate Yang Shu. ¡°No. I can¡¯t drink anymore. Yue, can you pour a ss of water for me?¡± Wei Jiang hugged Huang Yue¡¯s waist and groped back and forth. Despite feeling thoroughly disgusted, Huang Yue managed to maintain a facade of a smile as she agreed. Yet, in the subsequent moment, Wei Jiang copsed into unconsciousness. ¡°There¡¯s a room upstairs. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to escort you there,¡± Wei Xiao stated. ¡°The higher-ups are prepared. I¡¯ve coordinated with Zhao Cheng, and you¡¯ll join the production team after a few days of rest.¡± Just as Wei Xiao was about to call someone in, Huang Yue suddenly threw herself into his arms and hugged his waist tightly. ¡°Wei Xiao, I¡¯m willing to do anything for you but can I please give my virginity to you instead?¡± Huang Yue nestled her head against his chest. The prospect of encountering an older man who could easily be her father was something she fervently wished to avoid. If she waspelled to endure this, she¡¯d prefer to be with Wei Xiao before anything else. ¡°You?¡± Wei Xiao looked down at her mockingly. Huang Yue looked up lovingly and nodded vigorously. ¡°He¡¯s passed out anyway. Let¡¯s take a few fake photos when the timees¡­¡± Before Huang Yue could finish speaking, Wei Xiao said coldly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you willing to do anything for me? Then it¡¯s not a loss to give your virginity to my uncle.¡± He pushed Huang Yue away forcefully and called the bodyguard outside in. ¡°Send her up and tell the hotel staff not to talk nonsense..¡± Chapter 312 - 312: Provincial Examination Chapter 312 - 312: Provincial Examination Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Wen Nian heard the news about Huang Yue again, it was already a weekter. She had indeed been cast as the second female lead in a low-budget online drama. This web drama was also invested by a video tform. The content was even copied from Xu Chang¡¯s work. It was also about school violence. However, they modified the plot and added more content. Huang Yue just so happened to y the fake best friend of the female lead. Not only did her character inflict harm upon the female lead, but she was also beaten up by the female lead in the end. This storyline bore an uncanny resemnce to the real-life events involving Huang Yue. As soon as the official casting announcement was made public,izens swiftly gathered to mock and taunt her. ¡°No way? She¡¯s basically acting as herself. She will do fine in this webdrama.¡± ¡°Director Xu, can¡¯t you sue for giarism? Isn¡¯t it disgusting that this webdrama is using the poprity of your movie?¡±
¡°Just the sight of Huang Yue makes my stomach turn. Heard she recently staged a public spectacle at school a few days ago, iming to apologize to Wen Nian?¡± ¡°Better carry Wen Nian away from this. Don¡¯t get her involved in this.¡± Throughout it all, Wen Nian remained unperturbed. She had witnessed such tactics in the entertainment industry during her past life, and now she had more important matters to do. The uing day marked the first provincial exam and the final mock test before the holidays. Intent on gauging her current abilities, Wen Nian persisted with her preparations. As she was about to delve into another set ofprehensive exam papers, Shen Jun finally intervened. ¡°Considering the exam is tomorrow, focus on reviewing the areas where you had some gaps today. Hold off on attempting more questions for now.¡± Wen Nian looked at the test paper in her hand regretfully. The provincial exam determined her ranking among all the students in the entire province. She really wanted to stay up all night and revise it again. Shen Jun took out a piece of milk candy, unwrapped it, and popped it into Wen Nian¡¯s mouth. ¡°Rx. Your mental state will also affect your performance.¡± Wen Nian nodded. It was true that in her previous life, heightened nervousness often led to mistakes during her acting performances. Rxing seemed like a more sensible approach. The school was also very humane. School ended early in the afternoon, allowing everyone to rx. Upon returning to the dormitory, Wen Nian noticed Zhou Bei and Sun Min engrossed in their phones with a hint of secrecy. Hastily, they hid their phones as soon as they spotted her. Wen Nian yfully squinted her eyes and draped her arms around their shoulders. ¡°Are you two up to some mischief behind my back?¡± With Huang Yue no longer present in the dormitory, the bond between the three of them had grown stronger. Gone were the days of cautious and hesitant conversations. ¡°No, no.¡± Zhou Bei quickly denied. Sun Min, on the other hand, blushed and shook her head vigorously, indicating that nothing had happened. Wen Nian smiled and didn¡¯t press the two of them further. She had an inkling that Zhou Bei and Sun Min had quietly established a fan club for her. Realizing that she didn¡¯t often seek the limelight, and whenever her name trended, it wasn¡¯t due to positive reasons, she had a feeling she didn¡¯t possess any fervent fans. With that in mind, she chose to allow them to carry on without interference. Moreover, fans often tend to emte their idol¡¯s behavior. Since Zhou Bei and Sun Min¡¯s rtionship with Wen Nian had grown stronger, their academic performance had seen a remarkable upturn. Frequently, the three of them would engage in discussions about questions from the college entrance exams whenever they had spare time. Not long ago, the fan club had kicked off a ¡°betting game.¡± At first, their aim was to share updates about Wen Nian to shift the focus away from Huang Yue¡¯s fame. Yet, after some contemtion, Zhou Bei reckoned that it would be more impactful to showcase Wen Nian as an aplished student. After all, her academic standing had held the 92nd spot in the school¡¯s rankingst year.How much further up the ranks could Wen Nian ascend this time? Given the nature of the provincial examination, the level of difficulty was expected to significantly escte. The fan club members began casting their votes one after another, and the voting frenzy spread across social media tforms overnight. The consensus among most fans was that even if Wen Nian couldn¡¯t outshine every other student, she had the potential to make consistent progress and secure a spot within the school year¡¯s top 80 rankings. Conversely, a few onlookers held the belief that Wen Nian¡¯s previous sess wasrgely due to luck. They argued that numerous challenges had befallen the Wen family during the first semester of her third year in high school, which must have inevitably impacted her academic performance. Thus, they spected that she likely didn¡¯t manage to secure a position within the top 100 rankings of her school year. Wen Nian took Shen Jun¡¯s advice seriously and enjoyed a restful night¡¯s sleep. The following day, she entered the examination hall brimming with energy. The two-day exam flew by quickly. Afterpleting it, Wen Nian let out a sigh of relief. She was confident in her performance and had a positive feeling about her results this time. Right after the exam, Zhou Bei approached Wen Nian with a sly grin and inquired, ¡°Wen Nian, what are your thoughts on how the exam went?¡± ¡°Are you confident that you can break into the top 80 rankings before the new year?¡± Sun Min and Sun Ying rushed over as well. Wen Nian cast a skeptical gaze at the trio, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Top 80? That¡¯s quite a precise prediction.. Did you three happen to wager on my ranking with someone?¡± Chapter 313 - 313: Taking Over the Land Chapter 313 - 313: Taking Over the Land Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing that she had been exposed, Sun Min was the first to blush. Meanwhile, Zhou Bei and Sun Ying were in agreement and refused to admit it. Wen Nian sighed. Did they really think that she doesn¡¯t surf the web? Wen Nian shrugged, appearing nonchnt. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely certain about my score either. So, what exactly did you guys bet on?¡± She genuinely had no knowledge of everyone¡¯s academic performance in her current life, as she had already begun her journey in the entertainment industry by this point in her previous life. Sun Min said weakly, ¡°I bet two packets of potato chips. Big packets!¡± Sun Ying beamed with confidence. ¡°I haveplete faith that you¡¯ll make it into the top 80 before the new year. In fact, I even ced a bet involving potato chips. If you don¡¯t seed, I¡¯ll treat everyone in the group to a packet. However, if you do pass, they¡¯ll owe me two packets each. It¡¯s going to be quite costly for them, probably running into thousands¡­¡±
Zhou Bei hurriedly interrupted Sun Ying and covered her mouth, saying, ¡°Oh, we absolutely believe in you, Wen Nian! Hey, Sun Ying, didn¡¯t you mention wanting to head home early today? Let¡¯s get going together, shall we?¡± Wen Nian had initially considered confronting them to uncover the truth, but a sense of unease lingered. Could it be that her fan club had already grown to over a thousand members? If they were all students, they might be susceptible to maniption by hiredmenters in the entertainment industry. Just as Wen Nian was about to address the matter, Zhou Bei abruptly shouted from behind, ¡°Hey, isn¡¯t that Shen Jun? Wen Nian was justining about you!¡± Then, she hastily added, ¡°We¡¯ll leave you two alone now!¡± ¡°Stop it. You can¡¯t fool me with that!¡± Wen Nian persisted, trying to reach out to grab Zhou Bei, but she found herself being held back by someone firmly grasping her cor. ¡°You can¡¯t recognize my footsteps? You seem pretty confident in your performance,¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice resounded from above her. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but marvel at Shen Jun¡¯s growth. In their third year of high school, he had gained some height and now stood a whole head taller than her. Wen Nian turned around angrily. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you assist me in catching them? They used my exam results to make bets within the fan club. What if they were taken advantage of?¡± ¡°Taken advantage of?¡± Shen Jun asked in confusion. Wen Nian let out a sigh. ¡°You see, there are all sorts of individuals in the entertainment industry. A fan club formed by a group of students without proper guidance could easily be manipted. Thankfully, this time, they acted wisely and didn¡¯t engage in further conflicts with the army of hiredmenters. Otherwise, they would have inadvertently boosted others¡¯ online presence.¡± Hearing her words, Shen Jun suddenly smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a student too? And you know the entertainment industry that well?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± Wen Nian was about to mention her years of experience in the entertainment industry, but she quickly veered the conversation. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve even acted in a movie, so I definitely have more insights than they do.¡± Shen Jun suddenly recollected what Wen Nian had said earlier and inquired, ¡°So, are you suggesting that your fan club didn¡¯t get caught up in the hype created by Huang Yuest time?¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement. ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s clear that the managementpany has a strategy in y. When the hiredmenters promoting Huang Yue and my fans engage in a massive online dispute, it¡¯s evident that Huang Yue will gain poprity. Poprity is everything in the entertainment industry. However, I don¡¯t believe my fan club is veryrge, or else they would have fallen into that trapst time.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes narrowed as he started to connect the dots. He recalled Sun Min¡¯s mention of ¡°Sister Jiao¡± from their previous conversation. If she was indeed involved in all of this, then everything began to make sense. However, he realized he would need to investigate this matter furtherter on. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what exactly Sister Jiao¡¯s intentions were in all of this. There was a more pressing matter at hand. Shen Jun pondered for a moment before saying to Wen Nian, ¡°The Wei family¡¯s property in the capital has been acquired. The transfer was finalized two days ago.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t understand what he meant at all and looked at him in confusion. Shen Jun rified further, saying, ¡°Wei Xiao handled the transfer procedures himself. He¡¯s turned 18 now, and the property was registered under his name.¡± In a hushed tone, Wen Nian inquired, ¡°So, are you suggesting that he possesses some leverage over Wei Feng and used it to pressure him sessfully?¡± Shen Jun took the news in stride, showing no surprise. Wei Xiao, despite his ws, had a degree ofpetence. Additionally, Wei Feng had intended to raise Wei Xiao as the sessor, but Shen Jun hadn¡¯t anticipated that the process would go so smoothly. Wen Nian contemted for a moment and posed another question, ¡°But what about the objections from the Wei family? If the Wei Corporation expands into the capital in the future, won¡¯t Wei Xiao be the apparent heir?¡± Shen Jun responded gravely, ¡°Based on my investigation, Wei Jiangli actively backed Wei Xiao in acquiring thend. He even secured 5% of thepany¡¯s shares..¡± Chapter 314 - 314: Have a Say in the Matter Chapter 314 - 314: Have a Say in the Matter Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words, Wen Nian fell silent. In her previous life, not only had the Wei family sessfully expanded into the capital, but they had also established two major shopping malls. While they couldn¡¯t rival the Shen family, it marked a significant advancement for the Wei family. During that period, Wei Xiao had garnered a reputation as a notable talent in the capital. Wen Nian¡¯s fists tightened with determination. She couldn¡¯t allow the Wei family to enjoy a trouble-free existence in this lifetime. She was determined to make those who had wronged her suffer the consequences. Observing the shift in Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor, Shen Jun gently took her hand and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t fret. I¡¯ve already arranged for an investigation into Yang Shu. We¡¯ll receive news soon.¡± Just as he finished speaking, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang, and he noticed that it was Wei Xiao calling. His expression grew serious.
The Wei family¡¯s situation held significant importance this time. Wei Xiao had skipped the exam entirely to go straight to the capital for the property transfer, appearing as the prospective heir to the Wei family. With the possibility of having concrete evidence in his possession, Shen Jun answered the call. ¡°Young Master Shen, have you finished your exams? I¡¯m heading back to Hai City tonight. Thend in the capital is now under my control,¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s voice oozed with satisfaction, and he couldn¡¯t hide his glee. He hadn¡¯t anticipated everything going so smoothly. Wei Xiao had recorded a video of Huang Yue sleeping with Wei Jiang and taken numerous photos as evidence. He had even left behind the condom that Wei Jiang had used that day. Wei Jiang¡¯s lecherous nature,bined with the influence of the drugs, left himpletely powerless to resist, and he engaged in a sexual encounter with Huang Yue. Huang Yue had also sustained several injuries on her body. The following morning, when Wei Jiang woke up, he found Huang Yue sitting by the side with disheveled hair, having cried for a long time. Just as he was about to offer somefort to the distressed young woman, Wei Xiao stormed in with his associates and even suggested calling the police on behalf of Huang Yue. Wei Jiang wasn¡¯t particrly concerned about being framed. Even if thepromising photos and videos were leaked, they wouldn¡¯t significantly tarnish his reputation. However, his fear primarily stemmed from Li Bing. Wei Jiang and Li Bing had entered into a marriage alliance originally, and their current rtionship was merely a facade. As long as Wei Jiang didn¡¯t push the boundaries too far and kept certain matters discreet, Li Bing was willing to turn a blind eye. However, if their illicit actions were exposed, it would undoubtedly lead to a severe fallout with Li Bing. In the worst-case scenario, Wei Jiang might even lose his standing within the Shen family. What exacerbated Wei Jiang¡¯s distress was that he hadn¡¯t initially recognized Huang Yue. It was only after Wei Xiao¡¯s revtions that he realized she was the illegitimate daughter of the Huang family. If this affair were toe to light, it would undoubtedly draw significant attention and scrutiny, and Wei Jiang couldn¡¯t fathom the potential consequences he might have to face. In the end, Wei Jiang was forced to agree to help Wei Xiao get thend. He conceded 2% of thepany¡¯s shares to Wei Xiao, while the remaining 3% was forcefully extracted from Wei Feng through coercion. Reflecting on his recent aplishments, Wei Xiao believed he could consider himself one of the most sessful among his peers. This newfound confidence was reflected in his markedly altered tone when talking to Shen Jun. ¡°I recall you mentioning your ns to develop this area during ourst conversation. Now, I have a say in the matter. How about we meet up tonight to discuss it?¡± Shen Jun casted a nce at Wen Nian and replied simply, ¡°Okay.¡± Wei Xiao was somewhat exhrated, believing that Shen Jun must acknowledge his newfound influence and potential role as the future head of the family, much like Shen Jun himself. He promptly settled on a time and venue for their meeting, proceeding to book a private room for their discussion. At that moment, Huang Yue, standing nearby, held a cup of fruit tea in one hand and a wet wipe in the other. She inquired softly, ¡°Are you heading back to Hai City tonight? I don¡¯t have any filming for the next couple of days. How about I apany you back?¡± Huang Yue had gained insight into Shen Jun¡¯s influential background through Wei Xiao. She regretted not fostering a closer rtionship with Shen Jun in the past, as she believed that if they had been together, many of the subsequentplications might have been avoided. She hated Wen Nian even more now. She suspected that Wen Nian had been aware of Shen Jun¡¯s true identity long before she broke off the engagement with Wei Xiao. Wen Nian¡¯s actions had also caused her harm. Hence, she had to go back and expose Wen Nian. Since she was no longer happy, she naturally could not let Wen Nian be happy. Wei Xiao waved his hand, signaling that he disagreed. ¡°Why would you apany me back? Haven¡¯t you forgotten your grudge against Wen Nian? Aren¡¯t you just causing trouble for Shen Jun?¡± Huang Yue attempted to respond, but Wei Xiao didn¡¯t afford her the opportunity. ¡°CEO Wang, who signed the contract with you today, wishes to meet with you tonight. He has a preference for white attire. Make sure to change into suitable clothing.¡± After rying the message, Wei Xiao cast a disdainful nce at Huang Yue¡¯s attire. He couldn¡¯t understand why she insisted on wearing clothes with prominent logos ever since entering the entertainment industry. It gave her an ostentatious appearance of a rich person, which left Wei Xiao feeling repelled. Having issued his directives, Wei Xiao was eager to depart. His primary objective was to engage in a discussion with Shen Jun regarding the developments in the capital. As Wei Xiao walked away, Huang Yue watched his retreating figure with a glint of malice in her eyes.. Chapter 315 - 315: Evidence of Murder Chapter 315: Evidence of Murder Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Considering the investigation, Shen Jun decided not to have Wen Nian apany him this time. With Wen Nian present, even if Wei Xiao were drunk, he might not divulge the information they needed. Upon their arrival at the private room, Shen Jun observed that Wei Xiao was indeed alone. However, his mental state waspletely different. His cocky grin seemed very out of ce on his youthful face. Upon spotting Shen Jun¡¯s entrance, Wei Xiao approached him with a grin, his smile growing wider when he noticed that Wen Nian was absent. In serious discussions between men, the presence of women, especially those from the Wen family, was typically discouraged. ¡°Young Master Shen, I¡¯ve had the chance to witness it firsthand. The way things operate in the capital is truly exceptional, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Shen Jun maintained hisposed demeanor as he inquired, ¡°Did everything go smoothly?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t exactly a smooth ride, was it? You could say I got lucky,¡± Wei Xiao responded confidently, sitting down next to Shen Jun. ¡°After all, isn¡¯t luck a type of strength too?¡± Shen Jun raised his eyebrows but didn¡¯t say anything. As Wei Xiao gazed at Shen Jun, he sneered inwardly. He had conducted his own inquiries, and it seemed that Shen Jun¡¯s father, though aged, had ample strength and didn¡¯t allow Shen Jun to meddle in the family¡¯s affairs. It would likely be many years before Shen Jun could assume control of the Shen family. In contrast, Wei Feng was a different story altogether. Setting aside the leverage he possessed, Wei Feng was already old. Wei Xiao was confident that he would inherit the family business sooner than Shen Jun. As a result, any lingering feelings of inferiority Wei Xiao may have had in the past when dealing with Shen Jun had dissipated. He continued, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the government is nning to develop the western suburbs this time. While mynd may not be substantial in size, it appears to be situated at the primary exit point for the construction of the fourth ring road. I consider myself rather fortunate.¡± Shen Jun cast a sidelong nce at Wei Xiao and responded, ¡°The government formted this n a few years back. It¡¯s hardly considered new information.¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s pupils narrowed, inwardly acknowledging that the Shen family had evidently been privy to this information for quite some time. Otherwise, how could Shen Jun have acquired the undevelopednd in the western suburbs directly? Back then, this area had been nothing more than barren wastnd with no apparent investment potential. Wei Xiao chuckled, saying, ¡°Indeed, not everyone possesses such divine foresight. I¡¯ll have to depend on your guidance when 1 venture into the capital in the future.¡± He promptly poured wine for Shen Jun as a gesture of respect. The two had gathered on several asions, and most of these meetings involved alcohol. Furthermore, Wei Xiao consistently indulged a bit too much each time, and this asion was no exception. Particrly with Wen Nian¡¯s absence, Wei Xiao spoke without any inhibitions. ¡°You don¡¯t know how stubborn my grandpa is. He¡¯s already half-buried, yet he still holds onto power!¡± Wei Xiao was truly in high spirits. He had been so exhrated throughout the day that he hadn¡¯t eaten much. He devoted his attention to drinking this evening, quickly bing drunk again. Observing that Wei Xiao was nearing the point of drunkenness, Shen Jun inquired, ¡°Aren¡¯t you impressive? You managed to persuade your grandfather to grant you thend, didn¡¯t you? 1 also heard you acquired some shares?¡± ¡°Young Master Shen is indeed extraordinary for knowing all these things.¡± Wei Xiao stated as he downed another ss. ¡°My strength lies in my good fortune. 1 hold leverage over Wei Feng and Wei Jiang. The Wei family will ultimately be my domain.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Shen Jun raised an eyebrow, inquiring casually, ¡°1 recall now. This pertains to your grandfather and Wen Nian¡¯s grandfather, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Wei Xiao had already drunk too much and couldn¡¯t recall his previous statements. He simply proceeded with the conversation. ¡°Young Master Shen, your memory is really good. You even remember this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. It concerns Old Mr. Wen. Not only am I aware of it, but my father is as well. He still holds evidence. With that evidence in my possession now, 1 am not afraid of grandpa not listening to me!¡± Wei Xiao eximed. He gestured with his hand dismissively a few times, saying, ¡°If you don¡¯t want your secrets exposed, then don¡¯t engage in such activities. My father is concerned about his rtionship with grandpa, which is why he doesn¡¯t want to report this to the police. I¡¯m not a disobedient heir, so I am definitely not going to report this to the police. What would I get out of it anyway? However, I must let grandpa know that I have evidence. If I were to be the sessor of the Wei Family, 1 would never utter a word that could harm our family¡¯s interests.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯m curious, what sort of leverage do you hold over your grandpa?¡± Shen Jun inquired, wearing a faint smile. Yet, Wei Xiao waved his hand dismissively and chose not to delve further into the topic.. It appeared that he subconsciously recognized that he couldn¡¯t divulge this information. Shen Junmented with a sense of nonchnce, ¡°Your old man couldn¡¯t possibly be fearful of someone as young as you, could he? I¡¯m concerned that he might not be willing to entrust everything in the capital to you in the future. Your uncle is likely to bear the primary responsibilities.¡± ¡°Impossible!¡± Wei Xiao reacted with immediate panic upon hearing this. ¡°1 have the evidence of his murder in my possession.. 1 will unquestionably take control of the Wei family in the future!¡± Chapter 316 - 316: The Female Lead of a Promotional Video Chapter 316: The Female Lead of a Promotional Video Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon hearing this revtion, Shen Jun¡¯s breathing momentarily halted. Nevertheless, he carried on without batting an eyelid. ¡°Murder, you say? Haha, your old man wouldn¡¯t have left behind any evidence even if he hadmitted such a deed, let alone allow a child like you to possess such evidence.¡± Wei Xiao extended a finger and gestured confidently. ¡°You may not be aware, but he is the most prudent individual I know. He¡¯s adept at discretion in all matters. However, he¡¯s unaware that his sons also possess an ace up their sleeves. My father might appear indifferent to the Wei family, but in reality, he¡¯s well-informed about both the Wei and Wen families.¡± Wei Xiao had always felt that this was his masterpiece, but regrettably, he couldn¡¯t disclose it to anyone. Today, he saw his drinking session with Shen Jun as a rare opportunity. He could finally confide to someone who has no involvement in the series of events. ¡°My father and Wen Nian¡¯s father were childhood friends, practically inseparable. However, my grandpa has killed Wen Nian¡¯s grandpa, sparking a grudge over the murder of a parent. My father felt remorseful toward his friend but couldn¡¯t bring himself to betray his own father. Consequently, he could only hide the evidence and steer clear of any interactions with the Wen family,¡± Wei Xiao shared. ¡°Do you possess all the evidence, which is why you secured thend?¡± Shen Jun inquired, gazing intently at Wei Xiao. ¡°Without a doubt,¡± Wei Xiao affirmed as he poured another ss of wine for Shen Jun. ¡°The Wei family shall be in my control from this point onward, and the Shen family will be under your domain. We¡¯ll meet again in the capital!¡± As the sses of white wine kept flowing, Wei Xiao¡¯splexion gradually reddened. He began to confide in Shen Jun, recounting his overseas struggles, Wei Feng¡¯s oppressive actions, and even the issues he had faced due to Wen Nian¡¯s persistent presence in the past. Upon hearing this, Shen Jun¡¯s frustration became palpable. Eventually, he couldn¡¯t bear it any longer and arranged for someone to escort Wei Xiao back. As Wei Xiao sat wearily in the car, Shen Gang couldn¡¯t help but feel concerned. He offered, ¡°Should 1 have Auntie Jiang prepare some hangover soup for you? You are young. You shouldn¡¯t be drinking excessively like this all the time.¡± Shen Jun massaged the space between his eyebrows. He hadn¡¯t consumed much alcohol; it was Wei Xiao who had emptied the bottles. It appeared that Wei Xiao was in high spirits. However, Shen Jun had certainly invested considerable effort. Wei Xiao had mentioned possessing evidence, yet he had never disclosed the location of that evidence. ¡°Let¡¯s go back first,¡± Shen Jun instructed. At that moment, Shen Jun received a WeChat message on his phone, indicating that the investigation into Yang Shu had reached a conclusion. It even revealed that the five hundred thousand yuan Wei Feng had given him in the past had been exposed. Yang Shu must have had something to do with Wen Sheng¡¯s death, but now Yang Shu was also dead. Shen Jun examined his phone and discovered that Yang Shu had a safe deposit box at the central bank, registered in the name of one of his nieces. However, since Yang Shu had parted ways with the Wei family, he had returned to his hometown and set up a small clinic. His annual ie barely exceeded 200,000 yuan. Given these circumstances, it appeared unlikely that he would need a safe deposit box. What could be in the safe? With these thoughts in mind, Shen Jun promptly contacted someone to continue the investigation. If possible, retrieving the contents of the safe would be the ideal oue. Following the third-year provincial examination, it was time for the final holiday of high school. While the students from other grades had already been on vacation, the third-year students were an exception. The school had granted them only seven days off, which included the New Year holiday. For Wen Nian, though, holidays felt no different from regr days. Thest semester was still ahead of her, and she was determined to give it her all. Additionally, she had to expose Wei Feng¡¯s true nature before heading to university. She truly had no respite in sight. Just as Wen Nian was reviewing the question she had answered incorrectly, she received a call from Xu Chang. His voice carried a sycophantic tone. ¡°Wen Nian, 1 heard that you are done with your provincial exams?¡± ¡°Director Xu, are you by any chance partaking in the bet on my exam results too? How many bags of potato chips did you wager?¡± Wen Nian felt a bit taken aback. It appeared that everyone around her had joined in on this bet. If she didn¡¯t make it into the top 8o before the new year, it seemed that those around her would likely clear out the supermarket¡¯s potato chip aisle. On the other end of the line, Xu Chang seemed somewhat guilty. ¡°Hehe, 1 was just casually participating. The most important thing is the spirit of participation.¡± ¡°Will you be taking a break after the exams? 1 imagine you only have a few days off during your third year of high school, right? What are your ns?¡± Xu Chang went straight to the point. Wen Nian sensed that he had a purpose in mind when he brought up the topic. She inquired straightforwardly, ¡°The Year Three students have a seven-day break. Is there something you need from me, Director Xu?¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed smart. I¡¯ve uttered just one sentence, and you¡¯ve already grasped my intentions. It¡¯s a shame you¡¯re not part of the entertainment industry,¡± Xu Chang remarked. Remembering Wen Nian¡¯s reluctance to enter the entertainment industry, Xu Chang quickly feigned a cough. ¡°Actually, I need your help with something. I¡¯ve been tasked with directing a promotional video and we need a female lead..¡± Chapter 317 - 317: This Life Was Different Chapter 317 - 317: This Life Was Different Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Director Xu, you know that I¡¯m in my third year of high school now and it¡¯s important. I¡­¡± Before Wen Nian could finish her sentence, Xu Chang promptly interrupted, ¡°Wen Nian, don¡¯t reject right away. Hear me out first and contemte whether you¡¯d like to take on the role.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to direct a public service advertisement this time. Its primary objective is to promote equitable education and raise awareness about the children left behind,¡± Xu Chang exined. Even though Xu Chang hadn¡¯t known Wen Nian for a long time, he had a good grasp of her character. This youngdy might appear fragile on the surface, but she had inner strength and a kind heart. Consequently, he had confidence that this advertisement would deeply resonate with her. As expected, when Wen Nian heard that it was a public service advertisement, she inquired immediately, ¡°Is it about raising awareness for the education of left-behind children? Can you tell me more about the content?¡±
Xu Chang hurriedly exined, ¡°Actually, it¡¯s a joint project with a television station in the capital. The filming content and materials are nearlyplete. The focus is on showcasing the contrasting educational experiences and childhoods of same-aged left-behind children and urban children. This will help highlight the challenges faced by left-behind children in essing education.¡± ¡°I need a female lead for my filming. The primary role is to portray a character who has received an education and is now embarking on a joyful journey in university life.¡± ¡°Actually, the script is quite short,¡± Xu Chang added. ¡°After all, the television advertisement only allows for two minutes. Excluding the scenesparing the experiences of rural and urban children, it won¡¯t take you much time. As you won¡¯t require extensive on-camera time, if you¡¯re avable during the holidays, I believe we can wrap up filming in just a day or two. What do you think?¡± Wen Nian remained silent for an extended period. She was well aware of the profound impact of public service advertisements, particrly those addressing the education of left-behind children. The government was also deeply concerned about this issue. If she were to take on a role in such an advertisement, it could undoubtedly aid her in establishing a positive image. Nevertheless, the prospect of re-entering the entertainment industry made her hesitate. Additionally, the issue with the Wei family remained unresolved. Seeing that she hadn¡¯t responded, Xu Chang began to feel anxious. ¡°Wen Nian, I understand you might still be uncertain about returning to the entertainment industry, but you should also consider this as an opportunity. It¡¯s distinct from movies and television series. When 1 contemted the script, the first actress that came to mind was you. I hope we can coborate once more.¡± Xu Chang took a deep breath and continued, ¡°To prepare for this project, 1 visited numerous viges where left-behind children reside. We¡¯ve essentiallypleted filming the necessary footage. Their plight is genuinely challenging, something that people who haven¡¯t experienced it firsthand may struggle to empathize with.¡± ¡°How about this? I can send you some of the footage I¡¯ve captured so far. You can take a look and decide whether you¡¯d like to join us,¡± Xu Chang suggested. ¡°I want to be upfront with you that there¡¯s no sry for participating in public service advertisements,¡± Xu Chang exined. ¡°At most, we¡¯ll cover your round-trip airfare and amodation expenses. However, please rest assured that we won¡¯t treat you unfairly, and you can request anything you need.¡± ¡°Director Xu, thank you.¡± Wen Nian knew that Xu Chang was being genuine and sincere.And so, she was genuinely thankful. With his current fame and the support of the government, many would vie for the female lead role even if it meant forgoingpensation. ¡°Thank me for what? What do you mean? Did you agree or refuse?¡± Xu Chang was still in a daze. ¡°Thank you for offering me this opportunity,¡± Wen Nian expressed her gratitude. ¡°I¡¯m more than willing to participate in the public service advertisement. Please send me the script and materials. I¡¯ll inform my family about it tomorrow.¡± Xu Chang said ¡°Okay¡± three times before hanging up. Wen Nian looked at the video file sent by Xu Chang on her phone and was deeply touched. In her previous life, she had paid little attention to such public service advertisements and couldn¡¯t even recall if there had been one. In her previous life, she had been seekingpanionship from sugar daddies and striving to secure acting roles. She was willing to sell her body and soul as well as engage in meaningless work. This life was different. She had to engage in more meaningful endeavors. Even though she had not made up her mind about entering the entertainment industry, she was determined to show that she waspletely changed in this lifetime. Shen Jun was initially uncertain about Wen Nian¡¯s willingness to apany him to the capital. However, Madam Zhao Jiao had been persistently calling him, urging him to return home for the New Year. She had even gone ahead and booked a ne ticket for him. It was at this moment that Wen Nian informed him that she would going to the capital. ¡°What a coincidence,¡± Shen Jun replied. He was so happy that his hand holding the phone was trembling. ¡°Let¡¯s go together today. I¡¯ll book a ne ticket.¡± ¡°Are you going back to the capital too? Why didn¡¯t you say anything yesterday?¡± Wen Nian was a little unhappy. This guy didn¡¯t even tell her that he was going back to the capital? ¡°It¡¯s all because of my mom¡­ Sigh, let¡¯s talk when we meet.¡± After hanging up the phone, Shen Jun immediately arranged for the tickets to be booked. The thought of celebrating the new year together with Wen Nian filled him with anticipation, bringing a warm smile to his eyes.. Chapter 318 - 318: Ugly Wife Chapter 318 - 318: Ugly Wife Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before Wen Nian had finished packing her luggage, Shen Jun was already waiting downstairs. Wen Nian spent over an hour discussing with her family and showed them some of the videos that Director Xu had filmed. With Shen Jun¡¯s presence, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing felt somewhat reassured. Initially, Wen Xing wanted to apany her, but he remembered that he hadn¡¯t been much helpst time and had even been a burden. So, he decided not to insist. Wen Nian also declined Zhou Mei¡¯s offer to apany her, citing that there was no extra funding for the public service advertisement. ¡°You¡¯re still a child after all. How can I be at ease?¡± Zhou Mei nagged as she packed her clothes. Wen Nian wrapped her arms around her mother¡¯s neck and said sweetly, ¡°Mom, Shen Jun will be with me, so don¡¯t worry. Besides, it¡¯s just a few scenes. We might finish filming in a day or two.¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. With Shen Jun there, everything will be fine. Shen Jun is a reliable young man, and¡­¡± Wen Xing had wanted to say more, but when he saw his wife ring at him, he stopped. Wen Nian¡¯s phone rang. It was Shen Jun reminding her to go to the airport. Zhou Mei nced out of the window. The Shen Jun family¡¯s car had been waiting at the door for a while. Then, she reluctantly whispered to Wen Nian, ¡°Nian Nian, you¡¯re a girl. Don¡¯t let others take advantage of you, understand? No matter how good Shen Jun is, you¡¯re still students. It¡¯s thest semester of your third year of high school. You¡­¡± Hearing her mother¡¯s repeated lectures that began with ¡°you,¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. Blushing, she grabbed her suitcase and said, ¡°Mom, I know! Don¡¯t worry.¡± The moment she opened the door, she saw Shen Jun already waiting outside. He was wearing a medium-length beige wool coat and a white scarf, and he had a warm smile on his face. ¡°Uncle, Auntie, I¡¯m here to pick Wen Nian up.¡± He took the suitcase from Wen Nian¡¯s hand very naturally. Wen Nian suddenly thought of what her mother had said just now and her face turned even redder. ¡°Wen Nian, are you sick? Do you have a fever?¡± Shen Jun reached out, intending to touch her forehead. Wen Nian reacted like a startled deer, quickly stepping back and gently pulling his hand. She motioned for him to follow her downstairs. ¡°Mom, Dad, I¡¯ll give you a call once I reach my destination!¡± With that, the two of them hurriedly entered the car, as though they were escaping. Zhou Mei watched the car disappear into the distance and sighed inwardly. But when she considered how impressive Shen Jun had appeared just moments ago and then thought about her own son, who was still in university, obsessed with gaming, and without a girlfriend, theparison was truly maddening! It wasn¡¯t until they were aboard the ne that Wen Nian¡¯splexion returned to its usual hue. ¡°What just happened back there? Were you all discussing me at home?¡± Shen Jun helped Wen Nian fold her clothes and requested a ss of fruit juice, gazing at her with a soft expression. Wen Nian feigned sipping the fruit juice and replied with a hint of irritation, ¡°Who said we¡¯re always talking about you? Don¡¯t tter yourself.¡± ¡°Oh-¡± Shen Jun deliberately drew out the word, a mischievous grin on his face. ¡°Maybe they didn¡¯t talk about me, but their faces turned even redder when they saw me. That¡¯s quite the coincidence, isn¡¯t it?¡± Seizing the opportunity, Wen Nian stealthily extended her fingers in an attempt to pinch his waist, but just as she was about to strike, a female voice interrupted them from above. ¡°Shen Jun, Wen Nian, are the two of you traveling to the capital together?¡± Upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s voice, Wen Nian discreetly withdrew her mischievous ws. She responded with a polite nod, and Shen Jun offered a subtle acknowledgment to Jiang Chun. Jiang Chun hadn¡¯t anticipated that after such a long period of no contact with Shen Jun, he wouldn¡¯t even exchange a word with her. She felt a twinge of indignation but maintained her friendly smile as she inquired, ¡°Is Wen Nianing to your ce for the New Year? Are you nning for her to meet your parents before university? How many days will you be staying home? Should we coordinate our travel ns and book tickets together?¡± The group of young adults in the first-ss cabin had already attracted attention due to their striking appearances. When Jiang Chun¡¯s question echoed through the cabin, it piqued the curiosity of fellow passengers, and even the flight attendants stole nces in their direction. The passengers around them were curious to get a glimpse of the girl who had not only entered a rtionship at a young age but was now audaciously nning to stay at her boyfriend¡¯s house. Feeling the weight of the surrounding gazes, Shen Jun¡¯s expression grew colder. He cast an icy nce at the people around him, causing them to quickly avert their eyes. Finally, Shen Jun turned his attention to Jiang Chun and replied, ¡°Wen Nian is going to the capital to film a public service advertisement.¡± Jiang Chun had initially contemted making things awkward for Wen Nian. Just as she was about to offer an apology, she was caught off guard by Shen Jun¡¯s unexpected remark. ¡°Meeting the parents isn¡¯t out of the question. After all, even an ¡¯ugly¡¯ daughter-inw has to meet her inws someday..¡± Chapter 319 - 319: Xu Chang At The Airport Chapter 319 - 319: Xu Chang At The Airport Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian couldn¡¯t tolerate it any longer. She didn¡¯t care that Jiang Chun was beside her; she pinched Shen Jun¡¯s waist. Shen Jun, without changing his expression, grabbed her tiny hand and yfully remarked, ¡°You¡¯re a beautiful daughter-inw. Won¡¯t you still have to meet your inws someday?¡± ¡°Shameless! Who¡¯s your wife?¡± Wen Nian tugged at her hand forcefully, but Shen Jun stubbornly held on. Seeing the couple disy their affection in front of her, Jiang Chun, though she believed she could endure it, found the scene unbearable. She dejectedly returned to her seat. And so, the ne eventually touched down in the capital. To Wen Nian¡¯s surprise, Xu Chang hade to pick her up personally.
Observing passersby taking photos and noticing that Xu Chang had only brought an assistant, Wen Nian felt a sense of dread. ¡°Director Xu, why did youe here in person?¡± ¡°Because I appreciate you?¡± Xu Chang rubbed his hands in embarrassment. He hadn¡¯t expected Wen Nian to arrive so swiftly, and he felt it necessary to wee her personally. He harbored a genuine fear that Wen Nian might change her mind again. As the crowd around them grew, Wen Nian hastily pulled her jacket¡¯s hood over her head and briskly wheeled her suitcase to join Xu Chang. The small group jogged their way to the waiting car, drawing the attention of many onlookers who recognized Wen Nian and Xu Chang. ¡°Is that Wen Nian?¡± ¡°That man is Xu Chang, right? The famous director!¡± ¡°Xu Chang personally picking up Wen Nian? Must be a big movie!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of it, and it¡¯s almost the new year,¡± remarked one passerby. ¡°I¡¯m so jealous of Wen Nian. She¡¯s still in high school, isn¡¯t she? I heard that the movie made over three billion yuan at the box office.¡± ¡°If she had gone straight into the entertainment industry, she¡¯d probably be an A-lister by now, don¡¯t you think?¡± As the surrounding people continued their discussions, Jiang Chun¡¯s resentful gaze remained fixed on the spot where Wen Nian and Shen Jun had disappeared from view. The idea of Wen Nian filming another public service advertisement left Jiang Chun feeling uneasy. She took out her phone, contemted for a moment, and then decided to call Jiang Ning. She took out her phone and thought for a moment before calling Jiang Ning. ¡°Jiang Ning, guess who 1 just saw? Director Xu Chang came to pick up Wen Nian,¡± Jiang Chun eximed. ¡°Really? I heard she¡¯s in town for filming. Maybe it¡¯s a major production?¡± Jiang Ning spected. ¡°Remember when you mentioned that Huang Yue is also filming in the capital? If it weren¡¯t for that misunderstanding back then, they might have reconciled by now. They could have supported each other in the entertainment industry, just like Wen Nian is doing so well. She¡¯s practically an A-lister now, right? 1 heard Huang Yue hasn¡¯t been getting many offerstely,¡± Jiang Chun mused. Jiang Chun said, ¡°My family¡¯s car is here to pick me up. We will catch upter.¡± After ending the call with Jiang Ning and hearing her exasperated tone, Jiang Chun began to feel a bit more at ease. Since her family had forbidden her from taking action, there was little she could do if Wen Nian¡¯s former adversary decided to act independently. One of Jiang Chun¡¯s strengthsy in her ability to astutely assess the actions of those around her, especially individuals like Jiang Ning and Wei Lai. As expected, Jiang Ning didn¡¯t disappoint her. He promptly informed Huang Yue about Wen Nian¡¯s trip to the capital for filming. ¡°What? She¡¯s coborating with Director Xu again? Howe 1 didn¡¯t know about this?¡± Huang Yue¡¯s tone changed upon hearing the news. Jiang Ning also said indignantly, ¡°You¡¯re far more beautiful than her, not to mention you¡¯re a member of the Huang family. You should be getting better opportunities than her. Why does she effortlessly secure such good resources? The entertainment industry can be quite murky. I wonder if there¡¯s something more to Director Xu picking her up personally.¡± Huang Yue intended to further inquire about the situation, but just then, the man who had been in the bathroom emerged. ¡°Yue Yue, why don¡¯t you go ahead and take a shower? Or would you prefer to showerter?¡± The heavyset man had already settled on top of Huang Yue when she abruptly hung up the phone, fearing that Jiang Ning might overhear something. ¡°Why? Are you talking to some pretty boy on the phone? Are you afraid that 1¡¯11 hear you?¡± The man snatched the phone unhappily. Huang Yue offered a sweet, apologetic smile and yfully wrapped her arms around the man¡¯s neck. ¡°Director Wu, in my heart, there¡¯s no one but you.¡± She gently guided the man¡¯s hand to her chest and then tilted her head, shing a seductive grin. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who matters.¡± Director Wu let out a lewd chuckle and began to inappropriately fondle her chest until Huang Yue winced in pain. Only then did he finally release his grip. Huang Yue suppressed her disgust and continued, ¡°My friend called me just now. She mentioned that Wen Nian and Director Xu are coborating again, and they¡¯ve already met in the capital today. We used to be close friends, Wen Nian and 1, but misunderstandings got in the way, you know? It¡¯s a shame¡­¡± ¡°Wen Nian?¡± Director Wu¡¯s eyes suddenly sparkled with interest.. ¡°The lead actress from Xu Chang¡¯s hit movie? She¡¯s in the capital? When did she arrive?¡± Chapter 320 - 320: How Should You Thank Me? Chapter 320 - 320: How Should You Thank Me? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Observing the anticipation in Director Wu¡¯s expression, Huang Yue had a clear understanding of his thoughts. She quickly added, ¡°I believe she just arrived today. You know, she¡¯s our school¡¯s beauty and the object of every boy¡¯s affection. She looks even prettier in person than on screen. She¡¯s nearly 18 now, and her figure is bing even more remarkable.¡± Director Wu¡¯s eyes sparkled with anticipation as he responded, ¡°Yes, I caught a glimpse of her from a distance on the setst time. She¡¯s truly stunning. It¡¯s been a year since Ist saw her. I wonder how she looks now.¡± He started touching Huang Yue¡¯s body and quickly took off her clothes. Having been through this before, Huang Yue knew what to expect. She draped her arms around the man¡¯s neck and whispered seductively in his ear, ¡°If you do want to see this beauty, it¡¯s not impossible. But Director Wu, if I seed, how should you thank me?¡± Upon hearing her words, Director Wu¡¯s excitement grew. ¡°I¡¯ll reward you generously, my dear. 1 happen to have an excellent period drama in my hands. If this goes smoothly, the role of the second female lead will be yours.¡±
¡°Then we have a deal?¡± Huang Yue kissed his fat face. Director Wu eagerly lunged toward her. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll make sure to please our Yue Yue, and this will be just the interest of your well-deserved reward¡­¡± When Huang Yue regained consciousness, she found herselfpletely drained of strength. Director Wu was notorious in the industry for his lecherous behavior and had countless ways to torment people. Nevertheless, he possessed considerable resources, wealth, and connections. Many second- and third-tier celebrities relied on him to attain fame. Were it not for Huang Yue¡¯s youth and Director Wu¡¯s lust for novelty, she might never have been given the opportunity to serve him. The next morning, Huang Yue awoke to find Director Wu had already departed. She weakly raised her arm and observed the bruise on her skin, feeling a deep sense of resentment. As her phone rang, disying Director Wu¡¯s iing call, Huang Yue gathered herposure and answered in a sweet voice. ¡°Yue Yue, are you awake?¡± Director Wu¡¯s voice carried a tone of concern. ¡°I got a bit carried away yesterday, hehe. There¡¯s a little gift for you on the head of the bed. Take some rest. There¡¯s a photo shoot for an advertisement in the afternoon, and I¡¯ve already informed Zhao Cheng.¡± ¡°Thank you, Director Wu, but you really need to learn to be more gentle with women. You hurt me,¡± Huang Yue responded as she picked up a luxurious diamond earring from the bedside. It appeared to be worth tens of thousands of yuan, and her voice brimmed with delight. ¡°Isn¡¯t it because my Yue Yue is just too irresistible? Your fresh and tender beauty drives me wild.¡± Director Wu quipped, indulging in a few more lovey-dovey words before getting to the point. ¡°I made some inquiries. Director Xu is coborating with a local television station. Wen Nian is in town shooting a public service advertisement. She started filming today, and I think she¡¯ll wrap up by tomorrow at thetest. What do you think her ns are after that? Will she return to Hai City?¡± Huang Yue, understanding his intentions, tossed the diamond earring aside. She was well aware of what he was getting at. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Wen Nian and I used to be best friends. She won¡¯t refuse me.¡± Huang Yue shifted the conversation and inquired, ¡°But Director Wu, I heard the cast for your ancient drama has already been decided. Isn¡¯t it a bitte for me to join as the second female lead?¡± Director Wu made a promise directly. ¡°Yue Yue, don¡¯t worry. Once this matter is settled, you¡¯ll be on set the very next day!¡± ¡°Alright, Director Wu, wait for my good news.¡± Huang Yue ended the call and opened Wen Nian¡¯s WeChat. After contemting for a while, she decided that a direct invitation wouldn¡¯t work. However, she remembered that when she apanied Wei Xiaost time, he had gotten quite drunk and divulged some information about the Wei and Wen families, particrly mentioning a financial transaction between them. This had sparked a lot of online discussion. After careful consideration, Huang Yueposed a WeChat message and sent it off. Huang Yue: Wen Nian, could we arrange a meeting? I¡¯ve learned something about your grandfather borrowing money from Wei Xiao¡¯s family, and 1 believe it¡¯s best discussed in person. At that moment, Wen Nian was in the midst of a filming session. In fact, Xu Chang had already recorded the necessary footage and content from the other cast members. He hadn¡¯t selected a female lead because he was waiting for Wen Nian to begin her vacation. Despite it being for a public service advertisement, he didn¡¯t want to hastily choose a female lead, which was why the filming had been dyed for this long. Shen Jun had been with Wen Nian on set. When he heard her phone ring and saw the message¡¯s contents on the screen, his frown deepened. He still had a recollection of Huang Yue, but what was her rtionship with Wei Xiao? Chapter 321 - 321: A Resurgence In Popularity Chapter 321 - 321: A Resurgence In Poprity Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang had indeed invested a significant amount of effort into the promotional video for the public service advertisement this time. He had visited several areas where children were left behind and captured a wealth of footage. Currently, Wen Nian was tasked with shooting the post-production content. The primary focus was on her assisting her elderly grandparents with strenuous farm work every day. Additionally, she had to walk dozens of kilometers of mountainous terrain alone, carrying the wild mushrooms gathered by her family to the town for sale. Wen Nian was dressed in a floral top that had faded to a pale white hue, along with bup pants of an unidentifiable color and a pair of gray cloth shoes. Timidly, she gazed at the gathering crowd and mustered the courage to raise her voice. Her eyes scanned the endless stream of people¡­ She observed that every girl her age in the town was d in pristine and neatly-pressed school uniforms, walking merrily toward the school. Wen Nian¡¯s expression carried a sense of loneliness, apanied by envy, helplessness, and a tinge of disappointment in her eyes.
With the establishment of the school for left-behind children, Wen Nian swiftly enrolled andmenced her studies. The age gap among the students in the same ss was quite significant, ranging from seven or eight-year-olds to teenagers like Wen Nian. Despite the varying ages, everyone wore beaming smiles. Wen Nian sat attentively in the ssroom, listening with rapt attention, her eyes brimming with hope. The subsequent scene depicted Wen Nian¡¯s life on campus. She not only had ssmates and friends but also delved into learning drawing and calligraphy. Her after-school life had grown rich and vibrant. The timidity that once marked her face had been reced by newfound confidence and happiness. The camera continuously shifted, presenting the faces of the left-behind children. Each youthful visage brimmed with aspirations. Towards the end of the sequence, Wen Nian strolled onto a university campus wearing a pristine white dress, her hair in a high ponytail. The final scene unfolded at the entrance of Qingbei University in the capital. Initially, Xu Chang had intended to capture Wen Nian¡¯s back as she entered the university, followed by images of the left-behind children in the ssroom. However, the school gate was teeming with people. Numerous students were watching and recording. In the final scene, before Xu Chang could intervene, a student next to him called out, ¡°Wen Nian!¡± Wen Nian turned around abruptly, and her headband unexpectedly snapped, releasing her hair to cascade down as the breeze gently tousled it. With a blend of shyness and confidence, Wen Nian offered a radiant smile to the camera. The sunlight bathed her face, casting a golden halo upon her. Upon witnessing this unexpected turn of events, the entire scene fell into a hushed silence. The director didn¡¯t signal a cut, so Wen Nian continued to smile into the camera. Xu Chang was in a daze for a moment before he signaled for the recording to stop. Only then did Wen Nian wave at the fans who were greeting her and approach the camera. ¡°Director Xu, do you want to reshoot thest scene?¡± Wen Nian knew that causing disruptions on the filming set was a major taboo, especially when it deviated from Xu Chang¡¯s nned storyline. Someone had just shouted, potentially necessitating a reshoot of the entire scene. However, Xu Chang stared at the camera repeatedly, not uttering a word. Yet, the excitement in his eyes threatened to overflow. A few staff members standing nearby nced at Wen Nian with enthusiasm. ¡°Wen Nian, I think this scene is going to be a ssic.¡± ¡°Your face is really perfect for the big screen. It would be a shame if you didn¡¯t pursue a career in acting.¡± ¡°I think this scene is better than the entrance shot of you entering the school. That smile is just too contagious!¡± ¡°I agree with Director Xu. Should we consider reshooting it?¡± The staff members chatted animatedly amongst themselves. Only then did Xu Chang snap back to reality. He grabbed Wen Nian¡¯s hand, bubbling with excitement. ¡°Wen Nian, my decision to wait for you was absolutely right. You always manage to surprise me!¡± His voice brimmed with enthusiasm. ¡°This surpasses my expectations by far.¡± He turned to his assistant and urged, ¡°Quickly, find images of all the smiling children we have. 1 want to modify the final ending again. I want to change it right away. Hurry!¡± The crew swiftly started packing up. Initially, the public service advertisement was an easy project. If it weren¡¯t for Director Xu¡¯s high standards, they might have wrapped up the post-production by now. They wouldn¡¯t even have to wait for Wen Nian to take a break. But after witnessing Wen Nian¡¯s performance on set, everyone wholeheartedly supported Director Xu¡¯s judgment. Wen Nian¡¯s acting was akin to that of a seasoned professional,plete with a rare youthful and spirited charm. Apart from Director Xu¡¯s team, the majority of the on-set crew were from the television station. With their discerning eyes, they could easily foresee that Wen Nian would likely enjoy a resurgence in poprity once the advertisement aired.. Chapter 322 - 322: Trump Card Chapter 322 - 322: Trump Card Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang was in a hurry to return to the studio for post-production. He quickly greeted Wen Nian and instructed the staff to take her and Shen Jun back to the hotel before rushing off. Once inside the car, Wen Nian noticed that Shen Jun was already seated with her backpack and a ss of lemonade in his hand. With a warm smile, Shen Jun handed her a ss of water. ¡¯¡¯Have some water, my big star. You did an excellent job out there.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t hesitate to ept the offer. She took the ss and took a sip. ¡°You¡¯re quite capable yourself, my little assistant.¡± Shen Jun used the opportunity to brush her disheveled hair away from her forehead before handing her the phone. ¡° this.¡±
Wen Nian took the phone and furrowed her brows when she saw the contents. She was well aware that Huang Yue had ulterior motives, and meeting her was something she wanted to avoid. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s silence, Shen Jun decided not to press further. There were other staff members in the car, and some matters were best kept private. Once they returned to their hotel room, the two of them began discussing Huang Yue¡¯s invitation. ¡°I think it¡¯s best if you don¡¯t go,¡± Shen Jun echoed Wen Nian¡¯s thoughts. ¡°Huang Yue is deeply entrenched in the entertainment industry, and her personal connections can be quite messy.¡± Wen Nian was taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Shen Jun to look into Huang Yue. ¡°I did some research,¡± Shen Jun admitted. ¡°She indeed has an inappropriate rtionship with Wei Xiao, and it¡¯s linked to how she entered the industry early.¡± He appeared somewhat embarrassed as he continued, ¡°Wei Xiao helped her connect with many benefactors, which allowed her to secure numerous roles and jobs. And she¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence but instead gave Wen Nian a knowing look that suggested, ¡°You understand.¡± However, Wen Nian found this information hard to digest. In her previous life, Huang Yue and Wei Xiao had indeed been in a long-standing rtionship, and as far as she knew, Wei Xiao had been quite devoted to her. She had always been the only woman by his side. It was almost unbelievable that Wei Xiao would arrange for Huang Yue to be with someone else in this life! Considering Huang Yue¡¯s current role as Wei Xiao¡¯s manager, Wen Nian inquired further, ¡°Is her current manager Zhao Cheng?¡± Shen Jun nodded, not questioning how Wen Nian knew this information. Wen Nian sank into the sofa, torn about what to do. In her previous life, those who had wronged her had gathered together, and Huang Yue might indeed be privy to some crucial information. Given her connection with Wei Xiao and Wei Xiao¡¯s tendency to reveal sensitive information when he drank, there was a possibility that Huang Yue held valuable insights into the situation. However, it was clear that Huang Yue didn¡¯t invite her out to help her. So, was it to leverage her newfound fame, or did she have some other ulterior motive? Just as Wen Nian was torn, her phone beeped once more. It was another message from Huang Yue, apanied by a photo. The photo showed a gold bar with the word ¡°Wen¡± engraved on it, just like the one in Wen Nian¡¯s house. Huang Yue¡¯s message read, ¡°This is a gift that Wei Xiao said he wanted to give me when he was drunk the other day. It must have something to do with your family, right? 1 want to discuss this with you in person, Wen Nian. We were close friends in the past. I admit my past mistakes and have paid a price for them. I¡¯m not asking for forgiveness, but are you really not curious about this family matter?¡± The highlights of Wen Nian¡¯s scenes on the film set had already been posted online, and within an hour, she was trending once again. The images and videos, captured by passersby, depicted Wen Nian as an ethereal and noble ice lotus, captivating manyizens. Director Wu, growing increasingly impatient, called Huang Yue repeatedly, urging her to hurry up. However, with no response from Wen Nian for a while, Huang Yue decided to reveal her trump card. Even then, Wen Nian remained silent. Huang Yue pondered her next move. If she didn¡¯t have something substantial to ask, Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t believe her im of helping the Wen family. After some consideration, Huang Yue sent another WeChat message. Huang Yue: ¡°I¡¯m not just doing this for you. You¡¯re incredibly popr now, and Director Xu is firmly supporting you. I heard that Director Xu will be participating in the New Year¡¯s TV program. I just want you to introduce me to him. You don¡¯t have to do anything else. You won¡¯t lose out, right?¡± As expected, five minutester, Wen Nian responded. Wen Nian: What evidence do you have? Huang Yue: ¡°I have the gold bar in my possession. I can bring it to you today. Plus, I can share what Wei Xiao said. I know you¡¯re done filming today. Can we meet tonight when you¡¯re free? How about 8 p.m. at the Chuan Liu Clubhouse in the capital? Is that okay?¡± After sending the message, Huang Yue immediately regretted it. She had been too hasty, and Wen Nian might be suspicious. However, she didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to agree to the meeting.. Chapter 323 - 323: Meeting Huang Yue Again Chapter 323: Meeting Huang Yue Again Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian¡¯s reply was a simple ¡°Okay.¡± Huang Yue felt a surge of excitement upon seeing it. However, as she considered Director Wu¡¯s instructions, she realized that it might be challenging for Director Wu to seed if Shen Jun tagged along. She wanted to instruct Wen Nian toe alone, but she had already sent the message and was now hesitant. ¡°Shen Jun?¡± Huang Yue retrieved the photo she had investigated earlier. It was a picture of Shen Jun socializing with his friends at a bar in the capital. Huang Yue knew that the Shen family held significant influence in the capital, so she didn¡¯t need to investigate extensively to understand his background. Envious of Shen Jun¡¯s apparent concern for Wen Nian, whom she believed to be his girlfriend, Huang Yue¡¯s jealousy surged. Thinking about what Director Wu might do to Wen Nian, a cruel smile curled on Huang Yue¡¯s lips. ¡°Wen Nian, will Shen Jun still want you when you be akin to a withered flower?¡± Having made up her mind, Huang Yue deleted her previous messages. She thought that things would be even more intriguing if Shen Jun joined the meeting. ¡°The Chuan Liu Clubhouse belongs to Xue Jiang¡¯s family. I¡¯ll apany you; it¡¯ll be easier to handle any unforeseen situations,¡± Shen Jun suggested as he contacted Xue Jiang. After his investigation, Shen Jun had realized that dealing with someone like Huang Yue was not easy. She was willing to sacrifice her reputation for personal gain, and her standing in the entertainment industry was far from ster. Such a person approaching Wen Nian was certainly cause for concern. Wen Nian nodded in agreement. She couldn¡¯t face Huang Yue on her own. Huang Yue was someone she had wished harm upon in both her previous and current lives, and she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to attend this meeting alone. When the two of them arrived at the Chuan Liu Clubhouse, Huang Yue was already waiting at the entrance. She seemed slightly surprised to see Shen Jun. ¡°Shen Jun? It¡¯s been a while,¡± she greeted with a smile. If one didn¡¯t know her true nature, they might mistake her for an innocent and pure individual. Shen Jun only nodded in response, offering no words. Huang Yue felt a pang of disappointment. With her looks, she might not have every man wrapped around her finger, but since entering the entertainment industry, no man had ever treated her with such indifference. Nheless, she suppressed her frustration and turned to Wen Nian with a friendly smile. ¡°Let¡¯s head inside quickly. Is this your first time here? Booking a private room at the Chuan Liu Clubhouse is quite a feat; there¡¯s nothing of this level in Hai City.¡± With a touch of pride, Huang Yue continued, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my VIP connections, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to secure a booking at thest minute!¡± Huang Yue had undeniably garnered significant attention due to Wen Nian¡¯s recent poprity, along with the resources provided by various sponsors. She believed that if this trend continued, she would surely surpass Wen Nian. On the contrary, Wen Nian still sported modest, student-like attire, appearing unassuming and unremarkable. Huang Yue relished the feeling of superiority she got from this contrast. Wen Nian merely smiled as they made their way to the private room. Huang Yue attempted to engage in polite small talk, but Wen Nian showed no interest in catching up. She cut to the chase and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the gold bar? I¡¯m willing to buy it from you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in such a hurry. The food here is exceptional, prepared by top-notch chefs they¡¯ve hired exclusively. How about we chat while we eat?¡± Huang Yue tried to dy the discussion. However, Wen Nian was not easily swayed. ¡°There¡¯s no need for idle chatter between us. If you have the gold bars and evidence, please present them. If not, I won¡¯t waste my time.¡± With that, Wen Nian rose from her seat, and Shen Jun stood up as well. When Huang Yue saw that the two were leaving, she panicked and quickly stopped them. ¡°Oh dear, I just wanted to catch up with my old ssmate. I don¡¯t have any ulterior motives. And of course, I have the gold bars with me. I¡¯ve brought them along. How could 1 lie to you?¡± Reluctantly, Huang Yue opened her bag under the watchful eyes of Wen Nian and Shen Jun. Inside, there was a small box containing a gold bar. She slid the gold bar in front of Wen Nian. ¡°Wei Xiao originally gave this to me aspensation for not buying me a gift. I had intended to deposit it in the bank, but he mentioned that it was rted to your family, so I held onto it. Let¡¯s see if it belongs to you.¡± Wen Nian epted the gold bar. It bore the appearance of an old-fashioned gold bar, with the ¡°Wen¡± engraving appearing slightly less polished. ¡°I want this gold bar. How much do you want?¡± Wen Nian was straightforward and didn¡¯t want to engage in unnecessary banter with Huang Yue. ¡°Isn¡¯t this gold bar over 100 grams? Its market value is probably over 50,000 yuan, right?¡± Huang Yue raised her gaze to Wen Nian. ¡°But since this gold bar can be considered evidence, and if the Wei family did indeed use your family¡¯s money to amass their fortune, you might have a im to the Wei family¡¯s assets. How much do you think this gold bar is worth?¡± Shen Jun said impatiently, ¡°Cut the crap. How much do you want?¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s stern tone, Huang Yue nced at him with affectionate eyes and suddenly smiled. ¡°I was just joking. What kind of evidence is this? Wen Nian and I are old friends. You can consider this a gift to her. It¡¯s worth just tens of thousands..¡± Chapter 324 - 324: Plan B Chapter 324: n B Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Even if you offer me money, I can¡¯t ept it. This means nothing to me. But what about Director Xu?¡± ¡°I can only mention your name to him and say that you have the intention to befriend him, but you¡¯re not my friend. I won¡¯t participate in the television program, and I won¡¯t introduce you directly,¡± Wen Nian said calmly. She watched Huang Yue for any sign of sincerity. Huang Yue did not expect Wen Nian to be so unyielding. For a moment, she hesitated, and then she pointed an usatory finger. ¡°You!¡± However, she met Wen Nian¡¯s indifferent gaze. Huang Yue then recalled that she had other ns today and calmed down. ¡°Don¡¯t you even want to know what Wei Xiao said?¡± In the past, any mention of Wei Xiao could provoke strong emotions in Wen Nian. However, Huang Yue had misjudged her this time. The current Wen Nian was not so easily swayed. Wen Nian raised an eyebrow. ¡°He said that Wei Feng borrowed money from my grandfather. Is there anything more to it?¡± Indeed, this was the only thing Huang Yue overheard that day. Therefore, when she heard Wen Nian¡¯s response, she found herself momentarily speechless. Looking at her, Wen Nian knew that she didn¡¯t know anything either. ¡°Give me an ount number. I¡¯ll transfer the money for the gold bars to you when we get back. 1 definitely won¡¯t let you suffer,¡± Wen Nian dered. ¡°Wen Nian, wait!¡± Huang Yue hurriedly said. Wen Nian frowned. She naturally knew that Huang Yue wouldn¡¯t just give her gold bars. ¡°We haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time. Why don¡¯t we spend some time together? 1 know you¡¯ve finished filming the public service advertisement. You might have to leave tomorrow.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s face took on a more conciliatory expression. ¡°I really want to mend our rtionship. Let¡¯s call some reporters over today to share in your poprity. I¡¯m sincere about this.¡± Wen Nian hesitated but showed no intention of sitting down. Huang Yue continued, ¡°I did help you find evidence. You must have time for a mreal, right? 1 won¡¯t even ask you to pay me for the gold bar. Actually, why don¡¯t you cover this meal as a thank-you gesture?¡± But Shen Jun didn¡¯t give her any face at all. He took out a check from his pocket, filled in a number, and handed it to Huang Yue. ¡°This is the money for the gold bars. Order whatever you want to eat. I¡¯ll pay.¡± Shen Jun pulled Wen Nian up and headed toward the door. Huang Yue couldn¡¯t bother with the check in her hand as she quickly blocked the door. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s frown, Huang Yue quickly exined, ¡°Wen Nian, I was insensible in the past. 1 didn¡¯t know that you were Young Master Shen¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Wen Nian looked at her in surprise. Huang Yue smiled unnaturally. ¡°I¡¯m going to be in the entertainment industry in the future, mainly in the capital. You¡¯re Little Master Shen¡¯s girlfriend, and I¡¯ve offended you before. My life won¡¯t be easy.¡± At this moment, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang. He nced at it and saw that it was a call from Xue Jiang. As soon as he picked up the phone, Xue Jiang¡¯s loud voice sounded. ¡°Shen Jun, which private room did you go to? Why didn¡¯t my receptionist see you? It¡¯s not kind of you to stand me up!¡± Wen Nian mouthed, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Shen Jun looked at Huang Yue again and said to Wen Nian, ¡°Come and find me immediately after you¡¯re done.¡± Wen Nian nodded. Then, Shen Jun left the room to answer the call. Seeing Shen Jun leave, Huang Yue felt that the heavens were on her side. She quickly said, ¡°Wen Nian, I was indeed in the wrong in the past. But you¡¯re with Shen Jun, so you must know the influence of the Shen family. A small actress with no background like me can¡¯t offend anyone if 1 want to survive.¡± After saying that, she choked up with tears in her eyes. ¡°I know you might not be able to forgive me, but I sincerely apologize to you. Let me toast you.¡± Huang Yue quickly picked up the ss and poured two sses of beer. ¡°I¡¯ll drink it. Do as you please.¡± However, Wen Nian did not move or even take the ss of wine. Huang Yue looked at her angrily. ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯ve been imprisoned and I¡¯m so humble. Aren¡¯t you going to give me any face?¡± ¡°You said it yourself. If you do it, I¡¯ll do whatever I want. It¡¯s fine if I don¡¯t drink, right?¡± Wen Nian looked at her with a faint smile. ¡°I did as you said. Why are you unhappy?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore and left the private room. Huang Yue clenched her fists tightly. Then, she immediately took out her phone and dialed a number. ¡°She¡¯s out. Follow n B. Be quick about it..¡± Chapter 325 - 325: Seal Off the Top Floor Chapter 325: Seal Off the Top Floor Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue had invested considerable effort into her ns, meticulously preparing two options. Her primary strategy involved tampering with the wine. Just a small amount of the drug would suffice to render Wen Nian unconscious temporarily. As a backup, she arranged for two individuals with a pending case. She also bribed the second-floor security guard at Chuan Liu Clubhouse, persuading him to momentarily disable the surveince cameras. As long as Wen Nian could be taken to Director Wu¡¯s location, Director Wu will handle everything. Furthermore, Huang Yue had done her homework. She discovered that Director Wu and the owner of Chuan Liu Clubhouse shared a close friendship. In the event the other party failed to produce the surveince footage, Shen Jun¡¯s attempts to pursue the matter would be futile. Besides, Wen Nian¡¯s reputation would be tarnished by an older man ¨C why would Shen Jun still desire her?¡± As Huang Yue contemted Wen Nian¡¯s abandonment by Shen Jun, who was ensnared by Director Wu for the entire night, perhaps even filmed, a sense of relief washed over her. Swiftly, she retrieved her phone and dialed Director Wu¡¯s number. He assured her that preparations were in ce in the private room on the top floor of Chuan Liu Clubhouse. All that remained was for Huang Yue to make her appearance on the set tomorrow. With a satisfied smile, Huang Yue ended the call. Now, her attention shifted to Shen Jun. She knew that if Wen Nian remained unreachable, Shen Jun would undoubtedly return to search for her. When that moment came, Huang Yue would seize the opportunity to engage with Shen Jun, perhaps even conjuring a pretext to lead him to Wen Nian.¡± ¡°Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of excitement at the prospect of Shen Jun witnessing Wen Nian in such apromising situation. Shen Jun was initially going back to join Wen Nian, but the moment he left the private room, he was intercepted by Xue Jiang. ¡°Are you kidding me? You invited me out and didn¡¯t show up on time? Get a move on; we¡¯ve all been waiting anxiously.¡± Given Shen Jun¡¯s newfound dedication to his studies, his presence at a gathering was a rare urrence. When hen Lin Yang and Jiang Zhen found out that he had contacted Xue Jiang, they came by as well. Shen Jun followed Xue Jiang reluctantly and sent Wen Nian a WeChat message, urging her to join them in the private room as soon as possible.¡± Upon entering the private room, Shen Jun was surprised not only to find Lin Yang and the others but also to see Zhang Lin. Their encounter was marked by a touch of awkwardness, but Shen Jun¡¯s thoughts were preupied with Wen Nian, and he had no intention of creating a scene with Zhang Lin. Zhang Lin, who had recently entered into a business deal with Xue Jiang, hade to pay his respects upon learning of Xue Jiang¡¯s presence at the gathering. He certainly hadn¡¯t expected to encounter his adversary. Feeling somewhat disinterested, Zhang Lin contemted finding an excuse to excuse himself when the door to the private room swung open suddenly. She looked flustered and her face was a little red. She kept gesturing in front of Zhang Lin, and the others were stunned. Xue Jiang whispered to Shen Jun, ¡°This is Zhang Lin¡¯s mute cousin. He cares deeply for her.¡± No one else in the room understood signnguage except Zhang Lin. He inquired, ¡°Did you get a clear view? Which floor did they go to?¡± The girl continued to gesture. Zhang Lin patted her shoulder to reassure her, but the girl was still anxious. With a sigh, Zhang Lin turned to Xue Jiang. ¡°It appears my cousin saw someone she knows. She¡¯s just a young girl and was taken to the top floor by two men. Young Master Xue, could you arrange for the club to check the surveince footage?¡± The girl nodded vigorously. She then retrieved her phone, rapidly typed a message, and handed it to Xue Jiang. ¡°I think she¡¯s unconscious. 1 saw the elevator go up to the top floor. She was wearing an off-white coat, ck jeans, and had her hair in a ponytail,¡± the girl signed urgently. Xue Jiang found himself in a challenging situation. Chuan Liu Clubhouse hosted a diverse clientele, and it wasn¡¯t umon for wealthy individuals to seek thepany of young girls. The club was cautious not to intrude on its guests¡¯ private matters. Moreover, most of the patrons on the top floor had close ties to the Xue family, often visiting the club due to these connections. Security was tight, ensuring that no sensitive information leaked. Xue Jiang hesitated, considering whether he should intervene. However, Shen Jun snatched the girl¡¯s phone from her hand. ¡°You mentioned she¡¯s unconscious?¡± Shen Jun quickly scanned the contents of the message. The girl¡¯s description matched Wen Nian¡¯s attire today. Wen Nian hadn¡¯t responded to his messages, and she hadn¡¯t shown up¡­ As the girl nodded vigorously, a sense of foreboding washed over Shen Jun. He dialed Wen Nian¡¯s number frantically, but there was no answer. ¡°Xue Jiang, gather some people ande with me to the top floor. Seal off the entire area. Not a single soul should slip away!¡± Shen Jun ordered, his toneced with urgency. Without waiting for Xue Jiang¡¯s response, Shen Jun dashed out of the room. The girl was the next to react, swiftly grabbing a wine bottle from the table. ¡°Weng Ling? Where are you going?¡± Zhang Lin was taken aback but instinctively followed her lead, grabbing a wine bottle as well.. Chapter 326 - 326: Don’t Want to Live Chapter 326: Don¡¯t Want to Live Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Inside the elevator, Shen Jun and Weng Ling maintained serious expressions, their concern palpable. Meanwhile, Zhang Lin appeared somewhat embarrassed, clutching the wine bottle in his hand. Sensing the gravity of the situation, he suppressed the urge to say anything. As the elevator doors opened, Shen Jun and Weng Ling surged forward, entering a top floor filled with distinguished guests who often made unique demands. The absence of service staff and security personnel heightened their apprehension. Weng Ling scanned the area anxiously, searching for any sign of Wen Nian. At this moment, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang. ¡°There are many guests on the top floor today. I¡¯m not sure who had the audacity to disable the surveince cameras on the second and top floors. This is infuriating!¡± Xue Jiang¡¯s voice seethed with anger. ¡°The elevator footage shows Wen Nian, no doubt about it. She¡¯s in my territory. Rest assured, we¡¯ll locate her.¡± Shen Jun inquired, ¡°Any idea where she might be?¡±He thought he was calm, but there was a quiver in his voice. Xue Jiang perused the guest check-in list and muttered curses under his breath. ¡°That damned Fatty Wu checked in alone today. Could it be him?¡± Despite numerous check-ins, most guests had broughtpanions. Director Wu, however, had arrived unapanied. Considering his usual demeanor and close ties to the second son of the Xue family, it seemed increasingly likely that he was the one responsible for tampering with the surveince cameras and kidnapping Wen Nian. The mere thought of Director Wu¡¯s reputation and peculiar tastes sent chills down Xue Jiang¡¯s spine. He swiftly dispatched the security personnel to investigate. ¡°Find out who¡¯s on duty on the second floor today, and locate the individual in charge upstairs. Ask if anyone brought a girl to Fatty Wu¡¯s room! Hurry!¡± Shen Jun, however, was rapidly losing patience. He cut to the chase, demanding, ¡°Room number.¡± ¡°Shen Jun, please, hear me out,¡± Xue Jiang urged, a hint of worry in his voice. ¡°While Fatty Wu¡¯s character is questionable, we can¡¯t be absolutely certain that Wen Nian is with him.¡± ¡°Room number!¡± Shen Jun almost shouted. His face had darkened, and his eyes gleamed with a barely contained fury. Seeing his abrupt movement, Zhang Lin instinctively shielded Weng Ling behind him. Xue Jiang was well aware of Shen Jun¡¯s resolute character. Reluctantly, he clenched his teeth and disclosed, ¡°1207.¡± Upon hearing the room number, Weng Ling sprang into action, recalling the time when Wen Nian had courageously defended her from a group of bullies. This time, she was determined to repay that debt and save Wen Nian. With unwavering resolve, Weng Ling rushed to Room 1207 and pounded on the door with all her might. Her strength was insufficient, so she began kicking the door as well. Shen Jun and Zhang Lin quickly joined her in their desperate attempts to breach the door. However, the Chuan Liu Clubhouse¡¯s renovations had been executed with exceptional craftsmanship, and despite theirbined efforts, the door remained steadfastly sealed. The mor had already attracted the attention of other guests, and a few of them stuck their heads out of their rooms, shouting theirints. Inside Room 1207, the upants reacted with irritation. A voiceced with anger snarled, ¡°Who the hell dares to kick my door? You all must have a death wish!¡± Director Wu, who had just taken a shower and consumed his sexual arousal medication, had been alone with Wen Nian for barely two minutes before themotion disrupted his ns. Naturally, his mood was foul. He gently patted the sleeping Wen Nian¡¯s cheek. ¡°Darling, Uncle will spoil youter.¡± Then, he slipped into his pajamas and went to answer the door. ¡°Who¡¯s there? Are you sick? Don¡¯t you know who 1 am? You¡­¡± As Director Wu opened the door, Shen Jun stormed into the room, his eyes immediately falling upon Wen Nian lying on the bed. Wen Nian appeared unconscious, still d in her clothes, but her disheveled hair and unusual expression sent rm bells ringing. Weng Ling¡¯s eyes welled up with tears at the sight. Her grip on the wine bottle trembled involuntarily. ¡°Who the hell are you? Where are the security guards? Don¡¯t ruin my mood!¡± ¡°Who the hell are you? Where are the security guards? Don¡¯t ruin my mood!¡± Director Wu¡¯s initial shock quickly gave way to annoyance. Having taken medication to increase his arousal, he was ready for some excitement, hence why he was disying such a bad temper. Especially when he saw Shen Jun carrying Wen Nian, he waspletely anxious. ¡°Don¡¯t touch! She¡¯s mine! You brat¡­¡± As Director Wu moved to step forward, he caught Shen Jun¡¯s icy stare and sensed a threat. Before he could react, he felt a sudden impact at the back of his head. He turned around and realized that it was the girl who had been standing at the door. Weng Ling¡¯s entire body trembled, still clutching the half-broken wine bottle. Zhang Lin quickly positioned himself in front of Weng Ling. However, this time, she didn¡¯t hide behind. Instead, she stood in front of Shen Jun and gestured for him to attend to Wen Nian first. With both hands, she gripped the remaining wine bottle, pointing it shakily at Director Wu. ¡°Are you all hoping to die?¡± Director Wu seethed with anger. Under different circumstances, he might have recognized the familiar faces of Shen Jun and Zhang Lin, but in the heat of the moment, they remained unidentifiable. As Director Wu charged toward Weng Ling, Zhang Lin¡¯s rage ignited. ¡°You are the one seeking death!¡± Then, Director Wu felt another blow to the back of his head. Just as he turned around, he fell to the ground with a bang.. Chapter 327 - 327: Cannot Be Resolved Amicably Chapter 327 - 327: Cannot Be Resolved Amicably Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Events had unfolded with lightning speed. When Xue Jiang and his team arrived on the scene, they were met with the sight of Director Wu sprawled on the ground and Shen Jun, holding Wen Nian, with a nk expression. Amid the scattered beer bottles near Director Wu, Xue Jiang nced at Weng Ling, who trembled beside them, and at Zhang Lin, who provided her withforting reassurance. The entire situation left him feeling bewildered. Xue Jiang gestured for his subordinates to attend to the other guests first. Fortunately, it was still early, and only a few guests had returned to their rooms. No one had witnessed Wen Nian entering Director Wu¡¯s room. Had it been otherwise, Wen Nian¡¯s predicament might have made headlines the next day. Turning his attention to Shen Jun, Xue Jiang suggested, ¡°There¡¯s an infirmary downstairs with an on-duty doctor. I¡¯ve also summoned the family doctor. I suspect she might have been drugged.¡± The Xue family¡¯s involvement in nearly every facet of the capital¡¯s entertainment industry granted Xue Jiang a keen insight. With a single nce at Wen Nian, he knew what had happened. ¡°What about Director Wu?¡± The on-duty manager cast a fearful gaze at Director Wu, whoy on the floor. No matter who was at fault in this unfolding crisis, the on-duty manager understood that, as the person in charge, he would be held ountable. With Young Master Shen and Young Master Zhang before him, and the renowned Director Wu sprawled on the ground, the on-duty manager felt as if the world were closing in on him. Xue Jiang, vexed by the situation, approached Director Wu and delivered a couple of kicks in frustration. ¡°How dare this damn fatty cause trouble in my territory? Unbelievable, this damn fatty!¡± After venting his frustration, Xue Jiang addressed the others, saying, ¡°Shen Jun, you guys go ahead. I¡¯ll handle the aftermath here.¡± Seeing Weng Ling¡¯s pale face, Xue Jiang really did not expect such a weak girl to be so violent. She was probably frightened. He revealed a smile that he thought was gentle. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he won¡¯t die. Leave this to me. I¡¯ll get the doctor to take a look at youter, okay?¡± Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Lin stood in front of him and said sarcastically, ¡°Thank you.¡± Watching the four of them leave, Xue Jiang touched his nose and suddenly felt a little envious that they were all in pairs. Turning his attention back to Director Wu, Xue Jiang retrieved his phone and contacted his second uncle. Judging by Shen Jun¡¯s expression earlier, it appeared that this matter might not be resolved amicably. Chuan Liu Clubhouse typically catered to influential patrons, so it maintained a professional medical team, albeit rarely used. The team was well-versed in handling various situations. The medical staff were already well-acquainted with Wen Nian¡¯s circumstances. After a brief examination, they initiated an intravenous infusion to expedite the elimination of the drug¡¯s effects. ¡°I suspect she was exposed to some sort of chemical substance. She should recover consciousness in less than an hour, and the harm to her body should be minimal,¡± the doctor exined cautiously. She understood that these youngsters present were people she could never provoke. Especially since she knew the little girl in front of her. Wen Nian¡¯s videos today were all over the Inte, so it was difficult not to know her. Aware of Wen Nian¡¯s status as a minor celebrity, the doctor added, ¡°Considering the number of people involved, it might be best to address the surveince camera issueter. If there are others who know¡­ you understand, right?¡± The doctor left the sentence unfinished, but Shen Jun grasped the implication. Wen Nian¡¯s celebrity status made her situation delicate, especially after being carried out of Director Wu¡¯s room. If this became public knowledge, it would undoubtedly have repercussions for her. ¡°Thank you; 1¡¯11 handle it,¡± Shen Jun responded with a solemn nod. The doctor waved off the gratitude and turned her attention to Weng Ling. ¡°Your arm is injured. Let me provide some first aid.¡± Only then did Weng Ling nce down and notice a scratch on her arm, likely from inadvertently scraping it on a shard of broken beer bottle. Zhang Lin hurriedly took her hand. ¡°When did this happen? Doctor, please take a look at it quickly. Is it serious?¡± Witnessing Zhang Lin¡¯s anxious expression, Weng Ling offered a reassuring smile and gently tugged at the corner of his shirt tofort him. After her arm was bandaged, Zhang Lin inquired, ¡°This must have been the friend you mentioned before? The one who helped youst time?¡± Weng Ling nodded in affirmation, and Zhang Lin couldn¡¯t help but swallow hard. He sensed that it might be best not to say anything about kidnapping Wen Nian. ¡°Um,¡± Wen Nian, who was on the bed, suddenly made a soft voice. The group huddled around her, eager to hear her words. Shen Jun sped her hand tightly, wordlessly expressing his concern. Wen Nian gradually opened her eyes, still feeling a lingering sense of nausea and dizziness. Struggling to focus, she fixed her gaze on the boy before her. In his eyes, she discerned anxiety, heartache, and self-me. Wen Nian tightened her grip on his hand and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m fine..¡± Chapter 328 - 328: Dealing with Wu Gang Chapter 328 - 328: Dealing with Wu Gang Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Wen Nian is awake?¡± Xue Jiang stealthily opened the door and entered the infirmary. Despite beingbeled an ¡°infirmary,¡± it more closely resembled a spacious suite. In addition to various medical apparatus, it featured aboratory and a few lounges. Xue Jiang carried a few bowls of bird¡¯s nest porridge in his hands. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you must be hungry. Have something light first. I¡¯ve already arranged for the kitchen to prepare it. Is there anything else you¡¯d like to eat?¡± The individuals Huang Yue had enlisted weren¡¯t professionals, and the quantity of sedatives they had procured was insufficient. Combining this with Wen Nian¡¯s previous life experience, she instinctively held her breath when sensing danger, preventing her from inhaling too much of the drug. Observing her visibly improved condition andck of medicalplications, Xue Jiang breathed a sigh of relief. Were anything to happen to her within his territory, Shen Jun might unleash the wrath of the Chuan Liu Clubhouse. ¡°How did you deal with Wu Gang?¡± The moment Shen Jun started speaking, Xue Jiang shuddered. Xue Jiang had already contacted his second uncle. Director Wu may have had a less-than-pristine reputation in the industry, but he possessed a discerning investment eye. This led to numerous business dealings with the Xue family and a close rtionship with Xue Jiang¡¯s Second Uncle. Therefore, Xue Jiang¡¯s Second Uncle had rushed over promptly. However, given the involvement of the Shen family and the Zhang family, he had refrained frommenting and brought his men to the hospital first. Observing Xue Jiang¡¯s silence, Shen Jun had an idea of how they had dealt with Wu Gang. While Shen Jun¡¯s friends held substantial family backgrounds, they were all young and held little influence within their families. Director Wu, being able to stay on the top floor of the Chuan Liu Clubhouse, indicated an extraordinary status. Xue Jiang likely didn¡¯t dare to provoke him. ¡°I understand. You don¡¯t need to get involved in this matter,¡± Shen Jun reassured Xue Jiang, preferring not to make things difficult for him. However, Shen Jun¡¯sment sent Xue Jiang into a mild panic. ¡°What are you saying? Are we not close friends anymore?¡± ¡°My second uncle came by earlier. This fatty has a close rtionship with my second uncle and has been involved in numerous business transactions,¡± Xue Jiang rified. ¡°His real name is Wu Gang. In addition to being a director, his family boasts some influence. They¡¯re tied to coal mining, and he ventured into the entertainment industry here.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s continued silence, Xue Jiang pressed on, ¡°But don¡¯t worry about it. You¡¯re my brother. I will ensure that no one takes advantage of your girlfriend..¡± Wen Nian had only recently regained consciousness. She was aware of being drugged but remained unfamiliar with both of them. Moreover, she had been unconscious during her stay in Director Wu¡¯s room. She had no idea who had abducted her, and the audacity of the crime puzzled her. Upon hearing the name ¡°Wu Gang,¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but shudder. She recognized the man all too well. In her previous life, she had spent a considerable amount of time in hispany. At that time, Wen Nian was less aplished than the current Huang Yue. Furthermore, because of stic surgery, she had lost her advantage in terms of looks. She had to rely on connections to get close to Wu Gang. Wu Gang had a penchant for younger women, frequently changing girlfriends, all of them 18 or 19 years old. This not only shielded him from legal repercussions but also provided him with a constant stream of fresh, youthfulpanions. Other than women like her who took the initiative toe to him, many others had been raped by Wu Gang. There were also many girls like Wen Nian who had been drugged today. Even the A-list celebrity, Wang Bing, had experienced the same thing. At that time, Wang Bing had entered Hollywood and had already signed a contract with an internationally renowned director. However, her opponent had reached out to Wu Gang and purchased the video of them having sex, which Wu Gang had secretly recorded. Then, they released the video everywhere online. Because Wang Bing did not speak up immediately, coupled with the fact that her resources were indeed getting better and better, manyizens felt that she had taken the initiative to offer her body in exchange for resources. Wang Bing¡¯s reputation waspletely ruined. In the end, because she could not stand the Inte abuse, she chose to jump down from thepany building. The time in this life ovepped with the time in her previous life. In her previous life, this was the time when Wen Nian was apanying Wu Gang. Next, she should be acting as the second female lead in a small online drama in Wu Gang¡¯s hands. At that time, Xu Chang had chosen Wang Bing as the female lead for the next movie at the request of Wang Bing¡¯s agent to return the favor. Seeing that the few of them were silent, Xue Jiang asked, ¡°Shen Jun, tell me what you want to do. Wen Nian, you don¡¯t have to be afraid. We definitely won¡¯t let anything happen to you while you are in the capital. We will make sure that someone takes ountability for what had happened.¡± At this moment, Wen Nian already had a n in mind. She said calmly, ¡°I know it¡¯s difficult for you. I won¡¯t let this matter rest. I¡¯ll deal with Wu Gang myself..¡± Chapter 329 - 329: Pay the Price Chapter 329: Pay the Price Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The few people in the room looked at her in surprise, but because Wen Nian had something on her mind, she did not notice their strange gazes. In the end, Zhang Lin felt that it was time to show off. He said, ¡°Wen Nian, let me know if you need anything. 1 might not dare to promise anything else, but I assure you that I have connections in both the good and bad factions and 1 can provide as much money as you want.¡± Only then did Wen Nian look up and see Weng Ling beside Zhang Lin. She then looked at Zhang Lin. Zhang Lin secretly put his hands together in front of his chest, his eyes pleading. ¡°You saved my cousin Weng Ling, so you¡¯re my benefactor. I¡¯ll definitely help you with this,¡± Zhang Lin emphasized. ¡°I¡¯ll definitely remember your kindness!¡± In other words, he hoped that Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t expose what happenedst time. He would definitely repay her. Wen Nian naturally understood what he meant. Then, she looked at Weng Ling with an expression that said, ¡°So he¡¯s your cousin.¡± Weng Ling hurriedly told Wen Nian in signnguage that this was the cousin she had mentioned. His name was Zhang Lin, and he had helped save Wen Nian just now. ¡°You¡¯re injured? Did you get injured when you saved me just now?¡± Wen Nian felt a little guilty. She knew that Weng Ling was a little timid and that the two of them still kept in touch asionally, but she didn¡¯t expect to see such a scene again. Zhang Lin hurriedly took a step forward and told Wen Nian the cause and effect of what had just happened. He even vividly described how Weng Ling had barged into Fatty Wu¡¯s room with a wine bottle and ruthlessly gave him a lesson. Wen Nian, who was listening from the side, was a little dumbfounded. She looked at Weng Ling in disbelief. Weng Ling blushed, indicating that she was also anxious and afraid that Wen Nian would be hurt. At that time, she didn¡¯t have any handy weapons, so she took a wine bottle nearby. Wen Nian thanked her sincerely. ¡°Weng Ling, you¡¯ve be braver. Thank you so much this time. If not for you, something might have really happened to me.¡± Weng Ling shook her head vigorously, her eyes filled with excitement. She was really happy to be able to help Wen Nian. Moreover, Weng Ling spared no effort to express Shen Jun¡¯s handsomeness just now with signnguage. How he kicked open the door and carried Wen Nian out like a princess. And his scary gaze at that time¡­ Xue Jiang and Shen Jun watched as Weng Ling signed with her hands like she was one of those ninjas in naruto forming hand techniques but they had no idea what she was saying. On the other side, Wen Nian would exchange a few words with her from time to time. ¡°He¡¯s that good?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t conscious at all.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too heroic. Shall I call you Heroine Weng from now on?¡± Looking at the two women, one writing and the other talking happily, the three men beside her fell silent. In the end, Xue Jiang couldn¡¯t take it anymore. He asked the others if they wanted to stay at Chuan Liu Clubhouse for the night. Only then did he interrupt the two women¡¯s reminiscence. As Wen Nian¡¯s room in the hotel was booked by Director Xu and there were many staff members beside her, it was hard to say if she didn¡¯t go back. Hence, she insisted on going back. After bidding farewell to Zhang Lin and Weng Ling and returning to the hotel, Shen Jun finally had time to have a good chat with Wen Nian. ¡°I¡¯ve already gotten someone to arrest the two people who kidnapped you. Xue Jiang is also investigating the security guard at Chuan Liu who took the bribe. The result will probably be out by tomorrow.¡± Shen Jun still had lingering fears when he thought of what had happened today. ¡°If you go back tomorrow, I¡¯ll go with you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be going back for now.¡± Wen Nian remembered that it should be Wang Bing who wanted to interact with Xu Chang in the next few days. She felt that there were some things that she had to do personally. Worried that Shen Jun would misunderstand, she quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s a two minutes advertisement so I am hoping to watch the edited video first.¡± ¡°Are¡­ are you alright?¡± Shen Jun saw that her expression was normal, but he was very worried. Girls at the age of 18-19 would usually be frightened to death if they had such an experience. Shen Jun thought that Wen Nian was just putting on a brave front. Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I know we can¡¯t call the police yet.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t call the police? You want to call the police?¡± Shen Jun caught the meaning of her words urately. Wen Nian nodded. ¡°This Wu Gang is not a good person. He has drugged and raped many girls. If it happened once, it will happen again. If he dared to do such things to me in a ce like Chuan Liu Club House, he will definitely do it again.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s heart ached as he held her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll protect you. 1¡¯11 make him pay for what happened today.¡± However, Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°I understand Xue Jiang¡¯s words. Wu Gang is also very capable. I know you¡¯re not afraid of him, but there are some things that you can¡¯t just rely on your family.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s expression conveyed the sentence, ¡°What can a little girl like you do?¡± Wen Nian softened her tone and said, ¡°We can¡¯t just be on guard. If it happens again, we might not be this lucky..¡± Chapter 330 - 330: Give Her a Chance Chapter 330: Give Her a Chance Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun gazed at the girl before him, his silence stretching out. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. ¡°You have to share your ns with me. I promise to protect you from any harm, but I need to know what you¡¯re thinking, alright?¡± Wen Nian nodded with utmost seriousness. She did have a n, but there were some things that she couldn¡¯t tell Shen Jun, like mentioning Wang Bing. The following morning, Wen Nian expressed her desire to see thepleted advertisement. Xu Chang weed her warmly, and to her surprise, she found Wang Bing at the studio. Wang Bing, now a B-list celebrity, had lost some of her former A-list shine. She was recognizable but struggled with subpar scripts, her fame waning. Passers-by might only find her vaguely familiar. Despite Xu Chang¡¯s rise as a renowned director, his office remained refreshingly unpretentious. There was nothing unnecessary. Wen Nian overheard every word exchanged between Wang Bing¡¯s agent and him. Seeing her enter, Xu Chang nodded and gestured for her to sit at the side and wait for a while. Wang Bing, sporting a cap, wore a friendly smile but exuded a certain aloofness. To those unfamiliar with her, she might appear chilly. However, Wen Nian knew her well from a previous life. Wang Bing had even warned her about Wu Gang with a stern expression. Wen Nian reminisced about their first meeting in that earlier life. It was also because of Wu Gang that Wang Bing took the initiative to talk to her. Back then, she had secured two roles from Wu Gang, albeit minor ones with few scenes. At that time, she wasn¡¯t familiar with Wu Gang. She had no idea that Wu Gang to eventually give her away and make her apany many people. Wang Bing, who was well aware of this, had cautioned her during their initial meeting. It was just that she had been obsessed with fame at the time¡­ Recalling this, Wen Nian returned Wang Bing¡¯s warm smile. ¡°Are you here to see Director Xu today as well?¡± Clearly taken aback by Wen Nian¡¯s initiative, Wang Bing gave a hesitant nod. Before Wang Bing could speak, her manager spoke anxiously. ¡°Wang Bing is truly a hidden talent, Xu Chang. Didn¡¯t you say that you owe me a favor. Why not give her a chance in your next film? If the audition doesn¡¯t go well, I won¡¯t bother you anymore.¡± Wang Bing¡¯s manager looked to be over 40 years old and was dressed very simply, but her desire to fight for an opportunity for Wang Bing was real. In Wen Nian¡¯s previous life, she had never seen a manager advocate so fervently for a second or third-tier artist. Xu Chang remained fixed on hisputer screen, reviewing the post-production work from the previous day. ¡°I already have someone in mind.¡± ¡°Xu Chang!¡± Wang Bing¡¯s agent sounded increasingly anxious. ¡°Have you forgotten those days when you couldn¡¯t even afford instant noodles? I helped you a lot back then! You even took braised pork with you when you left my ce. You could devour three or four pounds of spare ribs on your own. You even¡­¡± ¡°Sister Wang!¡± Xu Chang swiftly interrupted her, unfazed by the reminiscences of his past hardships. After all, his history wasmon knowledge, and Sister Wang had genuinely supported him. Xu Chang sighed as he nced back and forth between Wen Nian and Wang Bing, both seated before him. Undeniably, Wang Bing possessedmendable looks and acting skills. He wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with her work; if it weren¡¯t for Wen Nian, he might have been inclined to select Wang Bing. After all, she was under Sister Wang¡¯s guidance. Nevertheless, his inclination leaned toward Wen Nian. Observing Xu Chang¡¯s conflicted expression and his intermittent nces in her direction, Wen Nian suddenly grasped the situation. She hadn¡¯t expected that Xu Chang¡¯s uing film would consider her for the leading female role. In her previous life, Wang Bing¡¯s breakthrough came with a role in one of Xu Chang¡¯s films. The movie depicted the plight of a female university graduate struggling to find employment, ultimately falling victim to ascivious boss who coerced her into bing yet another one of his many lovers. It was a dark tale of deception and dead-end choices. At this moment, Wen Nianprehended why Wang Bing had skyrocketed to stardom so swiftly. That film had almost mirrored her own life journey, a story she could rte to from start to finish. Wen Nian turned to face Wang Bing, her eyes filled with hope. Despite Wang Bing¡¯s chilly exterior, Wen Nian could discern the genuine longing in her gaze. If she secured a role in this film, Wen Nian could utilize it as a stepping stone to offer Wang Bing more substantial opportunities and perhaps even present Director Wu with a substantial ¡°gift.¡± ¡°Director Xu,¡± Wen Nian rose from her seat, ¡°I believe she has a lot of potential.. Would you consider giving her a chance?¡± Chapter 331 - 331: Let’s Give It a Shot Chapter 331: Let¡¯s Give It a Shot Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wang Bing regarded Wen Nian with unease, surprised that this young girl had spoken up on her behalf. Xu Chang asked curiously, ¡°Have you two met before? Have you seen her scenes?¡± Wen Nian nodded, offering, ¡°I¡¯ve watched some of Wang Bing¡¯s TV dramas. The production quality was quite decent, and her performances were engaging.¡± Realizing that the people around her were looking at her strangely, Wen Nian realized her response had sounded a bit too professional. She quickly added, ¡°My roommates and I enjoyed her scenes and thought she did well.¡± Understanding dawned on Xu Chang. Wang Bing was indeed a recognizable actress, and her previous drama had been suitable for a younger audience. Xu Chang examined Wang Bing once more. While she might not possess conventional beauty, her distinct cool demeanor was undeniably unique. Seizing the moment, Sister Wang, Wang Bing¡¯s manager, chimed in. ¡°See, 1 told you! Your leadingdy thinks highly of Wang Bing. Just give her a chance to audition. It¡¯s only a chance. At most, I¡¯ll whip up a few dishes of braised pork!¡± Wang Bing¡¯s anxiety was palpable as she tightly sped her hands. She understood that Xu Chang¡¯s current stature was formidable, and many actors vied for the opportunity to work with him. Her odds were slim, and if it weren¡¯t for her agent¡¯s connections, they might not even have gained entry to the studio. Xu Chang took a closer look at Wang Bing and then at Wen Nian. He still couldn¡¯t make up his mind. ¡°Wen Nian, the art exam is approaching. Have you made a decision?¡± he asked abruptly. Wen Nian was momentarily taken aback by the abrupt change of subject. After a brief pause, she replied, ¡°I haven¡¯t decided yet, and besides, the results of the provincial examination haven¡¯t been released. I¡¯m hoping you can get some potato chips from this, Director Xu.¡± ¡°What potato chips?¡± Sister Wang asked in confusion. ¡°Don¡¯t you know?¡± Wen Nian blinked yfully. ¡°Director Xu is also part of the bet to see if I can make it into the top 80 in the provincial exam before the new year. 1 wouldn¡¯t want to embarrass myself and make Director Xu give out potato chips in bulk!¡± Her lighthearted remark lightened the atmosphere in the room, and Xu Chang couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°I¡¯m aware you have your own ns. In any case, the movie I¡¯m preparing won¡¯t begin filming for at least half a year. We¡¯ll discuss it then.¡± As soon as Xu Chang made this statement, both Sister Wang and Wang Bing grasped the situation. He was still considering Wen Nian for a role. Even with the recent public service advertisement, Xu Chang had dyed the television station by a month, waiting for Wen Nian to finish her exams beforepleting the shoot. During this time, numerous actors had volunteered, but he had not selected any of them. Wang Bing stole a nce at Wen Nian, feeling a touch of solitude. Although she too was a student at the Capital Film Academy, her fortune hadn¡¯t smiled upon her in the same way as Wen Nian¡¯s. Observing the spirited and innocent young girl before her, Wang Bing thought about her own experiences with a tinge of disappointment. She had a feeling that Xu Chang wouldn¡¯t choose her. However, Wen Nian¡¯s words ignited a spark of hope within her. ¡°I¡¯m not entirely certain if 1 want to pursue acting just yet,¡± Wen Nian stated with seriousness. ¡°Moreover, I understand that Director Xu¡¯s film is on the verge of casting, isn¡¯t it? The movie should be showing in the cinemas during the summer after I graduate high school.¡± Xu Chang chuckled at this. ¡°You¡¯re quite smart. Weren¡¯t you nning to wait until after your college entrance exams to coborate with us? A good project isn¡¯t bound by time. At worst, we¡¯ll release it during the Spring Festival.¡± Wen Nian felt even more appreciative upon hearing this. She knew that Xu Chang¡¯s next film dealt with a sensitive topic, involving sexual assault, the very theme that had led to Wang Bing¡¯s downfall in her previous life. Such a subject wasn¡¯t ideal for a Spring Festival release, and Xu Chang had made substantial concessions to amodate her. ¡°Director Xu, I¡¯m sincerely grateful that you value me,¡± Wen Nian began. ¡°However, I recognize that your scripts might not always align with my abilities and image. Given my current persona and acting skills, 1 might be better suited for student roles. I¡¯m open to exploring other character types¡­¡± Although Wen Nian did not continue, everyone understood what she meant. Her beauty and intelligence were undeniable, but the youthful aura about her might not suit many roles, including the one in Xu Chang¡¯s uing film. As silence lingered, Wen Nian pressed on, ¡°Wang Bing is a fellow student from the Film Academy, and she¡¯s undoubtedly proficient in her field. She also enjoys a substantial level of poprity. Why not give her a chance?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s unexpected rmendation caught everyone off guard, despite Xu Chang having expressed his desire for her to take the lead role in the next movie. Wang Bing trembled with excitement, then offered Wen Nian a grateful look. ¡°Very well, let¡¯s give it a shot¡­¡± Chapter 332 - 332: Everything Was Different Chapter 332: Everything Was Different Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before Xu Chang could finish his sentence, Wang Bing hastily bowed. ¡°Thank you, Director Xu. I¡¯ll prepare diligently. Thank you so much! Thank you!¡± Xu Chang, feeling a bit awkward, observed her excitement and gently touched the back of his head. ¡°Alright, go get ready. I¡¯ll inform Sister Wang about the audition in a few days.¡± Turning to Wen Nian, he continued, ¡°We won¡¯t be able toplete the post-production today. How about I send it to you when it¡¯s ready? After all, you¡¯re nning to take a seven-day break, right?¡± Wen Nian had originallye to the studio today to explore the possibility of contacting Wang Bing. Now that everything was settled, she had no reason to stay. She left the studio alongside Wang Bing. ¡°Could I add you on WeChat?¡± Wang Bing asked cautiously. ¡°1 don¡¯t have any ulterior motives, 1 promise. I¡¯m genuinely grateful to you, and I¡¯d like to be friends. 1 won¡¯t use our connection to gain attention, and 1 definitely won¡¯t disrupt your studies.¡± In her previous life, Wen Nian had regarded Wang Bing as a major celebrity. It was amusing to see her being so cautious now. However, she smiled warmly and agreed, ¡°Of course, add me. I think we get along well.¡± As they exchanged WeChat information, the elevator reached the ground floor. Just as they were about to step out, they heard a voice that made Wen Nian cringe. ¡°Wen Nian! Are you also here to see Director Xu today?¡± Huang Yue was decked out in a shy designer suit with a prominent logo, giving off a nouveau riche vibe. Huang Yue couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit puzzled when she noticed that Wen Nian seemed perfectly fine and there was no sign of distress in her expression. The previous day, Wen Nian had anticipated that Shen Jun woulde back to find her, but he didn¡¯t, and Director Wu remained unreachable. She inquired around Chuan Liu Clubhouse, but heard nothing unusual. It seemed Director Wu¡¯s n hadn¡¯t seeded. Huang Yue felt somewhat indignant, but she managed to force a smile. ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree yesterday? You introduced me to Director Xu. Since we¡¯ve crossed paths today, can you help me out? Let¡¯s go up together, okay?¡± As she spoke, she tried to link her arm with Wen Nian¡¯s, but Wen Nian smoothly sidestepped her. Wen Nian responded with a cold tone, ¡°1 made it clear yesterday that I won¡¯t introduce you. At most, 1 can mention that you¡¯re interested in working with Director Xu.¡± Huang Yue felt a bit ufortable. She nced at Wang Bing standing beside her and furrowed her brow. Could it be that Wang Bing was here to request a role as well? Only a select few were privy to the fact that Director Xu was gearing up for a new movie. When Huang Yue arrived at the set rmended by Director Wu, she had only learned about it through casual conversation. She had assumed that Wen Nian¡¯s reputation would be tarnished after yesterday¡¯s incident and that the truth would eventuallye to light. So, she decided to use her connections to reach out to Director Xu early, hoping to secure a role in the film. However, she hadn¡¯t expected to find Wen Nianpletely unscathed. She tried her best to squeeze out a smile. ¡°Could you lend me a hand, please? You know, considering our past rtionship? Besides, I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t know yet¡ªI¡¯ve already secured the second female lead in ¡®Immortal Wondend¡¯. Once 1 be more well-known, I might even make Director Xu¡¯s movie even more popr.¡± Upon mentioning this, Huang Yue sneakily nced at Wang Bing out of the corner of her eye. As expected, she noticed the difort in Wang Bing¡¯s expression. Huang Yue had been aware for some time that Wang Bing had coveted the same role in the drama¡ªDirector Wu had revealed Wang Bing¡¯s interest to her. However, Huang Yue had acted swiftly and secured the part first. Upon hearing the drama¡¯s title, Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor soured. In her previous life, Wu Gang had given her this role in the ¡°Immortal Lover.¡± Considering the events of yesterday, she couldn¡¯t help but suspect that Huang Yue was somehow connected to what had happened yesterday. ¡°I have no connection with you. Excuse me, but I¡¯m leaving,¡± Wen Nian dered in a chilly tone. This time, Huang Yue did not go forward to stop her. She believed that Wen Nian¡¯s arrogance wouldn¡¯tst long after upsetting Director Wu. As for Wang Bing, standing beside her, she considered her conquered and not worthy of her attention. As they exited the office building, Wen Nian was about to bid farewell when Wang Bing gently tugged her back. ¡°Wen Nian, there¡¯s something I want to warn you about.¡± Wen Nian halted in her tracks upon hearing Wang Bing¡¯s words. In her previous life, Wang Bing had uttered a simr warning. Back then, Wen Nian had dismissed it, assuming Wang Bing was merely envious of her youth and beauty. Now, as she looked at Wang Bing¡¯s unchanged cold expression, Wen Nian could discern genuine concern in her eyes. ¡°Huang Yue¡¯s role¡­ wasn¡¯t obtained through legitimate means,¡± Wang Bing attempted to choose her words carefully, not wanting to frighten the young girl before her. ¡°She likely secured her position through Director Wu¡¯s connections. If you ever encounter Wu Gang in the future, be cautious and avoid being alone with him.¡± Although Wang Bing¡¯s words sounded a little strange, Wen Nian understood. She nodded at Wang Bing and watched as Wang Bing smiled and waved goodbye to her. Wen Nian took a deep breath. Indeed, everything in this life was different.. Chapter 333 - 333: Legally Family Chapter 333 - 333: Legally Family Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian returned to the hotel and started packing her luggage. With her affairs here squared away, she felt the urgency of heading back. The new year was just two days away and she needed to go home as soon as possible. Otherwise, she would have to deal with her parents¡¯ nagging. Shen Jun reclined on the sofa, a reluctant expression crossing his face. ¡°Are you sure about leaving today?¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s demeanor, he held back the question of inviting her to spend the new year at his ce. He knew it wasn¡¯t the right time, and there were otherplications to consider, especially his mother¡¯s presence. Even if Wen Nian did visit, it could lead to furtherplications. Wen Nian hadn¡¯t packed much, intending to return in just a day or two, so she swiftly sorted her clothes. ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind to head back first. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯ll call you at midnight on New Year¡¯s Eve.¡± She gently kissed Shen Jun¡¯s forehead.
Shen Jun embraced her and allowed her to nestle into his arms. He buried his face in Wen Nian¡¯s long hair, his voice somewhat nasal. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to go.¡± Wen Nian chuckled and affectionately tapped his head. ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? You¡¯ll be heading back to school in a few days. How abouting with me for the New Year?¡± However, as soon as she said it, Wen Nian regretted it. Shen Jun was giving her a ¡°seriously?¡± look, as though he¡¯d pack his bags and leave in a heartbeat if she agreed. ¡°I-I was just joking. You need to be with your family,¡± Wen Nian awkwardly exined. But Shen Jun persisted. ¡°You¡¯re my family too. Sooner orter, you¡¯ll be an official member.¡± His words flushed Wen Nian¡¯s cheeks crimson. She gently broke free from Shen Jun¡¯s embrace. ¡°Official member? You¡¯re not serious!¡± They lingered at the hotel for a while before Shen Jun apanied Wen Nian to the airport. He had considered following her, but Wen Nian found it unnecessary. Fortunately, Shen Jiang also had ns to return to Hai City to visit rtives for the new year. With him as her escort, Shen Jun felt reassured. As soon as Wen Nian boarded the ne, Shen Jun¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Shen Jun, did you make a move against Fatty Wu?¡± Xue Jiang¡¯s voice carried a note of urgency. ¡°My family¡¯s investment is tied up in the entertainment city project he¡¯s building in the western suburbs. If you¡¯re involved, you need to tell me beforehand!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s brows furrowed. He had indeed initiated an investigation into Wu Gang, but the evidence wasn¡¯t strong enough. Without a surefire knockout blow, Shen Jun wasn¡¯t ready to strike yet. He replied with a measured tone, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me. What¡¯s going on?¡± Xue Jiang said resentfully, ¡°It¡¯s not you? Then Fatty Wu must have offended someone else. Damn it, my family is implicated too.¡± Over the phone, Xue Jiang provided a brief overview of the situation. The incident from the previous day had just unfolded, and Wu Gang had regained consciousness in the hospital that morning. By noon, he¡¯d received word from his subordinates that the project approval for the western suburbs¡¯ entertainment city had been revoked. This n had been in the works for half a year. The Xue family had dedicated considerable effort and a substantial portion of their investment to it, never expecting it woulde to a screeching halt without a shred of warning. Wu Gang had tirelessly sought information from various sources, but no one seemed to have a clue. The management office staff all echoed the same line, ¡°We¡¯re just following orders from higher-ups.¡± The Xue family put their heads together and couldn¡¯t help but specte that this unexpected twist was likely linked to Shen Jun. Who else possessed the influence to pull something like this off apart from the Shen family? However, they were in for a surprise; it wasn¡¯t Shen Jun behind the scenes. Meanwhile, as Wu Gang was desperately probing for answers, Shen Mo wasforting his wife, cradling her in his arms. ¡°Honey, don¡¯t be upset. It wastest night, but 1 took action first thing in the morning. Wu Gang¡¯s project approval for the entertainment city has been revoked. No need to be unhappy.¡± Zhao Jiao, however, shot him a sharp look. ¡°You should have acted yesterday. Our daughter-inw has endured so much. We need to support her! Instead, you hesitated until morning. Besides, deducting just one of his projects isn¡¯t enough satisfaction!¡± In reality, despite the considerable capital at stake, the web of power among the major families was intricate, and the Shen family¡¯s spies were everywhere. Yesterday, the Xue family¡¯s second son had rushed to Chuanliu, and Wu Gang had been hospitalized. Nearly all the families were aware of this, but since it didn¡¯t concern them directly, no one pursued it. Nheless, Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t sit idly by. She had already subjected the Shen family¡¯s daughter-inw to humiliation. She had managed to restrain herself from rushing to the hospital that night and tearing Wu Gang apart. Seeing Zhao Jiao¡¯s fury, Shen Mo swiftly suggested, ¡°How about 1 have someone investigate the television drama he¡¯s currently filming? I¡¯ve heard he invested heavily in it. If it faces censorship, he¡¯ll surely suffer financial losses. Zhao Jiao looked at him angrily. ¡°Then why are you still hugging me? Go!¡± Shen Mo nted a fervent kiss on his wife¡¯s cheek but was unceremoniously pushed away by Zhao Jiao¡¯s disdainful gesture. Only then did he leave the house with a sense that his status as an old father-inw would be downgraded once his daughter-inw officially joined the family.. Chapter 334 - 334: Donation Chapter 334 - 334: Donation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian returned home that evening, and Wen Yu, who had wrapped up his winter break activities, was already back. ¡°Oh,e and check out my superstar!¡± Wen Yu excitedly rushed over, grabbing Wen Nian¡¯s luggage. ¡°Did you prepare a hefty red envelope for me this New Year?¡± With that, he pulled Wen Nian into a hug and hastily snapped a photo with his phone. ¡°What on earth are you doing?¡± Wen Nian was utterly bewildered by his flurry of actions. Wen Yu swiftly manipted his phone. ¡°I told them that you¡¯re my sister, but they didn¡¯t buy it. Can you believe they called me delusional? I need this photo to clear my name! You¡¯re so stunning, and I¡¯m so dashing. No matter how you look at it, we¡¯re family. How could we not be blood-rted?¡±
Zhou Mei emerged from the kitchen, tapping him on the head with a spat. ¡°Apart from sharing ast name with your sister, 1 honestly can¡¯t see any resemnce! Now hurry and set the table; dinner¡¯s almost ready.¡± Wen Yu covered his head and yelped as he made his way to the kitchen. Wen Xing, on the other hand, was already beaming as he invited everyone to the table. Zhou Mei directed the father and son, and the family engaged in conversation andughter. It was a heartwarming and harmonious sight. Tears welled up in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes suddenly. In her previous life, she had never experienced such warmth with her family. In her memories, there had been only ceaseless arguments and the dissolution of her family. She clenched her fists, resolute in her determination. She would never allow history to repeat itself in this lifetime. The Wei family had to be utterly dismantled. ¡°Nian Nian, why are you lost in thought? Go wash your hands quickly!¡± Zhou Mei said with a smile. Wen Nian snapped out of her reverie and promptly agreed to wash her hands. Just as she began to make her way to the sink, her phone chimed with a WeChat message from Wang Bing. Wang Bing: Director Xu got in touch with me about the audition next week. I know I owe this opportunity to you; if not for you, 1 wouldn¡¯t even have this chance. Originally, Director Xu had cast you as the female lead. I¡¯m truly grateful to you, and 1¡¯11 give it my all. Regardless of how the audition turns out, know that I¡¯m here to help you with anything you need. 1¡¯11 do my utmost to assist you. Reading Wang Bing¡¯s message, Wen Nian was momentarily taken aback. In her previous life, Wang Bing had rapidly risen to A-list status in the entertainment industry. She was pursued by countless individuals seeking her favor. Everyone she supported achieved poprity, but getting close to Wang Bing was no easy feat. She had a somewhat aloof and haughty demeanor. She rarely engaged in conversations with others. Wen Nian hadn¡¯t expected Wang Bing to express such sentiments in this lifetime. Wen Nian replied briefly, thanking Wang Bing and encouraging her to approach the audition with dedication and authenticity. A minuteter, another WeChat message from Wang Bing arrived. Wang Bing: The TV drama Huang Yue mentioned today has been halted due to censorship. They¡¯ve stopped shooting. It seems unlikely to resume production. Huang Yue¡¯s reputation in the industry isn¡¯t great. She didn¡¯t meet with Director Xu that day, and now the drama can¡¯t continue¡­ Director Xu has an auditioning up, so be cautious around her. Wen Nian: Okay, thank you. I wish you sess in the audition. You will definitely seed. Puzzled, Wen Nian set her phone aside. In her previous life, this online drama had gained poprity, and she had also be the target of online criticism. However, the lead actors and actresses had certainly experienced a boost in their careers. How could this drama be abruptly halted in this lifetime? Nheless, she acknowledged that many aspects of her life had changed this time around. She didn¡¯t want to dwell on it too much. It would be for the best if Wu Gang never made aeback; it would save her plenty of trouble. Wen Nian enjoyed a joyful family meal. Her family inquired about her filming experience, and upon learning that it was for the children¡¯s education, they expressed strong support. After a moment¡¯s reflection, Zhou Mei suggested, ¡°Nian Nian, there are many left-behind children. Ask Director Xu if there are avenues for receiving donations. Our family is currently doing well, so we should help these children, right?¡± Wen Xing chimed in, ¡°Absolutely. Many of our former neighbors left home for work, and nobody paid much attention to their children. It¡¯s a shame. Our family can make a donation as well. You can make it in your name since you¡¯re a rising star now.¡± ¡°Alright, I didn¡¯t earn much from this advertisement. I did make a profit from the previous one. I¡¯d like to donate 500,000 yuan. I¡¯ll use the earnings from my movies, not the family¡¯s money.¡± 500,000 yuan was undoubtedly a substantial sum for an average family, but Wen Nian had already earned 200,000 yuan from her previous film. Moreover, Xu Chang had paid her 800,000 yuan in ordance with their contractter on, resulting in a total ie of one million yuan from a single movie. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing respected their daughter¡¯s decision. They still regarded Wen Nian as an adult, allowing her to manage the money she earned as she saw fit.. Chapter 335 - 335: Making the Decision Chapter 335: Making the Decision Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Wen Nian spoke, Wen Yu was taken aback. ¡°You have that much money? 1 was originally thinking of donating 1,000 yuan. I¡¯ve saved some money from my part-time job at school, but it can¡¯tpare to what you¡¯re offering!¡± Zhou Mei smiled and replied, ¡°The amount is a gesture of my sincerity. Nian Nian has grown up, so you get the final say in this matter.¡± After dinner, Wen Nian returned to the bedroom and contacted Xu Chang to share the news of the donation. ¡°Wen Nian, you¡¯re incredibly kind!¡± Xu Chang was deeply touched. The public service advertisement had been the local station¡¯s initiative, and he, too, had been inspired by the children¡¯s thirst for knowledge. Education, however, required funding, and state resources were limited. Additional support from themunity was necessary. Initially, Xu Chang was wondering if he should speak up and encourage people to donate. However, he did not expect Wen Nian to be the first to make a donation. With a sense of urgency, Xu Chang swiftly reached out to the relevant government departments. Simultaneously, he contemted reaching out to more industry contacts. The public service advertisement was scheduled for release during the uing New Year. By then, the families would all be happy and the plight of these left behind children would be shared with the public. Perhaps they could genuinely make a difference in these children¡¯s lives. After finalizing their ns, Wen Nian retrieved the gold bars from his luggage. It was clear that Wei Xiao had additional evidence against him. To Wen Nian, these gold bars held little value, and he handed them over to Huang Yue without much fuss. Believing that the money for the gold bars had been given by Shen Jun, she reached for her phone, intending to inform Shen Jun to proceed with the payment. Unexpectedly, as she unlocked her phone, she received a WeChat message from Shen Jun. Shen Jun: I¡¯ve dispatched someone to investigate Yang Shu¡¯s residence. I¡¯ve already made arrangements with his niece to ess the contents of the safe tomorrow. I¡¯ll keep you updated. Upon reading the contents of the WeChat message, Wen Nian¡¯s heart raced. Yang Shu must possess some incriminating evidence; othen-vise, why would a physician like him maintain a secure safe without using his name? Wen Nian nced at the gold bar in her hand once more. She had initially considered sharing this with her family, but now it appeared that she needed concrete evidence before discussing their course of action. She realized that certain matters required discussion with Shen Jun. At present, she felt ill-equipped to handle them. Her learning capabilities were limited, and shecked the necessary background and skills to address these issues. Noticing that she hadn¡¯t responded, Shen Jun eventually initiated a video call. Once the call went through, he saw Wen Nian lying on her bed, lost in thought. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Jun asked worriedly. After a brief pause, Wen Nian replied, ¡°Today, Wang Bing informed me that she¡¯s going for an audition.¡± Shen Jun thought that she had regretted rejecting Xu Chang¡¯s movie. He shed a reassuring smile and said, ¡°If you¡¯d like, I can arrange transportation for your audition anytime. I¡¯m confident that Director Xu would be more inclined to select you.¡± However, Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°He¡¯s definitely going to choose Wang Bing, and Wang Bing is bound to be a sensation.¡± Perhaps the advantage of her rebirth was that she knew what the future held and could use this knowledge to achieve her aspirations. Observing the contemtive expression on her face, Shen Jun decided not to press her for details and simply waited for her to speak. Wen Niany on her bed lost in thought. She reflected on how, in her previous life, if she had still been the vulnerable Wen Nian, she might have severed ties with her family by now. She¡¯d undergone stic surgery and had been ruthlessly criticized byizens, while, at this point in her previous life, she hadn¡¯t even gone home for the New Year. Instead, she slept with some big shot in bed. In that context, it was improbable for Xu Chang to consider her for a movie role, and even Wang Bing¡¯s assistant might have overlooked her. However, she had been reborn. Now, she had the love of her family, a considerable fan base, a career benefactor, a loving boyfriend, and an uncertain future. Nheless, in order to sustain this happiness, she needed to first deal with the Wei family. Yet, the Wei family was formidable, wealthy, and influential. Relying solely on the evidence in her possession to bring them down was not feasible. She couldn¡¯t depend on Shen Jun alone. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust Shen Jun. Her past experiences had simply taught her that self-reliance was often more dependable than depending on others. She needed to be strong enough to protect the people she cared about. At the thought of this, Wen Nian took a deep breath and said, ¡°Shen Jun, I want to apply to the Capital Film Academy..¡± Chapter 336 - 336: Something Tragic Happened to Wen Xun Chapter 336: Something Tragic Happened to Wen Xun Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun didn¡¯t disy surprise at her decision. He chuckled andmented, ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d choose this path.¡± Wen Nian smiled in agreement. ¡°Yes, some things seem predestined. Maybe all of this is fate¡¯s way of arranging things?¡± Fate had granted her a second chance at life, and now she had the opportunity to reshape her destiny. Given her current abilities and background, challenging the Wei family directly was an insurmountable task. Pursuing a career in the entertainment industry was her best option. She was well-acquainted with this field, possessed acting skills honed from her past life, and even had a sessful movie to her name. She had the potential to leave a significant mark in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, she genuinely enjoyed being an actress. It allowed her to immerse herself in different roles and fulfill her dreams. After the two of them hung up, Wen Nian drifted off to sleep. Perhaps it was because she suddenly felt rxed, as she woke up only around noon. ¡°Are you exerting yourself too much in your third year of high school? Come on, have some of these ¡®love walnuts¡¯ I¡¯ve peeled for you.¡± Her brother, Wen Yu, sat at the table with a pile of freshly peeled walnuts in front of him. Thinking back to how their mother had made him eat walnuts during his third year of high school, Wen Yu figured that his sister must be going through the same ordeal. ¡°Hurry up, this small bowl is what you get today. If you want more tomorrow, you¡¯ll have to wait untilter for me to peel them.¡± Seeing her brother¡¯s yful expression, Wen Nian rolled her eyes at him. Wen Nian realized her parents had already left. Despite the approaching new year, their shop was unusually busy, especially with the brisk sales of braised food, often selling out by morning. The two of them found themselves working tirelessly. Recalling Shen Jun¡¯s words from the previous day, Wen Nian decided to confide in her brother, Wen Yu, so that he could prepare himself mentally. In truth, it wasn¡¯t that Wen Yu was unaware of their family¡¯s issues. His parents just hadn¡¯t informed him. His academic load was heavy, and he usually found out about family matters through dormitory mates who had seen the news. With a serious expression, Wen Nian recounted the suspected poisoning of their grandfather, Wen Sheng, by Wei Feng and Shen Jun¡¯s discovery of evidence. Wen Yu¡¯s usual cheerful demeanor had vanished, reced by worry. ¡°You can¡¯t share this with anyone, not even Mom and Dad,¡± he cautioned. After a moment of reflection, he continued, ¡°Without concrete evidence, we can¡¯t make a move. If they destroy the evidence prematurely, we might never get justice for Grandpa.¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement. ¡°That¡¯s why I came to you first. When the timees, you¡¯ll need to keep Mom and Dad calm. If we don¡¯t resolve this, our family could be in serious jeopardy.¡± ¡°Dangerous?¡± Wen Yu frowned. ¡°We live in awful society. Besides, you¡¯re a celebrity now¡­¡± Hearing his words, Wen Nian smiled. ¡°What kind of small celebrity am I? Even if I¡¯m a little famous, there are so many handsome men and beautiful women in the entertainment industry. If I don¡¯t continue to appear in public, I¡¯ll probably be forgotten soon.¡± She paused for a moment and then said seriously, ¡°Besides, Wei Feng dared to poison Grandpa. He will definitely attack us. He won¡¯t allow any stains in his life. As long as the Wei family is still around, the Wen family will definitely be in danger.¡± Wen Yu took a deep breath. He felt that what Wen Nian said made sense, but he still disagreed in his heart. In his heart, Wei Feng would at most suppress them, but the difference between the two families was like heaven and earth. Could it be that he really killed their family? However, reality soon proved that Wen Nian¡¯s thoughts were right. Wen Yu¡¯s phone suddenly rang. He picked it up and heard Zhou Mei¡¯s anxious voice. ¡°Is Nian Nian up? Hurry up and wake her up. She has to go back to her hometownter. Something happened to your uncle¡¯s house!¡± However, before Wen Yu could react, he asked in confusion, ¡°Who is it? Which uncle?¡± ¡°Which uncle can there be? Wen Xun!¡± Wen Yu was a little stunned. He looked at Wen Nian in disbelief. Could it be that what Wen Nian said just now had reallye true? Seeing his stunned expression, Wen Nian nudged him and signaled him with her eyes to quickly reply to his mother. Only then did Wen Yu say, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Wen Nian, is what you said true? Did the Wei family cause something to happen to Uncle¡¯s family?¡± Wen Yu¡¯s mind was spinning. When he saw Wen Xun and Li Ke go to the Wei Corporation to cause trouble in school, he thought that the two of them were really stupid. Even if there was really a matter of borrowing money, the Wei family¡¯s prosperity was indeed the result of Wei Feng¡¯s hard work. However, he did not expect that in the blink of an eye, something would happen to his uncle¡¯s family. ¡°Brother, pack up first. Let¡¯s meet up with Dad and Mom in the shop.¡± Wen Yu nodded in a daze and agreed. Wen Nian also returned to her room. However, her right eyelid kept twitching. It was probably a bad sign.. Chapter 337 - 337: Who’s Next? Chapter 337 - 337: Who¡¯s Next? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian and Wen Yu hastily dressed and made their way outside. The noodle shop had already closed for the night. Zhou Mei and Wen Xing had called for a taxi and were waiting for them. ¡°Dad, Mom, what¡¯s happened at Uncle¡¯s house? Can you tell us?¡± Wen Nian inquired urgently. Wen Xing¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Let¡¯s get in the car first. You¡¯ll find out once we get there.¡± Wen Xing and the others had only received a call from their old neighbor, who had informed them that Wen Xun and his wife had been rushed to the hospital. They werepletely in the dark about the details. Wen Nian and her family quickly got into the taxi bound for their hometown¡¯s hospital. Upon arrival, they inquired about Wen Xun¡¯s location in the hospital and rushed to his room.
Outside the emergency room, they found Wen Xun¡¯s neighbors and two police officers. ¡°The eldest son of the Wen family is here. He¡¯s Wen Xun¡¯s older brother,¡± the neighbor informed the police as he spotted Wen Xing and the others approaching. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Wen Xun¡¯s older brother. Can you please tell us what happened to my brother and his wife?¡± For some reason, Wen Xing suddenly felt a sense of unease. The red light above the emergency room was still on, indicating ongoing resuscitation efforts inside. The police officer looked at the worried family and sensed their urgency. He then exined, ¡°Wen Xun and his wife attempted suicide by consuming pesticide at their home.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible!¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Yu eximed simultaneously. Wen Xun was a good-for-nothing, but even if he was a good-for-nothing, he was definitely afraid of death. Li Ke was even more so. Moreover, these two people were bent on acquiring the Wei Corporation and living a good life in the future. Previously, they had even gone to the Wei Corporation from time to time to cause trouble. There was no way these two would let go of their future good days andmit suicide, right? The neighbor, however, held a different perspective. He quickly exined, ¡°1 told the police earlier that those two were the ones who recently appeared on television. They went to the Wei Corporation and caused a scene. When they returned, they imed that the Wei Corporation belonged to them and that they were going to enjoy avish life in the city.¡± The neighbor¡¯s aunt chimed in, ¡°Initially, everyone thought they were just boasting and didn¡¯t take it seriously. Butter, 1 heard from my grandson that they were ¡®dragged through the mud¡¯ on the inte! Yes, that¡¯s what he said, ¡®dragged through the mud¡¯ on the inte.¡± The elderly woman appeared somewhat distressed. ¡°It¡¯s been said that they faced online harassment. What¡¯s more, hundreds of thousands of people were criticizing them. Who could endure such a situation? They must have been under immense pressure!¡± The old man also agreed with his wife¡¯s words. He said to Wen Xing, ¡°Your family doesn¡¯t want the one million yuan. Don¡¯t you know your brother and sister-inw? Those two are greedy for money. They didn¡¯t get the money and were scolded online. The two of us saw that they didn¡¯t go out much these few days and wanted to see if they would take things too hard. Who would have thought that we would see the two of them drinking medicine the moment we entered! You didn¡¯t see it. They were foaming at the mouth¡­¡± The uncle and auntie spoke with a remarkable candor, as if they were watching the two of themmit suicide. It appeared that the police officers were inclined to ept their ount as well. One of the officers remarked, ¡°It¡¯s not out of the realm of possibility. Nowadays, people¡¯s mental states can be very fragile, especially when subjected to online abuse.¡± Wen Xing wanted to inquire further, but at that moment, the door to the resuscitation room swung open. He swiftly moved forward and asked, ¡°Doctor, my brother is Wen Xun, and his wife is Li Ke. How are they?¡± The doctor¡¯s somber expression told the story even before he uttered a word. He shook his head and said, ¡°They were discovered toote. Both of them ingested a significant amount of pesticide, and they weren¡¯t brought in promptly¡­ I¡¯m sorry for your loss.¡± Upon hearing those devastating words, Wen Xing¡¯s world seemed to crumble, and he nearly lost his bnce. Thankfully, Wen Yu was there to catch him. ¡°The child¡¯s father, you have to hold on. At this time¡­¡± Zhou Mei began to say, but she was interrupted by a voice from behind. ¡°Everyone, move aside! A girl has fallen into the water. We need to save her immediately. Hurry!¡± Several medical staff members quickly pushed a hospital bed in, followed by some vigers. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of familiarity about the person on the bed. It was only when the bed was pushed closer that she could see the person clearly. ¡°Wen Yan? Why is it Wen Yan?¡± Wen Yu¡¯s voice trembled, and his gaze froze as he stared at the bed. Then, he turned to Wen Nian with a look of shock. Everything Wen Nian had said wasing true. The Wen family was undeniably in peril.. After what had happened to Wen Xun¡¯s family, who would be the next to face such a grim fate? Chapter 338 - 338: Something’s Wrong Chapter 338 - 338: Something¡¯s Wrong Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon spotting one of their former neighbors among the vigers gathered there, Wen Nian rushed over and inquired, ¡°Uncle Zhang, what happened to Wen Yan? How did she end up in the water?¡± Uncle Zhang sighed deeply and replied, ¡°I¡¯m not sure what happened with this child. It seems like she fell from the bridge on the east side of the vige. 1 happened to pass by and noticed someone in the river. Considering the snow and the time she might have been in there, it¡¯s worrisome.¡± With the Wen family and the police now present, the vigers who had followed them began discussing the scene¡¯s circumstances. ¡°When we pulled her out, her clothes were frozen stiff. It took considerable effort to get her out of the water. She might have been in there for quite some time.¡± ¡°I even tried to check for signs of breathing, but there was none.¡±
¡°I saw the doctor performing CPR on her for a while, but she didn¡¯t respond. It¡¯s quite concerning.¡± ¡°Why would she go to the east end of the vige for no apparent reason? There are hardly any people there.¡± Uncle Zhang then asked, ¡°Wen Nian, are you here at the hospital for something specific? Are you back for the New Year this year?¡± Before Wen Nian could respond, the elderly man who had earlier analyzed Wen Xun¡¯s suicide chimed in, ¡°Did something happen to the Wen family again? First, Wen Xun and his wifemitted suicide by drinking poison. Now, something has happened to the child?¡± Upon hearing the elderly man¡¯s words, the others who had followed him were taken aback. ¡°Didn¡¯t we say that Wen Xun¡¯s family was causing trouble recently? Why would they take things so seriously and go to the Wei Corporation?¡± ¡°This is terrible. They didn¡¯t enjoy any wealth, and they have lost their lives.¡± ¡°I was wondering why they hadn¡¯t been going out muchtely or visiting the Wei family to create disturbances. So it was because they were deeply affected by the situation?¡± ¡°Poor Wen Yan. Could she have identally fallen into the river upon learning about her parents?¡± someone in the crowd spected. ¡°I think so too. The side of the bridge can get really slippery, maybe that¡¯s what happened.¡± ¡°Wen Xun is truly unlucky. It¡¯s almost the New Year.¡± As the onlookers exchanged their thoughts, Wen Nian frowned. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that something was seriously amiss with Wen Xun¡¯s family. The pattern of events was very simr to the way Wei Feng would do things. However, with so many people now paying attention to both the Wen and Wei families, Wen Xun and his family were gone. Wasn¡¯t Wei Feng afraid that someone might find out something? After Wen Yu had settled his parents, he discreetly pulled Wen Nian aside to discuss. ¡°Do you think this has something to do with¡­¡± Before he could finish, Wen Nian gave him a cautious look and gently shook her head, indicating that they shouldn¡¯t discuss this matter here. Wen Yu nodded in agreement. The crowd was toorge, and it was too risky to speak openly at this moment. Observing someone approaching, seemingly eager to eavesdrop on their conversation, Wen Nian quickly changed the topic. ¡°Brother, please go ahead and handle the necessary procedures. I¡¯ll stay here with Dad and Mom.¡± Their neighbors had a tendency to be both helpful and nosy, and this wasn¡¯t the time to share sensitive information. Wen Nian then returned to Zhou Mei and Wen Xing¡¯s side. After more than an hour had passed, the doctor finally emerged from the emergency room. Wen Nian was the first to approach. ¡°Doctor, how¡¯s my cousin?¡± Assuming the little girl was scared, the doctor spoke gently, ¡°Your cousin has been saved, but she¡¯s still unconscious. Once she stabilizes, I rmend transferring her to arger hospital in Hai City for a thorough examination.¡± Upon hearing the news that Wen Yan was alive, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. However, they couldn¡¯t help but feel a mixture of emotions. While she was physically okay, the daunting reality awaited her when she awoke to the loss of her parents. There was an underlying sense of apprehension among those gathered. Wen Yu had settled the hospital¡¯s procedures. ording to the customs in his hometown, no one was allowed to hold a funeral on the New Year, which was the following day. And so, they had to hold a funeral on the next day. Wen Xing forced himself to remain awake. His family was all that remained of the Wen family now. He wasn¡¯t sure when Wen Yan would wake up, but he had the responsibility to handle the funeral. Wen Yan had been admitted to the intensive care unit. Although she had been revived, her brain had been deprived of oxygen for an extended period, likely resulting in damage. In that moment, Zhou Mei¡¯s words sparked a realization in Wen Nian. ¡°Why aren¡¯t the Li family here? Aren¡¯t Li Ke¡¯s three brothers usually quite protective of her? It¡¯s strange that none of them have shown up when something this significant has happened.¡± Wen Xing, too, hadn¡¯t seen any of Li Ke¡¯s brothers throughout the ordeal. Wen Nian furrowed her brow, growing increasingly uneasy about the situation. Her phone rang, but she didn¡¯t notice the vibration. It wasn¡¯t until Wen Yu brought it to her attention that she checked her phone. Shen Jun¡¯s message read: ¡°My people have the evidence. It can be delivered to me tonight.. What¡¯s your n?¡± Chapter 339 - 339: Related to Wei Xiao Chapter 339: Rted to Wei Xiao Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Had she known yesterday that they had acquired evidence, she would have been thrilled. But now, a sense of fear gripped her. The events had taken a profoundly bizarre turn. Initially, she had viewed Wen Xun¡¯s situation as a minor issue, focusing more on preparing for the provincial exam. After all, they had no concrete evidence. If they chose to make a fuss, it could easily be dismissed. However, the situation had escted to the point where a life hung in the bnce. When she thought about the Wen family¡¯s downfall in her previous life, her hands trembled. As her phone rang, Wen Nian lost her grip and dropped it to the ground. ¡°Wen Nian? Wen Nian! What¡¯s wrong? Say something!¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice, filled with concern, came through the phone. Wen Yu helped her retrieve the phone, and only then did Wen Nian move to a corner of the corridor with the phone in hand. Thankfully, everyone around thought that the young girl might have been overwhelmed by the loss of her family members and didn¡¯t raise any suspicions. Wen Nian suppressed her fear and spoke hoarsely, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Shen Jun immediately sensed something was amiss from her voice. He hastily asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Where are you now?¡± Upon realizing that something was wrong with Wen Nian¡¯s voice, he began dressing hastily, prepared to return to Hai City at a moment¡¯s notice. Wen Nian managed to regain herposure after her initial distress. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she assured Shen Jun after taking a few deep breaths. ¡°Something happened to my uncle and his family, so we returned to our hometown.¡± ¡°Your uncle?¡± Shen Jun thought for a moment and recalled the mother and daughter who had given him a ride previously, as well as the family that had made headlines for causing a scene at the Wei Corporation. ¡°Shen Jun, 1 have some matters to attend to here. I¡¯ll get in touch with you once I¡¯m done.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t allow Shen Jun to probe further and promptly ended the call. She then swiftly opened WeChat and sent a message. Wen Nian: ¡°My uncle and auntmitted suicide after drinking pesticide. They¡¯re already dead. Their daughter fell into the water and was rescued, but she¡¯s unconscious. Help me find out what my aunt¡¯s brothers have been doing recently. Such a big thing happened to her, but no one from the Li family came to the hospital. I think something¡¯s wrong.¡± As Shen Jun was about to call Wen Nian back, he noticed her WeChat message. Her message conveyed a sense of urgency and suspicion, prompting him to respond promptly with an acknowledgment: ¡°Okay.¡± Then, he immediately ordered someone to start investigating what had happened in Hai City. Two hourster, Shen Jun ced another call. By this time, Wen Nian¡¯s family had already returned to their old residence. ording to tradition, it was likely they would have to hold a funeral immediately, as dying it for a month would be considered inauspicious and uneptable to the neighbors. Wen Nian stepped outside to answer the call, ready to hear the results of Shen Jun¡¯s investigation. ¡°Is it convenient to talk?¡± Shen Jun asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Wen Nian replied. Hearing the distress in her voice, Shen Jun expressed his concern, ¡°I¡¯ll do everything I can to help you with this matter. Please take care of yourself too. We are celebrating the New Year on the following day¡­¡± Realizing that the Wen family would likely not be able to celebrate the New Year properly this year, Shen Jun tactfully shifted the conversation. ¡°My team has found out that Li Ke¡¯s third brother was indeed causing trouble alongside her at the Wei Corporation, but he recently epted a significant job.¡± Wen Nian was aware that Li Ke¡¯s brother worked as a truck driver, typically taking on peripheral assignments. Despite the Li family¡¯s unreasonable behavior, the Gu family seldom ventured on long-haul trips. ¡°Something happened?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice was resolute, almost as if she were certain that an incident had urred. ¡°Yes, indeed,¡± Shen Jun confirmed. ¡°The three brothers embarked on a journey from Hai City to H Province in arge truck. Unfortunately, the truck was overloaded and overturned on the national highway during the night. It was surrounded by destend with no surveince cameras, and it was only discovered the following morning. All three of them perished. The Li family should have received the news this morning.¡± It made sense now why none of the Li family members had appeared when Li Ke had taken her own life. All three of Li Ke¡¯s brothers had met the same fate, leaving the Li family in disarray. ¡°Please help me investigate who or whatpelled the three Li brothers to leave the truck. They rarely travel long distances, and all three of them together is highly unusual. Something must be amiss.¡± Observing Wen Nian¡¯s steadfast belief, Shen Jun probed further, ¡°I¡¯ve already conducted an initial investigation, but there don¡¯t seem to be any immediate red gs. Do you suspect Wei Feng?¡± Wen Nian remained silent for a moment. It did resemble Wei Feng¡¯s methods. Whenever someone became an inconvenience to him, he had a tendency to eliminate them, even if their involvement was unrted to the situation at hand. However, other members of the Wei family might employ such tactics, especially Wei Xiao. ¡°Wen Nian? Are you still there?¡± Shen Jun gently inquired upon her prolonged silence. Only then did Wen Nian respond, ¡°Shen Jun, I have a feeling that Wei Xiao might be involved..¡± Chapter 340 - 340: Going to Hai City for the New Year Chapter 340: Going to Hai City for the New Year Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Out of the blue, Wen Nian found herself reminiscing about her past life, which was just a few years ago. In that former existence, she had achieved recognition in the entertainment industry, earning herself fame and notoriety, even in the face of criticism. In order to receive more resources,she had been quite thepanion to various investors. During those days, Wei Xiao often grumbled about hisck of status and influence within the Wei family. He yearned for connections in the capital. However, it was clear that the Wei familycked significant capital ties, let alone a scion like Wei Xiao. At the time, even though Wei Xiao was already in his twenties, he didn¡¯t have much influence within the Wei n. That¡¯s when he started to leverage Wen Nian¡¯s identity to forge rtionships with prominent figures in the capital. It wasn¡¯t his idea initially; Huang Yue had pushed him into it. Back then, Wen Nian was truly willing to make personal sacrifices for love. Meanwhile, Wei Feng¡¯s health deteriorated rapidly, and Wei Xiao began to seize power. Eventually, he relied on Wen Nian for support, exploiting her connections and garnering more sway within the Wei family. Before her involvement, Wei Feng had be virtually confined to the hospital. During those times, Wen Nian was solely focused on Wei Xiao, envisioning a future as Mrs. Wei. She hardly paid any heed to the old man¡¯s plight. But now, as she contemted Huang Yue¡¯s entry into the capital¡¯s entertainment industry and her proximity to Wu Gang, it dawned on her that Wei Xiao had held shares in several of Wu Gang¡¯s entertainment ventures back then. Could it be that her rebirth had elerated these events? If Wei Xiao was already making moves, it was unlikely that he merely sought control ofnd in the capital. Shen Jun refrained from asking why she suspected Wei Xiao. ¡°Very well, I¡¯ll look into whether Wei Xiao has any involvement in this matter. You, on the other hand, should be cautious and stay close to your family. I¡¯ll catch a flight back to Hai City tonight.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wen Nian was still lost in her reflections. Shen Jun¡¯s intention to return caught her off guard. ¡°No, please don¡¯te back. This year, my family¡­ Shen Jun, stay at home and celebrate the New Year with your parents.¡± In reality, Wen Nian wanted him toe back. She realized that she had oversimplified her ns; she had assumed she could bring down Wei Feng with the evidence, but things had grown more intricate. However, she couldn¡¯t be so self-centered. If Shen Jun stayed with her, what would his family think? Shen Jun could only attend the funeral, and it wouldn¡¯t be a proper New Year celebration. ¡°Your family is facing a perilous situation right now, and I need to return,¡± Shen Jun stated resolutely. ¡°Please send me your current location.¡± Wen Nian was on the verge of saying, ¡°If you don¡¯te, 1 won¡¯t send you a location.¡± Then, she heard Shen Jun reply, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t send it, I know where you are.¡± She was a little speechless. Initially, she had considered her phone to be quite secure, but now, that sense of security had waned. Shen Jun hung up the phone and began to hurriedly pack his belongings. In his haste, he failed to properly close the door, allowing the entire contents of their conversation to be overheard by Madam Zhao Jiao, who was standing just outside. Though Zhao Jiao didn¡¯t fullyprehend the details, she grasped that something was amiss with the Wen family. Wen Nian might still be in danger, which justified Shen Jun¡¯s swift departure. She rushed back to her room and retrieved the suitcase she had purchased earlier in the month, one that had remained untouched. ¡°It¡¯s almost the New Year. What are you doing?¡± Shen Mo inquired, his brow furrowed. ¡°Zhao Wu is having a hard time this year. It¡¯s quite pitiful for a single man like him to spend the New Year alone. Let¡¯s join him in Hai City for the holiday.¡± Zhao Jiao suggested as she continued to pack, even including Shen Mo¡¯s underwear in the process. ¡°Wife, has something happened?¡± Shen Mo was slightly perplexed. His wife¡¯s unpredictable temperament was something he had grown used to. ¡°Indeed, something hase up,¡± Zhao Jiao replied mysteriously. ¡°I¡¯ve done some calctions and have a hunch that our son will be returning to Hai City soon. If you want to have a family New Year celebration, we need to get a move on and pack our things.¡± Shen Mo couldn¡¯t help but be baffled as he observed Madam Zhao opening yet another substantial box to store her assortment of boots and sneakers. At this point, he decided it was best for him to join in on the packing. Having just finished organizing his own belongings, Shen Mo heard a gentle knock on the door. ¡°Come in,¡± he called out. ¡°Mom, Dad, I need to return to Hai City for something¡­¡± Shen Jun¡¯s voice quivered as she made her announcement. Madam Zhao Jiao was already fully prepared, and Mr. Shen Mo had positioned fourrge suitcases in front of him. Zhao Jiao beamed at her husband, then turned to her son and remarked, ¡°What a coincidence! This year, let¡¯s spend the New Year at your uncle¡¯s house!¡± Chapter 341 - 341: Be Careful Chapter 341: Be Careful Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Zhao Wu had finally convinced Bai Ling to spend the New Year with him this year. The two of them strolled through the supermarket, their faces filled with joy as they shopped for New Year decorations. Bai Ling even excitedly picked out couplets andnterns. ¡°Bai Ling, why do you look so youthful?¡± Zhao Wu smiled, his voice filled with affection. ¡°Thesenterns are even taller than mine, and there are so many small ones. My modest vi is turning into antern emporium.¡± Bai Ling blushed, her expression radiating with lively enthusiasm. ¡°Back in our hometown, this is how we celebrated the New Year. It¡¯s the only way to capture that authentic homey feeling.¡± ¡°The smell of home?¡± An unexpected female voice interrupted their moment. A shiver ran down Zhao Wu¡¯s spine. He turned his head slowly, his eyes falling on Zhao Jiao, who was seated on the living room sofa, cradling her cat. Beside her were Shen Jun and Shen Mo, both carrying suitcases. Zhao Jiao cast a quick, appraising nce at Bai Ling. She found her quite charming and adorable, exuding an air of innocence. Bai Ling couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of unease under Zhao Jiao¡¯s scrutinizing gaze. She didn¡¯t know who this woman was, but she had heard that Zhao Wu often changed girlfriends.She was already someone who had been with him for an extended period. The woman before her appeared sophisticated and well-groomed, and Shen Jun seemed to be familiar with her. Bai Ling took a deep breath and considered that this woman might be someone whom Zhao Wu¡¯s family approved of. ¡°I, um, I have something I need to attend to. I¡¯ll go now,¡± Bai Ling hastily ced the items she was holding back and turned to leave. However, Zhao Jiao seemed to be in the mood to yact. ¡°Where are you going? Didn¡¯t you mention that this ce reminds you of home?¡± She continued to eye Bai Ling critically. ¡°Tsk tsk, I wonder whose home it¡¯s reminding you of here.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Sis!¡± Upon hearing Zhao Jiao¡¯s words, Shen Jun and Zhao Wu chimed in, protesting in unison. Bai Ling was left dumbfounded by the way they addressed her. She stammered, trying to make sense of it all. ¡°Mom? No, sister? This¡­¡± Her face was now a deep shade of red. Although Bai Ling had heard about Zhao Wu having an older brother and sister, she had always considered herself as just one of Zhao Wu¡¯s many girlfriends. It had never urred to her to inquire about his family, given the transitory nature of their rtionship. Observing her brother¡¯s anxious expression, Zhao Jiao was in high spirits. She promptly rose from her seat and took Bai Ling by the arm. ¡°If 1 had a beautiful daughter like you, I¡¯d be over the moon. Unlike my son, who only knows how to get on my nerves!¡± With that statement, she cast a disapproving nce in Shen Jun¡¯s direction. ¡°Hurry up and take the things upstairs. Zhao Wu, find us a room quickly. I¡¯ve only been here twice, so I don¡¯t want to just stay anywhere.¡± In his heart, Zhao Wu rolled his eyes countless times. He thought to himself, ¡°Big sister, you¡¯re hesitant to stay here casually? But you didn¡¯t even tell me, and you just showed up unannounced!¡± Seeing Zhao Wu¡¯s reluctance to move, Zhao Jiao grew impatient. ¡°Get going! If I¡¯d known I¡¯d be waiting for you, I could¡¯ve filmed an entire movie by now! Move it!¡± Zhao Wu muttered softly, ¡°How do you even know the passcode? You¡¯re trespassing on private property, and you¡¯re so arrogant.¡± Nevertheless, Zhao Jiao caught wind of his muttering and promptly smacked his head. She retorted, ¡°You¡¯re the one who gave Shen Jun the passcode. I¡¯m your sister. Why would I be trespassing?¡± ¡°Zhao Jiao!¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s face turned crimson. After all, he held the position of deputy secretary of the mayor, and this was happening right in front of his girlfriend. Zhao Jiao was clearly not concerned about his reputation. But Zhao Jiao simply pursed her lips and retorted, ¡°I¡¯m here. Now, hurry up and get moving!¡± Zhao Wu scrutinized his sister for a few seconds before finally giving in. His sister was known to be obstinate and unreasonable at home and spoiled by her husband. He couldn¡¯tpete with her. As Zhao Wu left with the box and shot Bai Ling a resentful nce, Bai Ling couldn¡¯t help but be amused. The three unfortunate men proceeded to lug the boxes into the room. It was only then that Zhao Wu had a moment to inquire about the ¡°military intelligence¡± from Shen Jun. Shen Jun provided a brief summary of Wen Nian¡¯s family situation. The more Zhao Wu heard, the deeper he frowned. ¡°The Wei family wields considerable influence in Hai City. The government has to be careful around them. If this incident truly involves their family, it won¡¯t be easy to investigate, especially considering it¡¯s almost the New Year.¡± Shen Jun nodded and shared Wen Nian¡¯s suspicions. ¡°Wen Nian believes that Wei Xiao might be behind this. Do you have any means to investigate him?¡± ¡°Wei Xiao?¡± Zhao Wu found it unlikely. ¡°He doesn¡¯t hold any significant position within the Wei Corporation andcks social status. Does Wen Nian have any concrete evidence to support her suspicion?¡± Shen Jun remained reticent. He had faith in Wen Nian, but there were certain things she hadn¡¯t disclosed to him. Zhao Wu contemted the situation for a moment before suggesting, ¡°When are you nning to meet with Wen Nian? I can have a few of my people apany you. With my team present, the Wei family will be less likely to make any rash moves. I¡¯ll handle the rest of the investigation. After all, the two of you are still students. It¡¯s essential to be cautious..¡± Chapter 342 - 342: Let Him Die Chapter 342: Let Him Die Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Uncle, I really should go now,¡± Shen Jun insisted with concern. ¡°The situation with the Wen family is dire, and I¡¯m afraid something may happen to her.¡± However, Zhao Wu shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s already quitete, and you still need to wait for the person who¡¯s sending you the evidence, don¡¯t you? There are many people in Wen Nian¡¯s hometown, so a few hours won¡¯t make a significant difference. I¡¯ve already contacted the local police station, and they¡¯ve dispatched an officer to the Wen family¡¯s location. We¡¯ll arrange for someone to take you there tomorrow morning.¡± Realizing that his people had already secured the evidence and changed their flight to Hai City, Shen Jun reluctantly agreed. He knew he couldn¡¯t afford to be hasty at this point. ¡°Get some rest for now. Since you¡¯ll be spending the New Year at my ce, 1 won¡¯t let you down.¡± Zhao Wu patted Shen Jun¡¯s shoulder. However, as he reached the bedroom door, Zhao Wu suddenly sensed that something was amiss. ¡°You came back for Wen Nian. Why did your parentse along? And why are they so insistent on celebrating the New Year at my house?¡± An uneasy feeling washed over Zhao Wu. At that moment, Shen Jun also realized that something was off. His thoughts had been preupied with the Wen family throughout their journey, and he hadn¡¯t pondered the peculiar behavior of Zhao Jiao. Seeing the perplexed expression on Shen Jun¡¯s face, Zhao Wu eximed, ¡°Oh no!¡± He promptly flung open the door and rushed down to the first-floor living room. As he entered the room, he discovered the two womenughing heartily. ¡°You have no idea how embarrassing Zhao Wu was when he was young. Even at the age of three, he was wearing the pants with a hole!¡± ¡°Look at how mature he appears now, but he secretly adores fruit candies. Every New Year, he snatches thest strawberry candy from the younger generation of our family. My father has scolded him countless times!¡± ¡°Bai Ling, you must know, right? He used to love wearing underpants with flowery patterns when he was young. When he was¡­¡± Zhao Wu swiftly made his way to Zhao Jiao¡¯s side and positioned himself between the two women. He gritted his teeth and gazed at his sister. ¡°My dearest sister!¡± Zhao Jiao¡¯s smile remained on her face as she continued, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, my dear embarrassing brother?¡± Hearing the way they addressed each other, Bai Ling couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Zhao Wu turned around angrily only to find Bai Lingughing so hard that tears were about to spill from her eyes. She covered her mouth with her petite hand, but herughter was so infectious that she rocked back and forth. Her canines asionally peeked through, and Zhao Wu¡¯s frustration quickly dissipated. He reached for Bai Ling¡¯s hand and held it firmly, then said to Zhao Jiao, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Weren¡¯t you nning to do a facial mask and get some sleep?¡± Checking her watch, Zhao Jiao rolled her eyes at Zhao Wu. ¡°All of this is your fault. If I end up with wrinkles, you¡¯ll be the one to me this year!¡± With a parting smile and a wink at Bai Ling, she gracefully ascended the stairs. However, just before leaving, she looked back at Zhao Wu and added, ¡°I don¡¯t know what that brat¡¯s up to again. Take care of him.¡± Zhao Wu nodded in acknowledgment, and Zhao Jiao made her way upstairs. Bai Ling asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Shen Jun?¡± While Zhao Jiao had informed her that they were here because they were concerned about Zhao Wu¡¯s potential loneliness during the New Year, Bai Ling sensed that it was merely an excuse. Zhao Jiao¡¯s recent remarks had confirmed her suspicions. The real reason was Shen Jun. Zhao Wu gently squeezed her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With me around, the sky won¡¯t fall.¡± However, Bai Ling could discern that his expression had shifted. It was the same expression Zhao Wu wore when he faced a significant problem. At four in the morning the following day, Shen Jun¡¯s associates delivered the evidence they had obtained from Yang Shu¡¯s niece. Shen Jun swiftly scanned through the contents. Alongside records of financial transactions involving Wei Feng, there were detailed records of Wen Sheng¡¯s symptoms following each drug administration, even apanied by a blood test report. Most crucially, there was a USB drive. Shen Jun inserted it into theputer and discovered irrefutable evidence of Wei Feng poisoning Wen Sheng. The video had clearly been captured ndestinely, offering a mostly clear view of Wei Feng¡¯s face from the angle. An enraged Wei Feng could be heard demanding, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Wen Sheng dead yet? How much time has passed? Is your medicine worthless?¡± A young man¡¯s voice responded, ¡°Chairman Wei, it¡¯s extraordinarily difficult to kill him swiftly without anyone detecting it. I¡¯ve meticulously calcted the medicine¡¯s countermeasures, and his condition keeps deteriorating.¡± ¡°What good is him getting worse? He needs to die!¡± Wei Feng loosened his tie. ¡°I¡¯ll give you half a month. You must ensure he dies.¡± The young man sounded anxious. ¡°But if we alter the poison or the medicine, an autopsy is bound to reveal it. If the Wen family insists on an autopsy, it¡¯ll be a serious problem.¡± Wei Feng lowered his gaze and stated, ¡°I won¡¯t permit the Wen family to conduct an autopsy. Just ensure he passes away..¡± Chapter 343 - 343: Who Should Be Held Accountable Chapter 343 - 343: Who Should Be Held ountable Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios There were only three videos, and almost all of them were taken secretly. It seemed that Yang Shu was also trying to leave him a way out. Shen Jun tidied up the videos, backed them up, and then packed up before heading to Wen Nian¡¯s hometown. Shen Jiang rushed over early in the morning. Shen Jun didn¡¯t want to trouble him, but he was genuinely worried without his own people. Besides, two individuals arranged by Zhao Wu apanied him. Shen Mo opened his eyes and saw Zhao Jiao looking out of the window with a serious expression. He asked, ¡°Has the brat left?¡± Zhao Jiao nodded. Yesterday, Zhao Wu had uncovered information about the Li brothers. He believed this matter was quite serious and informed Zhao Jiao and Shen Mo during the early hours of the morning. Meanwhile, Zhao Jiao hadn¡¯t slept a wink all night. Shen Mo stood up and embraced her. ¡°Are you still not going to take action? Lives have been lost, and 1 fear the two kids can¡¯t handle it.¡±
¡°Zhao Wu conducted an investigation, but he couldn¡¯t find anything useful in the Wei family in Hai City,¡± Zhao Jiao said confidently. ¡°Wen Nian must have her own thoughts.¡± After a moment of contemtion, she added, ¡°You should assign some people to keep an eye on him. A strong dragon can¡¯t suppress a local snake.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already done that a while ago,¡± Shen Mo said, nting a kiss on Zhao Jiao¡¯s forehead. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. With our support, this matter will undoubtedly be resolved. Besides, Lawyer Sun is set to arrive at noon. The brat probably already has the evidence. Lawyer Sun has an extensivework in Hai City¡¯s public prosecution system.¡± Hearing that Shen Mo had made preparations, Zhao Jiao sighed. ¡°I really don¡¯t know how the Wen family will spend the new year.¡± It was nearly six o¡¯clock when Shen Jun reached the Wen family¡¯s old residence. The Wen family had already made preparations for the funeral, and the mourning hall was solemn. Wen Nian was also dressed in ck with white flowers. Her eyes were tired and appeared to have lost sleep over the past day. ¡°Shen, Shen Jun?¡± Seeing him, she even wondered if it was an illusion. In her previous life, she had indeed attended several funerals, some for her parents, some for her grandfather, and some for others. As she gazed at the decorations in the mourning hall before her, her heart weighed heavy, but tears refused to fall. Though she held a deep-seated grudge against Li Ke and Wen Xun, they were still her family. Considering that these people might have been killed by the Wei family, she felt a sense of disbelief. It was as though she had returned to her previous life, and the Wen family was on the brink of destruction once more. The moment she saw Shen Jun, she snapped back to reality. This life was different from her previous one. She had been reborn and was determined to change her fate. ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m here.¡± Shen Jun approached her and gently wrapped his arms around her. Wen Yu coughed ufortably, prompting Shen Jun to release Wen Nian in embarrassment. ¡°Why are you here? Weren¡¯t you supposed to be in the capital celebrating the new year?¡± Wen Nian asked hoarsely. When Wen Xing noticed Shen Jun¡¯s arrival at this time, he felt a sense of guilt. He quickly said, ¡°Shen Jun, why are you here on New Year¡¯s Eve? It¡¯s considered inauspicious.¡± ¡°Uncle, Auntie, with something this big happening in the Wen Family, I havee to help in any way possible,¡± Shen Jun raised his head and gestured. ¡°My driver and my uncle have also dispatched someone here. Don¡¯t worry; we won¡¯t let anything happen.¡± Wen Yu pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°Yesterday, someone from the police station came again. They even told us that Aunt¡¯s three brothers were in a car ident. They assured us that they would conduct a thorough investigation. Does this suggest there¡¯s something amiss in this matter?¡± Zhao Wu had instructed the local police station to look after the Wen family, and the news about the Li family had left them understandably anxious. While it might be possible to attribute it all to coincidence, it seemed like an excessive string of coincidences. Recalling the change in the police¡¯s demeanor when they arrived the previous night, along with the Shen Jun family¡¯s influential background, Zhou Mei¡¯s evaluation of Shen Jun rose as she regarded the young man before her. ¡°Shen Jun, I came over early in the morning. You folks haven¡¯t had a meal yet, have you? I¡¯ve prepared some porridge. Please, have some.¡± Shen Jun was about to decline, but when he thought of the evidence he had acquired that day, he nodded and motioned for Wen Nian to join him. Mourners began arriving at the mourning hall one after another. Zhou Mei hastily went out to receive them, leaving only Wen Nian and Shen Jun. It was only then that Shen Jun disclosed the content of the evidence he had obtained to Wen Nian. He refrained from showing her the video, not wanting to add to her grief at this moment. However, after he had finished exining, Wen Nian only furrowed her brow and remained silent. In reality, the evidence matched the time of her grandfather¡¯s ident as per her recollection. It was conclusive, and Wei Feng had no way to evade responsibility. She nced back at the mourning hall. Though she couldn¡¯t actually see it from the back room, she could sense the sorrow emanating from there. The question remained: Who should be held ountable for these lives? Chapter 344 - 344: Call the Police Chapter 344 - 344: Call the Police Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing that Wen Nian remained silent, Shen Jun held her hand with concern. ¡°1 understand that you¡¯re not feeling well, but some things should be addressed sooner rather thanter.¡± ¡°But what about the matter with the three Li brothers, my uncle, and aunt? Hasn¡¯t that been resolved yet?¡± She continued to frown, feeling that some issues remained unresolved. ¡°Furthermore, Wen Yan hasn¡¯t regained consciousness yet. My parents are considering transferring her to a major hospital in Hai City in a few days. I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯ll ever wake up. These lives¡­¡± Wen Nian gripped the spoon in her hand tightly, her fingertips turning white. ¡°I want the person behind this to pay the price.¡±
Shen Jun gently took the spoon from her hand and rubbed her fingertips. ¡°Okay, 1¡¯11 stand by your side. My uncle is also working on the investigation. 1 believe we¡¯ll have answers soon.¡± Wen Nian gazed at Shen Jun with gratitude and then managed a small smile. ¡°Shen Jun, I¡¯m grateful to have you.¡± Looking at the girl before him, Shen Jun embraced her. ¡°Wen Nian, I¡¯m grateful to have you too. Truly.¡± The Wen family had indeed been very busy that day. Although Wen Nian, as a younger member of the family, didn¡¯t have many concrete tasks, there were a constant stream of visitorsing and going. Li Ke¡¯s family had few rtives, and they came and left in haste. Given that the Li family was also holding a funeral, the elders of their family had little time to attend to Li Ke¡¯s funeral. As night fell, the day¡¯s obligations had been fulfilled. The entire family was nearly exhausted. Even Shen Jun felt that he couldn¡¯t straighten his back. Sitting down for dinner was a challenging endeavor for the family. It was almost 8 PM. Despite the exhausting day, no one had much of an appetite. Considering the recent events involving Wen Xun¡¯s family, Wen Nian felt that certain matters could not be dyed any longer. ¡°Dad, Mom, Brother, there¡¯s something 1 need to tell you,¡± Wen Nian said with utmost seriousness. Upon seeing her expression, Wen Yu suspected that she was about to reveal that Wei Feng had poisoned her grandfather. He positioned himself slightly behind his parents, just in case they couldn¡¯t handle the shock and fainted. Zhou Mei nced at Shen Jun and said, ¡°Nian Nian, must you share this now?¡± In other words, there were outsiders. ¡°Yes, it must be said now,¡± Wen Nian dered firmly. ¡°Besides, Shen Jun has done a lot to help our family. He should be here.¡± ¡°What has Shen Jun done to help? Nian Nian, what are you about to say? I¡¯m confused,¡± Wen Xing looked at the two of them with puzzlement, but his gut told him that this was no minor matter. Wen Nian took a deep breath and began slowly, ¡°Dad, Mom, you need to prepare yourselves for what I¡¯m about to reveal. It concerns Wei Feng and Grandpa.¡± ¡°You mean Wei Feng and your grandfather?¡± Wen Xing stood up agitatedly and almost lost his bnce, but Shen Jun quickly caught him. ¡°Yes,¡± Wen Nian said, attempting to control her emotions. ¡°Grandpa lent money to Wei Feng in the past. Wei Feng not only failed to repay the money but also poisoned Grandpa. Shen Jun has already gathered evidence for us.¡± ¡°What?¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Xing said almost in unison. Wen Yu supported Zhou Mei, and Shen Jun assisted Wen Xing. When Wen Nian realized that the two of them were still stable, she proceeded to recount the entire story. She started from the moment she and Shen Jun discovered the ount book in the old residence and continued through the evidence of Yang Shu poisoning Wen Sheng. She covered Yang Shu¡¯s death and the evidence found in Yang Shu¡¯s possession. With each revtion, the color drained from Wen Xing and Zhou Mei¡¯s faces. By the time she finished speaking, they were so shocked that they couldn¡¯t utter a word. After a considerable silence, Wen Xing picked up a teacup from the table and hurled it against the wall. ¡°Wei Feng, that wretched scoundrel! A monster! He¡¯s a beast!¡± Meanwhile, Zhou Mei was already in tears. Her shoulders trembled, but words eluded her. Shen Jun stepped forward and guided Wen Xing back to his seat. ¡°Uncle, 1 understand your anger, but we need to stayposed right now. We rely on you, the leader of the family, to determine our next steps.¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s counsel, Wen Xing nced at his wife, who was crying uncontrobly, and his two children. It was only then that he regained hisposure. ¡°You are such a good kid,¡± he patted Shen Jun on the shoulder. In that moment, he was certain that he needed to be strong for his family. They were all counting on his decision. ¡°Dad, 1 think we should report this to the police. Shen Jun has already gathered the evidence,¡± Wen Nian gently reminded him. Wen Yu chimed in, ¡°Indeed, something has urred in Youngest Uncle¡¯s family, and it might be connected to the Wei family. We need a thorough investigation.¡± Zhou Mei nodded vigorously in agreement. Only then did Wen Xing take a deep breath.. ¡°Very well, tomorrow morning, we¡¯ll go and report this to the police!¡± Chapter 345 - 345: Something Happened Chapter 345 - 345: Something Happened Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios That night, no one in the Wen family managed to sleep well. The Wen family¡¯s old mansion was quiterge, with numerous rooms, and Shen Jun and his entourage were also assigned rooms to rest in. Wen Nian shared a room with Zhou Mei. Worried, Zhou Mei inquired, ¡°Nian Nian, did you and Shen Jun really find out everything you mentioned? Does Shen Jun¡¯s family have a powerful background?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mom. I have Shen Jun by my side. I¡¯ll be okay,¡± Wen Nian reassured her. ¡°I¡¯ll ensure the Wei family pays the price and protect all of you.¡± Zhou Mei let out a sigh. ¡°Silly child, you don¡¯t need to protect us. We¡¯re your parents. We¡¯ll protect you.¡±
She hesitated and then asked tentatively, ¡°Shen Jun¡­ Does his family know about the two of you dating? His family is quite well-off. Did they have any objections to your rtionship?¡± Suddenly, Jin Ting, a little girl whom Wen Nian had only met twice, appeared in front of her. Two days ago, Jinna had even sent her a WeChat message asking her about filming an advertisement in the capital. At the thought that Jin Ting was the Shen family¡¯s recognized daughter-inw, Wen Nian¡¯s heart sank. However, to spare her mother any unnecessary worries, she replied, ¡°Shen Jun¡¯s uncle is the deputy secretary of the mayor. I¡¯ve met him a few times, and he¡¯s been assisting with our family¡¯s investigation. Don¡¯t worry, Mom.¡± Wen Nian avoided delving into the details and offered a reassuring exnation. Zhou Mei didn¡¯t sense anything amiss and feltforted, seeing that the Shen Jun family appeared to be caring and concerned about the Wen family¡¯s affairs. As she listened to her mother¡¯s breathing gradually steadying, Wen Nian found it hard to fall asleep. Dawn was approaching, and the prospect of contacting the police was unsettling. She possessed the evidence and had Shen Jun¡¯s support. So why did she still feel so uneasy? Unconsciously, Wen Nian appeared to drift off to sleep, but peculiar images started to form in her mind. Huang Yue sneered and cast a condescending look at Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, do you actually believe that Wei Xiao loves you? Are you, a wretch like you, even deserve his love?¡± Wei Xiao chimed in with disdain, ¡°Everyone in the Wen family, especially you, deserves to die. You disgust me.¡± The scene shifted, and she found herself in her parents¡¯ mourning hall. The two figures in the ck-and-white photograph were beaming at her. She felt an urge to cry but realized she couldn¡¯t make a sound. In that moment, Wei Xiao approached her. ¡°They all deserve it. Those who oppose the Wei family deserve to die. The Wei family will be mine in the future. You deserve to die.¡± He reached out and shoved her hard. Wen Nian felt her body go weightless, as if she were about to tumble into an endless abyss. ¡°Nian Nian, Nian Nian, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Mei¡¯s voice broke through, pulling Wen Nian back. ¡°Did you have a nightmare?¡± Zhou Mei asked, her concern evident. ¡°You didn¡¯t get much sleepst night, did you? Why don¡¯t you consider not going today?¡± Wen Nian shook her head vigorously. She couldn¡¯t fathom why she had such a dream, but it left her heart racing, and even her right eyelid was twitching. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but think that these were all bad omens. The next moment, the door swung open, and Wen Yu entered, looking frantic. ¡°Something has happened!¡± Wen Nian swiftly got out of bed and inquired, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± At that moment, Shen Jun, who had been standing behind Wen Yu, rushed forward. He took out his phone and handed it to Wen Nian. When she read the contents, she could hardly believe her eyes. #Wei Feng Murders#, #Wei Feng Poisons Wen Nian¡¯s Grandpa#, #The Head of the Wei Corporation Criminals# The trending topics seemed to point to Wei Feng¡¯s involvement in the poisoning of Wen Sheng. Some insiders imed that Wei Ming had gone to the police station early in the morning to report his father, Wei Feng, for murder. Furthermore, he had presented a substantial amount of evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s wrongdoing and even mentioned the presence of witnesses. The most recent reports indicated that reporters had observed the police heading to the Wei family¡¯s vi for an arrest. However, it appeared that an ambnce had arrived at the Wei family¡¯s entrance early, and the police cars had followed the ambnce to the hospital. Online discussions on this matter had garnered over a millionments. ¡°The Wei family has always held significant influence in Hai City. Wei Feng may have the means to suppress this situation.¡± ¡°Is Wei Ming prioritizing justice over his family? If he¡¯s willing to report his own father, how egregious must Wei Feng¡¯s actions be?¡± ¡°This is bad. We should quickly divest from Wei Corporation¡¯s stocks. Such a massive scandal will surely have dire consequences.¡± ¡°Then could the rumors on the inte about Wei Feng borrowing money be true? Wen Nian appears to be an ordinary high school student. How much wealth could the Wen family possess?¡± ¡°Which celebrity truly starts from nothing? If the Wei Family really had no money, would Wei Feng even have resorted to murder?¡± Chapter 346 - 346: More Damage Chapter 346 - 346: More Damage Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon seeing Wen Nian and Shen Jun¡¯s silence, Wen Yu grew increasingly anxious. ¡°What¡¯s happening? We only just discussed contacting the police yesterday. Why would Uncle Wei call the police now?¡± Although Wei Ming had also contacted the police, it was apletely different scenario from when the Wen family was nning to do so. Besides, how had Wei Ming obtained the evidence in the first ce? Wen Xing, who was in the same room as Wen Yu, also rushed over. He had overheard the conversation and had tried to reach Wei Ming earlier, only to find that his phone was turned off. ¡°Wei Ming¡¯s phone is turned off,¡± Wen Xing said, bewildered. ¡°Ever since your grandfather passed away, we¡¯ve been in touch less frequently. Perhaps he changed his number?¡± Zhou Mei had alsoe across the news on her phone, leaving her momentarily at a loss. ¡°Should we still contact the police?¡±
The few of them turned to look at Wen Nian in unison. Wen Nian closed her eyes, her thoughts a jumble. It seemed that her inexplicable heart palpitations had happened for a reason. Something bad really happened. ¡°Brother, you and the others go ahead and eat. I need to speak with Shen Jun,¡± Wen Nian directed Wen Yu. Wen Yu swiftly led his parents out for their meal, leaving Shen Jun and Wen Nian alone in the room. ¡°This situation is fishy,¡± Shen Jun remarked. ¡°Wei Xiao¡¯s evidence came from his father, which implies that Wei Ming already possessed proof of Wei Feng¡¯s crime. Why would he suddenly contact the police, especially so close to the new year?¡± If Wei Ming were genuinely seeking justice, he would have reported Wei Feng long ago. The fact that he retained the evidence without contacting the authorities suggested he couldn¡¯t bring himself to turn in his own father. After all, Wei Feng was his biological parent. Wei Ming had no logical reason to call the police just before the new year. ¡°There must be a reason,¡± Wen Nian affirmed. ¡°Can you find out what¡¯s going on with Wei Feng now?¡± Shen Jun nodded and exined, ¡°I¡¯ve already made inquiries. Wei Feng seems to have experienced a sudden cerebral hemorrhage as a result of emotional stress. He¡¯s currently hospitalized.¡± ¡°Brain hemorrhage at this time? Quite a coincidence,¡± Wen Nian responded with a cold edge. Shen Jun looked at her and asked hesitantly, ¡°When do you n to call the police?¡± He understood that Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t let Wei Feng off easily. Furthermore, who knew whether Wei Ming had gathered enough evidence? If they let Wei Feng escape again, it would put them on the defensive. Convicting him in the future wouldn¡¯t be as straightforward. Wen Nian pondered for a moment before replying, ¡°My father and I will head to the police stationter. We have ample evidence, so there¡¯s no doubt we¡¯ll make the report. In addition, Yang Shu passed away in Hai City, and if we discover any leads rted to the Wei family, we could incriminate Wei Feng.¡± ¡°My uncle¡¯s family has just concluded a funeral. He requested my mother and brother to stay and manage those affairs. Following our contact with the police, 1 want to visit Wen Yan. Perhaps when she wake up, she will provide valuable insights.¡± Shen Jun suddenly said, ¡°We can call the Li family.¡± ¡°The Li family?¡± Wen Nian appeared a bit perplexed at first, but as she noted Shen Jun¡¯s grave expression, it became clear. ¡°Did you find clues through what happened to the Li Brothers? What did you uncover?¡± Only then did Shen Jun tell Wen Nian the results of Zhao Wu¡¯s investigation. Li Ke¡¯s three brothers didn¡¯t want to leave the car to go to another province, but the convoy had given them a few 50,000 yuan at that time. They said that the trucks were filled with New Year goods. When the time came, the boss would definitely give them red packets, and it wouldn¡¯t dy the three of them froming back for the New Year. However, because the goods were in a hurry, they had to be delivered within three days. This meant that the three brothers had to switch to a different vehicle and had no time to rest. Such conditions increased the likelihood of mishaps, and the truck¡¯s brakes had been tampered with. ¡°But the matter is still under investigation. However, I believe involving the Li family could be a more effective approach than contacting the police,¡± Shen Jun spoke in a hushed tone. Considering the reputation of the Li family¡¯s daughters-inw and the influential status of Li Ke¡¯s mother in the region, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but curl her lips. Indeed, the authorities had reason to be wary of individuals withplex and unreasonable connections. Furthermore, the deaths of all four children from the Li family had been shrouded in mystery. Wen Nian informed her family that she intended to report the situation to the police. The room fell into silence. Wen Xing, on the other hand, managed to locate a pack of cigarettes and started smoking. He hadn¡¯t smoked in years, but his current distress had pushed him to this point. Ultimately, Wen Xing made the final decision. ¡°Nian Nian, you and Shen Jun will apany me to contact the police. And I¡¯ll reach out to the Li family..¡± Chapter 347 - 347: Meeting Wei Ming Again Chapter 347 - 347: Meeting Wei Ming Again Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios As expected, the Li family didn¡¯t disappoint Shen Jun¡¯s trust. When Wen Xing informed them of his intention to report the matter to the police, the Li family¡¯s daughters-inw were already furious. The news of Wei Ming reporting Wei Feng had caused quite a stir. While the Li family might be less cultured, the circumstances surrounding Wen Sheng¡¯s death had been suspicious. Then there was the unfortunate car ident involving the three Li brothers,bined with the Wen Xun family¡¯s tragic incident. The Li family had sensed that something was amiss for a while. With Wen Xing¡¯s reminder, they decided to visit the city police station to demand an exnation. Shen Jun had arranged for a vehicle, and a group of more than ten people arrived at the police station in a grand manner. They were immediately surrounded by reporters stationed at the entrance. ¡°Wen Nian, did you know that your grandfather was poisoned by Wei Feng?¡± ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s father, 1 heard that you and Wei Feng¡¯s son are childhood friends. What do you think about his report against Wei Feng this time?¡±
¡°Wen Nian, did your family know about this a long time ago? Why didn¡¯t you report it to the police? Did you take money from Wei Feng?¡± ¡°Is the one million yuan you returned to the Wei familyst time hush money for your grandfather¡¯s life?¡± ¡°Nonsense!¡± Although Wen Xing had encountered reporters blocking their way before, the reporters¡¯ questions still made him furious. Before he could respond, however, Li Ke¡¯s mother pped her thigh and sat down at the entrance of the police station, wailing. ¡°The Wei family is vile! Not only did they attempt to destroy the Wen family, but they¡¯re also relentless towards our Li family!¡± The old woman¡¯s words instantly drew the attention of the reporters. The three daughters-inw, dressed in mourning attire, began crying even harder. ¡°Auntie, are you saying that the Wei family harmed your Li family? What¡¯s your rtionship with the Wen family?¡± ¡°You¡¯re all dressed in mourning. Did something happen at your homes?¡± ¡°Auntie, can any of you tell me the details?¡± Only a few reporters continued to surround Wen Nian. Wen Nian dragged Wen Xing and Shen Jun into the police station. As Zhao Wu had already informed the police, the report progressed smoothly. Shen Jun¡¯s collected evidence was also submitted. The police officers were surprisingly cooperative, reassuring Wen Nian that they would await the authorities¡¯ response. Thew would provide the Wen family with an exnation. After enduring several hours of questioning, Wen Xing felt a little light-headed. As they exited the station, they spotted Wei Ming waiting for a car by the side of the road. He appeared considerably older, his hair having turned gray, and he had lost a significant amount of weight. Wen Nian nearly failed to recognize him. He looked nothing like he did during her previous visit to the vi. ¡°Wei Ming? Is it really Wei Ming?¡± Wen Xing staggered over. He grasped Wei Ming¡¯s shoulder and struggled to speak, but he couldn¡¯t find the words. Wei Ming, on the other hand, dared not meet Wen Xing¡¯s gaze. He took a few deep breaths before managing to say, ¡°Wen Xing, it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Wei Ming, what¡¯s happening? Did youe to report to the police? You knew what your father¡­¡± As he gazed at Wei Ming¡¯s trembling form, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t bring himself to ask more questions. He understood that Wei Ming must have endured immense pressure to report his own father. Not many individuals could make such a choice. Seeing that both of them were visibly distressed, Shen Jun stepped forward and suggested, ¡°Uncle, my car is right here. Let¡¯s find a quiet ce to chat.¡± Shen Jun drove them to a teahouse and requested a private room. Only then did they have an opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation. ¡°Wen Xing,¡± Wei Ming began with a sigh. ¡°I¡¯ve disappointed your family, and my father has disappointed you. I¡¯m sorry that it took me so long to act.¡± Wen Xing, on the other hand, simply shook his head, unable to utter a word. He was at a loss for what to say as well. However, Wen Nian still posed her question. ¡°Uncle Wei, did you know about this a long time ago and have evidence for the investigation?¡± Wei Ming was somewhat surprised. ¡°How did youe to know that 1 have evidence?¡± Then, he immediately shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s true. How could such evidence be gathered in just a day or two? I¡¯ve had the evidence all along, but I can¡¯t¡­ He¡¯s my father after all¡­¡± Wen Xing sat beside him and patted his shoulder, but he couldn¡¯t find the words tofort him. It was precisely because he knew what Wei Feng had done that he had distanced himself from the Wen family. With Wen Sheng already deceased, Wen Xing couldn¡¯t bring himself to forgive the Wei family on behalf of Old Mr. Wei, except for seeking justice for his father. ¡°So, why have you decided to reveal the evidence now? Has something happened?¡± Wen Nian inquired directly.. Chapter 348 - 348: Wei Xiao’s Work Chapter 348 - 348: Wei Xiao¡¯s Work Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Ming remained silent for a long time before looking up at Wen Nian and Shen Jun. ¡°It¡¯s because your uncle and his family were killed.¡± ¡°As I suspected, Wen Xun¡¯s family was also victims of your father¡¯s actions,¡± Wen Xing¡¯s hands trembled, and his voice quivered with anger. Wei Ming swallowed hard and finally nodded in confirmation, substantiating Wen Xing¡¯s suspicion. Despite Wen Xun not being a virtuous person, after having spent so many years with him, Wen Xing still regarded him as his biological younger brother. Learning that Wei Feng was the murderer had ignited Wen Xing¡¯s rage to its peak. ¡°Wei Feng is a maniac. Does he truly believe that the Wei family is above thew, capable of doing whatever they please? He¡¯s not afraid to take lives! None of you are decent people!¡±
Wen Xing¡¯s eyes reddened. He grabbed Wei Ming¡¯s cor and shook him vigorously, though Wei Ming did not resist. Silent tears streamed down his face. ¡°Dad, please, calm down!¡± Wen Nian and Shen Jun swiftly intervened to separate the two of them. While trying to console Wen Xing, Wen Nian spoke, ¡°If Uncle Wei hadn¡¯t reported this to the police, we might not have had enough evidence to convict him. He took a considerable risk by going to the police. Dad, you can¡¯t resolve this with a single blow. There are good people within the Wei family.¡± Wei Ming was stirred by Wen Nian¡¯s words. ¡°No, I¡¯m not a good person. I¡¯ve known about this for a long time, yet I remained silent. I¡¯m a coward.¡± ¡°But if 1 don¡¯t speak up¡­ Yang Shu diedst time, and now Wen Xun. Next time, it might be you. 1 can¡¯t just watch your family be destroyed. I can¡¯t, I can¡¯t¡­¡± Wei Ming¡¯s voice was choked with tears, and his body trembled uncontrobly. He became increasingly incoherent. As Wei Ming grappled with what Wei Feng had done to the Wen family and looked at his best friend before him, he was uncertain of his ce, his duty, and the actions he should take. Shen Jun, who had been observing from the side, sensed that something was amiss from Wei Ming¡¯s disoriented words. He asked, ¡°Uncle Wei, are you implying that Wei Feng killed Wen Xun this time to silence him? Is it because his family knew something?¡± Upon hearing Shen Jun¡¯s question, Wei Ming managed to regain hisposure. ¡°If Yang Shu hadn¡¯t been killed by him, I might have taken this secret to my grave.¡± Wei Ming sniffled and continued, ¡°I had already implored Wei Xiao to warn the old man with the evidencest time, but he didn¡¯t stop. When Wen Xun¡¯s family confronted the Wei Corporation, he must have believed they had uncovered something, which is why he silenced them by killing them.¡± Wen Nian and Shen Jun exchanged knowing nces at Wei Ming¡¯s words. It appeared that Wei Xiao was involved. ¡°Did you inform the police about Yang Shu¡¯s and Wen Xun¡¯s deaths when you called them this time?¡± Wen Nian inquired. Wei Ming shook his head, replying, ¡°I didn¡¯t have any evidence, but who else could it be? He has always been like this. Anyone who poses a threat to him meets the same fate.¡± ¡°Are you saying that you called the police this time because you were afraid that something would happen to us after the incident at my uncle¡¯s house?¡± Wen Nian asked in confusion. ¡°But how did you even know that something had happened to my uncle¡¯s house? It¡¯s not something widely reported, and you usually don¡¯t leave your house.¡± The death of Wen Xun¡¯s family might have been caused by someone, but there was no concrete evidence. To put it simply, a family in the vige hadmitted suicide for some reason. No website would report it. Wei Ming usually stayed home all the time, so how would he know about these things? Wei Ming exined, ¡°Wei Xiao told me. Ever since Yang Shu¡¯s death, I¡¯ve been worried, so I asked Wei Xiao to keep an eye on your family¡¯s situation. He was the one who informed me about this.¡± Wei Ming¡¯s words only deepened the suspicion in Wen Nian¡¯s mind. How could Wei Xiao, who was Wei Feng¡¯s son, be helping the Wen family? It was perplexing. Realizing that there was more to share, Wei Ming hurriedly added, ¡°Wei Xiao also mentioned that my father¡­ he had ns to harm your family. If Wen Nian hadn¡¯t gained sudden fame, he probably would have taken action after your family opened the shop. Wen Xun¡¯s death this time was a warning to your family.¡± ¡°But, Wen Xing, 1 know you well. You wouldn¡¯t hesitate to seek the truth even if you were afraid. Wei Xiao mentioned that his grandfather was already assembling people to target your family, and it was nned for after the New Year. So, I had to call the police quickly to protect you. I didn¡¯t want you to be in danger.¡± Wei Ming spoke rapidly and anxiously, his gaze fixed on Wen Xing as if he feared that Wen Xing wouldn¡¯t believe him. However, Wen Nian lowered her gaze, silently confirming that her suspicions about Wei Xiao¡¯s involvement were well-founded.. Chapter 349 No Need to Go to Jail? 349 No Need to Go to Jail? The group chatted at the teahouse for less than half an hour before Wei Xiao''s call came in. Wen Nian nced at the caller ID, then at the people in the room, deciding not to keep the call private and putting it on speaker. "Wen Nian, I heard from the police that my father left with you. Are you still with him?" Wei Xiao''s voice was calm and tinged with a touch of satisfaction. From what Wen Nian knew of him in her previous life, he must be in a good mood right now. Wen Nian looked at Wei Ming, who nodded, and replied, "Yes, Uncle Wei is with us." Wei Xiao pretended to sigh with relief, saying, "That''s good. My father hasn''t gone out for so many years, and he didn''t take his phone with him. I was really worried." Wen Nian couldn''t help but purse her lips. Wei Ming had reported such a major incident to the police, and his own son didn''t apany him ore to the police station. Instead, he stayed at home, waiting for his return? And now he had the audacity to im he was anxious? Upon hearing this, Wei Ming stood up and spoke into the phone, "I''ll return on my own. You don''t need toe looking for me." "Dad? Where are you? I''lle pick you up now. I heard you left in Shen Jun''s car. Are you at the Shen Jun family''s house or somewhere else?" Wei Xiao''s voice was filled with excitement and a hint of eagerness, yet he didn''t seem to be concerned for Wei Ming. Wei Ming, however, couldn''t detect anything amiss in his tone. He was consumed by his own grief. Just as he was about to decline Wei Xiao''s offer, he heard Wei Xiao say, "I''m already on my way. Wen Nian, please share your location with me. I''ll be there shortly." Wei Xiao ended the call, but Wei Ming shook his head. "Just tell him I''ll take a taxi back on my own. He doesn''t need toe." Wei Ming genuinely didn''t want Wei Xiao to meet with the Wen family. In fact, he hoped that Wei Xiao wouldn''t cross paths with the Wen family again in the future. He felt that he owed them greatly. Shen Jun arranged for someone to drive Wei Ming back home, while Wen Xing returned to the old family residence. Wen Nian and Shen Jun went to the hospital to visit Wen Yan, but regrettably, she showed no signs of waking up. When Wen Nian returned to the old residence, a crowd of vigers had gathered, drawn by themotion surrounding the Wen and Li families reporting to the police. "The Li family''s three sons are all gone. This is such a tragedy." "There are a total of four kids. With their daughter also gone, it looks like the Li family is over." "Luckily, they still have two grandsons. Otherwise, their family line would really end." "I wonder how much the Wei family will have to pay inpensation. With so many lives lost, it has to be in the millions, right?" "Millions? I heard the Wei family started from scratch. I think they''d have to pay tens of millions!" "Tens of millions? Does that mean they could buy the whole vige? That''s a lot of money." The vigers were not grieving; they were mostly discussing the victims and thepensation they expected. When they saw Wen Nian arriving, they swarmed around her, bombarding her with questions. However, she remained silent. Shen Jun, following behind her, looked like he didn''t want any strangers to approach, and the crowd dared not push further. Seeing their return, Zhou Mei hurriedly approached. "Nian Nian, you''re back. How did it go? I asked your father earlier, but he didn''t say much." "Have they caught Wei Feng? He can''t escape, can he?" Wen Yu inquired anxiously. Wen Nian opened her mouth to respond but found it hard to find the right words. In the end, it was Shen Jun who provided an exnation, "We''ve initiated a legal case, and the police have started an investigation. They even attempted to locate Wei Feng for questioning, but he suddenly suffered a cerebral hemorrhage¡­" "Just because he has a brain hermorrhage doesn''t mean he should escape punishment!" Zhou Mei eximed angrily. "Even if he''s about to die, he has to be sentenced, right?" Shen Jun calmly rified that the legal process needed to be followed. They had to press charges, go through the proper legal procedures, and only then could they determine if he would be sentenced. "Additionally, Wei Feng''s current condition is quite unique. The officers who were handling the case mentioned that his life is still in jeopardy. If his condition deteriorates, even if he''s sentenced, he might not serve his sentence in prison." Upon hearing Shen Jun''s words, Wen Xing swiftly approached. "Didn''t the police assure us that they would thoroughly investigate and provide us with an exnation? What do you mean by executing the punishment outside of prison? Does this mean we won''t see justice served?" The group stared at Shen Jun in disbelief, and Wen Nian stepped forward to defend him. "Don''t look at Shen Jun like that. He''s not a police officer or a judge." Wen Nian rified, "Severe illness may necessitate medical parole, and if an inmate is unable to care for themselves, they might be temporarily released for execution. There''s a legal basis for this." Chapter 350 Still Not Going Home? 350 Still Not Going Home? Zhou Mei and Wen Xing''s eyes were filled with tears, but after hearing their daughter''s exnation, they chose not to press for more information and headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Meanwhile, Wen Yu stealthily approached Wen Nian and asked with a puzzled expression, "How do you know so much about thew? Are you nning to studyw?" Wen Nian was momentarily speechless. Seeing her silence, Wen Yu assumed he had guessed correctly and expressed regret, "Well, it''s not a bad idea for you to be an actress. I watched that movie, and your performance was truly captivating." "By the way, have you seen your public service advertisement yet?" Wen Yu took out his phone. "You mentioned it was only going to be released during the New Year. Why is it out today?" "What''s today''s date?" Wen Nian suddenly snapped out of her thoughts. "Today is the 12th. Why do you ask?" Wen Yu smacked his forehead suddenly. "Today is New Year''s Eve!" In a hurry, he rushed to the kitchen. "Dad, Mom, today''s the 30th, right? Can we prepare more dishes, especially dumplings?" Wen Nian was still holding Wen Yu''s phone. She viewed the contents of the public service advertisement, which was only two minutes long and wasn''t released long ago. The ad depicted the contrast between left-behind children and urban children attending school. The yearning gazes of the left-behind children were touching to Wen Nian. The scene jumped to the scene of Wen Nian walking to the market every day and looking longingly at a girl of the same age as her entering the school in a roaming school uniform. Ultimately, a school for left-behind children was established in Wen Nian''s area, and through persistent effort, she managed to step onto the university campus. The closing scene of the ad showed Wen Nian at the entrance of the university campus, walking confidently into the campus. A voice called, "Wen Nian." She turned around with her hair gracefully flowing, wearing a gentle smile. In the end, the advertisement ended with Wen Nian''s smile constructed from countless images of happy children in the ssroom. The approach of using various small images to create a character sketch was innovative, and Wen Nian had a deep admiration for Xu Chang''s creativity. She was certain that this public service advertisement would garner widespread attention. Wen Nian nced at her phone and saw that Xu Chang had sent her a WeChat message. Xu Chang: "I understand that you must be upied with many tasks right now, but I still want to wish you a Happy New Year. Have you seen the advertisement? The response has been amazing; it umted over five million likes within an hour. Wen Nian, I still want to convince you to consider a career in acting. You possess an extraordinary talent, and I can see how much you relish the experience of performing. You are a rare and gifted actor." Xu Chang: "Let''s not discuss other matters. I wish you all the best. If there''s anything I can do to assist you, please don''t hesitate to ask. I''ll always support you." Beneath Xu Chang''s messages were messages from Zheng Mo and Bai Zheng. Zheng Mo: "Wen Nian, I didn''t want to call you directly. Are you okay? I saw your public service ad, and it was incredibly moving. I''ve decided to sign up for a school volunteer event organized by our university. I''ll be teaching left-behind children during winter and summer breaks." Bai Zheng: "Do you need help with your family situation? I may not be able to assist with everything, but I''ll wholeheartedly support you in the realm of public opinion. If there''s anything you''d like to express but find it inconvenient to do so yourself, you can tell me." Bai Zheng: "Additionally, your public service advertisement was exceptionally well done. It has inspired me to write. I hope you''ll be the first to hear my new song when it''spleted." Numerous other people also sent WeChat messages. Wen Nian realized that her poprity would likely soar due to her public service ad and the recent developments concerning the Wen family. Actors and crew members who had previously worked with her extended their support, assuring her of their assistance whenever she needed it. Wen Nian responded to the messages one by one. At this moment, she noticed that Shen Jun was already embracing her on the sofa. "Have you finished replying?" Shen Jun raised an eyebrow. "You''re quite popr." Wen Nian chuckled awkwardly. "Not many people are genuinely concerned about me. They all believe that my coboration with Xu Chang will surely be popr this time. The entertainment industry has always favored the elite while leaving the less fortunate behind." "You seem to know quite a bit," Shen Jun said, a hint of confusion in his voice. "How do you even know about medical parole and executions outside of prison? Why didn''t I know you were nning to studyw?" Wen Nian lowered her head in embarrassment, pondering how to respond. She had brushed off Wen Yu''s earlier remark, so how should she exin her knowledge about this matter? Was it possible that she had spent a lot of time in prison in her previous life and had firsthand experience of this method for early release? However, feeling the intense gaze directed at her, Wen Nian took a deep breath and replied, "I did some research on this topic in the past and came across it asionally." "Really?" Shen Jun didn''t press further, and he was about to stand up to assist in the kitchen. But before he could do so, he heard something he didn''t want to hear. Wen Nian questioned him angrily, "Why aren''t you at home on New Year''s Eve?" Chapter 351 - 351: Someone from the Jiang Family Chapter 351: Someone from the Jiang Family Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun had already prepared himself for this. He gently held Wen Nian¡¯s hand, wearing a pitiful expression. ¡°Isn¡¯t today New Year¡¯s Eve? I¡¯ve been here with you and Uncle all day. I¡¯m so busy that 1 didn¡¯t even realize the time.¡± With a sad look, he continued, ¡°Look, no one asked me to go home for a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner. No one even asked me. Look how pitiful I am. It¡¯s already sote. How about you let me stay for another day? At least 1 need to have a warm New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, right?¡± Wen Nian wanted Shen Jun to go back and spend time with his family, especially on New Year¡¯s Eve. She didn¡¯t want to prevent the Shen Jun family from reuniting because of her family¡¯s issues. However, seeing Shen Jun¡¯s pitiful expression and realizing howte it was, Wen Nian¡¯s heart softened. She said helplessly, ¡°Alright, but you need to exin this to your mother. It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve, and it¡¯s important for your family to be together. You can go back tomorrow morning, okay?¡± Shen Jun was overjoyed. He had sent Shen Jiang off early in the morning, not only to ensure Shen Jiang had a pleasant holiday but also to have more time with Wen Nian. However, in the next moment, his phone rang, showing Zhao Jiao¡¯s caller ID. Shen Jun felt his temples throb. With a puzzled look from Wen Nian, Shen Jun answered the call. ¡°Mom, regarding Wen Nian¡¯s family¡­¡± Before Shen Jun could finish his sentence, Zhao Jiao¡¯s voice interrupted, ¡°Shen Jiang should be arriving at Wen Nian¡¯s house shortly. Your uncle has sent some people over, and they will stay at Wen Nian¡¯s house. You need toe back right away today.¡± It was unusual for Zhao Jiao to be so straightforward. Her tone even held a hint ofmand. Shen Jun knew that when his mother acted like this, something significant had urred. Hearing a car pulling up outside, Shen Jun said, ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon. Don¡¯t worry.¡± After ending the call, Wen Nian didn¡¯t inquire further. She sensed that it was inappropriate for Shen Jun not to spend New Year¡¯s Eve with his family, especially considering that his mother had ordered him to return home. Shen Jun, on the other hand, was concerned. Zhao Wu had dispatched personnel to protect their residence. The situation was likely not simple. He patted Wen Nian¡¯s hand and said, ¡°I need to return home. My uncle sent people to your house mainly for your protection.¡± ¡°Has something happened? Why do we need protection?¡± Wen Nian asked, her voice tinged with anxiety. If nothing was wrong, why would Zhao Wu send people to safeguard the Wen family, especially on New Year¡¯s Eve? Shen Jun shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure, but it¡¯s better to have some protection. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Hearing the horn honking outside, Shen Jun knew that Shen Jiang was urging him. He bade farewell to Wen Nian and left. Once in the car, Shen Jun inquired, ¡°What¡¯s happening at home?¡± ¡°I think they¡¯re from the Jiang family,¡± Shen Jiang replied. ¡°They heard that Chairman Shen and his wife were in Hai City and wanted to extend their hospitality. However, Chairman Shen and the others went out early in the morning, so Deputy Secretary Zhao only said a few words and didn¡¯t assign anyone to stay behind.¡± The Jiang family? Shen Jun silently thought. The Jiang family and the Shen family had little interaction, and they often had conflicting interests, making them almost like enemies. Though the Hai City Jiang family and the Jiang family in the capital were distinct, they had no ties to the Shen family. As for Jiang Chun, it seemed that she had stoppedmunicating with Shen Jun after the previous incident. She would only send asional well-wishes. Shen Jun returned home with a heavy heart. The New Year¡¯s Eve dinner was already prepared. It appeared to be a gourmet feast from a five-star hotel. Mrs. Zhao didn¡¯t consume much, but she was incredibly particr about her food. She didn¡¯t cook, and it was improbable that she would have prepared the feast personally. It was likely that Mr. Shen had ordered it early in the morning. Regrettably, despite the delectable spread before them, the four individuals seated around the table remained motionless. Apart from Bai Ling, who appeared flustered, the other three maintained a solemn posture. ¡°I¡¯m back,¡± Shen Jun announced as he removed his jacket and took his seat at the table. Zhao Jiao, who had a tendency to mock her son, chose not to initiate the conversation this time. Instead, Zhao Wu broke the silence, saying, ¡°Someone from the Jiang family paid us a visit today.¡± Shen Jun nodded, indicating that he already knew. ¡°But do you know who came?¡± Zhao Wu asked. ¡°The Jiang family here should be the previous second-inmand of the Jiang family. Shouldn¡¯t he be here?¡± Shen Jun looked puzzled. The Jiang family in Hai City wasn¡¯t a big family, and they¡¯re certainly not as influential as the Wei family. If they weren¡¯t the family head, they wouldn¡¯t have the privilege to meet Shen Mo or Zhao Jiao, let alone Zhao Wu,¡± Shen Junmented, appearing slightly puzzled. Zhao Wu looked at him meaningfully and continued, ¡°Jiang Guo wasn¡¯t here. It was that young girl, Jiang Chun, who came by herself..¡± Chapter 352 - 352: The Truth Chapter 352: The Truth Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Jiang Chun?¡± Shen Jun found it hard to believe. If Jiang Chun had wanted to visit, why hadn¡¯t she informed him beforehand? Moreover, how did she know that his parents were in Hai City? Could it be that the Jiang family had been monitoring the Shen family¡¯s movements? ¡°She imed that she saved you when you were young and that she¡¯s your childhood friend. She learned that your parents were in Hai City and wanted to visit her elders,¡± Zhao Wu remarked, his tone tinged with sarcasm. ¡°She¡¯s not our daughter-inw. Does she think she is visiting her parents-inw?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Shen Jun snapped at him before asking seriously, ¡°How did she know that my parents were in Hai City? Moreover, she shouldn¡¯t be the one visiting her elders during the New Year, right? She¡¯s just a kid.¡± Only then did Zhao Wu give him a look that said, ¡°You¡¯re teachable.¡± Then, he nodded and said, ¡°That¡¯s the problem.¡± ¡°When that girl arrived, she kept asking about you. And asking if you were helping Wen Nian report the incident to the police? While the Shen family¡¯s whereabouts is not a secret, it¡¯s weird how she found out so quickly that we came to the Hai City and about the situation between the Wei Family and the Wen Family¡­¡± Zhao Jiao continued where Zhao Wu left off, stating, ¡°It¡¯s all quite suspicious.¡± ¡°If it had been her father, he might possess the skills to extract information from me. However, that young girl is inexperienced,¡± Zhao Wumented, raising an eyebrow. ¡°But the younger ones will eventually be even more powerful than us. She¡¯s not an easy character.¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s furrowed brow, Zhao Jiao nudged Shen Mo with her elbow. She knew that her son excelled in many aspects, but he was straightforward and extremely loyal. While it was true that Jiang Chun had rescued him in the past, and her aunt had been injured as well, there appeared to be something amiss in this situation. Therefore, the Shen family had always been cautious about the Jiang family¡¯s goodwill. Furthermore, Zhao Jiao had conducted an investigation. Jiang Chun had been doing well in the school in the capital. It was the Jiang family¡¯s investigation into Shen Jun¡¯s presence in Hai City that hadpelled Jiang Chun to transfer to another school promptly. Zhao Jiao could not believe that the Jiang family had no ulterior motives. Nevertheless, she did not want to affect her son¡¯s judgment without concrete evidence. Following his wife¡¯s cue, Shen Mo added, ¡°The Jiang family assisted the Wei family in obtaining thend and permits. Moreover, the Jiang family also intervened in Wei Xiao¡¯s acquisition of shares. Furthermore, over this period, the Jiang family has acquired numerous shares of the Wei family.¡± Shen Mo was simply recounting the facts, but everyone in the room understood that the Jiang family had ulterior motives. Although the Wei family may not seem like a significant match for the Jiang family in the capital, their series of actions had been too peculiar. It was evident that the Wei Family would soon be led by a new person, and all of this was linked to the Jiang family. After a moment of contemtion, Shen Jun grasped the underlying reasoning behind it and inquired, ¡°So, you suspect the Jiang family¡¯s involvement in this matter?¡± Shen Mo affirmed his suspicion, saying, ¡°Wei Xiao has a multitude of attractive women under his employ. He has been dispatched to apany numerous influential figures in various fields within the capital. It appears that he is already preparing to establish himself there in the future.¡± Zhao Jiao, taking her phone, continued, ¡°This girl was formerly your ssmate. Huang Yue had been assigned to apany Director Wu, whom you were nning to handle. When Director Wu encountered difficulties, Wei Xiao seized the opportunity to transfer her to the Human Resources manager under Jiang Wei, who has been of significant help to Wei Xiao.¡± The situation was now quite clear. Wei Xiao had utilized his extensivework to fortify his standing within the capital, but he was no longer content with possessing a single piece ofnd. Despite Wei Feng¡¯s advanced age, he still had decades to live. Additionally, Wei Xiao had his father and uncle to contend with. Transitioning power from one generation to the next can be an uncertain process. Therefore, Wei Xiao made a preemptive move to target Wei Feng¡¯s vulnerable spots. Zhao Wu added, ¡°By the way, my men investigated and discovered that Wei Feng just signed the transfer agreement the day before yesterday. All the shares in his possession were shifted to his grandson, Wei Xiao. Additionally, Wei Xiao has been entrusted with thepany¡¯s operations in the capital. This includes properties and various assets. In summary, the greatest beneficiary of this arrangement is Wei Xiao.¡± Upon sharing this information, all of thempsed into a contemtive silence. Each of them harbored their own reflections, with no one privy to the thoughts of the others. Following a lengthy period of introspection, Shen Jun raised his head and posited, ¡°So the Jiang family in the capital is aware of my pursuit of evidence rted to Wei Feng¡¯s murder and of your decision to apany me to Hai City. They believe that your presence is an attempt to aid me in supporting the Wen family. They then revealed this information to Wei Xiao. And that¡¯s why Wei Xiao, risking everything, coerced his father into reporting his grandfather?¡± When Shen Jun asked this question, he had already confirmed his own guess. This was most likely the truth.. Chapter 353 - 353: Wei Ming Committed Suicide Chapter 353: Wei Ming Committed Suicide Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I think so too. Jiang Chun probably still has feelings for you, so he came to your parents to make his presence known. Otherwise, how could an old fox like Jiang Wei show his fox tail?¡± Zhao Wu didn¡¯t forget to tease Shen Jun. However, Shen Jun ignored his teasing. ¡°But if Wei Xiao does this, the Wei Corporation¡¯s share price will plummet. Even if he has shares, the major shareholders probably won¡¯t tolerate him.¡± Zhao Jiao rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s why he instigated his father to report it. Wei Ming never interferes in the Wei family¡¯s matters. Wei Xiao is just a child and has shares in his hands. Can the shareholders eat him up?¡± ¡°If the shareholders suffer losses, they will definitely cause trouble. It¡¯s not so easy to appease the public anger.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t agree with Zhao Jiao¡¯s words. Although Wei Ming and Wei Xiao were not the same person, they were still father and son. Although the culprit was Wei Feng, the shareholders would only see who caused them to suffer losses. If they were angry, they had to vent their anger. Then, the best person to vent their anger now would definitely be Wei Xiao. How could Wei Xiao live well in the Wei Corporation? At this moment, Bai Ling, who had been peeking at her phone, suddenly said weakly, ¡°Were you talking about Wei Ming just now? Wei Xiao¡¯s father?¡± ¡°We¡¯re talking about something important at home. Why are you still secretly ying with your phone?¡± Zhao Wu¡¯s tone was stiff, but his actions were gentle. He took Bai Ling¡¯s hand and looked at the news on his phone. ¡°What the heck? Wei Mingmitted suicide? Did hemit suicide on New Year¡¯s Eve?¡± Usually, Zhao Wu would not swear, but this time, he was really shocked. This year, all kinds of things happened one after another. He was originally in a good mood to spend the New Year alone with Bai Ling. Bai Ling gently nudged him, signaling him with her eyes to be careful. His sister and brother-inw were still around. However, Zhao Wu was so shocked that he couldn¡¯t care about anything else. ¡°1 don¡¯t know if Wei Ming is dead or not. I¡¯ll contact someone to investigate now. Why did hemit suicide for no reason?¡± Zhao Wu hurriedly picked up the phone to contact his people, but the people at the table had serious expressions. Why did Wei Mingmit suicide? The media said that he killed himself because he reported his father and caused Wei Feng to be in aa in the ICU. But was that the truth? The Wen family, who were about to have their reunion dinner, also saw the news of Wei Ming¡¯s suicide. The news on the Inte was spreading too quickly now. In less than ten minutes, Wei Ming¡¯s suicide had already be a trending topic. ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible!¡± Wen Xing was a little incoherent. ¡°It¡¯s been so many years. We¡¯ve only met once. How could he havemitted suicide in such a short period of time? How could he have died? That¡¯s not right! He was still fine in the afternoon!¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Yu hurriedlyforted him. Zhou Mei also kept wiping her tears discreetly. Wei Ming could be considered very good friends with them in the past. They didn¡¯t expect that they would be separated by life and death now. However, Wen Nian stared at the news page without moving. Her heart kept twitching. Bad things happened one after another. She was afraid that Wei Feng¡¯s matter would end here. The person who reported Wei Fengmitted suicide out of guilt, and Wei Feng had a cerebral hemorrhage and hadn¡¯t woken up yet. Even if he woke up, the Wei family probably had the ability to keep him outside the prison for treatment. The biggest beneficiary was Wei Xiao. With his methods, the Wei family would probably fall into Wei Xiao¡¯s hands soon. Wei Ming¡¯s death could appease the anger of the Wei Corporation¡¯s board of directors. In the end, Wei Xiao was left with helplessness and sympathy. In her previous life, it would take Wei Xiao nearly ten years to control a portion of the Wei family. She didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian¡¯s rebirth to change all of this. Wen Nian opened a streamer¡¯s live-stream. It was outside a hospital. ¡°Wei Ming, the youngest son of the Wei family, just called the police this morning and reported his father, Wei Feng, for murder. Hemitted suicide tonight because of guilt. It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve today, and the Wei family, the number one family in Hai City, is probably going to be destroyed.¡± There was a hint of excitement in the streamer¡¯s voice. The number of people in the live-stream had also reached 50,000 to 60,000. ¡°Dearizens, please send your gifts. The streamer on New Year¡¯s Eve has brought you here to see the information on Wei Ming¡¯s suicide. Please send your gifts!¡± The camera suddenly shed andnded on a man¡¯s hurried figure. The streamer ran, and the camera became unstable. ¡°1 think it¡¯s the Wei family. I¡¯ll bring everyone over to see who it is.¡± Before the streamer could run close, she heard the man shout, ¡°Don¡¯t stop me! Get Wei Xiao, that brat, toe out! Where¡¯s Wei Jiang? Where the f*ck is he?¡± Chapter 354 - 354: Always Been This Way Chapter 354: Always Been This Way Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios In the camera, a few Wei family bodyguards stopped a tall man, but none of them dared to attack. The man, on the other hand, looked furious and kept cursing. When he realized that someone was filming, he turned around and cursed at the camera, ¡°Get the f*ck out of here!¡± Seeing his face, Wen Nian thought for a long time before suddenly remembering who this person was. She didn¡¯t expect the Wei family¡¯s Wei Hai, who had been away for many years, to return. Wei Feng was the son of Wei Feng and his first wife, but Wei Feng had always been doing business in the gray area. For some reason, he had never been on good terms with Wei Feng. After he became an adult, he rarely went home. Wen Nian had only seen him twice and did not have a deep impression of him. However, she heard that Wei Xiao¡¯s uncle was a ruthless person. He had found many smuggling channels before he was 20 years old. In addition, he was ruthless and loyal. Everyone in the underworld respected him. Wen Nian¡¯s deepest impression of him was that in his previous life, when Wei Feng was hospitalized, Wei Hai received the news and rushed back. However, when he saw Wei Xiao, he punched Wei Xiao to the ground without a word and scolded him for being an ingrate and a wolf cub. At that time, Wei Xiao only said that he, his uncle, had always hated his younger brothers. After all, he was not Wei Jiang and Wei Ming¡¯s mother, so it was inevitable that he looked down on them. Wen Nian didn¡¯t think too much about it at that time. Such family matters were everywhere. The Wei family only had three brothers and no illegitimate children. Their rtionship could be considered simple. However, when she saw Wei Hai again in this life, it didn¡¯t seem to be the case. Why was he targeting Wei Xiao? Was it like this in his previous life or in this life? Could it be that he also had evidence of Wei Xiao harming others? However, before Wen Nian could continue thinking, the streamer¡¯s phone was knocked off. The image spun a few times before the live-stream was closed. Wen Nian frowned and heard Wen Xing ask, ¡°Are they talking about Wei Ming? How did hemit suicide? Did he discover it in time? Is there still hope?¡± Seeing Wen Xing¡¯s anxious expression and thinking about how Wei Ming had sent his father to prison to protect the Wen family, Wen Nian felt like a fishbone was stuck in her throat. She calmed herself down and said, ¡°Dad, don¡¯t be anxious. It¡¯s the New Year¡¯s Eve today. The Wei family has to have a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner no matter what. They might find out early and Uncle Wei might be fine. You, don¡¯t worry too much.¡± It was as if Wen Xing had grabbed onto a life-saving straw. He kept muttering, ¡°Yes, yes. He might have been discovered early and saved in time. He¡¯ll definitely be fine! Yes, he¡¯ll definitely be fine!¡± No one ate the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner. In the end, Zhou Mei apanied Wen Xing back to his room to rest. Before midnight, Shen Jun sent a video call to Wen Nian. Wen Nian quickly picked it up. The moment they saw each other, the two of them felt much more at ease. Wen Nian finally forced a smile. ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Shen Jun moved his mouth but didn¡¯t say ¡°Happy New Year¡±. He knew that Wen Nian and even the Wen family couldn¡¯t be happy. ¡°You know about Uncle Wei, right?¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t wait for Wen Nian to answer and immediately said, ¡°The Jiang family in the capital is also involved in this matter. My parents probably came to Hai City to alert the enemy, so Wei Xiao made the first move. Wei Feng transferred all his assets and shares to Wei Xiao two days ago¡­¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t continue, but he knew that Wen Nian would definitely understand. ¡°Wei Xiao probably threatened Wei Feng before he instigated his father to go to the police station to call the police. After he obtained the assets, he called the police. Now that Uncle Wei hasmitted suicide, even if the board of directors is angry, it will at least be halved. It won¡¯t affect his status in the Wei Corporation. Now that he has taken over thend in the capital, he will probably enter the capital soon. At that time, he can make a name for himself in the capital. Which board of directors will object to him?¡± Wen Nian voiced her thoughts in one breath and sneered. ¡°Hmph, this is really Wei Xiao¡¯s method. He has always been like this.¡± Shen Jun wanted to ask her why she knew Wei Xiao so well, but he didn¡¯t ask in the end. ¡°Wen Nian, what do you think next? I¡¯ll support you fully. I¡¯ve already gotten someone to investigate.¡± Looking at the determined Shen Jun on the phone screen, Wen Nian felt a warmth in his heart. ¡°There¡¯s no need to do anything else. Leave the rest to the police..¡± Chapter 355 - 355: Returning to the Wei Corporation Chapter 355: Returning to the Wei Corporation Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian was familiar with Wei Xiao¡¯s personality. Even if he had something incriminating on him, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to find it quickly. Fortunately, Wei Xiao, not yet 20 years old, wasn¡¯t as meticulous in his actions as he had been in his previous life. Wen Nian was confident she could discover something to use against him. Rather than concentrating on dealing with Wei Xiao, it was more prudent to address Wei Feng first. Confirming that Wei Feng hadmitted murder would provide the leverage needed to bring down the Wei family. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the atmosphere in the Wen family was no longer as festive. Eventually, they decided to return to their home in Hai City and took Wen Yan back to the hospital there. Unfortunately, given Wen Yan¡¯s current condition, she wouldn¡¯t wake up anytime soon. Her brain had sustained severe damage, and the prolonged period of submersion meant she might remain unconscious indefinitely. Wen Nian looked at Wen Yan, who was lying on the hospital bed. Her face was pale. She had lost a lot of weight in just a few days and could only rely on IVs to maintain her vital signs every day. Wen Nian walked forward gently and held her hand. ¡°We usually don¡¯t get along, but I¡¯ll definitely seek justice for you and your parents. You have to work hard to wake up and stop sleeping.¡± After she left, a tear fell from the corner of Wen Yan¡¯s eye. Unfortunately, there were too few tears, and they quickly dried up. On the other hand, the Wei family on the first day of the Lunar New Year was not lifeless. The house was about to turn upside down. ¡°Wei Jiang, don¡¯t stop me. This brat dares toe back? I¡¯ll beat him to death!¡± Wei Hai forcefully pushed away Wei Jiang. Wei Jiang promptly lunged at him again, fully aware of his elder brother¡¯s formidable strength. ¡°Brother! Wei Xiao is just a child. Wei Ming justmitted suicide. Don¡¯t go crazy.¡± Wei Jiang signaled Wei Xiao to hurry upstairs with his eyes. Wei Xiao nced at his unfamiliar uncle before rushing upstairs. He had no impression of Wei Feng. He knew that Wei Feng had a bad temper and didn¡¯t have a good rtionship with him. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have gone home every few years. However, this time, Wei Hai found out from somewhere that all of this was instigated by Wei Xiao. He even found out that Wei Feng had transferred all his shares to Wei Xiao. When the cause and effect were rted, even a brainless person like Wei Jiang could understand. Wei Jiang knew that Wei Ming had been investigating the Old Mrs. Wei and the Wen family, but he didn¡¯t want to care. He knew that Wei Ming was kind-hearted and wouldn¡¯t report his biological father. Anyway, it was fine as long as he had money to spend. He wasn¡¯t cut out to manage apany. Instead, he was willing to let Wei Feng or Wei Ming take charge so that he could survive. However, he didn¡¯t expect Wei Xiao to be so capable. Not only had he made Wei Feng so angry that he fell unconscious, but he also forced Wei Ming tomit suicide. Wei Jiang nced at Wei Xiao¡¯s room upstairs with a dark gaze and pushed Wei Hai hard. ¡°Second Brother Wei!¡± Wei Hai was so angry that his chest kept rising and falling. ¡°You¡¯re still protecting this wolf cub? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re involved in what he did?¡± ¡°What are you talking about? No matter how stupid I am, I can¡¯t possibly harm our father and brother, right?¡± Wei Jiang looked angry. ¡°If I had such a scheme, I would have be the head of the Wei Corporation long ago. You think highly of me.¡± Then, he muttered softly, ¡°Fortunately, Wei Ming isn¡¯t dead. That¡¯s a good thing.¡± Wei Hai looked at him and did not chase after him. He sat down on the sofa. However, he still did not show mercy. ¡°This kid is too f*cking vicious. They¡¯re all blood-rted. How dare he?¡± Although Wei Hai was not at home all year round, he was still the eldest son of the Wei family. Coupled with the fact that he was considered a famous figure in the south, even if he did not nt spies in the Wei family, there would still be people rushing to tell him about the Wei family¡¯s situation. Wei Hai was like Wei Feng in this aspect, but he paid more attention to blood ties and morality. He definitely couldn¡¯t ept what Wei Xiao had done. ¡°This isn¡¯t over. Second Brother, let me tell you, this isn¡¯t over!¡± Observing his brother¡¯s furious expression, Wei Jiang too felt the stirrings of anger. ¡°Damn it, Wei Ming is such an honest person. Why did he father such a thing? A while ago, my daughter took the me for the Jiang family to secure ournd in the capital. That¡¯s how she obtained thatnd. I never expected Wei Xiao to benefit from it now.¡± ¡°Let him off easy? Impossible!¡± Wei Hai gritted his teeth. ¡°As long as I¡¯m here, an ingrate like him can forget about standing firm in the Wei Corporation!¡± ¡°Big Brother, what¡­ what are your ns?¡± Wei Jiang felt an uneasy sensation for some inexplicable reason. ¡°What do 1 n to do?¡± Wei Hai snorted coldly. ¡°Go back to the Wei Residence..¡± Chapter 356 - 356: The Best Choice Chapter 356: The Best Choice Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wei Xiao returned to the bedroom nervously, feeling a little flustered. He thought that Wei Ming would definitely die, but he didn¡¯t expect that Wei Feng¡¯s old butler really went to the small vi to visit Wei Ming. Wei Ming was discovered to have slit his wrist in the bathroom not toote, so his life was saved. Initially saddened by Wei Ming¡¯s plight, his thoughts now swirled with the repercussions of Jiang Guo¡¯s words. ¡°If you want the Jiang family in the capital to think highly of you, some people have to give up.¡± Considering Jiang Guo¡¯s possible motives for saying such a thing, Wei Xiao spected that it might be the Jiang Wei faction advising him about the Shen family¡¯s arrival. There was this glimmer of hope for his future. Wei Feng had been rushed to the hospital. They had called the ambnce an hour after the cerebral hermorrhage and it was just as expected that Wei Feng couldn¡¯t wake up. Wei Ming was also unconscious because of excessive blood loss. The board of directors would probably criticize him in the future and wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for him. He was a little boy who had lost his mother, his father hadmitted suicide, and his grandfather was unconscious. Of course, he would not be the target of the board of directors. However, when he thought of the fierce Wei Hai downstairs, Wei Xiao¡¯s expression darkened. He really didn¡¯t know this uncle, but what Wei Hai had done was enough to make him suffer. Wei Hai hadn¡¯t ventured to the hospital alone; he had arranged for medical staff and ensured that Wei Feng received proper care. Wei Xiao¡¯s own people were rendered powerless in the face of Wei Hai¡¯s arrangements. To exacerbate matters, a board member warned Wei Xiao about Wei Hai¡¯s spies, urging caution. In addition, Wei Xiao had heard from his room that Wei Hai was returning to the Wei Corporation. He panicked even more. Faced with these mounting challenges, Wei Xiao reached for his phone and dialed Jiang Guo. Binding himself to the Jiang family became the utmost priority. Meanwhile, Shen Jun, sleepless for most of the night, grappled with the results of Zhao Wu¡¯s investigation. He didn¡¯t even know how to exin it to Wen Nian. The evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s murder was conclusive. Not only was the murder of Wen Sheng exposed, but the suspect of Yang Shu¡¯s murder was also arrested in another province yesterday. ording to two people, it was Wei Feng who contacted them. Wei Feng¡¯s fingerprints were found on the money box. Moreover, the goods pulled by the Li brothers traced back to a Wei Corporation branch. It was said that Wei Feng had repeatedly instructed them to hire the Li brothers as drivers. The few managers of the Wei Corporation unanimously agreed that the chairman¡¯s orders were the driving force behind their actions. They imed to be merely adhering to established rules, supported by the fact that Wei Feng¡¯s signature adorned the contracts in question. All of this pointed to Wei Feng. Although Wen Xun¡¯s family¡¯s matter was still inconclusive and the result of the investigation was still suicide, it was not difficult to guess who the mastermind was. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that something was wrong. Wei Feng was the chairman of the Wei Corporation after all. Why did he do it himself every time he killed someone? However, all the witnesses reported the same story. Even if the police were suspicious, there was probably no other way. In the midst of this unfolding drama, Shen Jun found himself grappling with a headache. It was almost as though the evidences had agreed to show up together after New Year¡¯s Eve just to finalize the verdict. Wei Feng, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t in good condition. He had a severe cerebral hemorrhage and couldn¡¯t leave the intensive care unit at all. If he couldn¡¯t be revived during the 48-hour critical period, he probably wouldn¡¯t live to the third day of the Lunar New Year. Even in the event of discovering his involvement in foul y, the Wei family would ultimately bear the burden ofpensation. Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but ponder the paradox of seeking justice for a man whose demise seemed imminent. The idea of venting anger on a lifeless body felt futile. While Shen Jun anticipated Wen Nian¡¯s premonition, he struggled with the prospect of conveying these grim details to her. Being the bearer of such news weighed heavily on him, as he grappled with the conflict between duty andpassion. Amidst the turmoil, Shen Jun¡¯s phone interrupted his thoughts. It was a message from Jiang Chun on WeChat. Jiang Chun: Happy New Year! Jiang Chun wishes you a happy new year! I hope that you can get into the ideal school in thest semester of your third year! (Although I know that you will definitely be fine!) Shen Jun frowned. Recalling that Jiang Chun hade to the house yesterday, he replied on WeChat. Shen Jun: Happy New Year. Jiang Chun, however, didn¡¯t anticipate such a perfunctory reply. When she had visited the Shen Jun¡¯s parents, he didn¡¯t expect that Shen Jun would be absent. He had been keeping Wen Nianpany and had not returned at all. She felt a little depressed. Shen Mo¡¯s visit to Hai City was a big deal. Many families in Hai City were probably keeping an eye on him, but very few people knew about Shen Jun¡¯s background. She thought she was in a favorable position. After all, she had saved Shen Jun. Jiang Chun clearly remembered that Shen Jun¡¯s mother liked her very much back then, but for some reason, the two families stopped contacting each other. This time, she wanted to rebuild a good rtionship. In the future, she would need to return to the capital. While the Jiang family was not a bad option, she felt the necessity to align herself with a more influential supporter. The Shen family was not her only choice, but it was undoubtedly her best one.. Chapter 357 - 357: You Don’t Have to Come Chapter 357: You Don¡¯t Have to Come Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Looking at the perfunctory ¡°Happy New Year¡±, Jiang Chun quickly typed out the content on WeChat. Before she could finish, Shen Jun sent her a second WeChat message. Shen Jun: How did you know that my parents came to Hai City? Jiang Chun was stunned. This was not a particrly big secret. Anyone with ulterior motives would probably be able to find out. She only discovered it after overhearing the phonecall conversation between Jiang Guo and Jiang Wei. She didn¡¯t understand what was wrong, but she vaguely felt that something was amiss. Jiang Chun: Since your parents came to Hai City, 1 wanted to see them. We haven¡¯t seen each other for so many years. I wondered if they still recognize me. Do you still remember? When we were rescued, your mother even praised me for being like a doll and gave me delicious dragon whisker crisps! 1 bought many gifts yesterday, but your uncle didn¡¯t ept them. Are you at home today? Is it convenient for me to visit you? After sending the message, Jiang Chun started preparing to go out. Regardless of whether Shen Jun agreed or not, she had to go. Shen Jun: I¡¯ll apany Wen Nian. There¡¯s no one at home. You don¡¯t have toe. Although she was mentally prepared, Jiang Chun was still a little hurt by Shen Jun¡¯s cold rejection. She took a deep breath and deleted the WeChat message that Shen Jun rejected. At most, she would just say that she didn¡¯t receive the message. She had to see Shen Jun¡¯s parents! Just as she was about to go out, Grandma Jiang stopped her. ¡°Jiang Chun, where are you going? There are guests at home on the first day of the Lunar New Year. You should meet them too.¡± Hearing his grandma¡¯s voice, Jiang Chun hurriedly said, ¡°Shen Jun¡¯s parents are in Hai City. I have to meet them.¡± However, the olddy was no longer as gentle as before. She frowned and said, ¡°Jiang Chun, help me as I walk back to my room.¡± ¡°But grandma, Shen Jun is at home now. In a while¡­¡± Seeing her grandma¡¯s cold gaze, Jiang Chun shut her mouth very wisely. When the two of them returned to their room, the olddy asked, ¡°How did you know that Shen Jun¡¯s parents came to Hai City?¡± Unexpectedly, it was the same question again. Only then did Jiang Chun tell her about hearing Jiang Guo¡¯s phonecall conversation that day. ¡°Does Shen Jun know about this? Does he know that our family knows that his parents came to Hai City?¡± The olddy¡¯s voice was t, but Jiang Chun could tell that she was angry. Jiang Chun shook her head subconsciously. Seeing the olddy¡¯s scrutinizing gaze, she quickly thought of an excuse and quickly exined, ¡°Something happened to Wen Nian¡¯s family. 1 thought that Shen Jun must be with her, so¡­¡± She didn¡¯t continue, but it sounded like she had just contacted Shen Jun today and was going to visit him. Hearing her say this, the olddy was relieved. ¡°That¡¯s good. Remember, no one in the Jiang family knows that the Shen family came. No one investigated the Shen family¡¯s whereabouts.¡± ¡°What should I say when I visit them? 1 need to know the reason why the Shen family is in Hai City, right?¡± Jiang Chun asked. Shen Jun had also asked her this question just now. She had to have a suitable excuse. She also knew that these big families hated the surveince of others the most, not to mention that her grandmother had also instructed her not to say that the Jiang family knew about this. ¡°The department manager of your uncle¡¯spany flew back on the same flight as Shen Jun and the others.¡± The olddy gave her a meaningful look. ¡°Talk about the kindness you had when you were young and your good rtionship with Shen Jun now. If you don¡¯t mention some things, Shen Jun probably won¡¯t say them either.¡± Hearing her grandmother¡¯s words, Jiang Chun felt a little awkward. Last time, she had used the olddy¡¯s name to deliver the medicine, and so many things had happened online. It was indeed not glorious. Moreover, because of this matter, Jiang Wei had already scolded her fiercely. She could not make any more mistakes. She only whispered, ¡°I understand, Grandma.¡± Seeing the olddy nod, sheposed herself and asked the driver to send her to the district where Zhao Wu¡¯s vi was located. Unexpectedly, the moment she arrived, she met Shen Jun, who was about to go out. Although the two of them were in the same school, it had been a long time since Jiang Chun had been so close to Shen Jun. She suddenly felt a little nervous. She saw that Shen Jun was wearing a ck woolen coat and a white scarf today. Although it was just a simplebination, it exuded an understated beauty. She hurried forward and said excitedly, ¡°Shen Jun, Happy New Year! Fortunately, I came in time. Otherwise, 1 wouldn¡¯t have caught you!¡± Shen Jun looked at Jiang Chun, who was dressed in pink, in front of him and thought of Wen Nian in ck. He frowned slightly. ¡°Didn¡¯t 1 tell you not toe?¡± ¡°Did you say that?¡± Jiang Chun took out her phone with a puzzled expression and waved it at Shen Jun.. ¡°Was your message not sent? I didn¡¯t receive it!¡± Chapter 358 - 358: As expected of you Chapter 358: As expected of you Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At this moment, Madam Zhao Jiao had also came out of the house. She was wearing a white woolen coat and an elegant top hat. Behind her was Shen Mo, who was wearing a white suit. At first nce, the couple¡¯s clothes really matched. Seeing Jiang Chun in front of her, Zhao Jiao said to Shen Jun unhappily, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to Wen Nian? Are you not in a hurry now?¡± Zhao Jiao inadvertently sized up Jiang Chun. She could be considered pure, but she was not considered a stunning beauty. She did not know how Jiang Chun had taken the school belle position away from her daughter-inw. A girl with such looks would probably have long be an i8th-tier celebrity in the entertainment industry. Actually, when Jiang Chun saw Shen Jun¡¯s parents for the first time after she grew up, she suddenly felt a little uneasy. However, Jiang Chun quickly adjusted her emotions and put on a harmless smile. ¡°Hello, Uncle and Auntie. Happy New Year! I¡¯m Jiang Chun, the little girl who was kidnapped with Shen Jun when she was young. Do you still remember me?¡± Shen Mo only nodded slightly, and Zhao Jiao gave a meaningful ¡°oh¡±. ¡°Happy New Year, but we¡¯re going out soon. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t be able to entertain you.¡± Zhao Jiao smiled politely and was about to leave. ¡°Auntie, wait a minute.¡± Jiang Chun stopped the two of them in a panic. This action annoyed Zhao Jiao even more. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhao Jiao couldn¡¯t get angry at outsiders, so she could only say to Shen Jun unhappily, ¡°I already said that I¡¯m going out, I¡¯m going out. Why are you still letting outsiders visit? If 1 leave, they might think the Shen Family is acting superior and arrogant. Boy! You can¡¯t even handle such a small matter?¡± Shen Jun was already used to being Madam Zhao¡¯s punching bag. He looked indifferent. However, Jiang Chun was anxious. She felt really ufortable being called an outsider. She quickly took out her phone. ¡°Shen Jun said that he told me, but I didn¡¯t receive a WeChat message. Perhaps, it¡¯s because the signal on my phone isn¡¯t good? Or there¡¯s a problem with the software.¡± Afraid that Zhao Jiao wouldn¡¯t believe her, she handed her phone over and added, ¡°There must be too many people using WeChat to visit during the new year, so the software is down.¡± Unexpectedly, in the next second, Zhao Jiao took Jiang Chun¡¯s phone and handed it to Shen Jun. Then, she said to Jiang Chun with concern, ¡°Shen Jun is an expert in this field. Perhaps there¡¯s something wrong with your phone. Let him fix it for you. Fortunately, nothing bad happened this time. But a youngdy like you shouldn¡¯t use such a phone as it wouldn¡¯t be safe if something big had happened.¡± Jiang Chun choked on her words and looked at Shen Jun for help. But Shen Jun wasn¡¯t looking at her at all. He was working quickly on the phone. In less than ten seconds, Shen Jun frowned. ¡°I found the content on WeChat. You must have deleted it yourself. Look, I told you not toe. There¡¯s no one at home.¡± She watched as Shen Jun spoke in a serious manner and even took the initiative to show Jiang Chun the chat records. Zhao Jiao gritted her teeth and grabbed her husband¡¯s jacket tightly with one hand. Her eyes were wide open. She didn¡¯t even dare to blink, afraid that she would burst intoughter the next second. It was obvious that the little girl wanted to visit and deliberately deleted the WeChat message. Shen Jun, this straight man, actually didn¡¯t see through the little girl¡¯s thoughts at all and even found the content of her WeChat. What kind of funny plot was this? Seeing his wife¡¯s eyes widen to the point of tears, Shen Mo looked at the nail marks left by Zhao Jiao¡¯s new manicure and sighed inwardly. ¡°It¡¯s gettingte. We still have things to do. Student Jiang, please excuse us. Happy New Year to you too.¡± Shen Mo¡¯s words were like a life-saving straw for Jiang Chun. She quickly took back her phone and said, ¡°Uncle, Auntie, if you have something on, I won¡¯t hold you up. If there¡¯s a chance next time, I¡¯ll visit you again.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes were red as she looked at Shen Jun resentfully. ¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with this phone. I might have identally deleted the content. 1-1 won¡¯t disturb you anymore. Happy New Year to you.¡± Without waiting for Shen Jun¡¯s reply, she ran to the car. The moment the car started, she heard Zhao Jiao¡¯s unbridledughter. Shen Mo hugged her waist helplessly. ¡°Can¡¯t you save some face for that child?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhao Jiaoughed so hard that tears almost flowed out of her eyes. ¡°I really tried to endure, but 1 couldn¡¯t!¡± Then, she gave Shen Jun a thumbs up.. ¡°As expected of you!¡± Chapter 359 - 359: We’re All Family Chapter 359: We¡¯re All Family Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Chun sat in the car and did not dare to turn around. That was not what she had imagined. She had saved Shen Jun before. At that time, Shen Jun¡¯s mother had treated her quite well. She should have let her in at least. But why was everything different now? She took out her phone angrily and saw the message that Shen Jun had found. The words ¡°I¡¯ll apany Wen Nian¡±pletely hurt her. ¡°Wen Nian! You b*tch!¡± She muttered this name through gritted teeth. She still didn¡¯t understand how she was inferior to Wen Nian. Why did Shen Jun like her so much? Thinking of her grandma¡¯s overly serious tone today and Shen Jun¡¯s parents¡¯ attitude towards her today, Jiang Chun took out her phone and startedposing a message. ¡°Jiang Ning, are you still at home? Do you want toe out and shop?¡± Wen Nian sneezed for no reason. She wondered who was cursing her again. In her previous life, she was used to being badmouthed and cursed. When she first started acting, she also kept sneezing. The old people said that someone was talking bad about her behind her back. Zhou Mei asked with concern, ¡°Nian Nian, are you too tired? Or did you catch a cold? Since you¡¯re in the hospital, why don¡¯t 1 apany you to take a look?¡± Wen Nian rubbed her nose and waved her hand. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m probably just not used to the smell of the hospital.¡± Early in the morning, the Wen familypleted the transfer procedures for Wen Yan and followed the ambnce back to Hai City. Although Wen Xun¡¯s family was not rich, Li Ke was a powerful person and had always been in charge of money. She had really saved up a lot of money. Even if Wen Yan woke up alone, she would not have to worry about food and clothing. Wen Xing and Zhou Mei were not ruthless people. The Li family was already in a mess. Only a few rtives hade to visit Wen Yan, and they could not count on the rest. The couple had long wanted to bring Wen Yan over so that the child could have a family. Looking at Wen Yan on the hospital bed, Zhou Mei was a little sad. ¡°What if this child wakes up and finds out that her parents are gone?¡± Wen Nian hugged her shoulderfortingly. ¡°It¡¯s a good thing that she can wake up. As long as she¡¯s alive, there¡¯s hope. Besides, didn¡¯t the doctor say that she¡¯s fine in her current state? She might wake up sometime.¡± Zhou Mei only nodded, but she knew that these wereforting words. The doctor had clearly said that Wen Yan was probably going to remain in a vegetative state. Shen Jun also came to the hospital to pick up Wen Nian. Seeing the darkness under his eyes, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing felt their hearts ache. Especially when they thought about how they had wanted to break up the two children in the beginning, Zhou Mei felt even more embarrassed. ¡°Shen Jun, thank you so much for this period of time,¡± Zhou Mei said uneasily in the car. ¡°You ran around for my family¡¯s matters. If it weren¡¯t for your help and your family¡¯s help, I¡¯m afraid our family would have been in trouble too.¡± Shen Jun just nodded slightly. ¡°Auntie, we¡¯re all family. There¡¯s no need to say anything. This is what 1 should do.¡± However, when she heard his words, Wen Nian blushed all the way to her ears and muttered softly, ¡°Who¡¯s your family?¡± Shen Jun secretly held her hand without batting an eyelid. Wen Nian wanted to break free, but because her parents and brother were in the car, she didn¡¯t dare to struggle. In the end, she could only re at Shen Jun. When she came to the Wen family¡¯s house again, it had only been a few days since anyone lived there. A faintyer of dust settled within the home, mirroring the somber atmosphere that engulfed everyone¡¯s emotions. Zhou Mei had initially nned to spruce up the ce and prepare a few delectable dishes to express her gratitude to Shen Jun for being there. However, her intentions were thwarted by Shen Jun. ¡°Auntie, everyone is tired. Don¡¯t worry about cooking. I¡¯ve already asked the restaurant to make lunch and send it over.¡± Before Wen Xing and Zhou Mei could refuse, Shen Jun spoke again. ¡°My uncle received news that Wei Feng¡¯s murder was conclusive. Not only Grandpa Wen, but Yang Shu and the three brothers of the Li family were also killed by him.¡± Wen Xing was no longer agitated. He only asked calmly, ¡°But in his situation, he can¡¯t pay with his life, right? He can¡¯t go to jail? That person died for nothing?¡± Zhou Mei and Wen Yu did not speak, but their eyes were filled with anger. Shen Jun briefly exined the information that Zhao Wu had found. Wen Nian remained silent, but she already had her suspicions. Was everything so coincidental? Wei Feng couldn¡¯t wake up, and all the evidence pointed to him. It was really a coincidence. But Wen Xing and Zhou Mei didn¡¯t think too much about it. They only knew that Wei Feng couldn¡¯t be brought to justice.. Chapter 360 - 360:1 Know Wei Xiao Chapter 360:1 Know Wei Xiao Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for awyer to assist in yourwsuit, aiming for increasedpensation,¡± Shen Jun said, taking a deep breath. ¡°I know you may not be interested inpensation, but under the circumstances, it¡¯s our best option. Besides, Wen Yan¡¯s ongoing treatment will undoubtedly incur substantial expenses. Moreover, there¡¯s a lead regarding her being pushed into the water. The truth wille to light eventually.¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s words, the few of them lost interest. This wasn¡¯t unfolding like a typical television drama where the viin faces justice and receives deserved punishment. Even withpensation, what good is it for someone who can¡¯t be brought back to life? Lunch arrived punctually. All the restaurants in Hai City had been fully booked two months prior for the Lunar New Year. Without Shen Jun¡¯s efforts, their meal wouldn¡¯t have been asvish. Yet, nobody had the appetite to eat. Until Wei Feng and the Wei family faced consequences, the Wen family couldn¡¯t find peace. After lunch, Wen Nian stood up. ¡°Dad, Mom, I¡¯ll apany Shen Jun back. 1 want to go out for some fresh air too.¡± Zhou Mei initially wanted her to stay home and rest; Wen Nian had endured enough already. A child shouldn¡¯t bear the weight of such matters. However, considering Shen Jun¡¯s support for the family over the past days, she thought it was good for the couple to go out and talk. Zhou Mei nodded. ¡°Come back before it gets dark. Be careful.¡± The two of them didn¡¯t hop into the car after leaving. Instead, they strolled toward a small park behind the Wen family. As it was the New Year, the park was adorned with rednterns and Chinese knots, creating a festive atmosphere. Some children were ndestinely setting off firecrackers. Wen Nian gazed at the scene ahead, seemingly uninterested. In her previous life, she had spent New Year¡¯s with high-profile individuals, often attending numerous drinking sessions. She rarely returned home for the New Year. In her memory, the times she had a reunion dinner with her family could be counted on one hand. She had lived a good life in this life. She had checked on her family, but it was still difficult for her to have a happy reunion meal. ¡°I¡¯ve already arranged for a neurology specialist toe to Hai City after the New Year to treat Wen Yan,¡± Shen Jun shared after walking for almost half an hour. ¡°Her condition isn¡¯t optimistic. You need to prepare yourself mentally.¡± Wen Nian simply nodded, choosing not to speak. Shen Jun added, ¡°Wen Yan was pushed by someone. The police conducted a scene investigation, but there are no surveince cameras nearby, and they didn¡¯t find anyone suspicious. So, we might need to be patient a little longer.¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to wait for,¡± Wen Nian suddenly said. ¡°Even if we catch him, we¡¯ll inevitably point at Wei Feng in the end. It¡¯s perfect for a living dead to take the me.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s eyes darkened slightly, but he didn¡¯t say anything. He knew very well that Wen Nian sensed something was amiss in recent events, but theycked concrete evidence. ¡°But Wei Xiao shouldn¡¯t be so watertight now.¡± Wen Nian suddenly stopped in his tracks. This puzzled her. Wei Feng had no reason to kill Yang Shu, let alone Wen Xun¡¯s family. The three Li brothers were entirely unrted to each other, not even worth Wei Feng¡¯s attention. Yang Shu held evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s crimes, and the two kept each other in check. However, Wen Xun¡¯s family was merely a sideshow. At most, they could generate some entertainment gossip, but it wouldn¡¯t affect Wei Feng in any substantial way. ¡°The deaths of these people can¡¯t actually threaten our family, but they can threaten Wei Ming. Wei Ming believes Wei Feng must wipe out our entire family. That¡¯s why Wei Xiao made this move.¡± ¡°If someone close to him didn¡¯t inform Wei Ming of this, he wouldn¡¯t have believed it. He just needs to calm down and think about it to understand. If Wei Feng truly wanted to silence him, why go through such a convoluted scheme? Wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to just eliminate us? Killing these people will onlyplicate matters.¡± Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun steadily. ¡°But Wei Xiao isn¡¯t even 20 years old yet. He doesn¡¯t possess such a meticulous mind. He bribed everyone in such a short period and prepared all the evidence wlessly. This isn¡¯t his doing.¡± Shen Jun moved his lips a few times before finally asking, ¡°Do you know Wei Xiao that well?¡± Despite knowing that Wen Nian wasn¡¯t trying to absolve Wei Xiao, Shen Jun felt a twinge of difort. Recalling how deeply she used to love Wei Xiao, Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of jealousy. However, Wen Nian was lost in thought and didn¡¯t detect the envy in his voice. She replied, ¡°No one knows him better than I do. I know the kind of person he is. With his current¡­¡± Before she could finish, her mouth was covered by a pair of fiery lips.. Chapter 361 - 361: It’s Not Too Late Chapter 361: It¡¯s Not Too Late Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun¡¯s kiss came unexpectedly fast. Before Wen Nian could prepare herself, her lips were imed by him. Realizing they were in a public park with people passing by, Wen Nian tried to push Shen Jun away, but he held her hand firmly against her chest, rendering her unable to move. This kiss felt different from before. Shen Jun seemed a bit hurried,cking the usual order. Sensing her brain running out of oxygen, Wen Nian gently pushed him away. Wen Nian panted heavily, her face flushed and tears welling up in her eyes. Seeing her like this, Shen Jun swallowed hard and pecked her face again, but Wen Nian pushed him away. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? We¡¯re still outside!¡± Scanning their surroundings, Wen Nian felt a slight relief that nobody seemed to be paying attention to them. Shen Jun also realized his impulsiveness this time. He touched his nose in embarrassment, but stubbornly said, ¡°Who told you to understand Wei Xiao so well? Are you still in love with him?¡± Observing Shen Jun¡¯s flushed face, Wen Nian recalled what she had said and detected a hint of jealousy. Despite being high school students, Wen Nian had lived two lives. She didn¡¯t want to quarrel with Shen Jun, so she exined, ¡°I¡¯m familiar with the Wei family, and I¡¯ve encountered people like him with a heart like a beast. I understand his cruelty, his cunning, and his deceit. What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± She added, ¡°The Wei family and mine have an irreconcble feud. How could I still have feelings for him? Besides, isn¡¯t he engaged to Jiang Ning?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t the engagement be called off?¡± Shen Jun avoided her gaze and mumbled softly. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but smile. She reached out, tugging at his cor, and seeing that no one was around, she quickly stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. ¡°Exactly. Didn¡¯t I break off the engagement with him? Otherwise, how could I have such an amazing boyfriend?¡± Shen Jun nced down and saw her smiling. A warm feeling surged into his heart, prompting him to hug Wen Nian. After a while, he said, ¡°I¡¯m a bit jealous of him. If only I had met you from the beginning.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not toote.¡± Wen Nian hugged him tightly. ¡°It¡¯s not toote. We¡¯re together at the right time.¡± The two lingered in the park, feeling more at ease. That¡¯s when Shen Jun asked Wen Nian about her ns regarding the Wei family. ¡°Even if he has a n, he can¡¯t execute it now. The person backing him must be very influential. We can only gather evidence first and aim for a decisive blow.¡± After a night of contemtion, Wen Nian had a clear understanding of the situation. Wei Xiao surely had someone behind him, but their identity remained unknown. ¡°It¡¯s the Jiang family,¡± Shen Jun suddenly said. ¡°The Jiang family?¡± Wen Nian looked at him in confusion, then realization dawned. ¡°Jiang Ning and Wei Xiao are about to get engaged. Helping Wei Xiao take control of the Wei family also benefits the Jiang family. It might indeed be the Jiang family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the Jiang family in Hai City but the Jiang family in the capital.¡± Shen Jun then revealed that Jiang Chun had visited him and his parents. ¡°Jiang Guo doesn¡¯t have such a brain. If he could do things wlessly, the Jiang family in Hai City wouldn¡¯t be like this,¡± Shen Jun said seriously. ¡°But Jiang Wei is different. He can be considered one of the top talents in the capital.¡± The Jiang family was originally a lesser-known family. While they might have had some recognition in Hai City, their reputation in the capital was mainly attributed to Jiang Wei alone, with some credit to his wife¡¯s family. If the Shen family was a long-established, super-powerful lineage, then the Jiang family was a recently established entity crafted from the ground up by Jiang Wei. Remarkably, they could evenpete with the Shen family in various domains. At the mention of Jiang Wei¡¯s name, Wen Nian¡¯s heart suddenly jolted. She struggled to steady her voice and asked, ¡°Jiang Wei? Are you referring to Jiang Wei from the Jiang family in the capital?¡± ¡°Yes, the Jiang family¡¯s two brothers use the ¡®Weiguo¡¯ character. Jiang Wei is the elder brother.¡± Sensing something amiss, Shen Jun inquired further, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Do you know this person? He¡¯s Jiang Chun¡¯s father.¡± Upon hearing that he was Jiang Chun¡¯s father, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but tremble. She repeated ¡°Jiang Wei¡± a few times in her mind, and her sealed memories began to unravel. In her previous life, she had not only encountered this man, but she had also spent time in hispany.. Chapter 362 - 362: We’re Family Chapter 362: We¡¯re Family Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Wei was not a lecherous person. At that time, Wei Xiao had specifically taken her to a drinking party and arranged for Jiang Wei to be drugged. Wen Nian had resisted, but Huang Yue kept pressuring her to im that Wei Xiao couldn¡¯t secure approval for a piece ofnd and he needed Jiang Wei to approve this . Thus, Wen Nian reluctantly spent the night with Jiang Wei. The memory of the man¡¯s brutality in bed and his disdainful attitude toward her when he woke up sent shivers down Wen Nian¡¯s spine. Although Wen Nian had apanied many people in her previous life, the realization that Jiang Wei was a member of the Jiang family, Jiang Ning¡¯s uncle, and Jiang Chun¡¯s father made her feel nauseous. ¡°Ugh!¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but retch. Memories of the past flooded back, overwhelming her. ¡°Wen Nian, Wen Nian!¡± Shen Jun quickly patted her back gently. ¡°Did you not rest well? Are you feeling unwell? Shall we go back now?¡± Wen Nian felt disgusted and vomited out her lunch again. Shen Jun hurriedly ran to the nearby supermarket and bought a bottle of water for her. ¡°You vomited so much. Maybe you have a stomach flu. I¡¯ll send you back first.¡± Shen Jun took a tissue and gently wiped the corner of her mouth. ¡°You¡¯ve been too tired these past few days. Don¡¯t think about this anymore. 1¡¯11 get someone to investigate the rest. School will start in two days. Rest well for two days.¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t say anything. She didn¡¯t know what to say to Shen Jun. She looked at Shen Jun¡¯s concerned eyes and thought that she had not fallen in this life. She did not have to apany the big shots or sacrifice herself for that despicable Wei Xiao. Thinking of this, her eyes moistened. Shen Jun was still holding her hand and nagging. Wen Nian whispered, ¡°Shen Jun, thank you.¡± Although he heard her clearly, Shen Jun thought that she was thanking him for the recent events. He stood in front of Wen Nian and said seriously, ¡°I¡¯m not joking with you today. I¡¯m serious.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wen Nian had yet to recover and did not understand what he was talking about. ¡°I said we¡¯re all family. You¡¯re my girlfriend and you¡¯ll be my wife in the future. Your family is my family. We¡¯re family.¡± Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s sincere deration and serious request, Wen Nian was stunned for a moment. Then, the two of them looked at each other for two seconds and suddenly turned their heads away in embarrassment. ¡°I-I¡¯ll send you back now. 1¡¯11 buy medicine and send it overter. You might¡­ might have a cold.¡± Thinking of what he had just said, Shen Jun became more and more uneasy. Wasn¡¯t this a proposal? He hadn¡¯t prepared anything. This was too informal! He stole a nce at Wen Nian. She only nodded and lowered her head without saying anything. However, he could see that her ears were already red. She was clearly embarrassed. The two of them returned to the Wen family awkwardly. Shen Jiang had already received Shen Jun¡¯s instructions to buy arge bag of medicine. Wen Nian looked at the various cold medicines in front of her and said speechlessly, ¡°It¡¯s not good to send medicine during the new year, right?¡± Shen Jun obviously didn¡¯t think so much. He was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, ¡°Then give me the money. Transfer me a yuan. Consider it as you bought it.¡± Wen Nian was a little speechless. She stood at the door and took out a red packet that Zhou Mei was about to give out for the new year. She really put a coin in. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Wen Nian pouted, indicating for Shen Jun to ept it. Looking at her face that had regained its color, Shen Jun really wanted to take a bite, but because they were at the Wen family¡¯s door, he could only give up. After watching Shen Jun¡¯s car leave, Wen Nian began to recall something that he had never wanted to recall. In her previous life, she had worked hard in the entertainment industry and had always been in Jingdu. She was quite familiar with Jingdu. After all, she was a C- or D-list actress and had attended many important dinners. The Jiang family in the capital was indeed powerful. That time, Wei Xiao plotted against Jiang Wei, and Huang Yue even used a pinhole camera to take a video of two people. The video was used to threaten Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei was also a ruthless character. He had helped Wei Xiao do many things on the surface, but he had also caused a lot of trouble in secret. At the thought that Wei Lai would go to prison and Wei Xiao would get thend in the capital, there was nothing to say about Wei Lai taking the me for Jiang Chun. However, it was impossible for a person like Jiang Wei to really support a grandson of a small family like Wei Xiao. Even if Wei Lai helped Jiang Chun take the me, Wei Jiang should be the one to benefit in the end. There¡¯s no logical reason for Jiang Wei to support Wei Xiao, especially when Wei Xiao has evidence of Wei Feng¡¯s murder. Wen Nian was a little annoyed as she scrolled through her WeChat Moments. She came across a ssmate¡¯s post expressing sympathy for the Wei family, mentioning that Wei Xiao had single-handedly supported the entire Wei family during a challenging time. Attempting to quickly scroll past the post, Wen Nian¡¯s fingers hesitated when she saw the apanying photo.. To her surprise, the person beside Wei Xiao was someone she had encountered in her previous life! Chapter 363 - 363: They Like You, Don’t They? Chapter 363: They Like You, Don¡¯t They? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian couldn¡¯t believe it. She erged the photo. The man beside Wei Xiao was in his early twenties. She had seen him by Jiang Wei¡¯s side in her previous life. At that time, this man was here to clean up the mess for Jiang Wei, and it was said that he had already taken the position of deputy general manager. His appearance was 50% simr to Jiang Wei. Wen Nian scratched her head. She had only met Jiang Wei a few times in her previous life, but she still had an impression of this man. Jiang Wei could tell him almost everything private and let him handle it. At that time, she had heard rumors that Jiang Wei already had a son and a daughter before he married his current wife. At that time, Wen Nian was focused on Wei Xiao and the entertainment industry and didn¡¯t pay attention to the Jiang family at all. She didn¡¯t even know Jiang Chun in her previous life, let alone understand Jiang Wei¡¯s illegitimate son. However, since this person appeared beside Wei Xiao, it made sense for Jiang Wei to help Wei Xiao. She quickly took out her phone and was about to send the saved photo to Shen Jun, but she still stopped. How could she tell Shen Jun about this? She could not say that she knew that this man was Jiang Wei¡¯s illegitimate son. That would be too strange. However, she could not say that her intuition told her that there was something wrong with this man, right? After thinking about it, she still didn¡¯t send the photos out. She should deal with Wei Feng first. She could take her time to investigate the other things. Looking at the fireworks outside the window, Wen Nian¡¯s heart lit up bit by bit. She was still alive in this life, and her family was still alive. Then there was hope of taking down everyone who wanted to harm them. At the same time, Jiang Chun, who had been waiting for Jiang Ning for the entire afternoon, finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She hadn¡¯t returned home since she left the Zhao family¡¯s house. She couldn¡¯t afford to lose face like this. She was exposed for lying on the spot in front of Shen Jun¡¯s parents. Especially when she thought of Shen Jun¡¯s mother¡¯sstugh, she wished she could find a hole to hide in. Jiang Chun, who was ready to leave, finally saw Jiang Ning, who had arrivedte. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Something happened to Wei Xiao¡¯s family, and his uncle is like a murderer. I¡¯m really worried.¡± With that, Jiang Ning picked up the fruit juice on the table and drank it. ¡°If not for Wei Xiao, I think the Wei family would have disbanded and the Wei Corporation would have been in chaos.¡± Jiang Chun still smiled harmlessly and said, ¡°Of course. After all, he¡¯s your future husband. He must be capable. You¡¯ll be lucky in the future.¡± Hearing her say this, Jiang Ning was a little smug. ¡°Wei Xiao can be considered one of the top young talents in Hai City. I¡¯m lucky.¡± Looking at her expression, Jiang Chun sneered in his heart. The Wei family had rejected the engagement, but Jiang Ning still could not tell that something was wrong. However, Jiang Chun still had something to ask today, so she endured Jiang Chun¡¯s stupidity. ¡°What a pity about Wei Xiao¡¯s family. Grandpa Wei looks so kind. How could such a thing happen? Could there be something hidden?¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s expression was a little sad, and Jiang Ning was even angrier when he heard her say that. ¡°Hmph, 1 think it¡¯s the Wen family who¡¯s causing trouble!¡± Jiang Ning said angrily. ¡°Have you forgotten that Wen Nian¡¯s uncle¡¯s family went to the Wei Corporation to cause trouble? What kind of family would do such a thing?¡± ¡°Jiang Chun, you transferred overter, and so did Shen Jun. You were all deceived by Wen Nian. How was she like this in the past? She chased after Wei Xiao every day. Later on, she couldn¡¯t love him, so she must have hated him. If not for her, how could Wei Xiao have gone overseas to suffer? Now, she even harmed Grandpa Wei!¡± Jiang Chun lowered her eyes and did not reply immediately, but she already had an idea in her heart. However, Jiang Ning was not satisfied and continued to nder Wen Nian. ¡°Shen Jun is blind. What¡¯s so good about Wen Nian? She only pretended to change her temper after knowing his family background and charmed Shen Jun. She can be the female lead in a movie and even film public service advertisements. Do you think she¡¯s a scheming person?¡± Jiang Chun thought for a moment before replying, ¡°Perhaps you misunderstood her. However, 1 heard that Wei Xiao¡¯s father and Wen Nian¡¯s father were childhood friends. Isn¡¯t he putting righteousness before family this time? But why didn¡¯t he even let the old master celebrate the new year?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right! Hmph, 1 think Wen Nian drugged him! Otherwise, whose son would be like this?¡± Jiang Ning secretly said, ¡°I heard that Uncle Wei already has evidence. If it¡¯s not because of Wen Nian, why would he put righteousness before family? Do you think he has something going on with Wen Nian?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chun could not help but pout. Suddenly, Jiang Ning thought of something and secretly asked, ¡°You went to see Shen Jun¡¯s parents today? They like you very much, don¡¯t they?¡± Chapter 364 - 364: Goddess of Hope Chapter 364: Goddess of Hope Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At the thought of everything that had happened today, Jiang Chun felt her face burning. She could only say reluctantly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Uncle and Auntie have seen me before. I¡¯m just visiting.¡± ¡°They must like you!¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s thoughts started to wander again. ¡°You¡¯re their son¡¯s savior. Our Jiang family is also one of the best in the capital. You¡¯re just right for the Shen family. Wen Nian is nothing. You should have visited him on New Year¡¯s Eve and kept Shen Jun. You shouldn¡¯t have let him look for Wen Nian.¡± ¡°You already knew that Shen Jun¡¯s parents came to Hai City?¡± Jiang Chun suddenly asked. Jiang Ning didn¡¯t think there was anything wrong with it and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s right. Your father called my father and told him. He even asked him to tell Wei Xiao.¡± Jiang Chun panicked for no reason and asked, ¡°Why is he telling Wei Xiao?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± Jiang Ning poured another ss of fruit juice. ¡°It¡¯s probably for the Wei family¡¯s future development so that Wei Xiao can pull strings, right? My father doesn¡¯t want me to ask. 1 don¡¯t want to know!¡± Looking at Jiang Ning¡¯s naive appearance, Jiang Chun secretly shook his head. As expected, her uncle¡¯s family were all idiots. Thinking that it was a call from Jiang Wei, but he did not tell her daughter about this, Jiang Chun became more and more flustered, as if something bad was about to happen. Even if she wanted to support the Wei family, she was the only heir of the Jiang family. Why didn¡¯t he tell her some things? Seeing that she was silent, Jiang Ning thought that she was upset because of Shen Jun, so sheforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the Shen Jun¡¯s family must like you. Besides, the Wen family can¡¯tpare to the Jiang family. Besides, which big family would want a daughter-inw who shows her face early?¡± Jiang Chun, who was still thinking about something, suddenly looked up. The corners of her lips curled up unconsciously. ¡°Even if Wen Nian is a celebrity, it¡¯s fine as long as Shen Jun likes her.¡± After saying this, she lowered her head sadly. ¡°Wen Nian can pretend for a while, but she can¡¯t pretend forever. Besides, if she really enters the entertainment industry, there are some things that she can¡¯t do even if she doesn¡¯t want to. Don¡¯t you know how dirty the entertainment industry is? Don¡¯t all kinds of scandals often break out in the news?¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s expression was filled with disdain. ¡°Her good sister, Huang Yue, slept with her in the past. Wen Nian used to be the best with her. They¡¯re birds of a feather. They¡¯re not much better!¡± Jiang Chun thought for a moment before saying, ¡°But doesn¡¯t Wen Nian not want to enter the entertainment industry? I heard that Huang Yue tried to persuade her previously, but she still studied hard and didn¡¯t have any thoughts about it.¡± ¡°How is it that she doesn¡¯t want to enroll? If she doesn¡¯t want to enroll, why would she participate in any filming? Didn¡¯t you see the public service advertisement she filmed? Now, manyizens call her ¡®Goddess of Hope¡¯. Pfft!¡± Jiang Ning turned around and held Jiang Chun¡¯s hand. Then, she said gently, ¡°Shen Jun will definitely remember your kindness. Your life-saving grace is the real thing. Wen Nian is just a ything for him. When Wen Nian enters the entertainment industry, will she only have Shen Jun as her sugar daddy? Will the Shen family allow such a woman to enter the family? In the future, us sisters will live in the capital¡¯s upper-ss circle. You have to think it through. Don¡¯t let Wen Nian benefit.¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s eyes were burning. If Jiang Chun took down Shen Jun, it would be helpful to her and Wei Xiao in the future. Although Jiang Chun said ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense¡±, she already had a n in his heart. Jiang Ning was right. No big family would allow a female celebrity¡¯s daughter-inw to go out in public, not to mention the Shen family. Wen Nian, who had already received a lot of attention because of Wei Feng¡¯s murder, was trending again on the second day of the Lunar New Year. However, this time, it had nothing to do with the Wen family. It was because of the public service advertisement she had filmed. #Wen Nian¡¯s Tomorrow¡¯s Star#, #Wen Nian¡¯s Goddess of Hope#, #Looking forward to Wen Nian entering the entertainment industry#, #Wen Nian¡¯s public service advertisement#, and other keywords rushed to the trending searches. Wen Nian, who had been thinking about Wei Feng and Jiang Wei the entire night, finally fell asleep in the early morning. She was woken up by Wen Yu at around eight o¡¯clock. Hearing the knock on the door, Wen Nian yawned and opened the door. She saw Wen Yu excitedly holding up his phone. ¡°Sister, you¡¯re famous again!¡± However, Wen Nian frowned when she saw the trending topic.. There was something wrong with this matter! Chapter 365 - 365: Targeted Chapter 365: Targeted Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°You don¡¯t really want to get into the Faculty of Law, do you?¡± Wen Yu scratched his head. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s unhappy expression, he thought that Wen Nian didn¡¯t want to be famous. ¡°Actually, it¡¯s nothing much. I know that you filmed the public service advertisement because you wanted to speak up for these left-behind children, not to be famous.¡± Upon hearing Wen Yu¡¯s words, Wen Nian knew that he had misunderstood. Hence, she exined, ¡°These keywords were obviously paid to be trending. A public service advertisement wouldn¡¯t have such a huge impact.¡± However, Wen Yu did not think so. ¡°Why not? My ssmates said that you¡¯re the number one starlet in the entertainment industry after watching your movie and advertisement! Besides, your previous movie¡¯s box office was so good. Perhaps theizens like you.¡± Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s New Year¡¯s Eve now. There will be a lot of information from the governments everywhere. It¡¯s impossible for the hot search on the tform to be just one person from the entertainment industry.¡± She swiped her phone again and pointed at the other celebrities. ¡°These A-list celebrities all have movies screened during the Spring Festival. Their number of fans is at least five to six million, or even tens of millions. It¡¯s impossible for my public service advertisement to receive so much traffic. This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°And look at these keywords. Every one of them has my name on it. If it¡¯s a trending topic in the entertainment industry, many of them are simply¡­¡± Seeing Wen Yu tilt his head and look at her with wide eyes, Wen Nian realized that she had said too much. She quickly said, ¡°Director Xu previously said that I would definitely attract haters if I filmed a public service advertisement, so he exined these to me.¡± Hearing her say this, Wen Yu nodded. He knew it. Two days ago, Wen Nian had said that she wanted to enter the Law Faculty. Why would she start researching the entertainment industry? However, this trending topic was real. The scenes in Wen Nian¡¯s advertisement had been screenshotted and reposted by many people. Almost all the social media tforms had news about her. Wen Yu asked again, ¡°Could it be that Director Xu bought the trending searches? But didn¡¯t you say before that he was so poor that he could borrow money from someone?¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at him. Could it be that even if a famous director made aeback, he wouldn¡¯t have any money? However, she did not say much. She only said that it might be her fan and that the trending topic would probably be gone in an hour. However, to her surprise, less than an hourter, Wen Nian was noticed again. This time, it was her and Wang Bing who went on the trending searches together. It even included Huang Yue. The photo was a surveince photo of Wen Nian and Wang Bing leaving Xu Chang¡¯s studio together. Two of them could tell that Huang Yue was also there. The photo was not clear, but one could tell who it was. Many female celebrities were paying close attention to Xu Chang¡¯s next movie. In the previous movie, he had promoted Wen Nian. This movie actually used a celebrity who wasn¡¯t famous at all and said nothing about it and many people were angry about it. The informant pointed at Wen Nian and imed that Wen Nian had rmended Wang Bing to Xu Chang. Otherwise, why would Director Xu¡¯s movie allow Wang Bing to audition? Moreover, Wen Nian did not care about their past rtionship and directly blocked Huang Yue¡¯s audition path, causing her to miss this opportunity. Theizens¡¯ memories were short. Other than Wen Nian¡¯s die-hard fans, almost noizens remembered what grudges Huang Yue and Wen Nian had before. Many people were lying at home and ying with their phones during the new year. This much entertainment information also enriched people¡¯s amateur lives. Moreover, Wen Nian was not the only one who rmended Wang Bing for this movie. Someone also found out that Director Xu had chosen a in person to be the female lead in the previous movie, but for some reason, it was changed to Wen Nian. Theizens analyzed the matter from the beginning to the end. Many people thought that Wen Nian must have bewitched Xu Chang and made him listen to her. Some people even said that Wen Nian might have bewitched Wei Ming too. Otherwise, who would report their father for murder on New Year¡¯s Eve? However, Wen Nian¡¯s fans surprisingly did not scold theizens who ndered her. They almost replied in unison. ¡°Thank you for your support of Wen Nian. Please pay more attention to the left-behind children. The left-behind children¡¯s endowment fund has been opened. Offer your love and let the left-behind children have a good future!¡± At this moment, in the room on the second floor of the Zhao family¡¯s house, Shen Mo looked speechlessly at his wife who was typing rapidly on her phone. How long had Wen Nian¡¯s matter been trending? How long had Zhao Jiao maintained her phone and sent messages? Even Shen Mo had been instructed by her to wake up her employees for work during the new year. ¡°Darling, let me massage your neck. Your cervical spine will hurt soon.¡± Shen Mo had just put his hand on it when Zhao Jiao pushed him away. Without looking up, she said, ¡°Little Wen Nian is obviously being targeted. The fan club is filled with children. It won¡¯t be easy if you¡¯re rash.. If you have the time to massage my neck, why don¡¯t you register a few more alternate ounts on your phone to help Wen Nian control thements?¡± Chapter 366 - 366: Generous Offer Chapter 366: Generous Offer Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°I should register alternate ounta? What would I say?¡± Shen Mo pressed between his eyebrows. He thought that he could rx for a few days during the new year. He did not expect that other than working for his son, he would also work for his wife. Now, he had to be a ghostwriter for his future daughter-inw. Zhao Jiao quickly tapped on her phone and a WeChat message was sent to Shen Mo¡¯s phone. ¡°The first is to add keywords in order to increase the poprity of the left-behind children. The second is to reply to all theizens who scolded Wen Nian. The fan club is the same. The third is for you to register a small ount and post it on social media. It¡¯s mainly to praise Wen Nian.¡± Shen Mo looked at the WeChat message on his phone and couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips. Wen Nian was praising him so much. She had never praised her husband like this before! Madam Zhao had a master¡¯s degree in media. Her writing skills were as good as her eloquence. She reckoned that even tens of thousands of malicious fans could notpare to her alone. ¡°By the way, there are so many people in yourpany. Why don¡¯t you post it in thepany group chat? There¡¯s strength in numbers.¡± Zhao Jiao looked up at her husband. Shen Mo seized the opportunity and quickly went over to massage her neck and shoulders. Then, he said gently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to act as the evil mother-inw who broke up a couple? If I get thepany to speak up for Wen Nian, won¡¯t your son discover it?¡± Feeling the soreness in her neck lessen, Zhao Jiao narrowed her eyesfortably. ¡°You¡¯re right. We have to let that brat suffer a little from love!¡± Suddenly, she opened her eyes and red at Shen Mo. ¡°Wait a second. I asked someone from thepany to help. Doesn¡¯t that mean Shen Jun will know too? Why didn¡¯t you remind me?¡± She pped her husband¡¯s hand away and said in exasperation, ¡°As expected, you shouldn¡¯t sleepte. Your memory has deteriorated! I have to quickly tell them to do things more covertly.¡± Before she could make the call, her assistant called. ¡°Boss, we¡¯ve found out that the eldest daughter of the Jiang family got someone to buy the trending searches. She seems to have hired the army ofmenteres too. However, she did it quite secretly, but it didn¡¯t escape our sharp eyes. What¡¯s the next step? Remove the trending searches?¡± Zhao Jiao put the call on speaker. Shen Mo also heard what the assistant said. At the mention of the Jiang family, both of their expressions darkened. ¡°If we don¡¯t make a move, I¡¯ll get my fans¡¯ real ounts to reply. She can¡¯t use money and keep this trending topic up for too long.¡± After some thought, Zhao Jiao said seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t let outsiders know that ourpany is helping Wen Nian. Just say that Wen Nian¡¯s fans spontaneously spoke up for their idol. This especially cannot be known by that brat Shen Jun.¡± Zhao Jiao gritted her teeth and said thest few words. Shen Mo turned on his phone and started to register his alternate ount to follow up on Madam Zhao¡¯s mission. As expected, after Zhao Jiao hung up the phone, she was the first to re up at him. ¡°I asked you to register an ount andment just now. What exactly are you¡­¡± Before she could finish, Shen Mo hurriedly took out his phone. ¡°I¡¯m sending the third message! Wifey, please check.¡± Zhao Jiao pursed her lips and snorted. Then, she went back to the fan club with her phone. On the other hand, Wen Nian was not idle either. Once this matter was exposed, everyone, regardless of whether they were familiar with her, sent a WeChat message to ask. Wang Bing and Xu Chang directly rified this matter, and Wang Bing expressed her gratitude to Wen Nian. Wang Bing: The female lead of Director Xu¡¯s movie was originally leaning towards Miss Wen, but she took the initiative to let me audition. I hope Director Xu can give me a chance. I¡¯m very grateful for her guidance. Miss Wen is my benefactor for being willing to introduce others to the entertainment industry. I¡¯ll also act this role seriously and not let everyone down. Wang Bing: The female lead of Director Xu¡¯s movie was originally leaning towards Miss Wen, but she took the initiative to let me audition. I hope Director Xu can give me a chance. I¡¯m very grateful for her guidance. Miss Wen is my benefactor for being willing to introduce others to the entertainment industry. I¡¯ll also act this role seriously and not let everyone down. Xu Chang: ¡°No problem. There¡¯s no inside story. Wen Nian did intercede for Wang Bing, and Wang Bing is indeed suitable for the role. If you want to know how the movie is, see you when it is showing in cinemas!¡± When the investors saw that the movie was already so popr when the cast had just been decided, they then started throwing even more money to promote this movie.The momentum had already surpassed a few other movies that was set to go on air during the holidays and this movie had earned a wave of poprity. Wen Nian¡¯s fans had also grown to seven million because of the consecutive poprity during the New Year. They were almostparable to the number of fans of B-list female celebrities. In the past few days, Wen Nian had received invitations from many managementpanies. Somepanies even promised to rent her a vi in the capital, a private nanny, and a driver. Moreover, thepany only wanted 20% of the profits. Even Wen Nian, who was experienced and knowledgeable in her previous life, could not help but be speechless. In her previous life, she only received 5% of her sry! When she saw thepany¡¯s name, she was even more confused. The famous Ding Sheng Entertainment in the industry had actually given her such generous offer? This did not make sense.. Chapter 367 - 367: Opportunity Chapter 367: Opportunity Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Ding Sheng Media was not well-known at the beginning and there were not many artistes. Almost all of them were minor actors. However, ten years ago, the boss had a discerning eye and filmed three super popr online dramas in a row. All of them were small-budget and newbies. Speaking of which, the boss was lucky to have chosen a small, invisible actor. However, these actors had disyed their skills in the television dramas, movies, and even variety showster on. All of them had explosive points, and their worth and poprity instantly increased. The few dramas that brought Ding Sheng alsopletely became popr. After that, Ding Sheng Media gained a firm foothold in the entertainment industry. Moreover, one of its actors was the A-lister Lin Cheng, an actor who started out acting in online dramas. Even in her previous life, Wen Nian had never had the chance to interact with apany like Ding Sheng. She did not expect them to extend an olive branch to her in this life. However, thinking that she had yet to apply for the Film Academy and that Wen Nian had no intention of looking for a managementpany, she did not reply to most of the messages. However, Ding Sheng Media was different. Wen Nian knew that if she wanted to enter the entertainment industry in the future, she could not afford to offend thispany, even if she chose not to join them. Therefore, Wen Nian replied simply, expressing that she was young and had not yet solidified her future ns. She expressed gratitude for thepany¡¯s support and conveyed her hope to coborate with them when the opportunity arises. When she received Wen Nian¡¯s reply, Zhao Jiao was disinterested. ¡°As expected, she doesn¡¯t agree. Why doesn¡¯t this little girl want to enter the entertainment industry?¡± Shen Mo quickly said, ¡°How old is she? It¡¯s normal that she hasn¡¯t thought it through. Besides, didn¡¯t she say that she¡¯s looking forward to working together in the future? That means there¡¯s still hope.¡± However, Zhao Jiao pouted. ¡°Now that the Jiang family has their eyes on her, it¡¯s better to keep her under my nose.¡± The two of them fell silent again at the mention of the Jiang family. The Jiang family had done too many small actions in the past two years. They probably did note with good intentions. When Jiang Chun received Xu Li¡¯s call, she was still arranging for people to nder Wen Nian. However, she did not want to be scolded by her mother. ¡°Jiang Chun, are you really my daughter? Why are you so brainless?¡± Xu Li¡¯s tone was filled with anger. ¡°I told you that your battlefield is in the capital. Why do you have to put in so much effort for such a clown? Aren¡¯t you afraid of degrading yourself?¡± ¡°But her rtionship with Shen Jun is getting better and better. Shen Jun has been running around for her family¡¯s matters, and her rtionship with her family is getting better. And the Shen family¡­¡± Jiang Chun stopped herself. She could not let Xu Li know that she was not liked by the Shen family. However, Xu Li still sensed that something was wrong. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the Shen family? I heard from your grandmother that you went to visit Uncle Shen Jun¡¯s house. They don¡¯t like you?¡± ¡°No!¡± Jiang Chun retorted subconsciously, but she regretted it the moment she said it. However, she could only bite the bullet and lie. ¡°Shen Jun¡¯s parents have seen me a long time ago, not to mention that I saved him.¡± Jiang Chun avoided the main point. Although Xu Li had her suspicions, she did not think that there was anything wrong. Everyone in the Shen family was an old fox. They looked harmless on the surface, but in fact, they were all scheming, let alone Zhao Jiao, a woman with a powerful backer! ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Xu Li softened her tone. ¡°Chunchun, don¡¯t worry. The Shen family will be yours sooner orter. You have plenty of opportunities.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chun hurriedly asked, ¡°Opportunity? What opportunity?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Chun hurriedly asked, ¡°Opportunity? What opportunity?¡± Xu Li said a few more words before hanging up. Xu Li¡¯s words were undoubtedly a cardiac stimnt. Jiang Chun was slightly relieved before telling her not to continue attacking Wen Nian. There was a knock on the door, apanied by Jiang Ning¡¯s excited voice. ¡°Jiang Chun, open the door quickly. Something happened to that b*tch Wen Nian!¡± Jiang Chun frowned. She really hated Jiang Guo¡¯s family. They loved to scheme and were petty, but they were all stupid. However, she suddenly thought of the voting online a few days ago. Could Wen Nian¡¯s grades really rise to be in the top 80 in school? Jiang Chun raised her eyebrows. If Wen Nian failed to meet the expectations, what would happen if theizens attacked her? At the thought that the third year of high school was about to start early and the results of the provincial joint examination were about to be released, Jiang Chun smiled and stood up to open the door.. Chapter 368 - 368: Provincial Examination Results Chapter 368: Provincial Examination Results Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Wen Nian?¡± Jiang Chun asked worriedly. ¡°Someone said that the little b*tch bewitched Director Xu. Haha, someone is indeed thinking the same thing as me.¡± Jiang Ning was a little excited. ¡°Look, someone scolded her for pretending to be innocent. Someone even said that Wen Nian disgusts them.¡± ¡°Quick, look at this. They say that she has a foxy face and that she¡¯s also the one who would enter the entertainment industry just to sleep around for benefits.¡± The more Jiang Ning spoke, the more excited she became. She skipped all thements on Wen Nian¡¯s behalf and specially chose the most vicious ones for Jiang Chun to see. Jiang Chun was happy to see thesements. She had only used a few tricks, but theseizens who followed her immediately let their thoughts wander. There were many people who scolded Wen Nian. However, she still looked worried on the surface. ¡°How can these people do this? They don¡¯t understand Wen Nian. She¡¯s not such a person.¡± ¡°What do you know? Do you know her?¡± Jiang Ning red at her. ¡°You¡¯re just too kind. That¡¯s why Wen Nian snatched Shen Jun away!¡± ¡°Wen Nian is focused on her studies now. She doesn¡¯t have that much time to think.¡± Jiang Chun quickly defended Wen Nian. ¡°Besides, have you forgotten that there was a vote a while ago? Let¡¯s see if she can get into the top 80 before school starts. Moreover, this is the provincial joint examination. If Wen Nian¡¯s results are really good, theizens will probably forget about this matter.¡± Upon hearing Jiang Chun¡¯s words, Jiang Ning rolled her eyes and frowned. Jiang Chun decided to work harder. ¡°I heard that many people who participated in this voting bet that Wen Nian will definitely enter the 80th ce before the school year. If her results are really good, she won¡¯t just be the Goddess of Hope. With the title of a beautiful top student, everyone will definitely acknowledge her.¡± ¡°No way!¡± Jiang Ning hurriedly said, ¡°I still have something on. School will start in two days. Have a good rest. I¡¯ll leave first.¡± Without waiting for Jiang Chun to say anything else, she left the room. Jiang Chun closed the door and smiled in satisfaction. She didn¡¯t do anything. After all, Wen Nian had many enemies. In order to avoid being surrounded by various mediapanies and reporters, Wen Nian hid in her room and read until she went to school. Wei Feng was still in trouble, and he had been sent to the resuscitation room twice in the past two days. He probably wouldn¡¯t be able to go through the judicial process. These were not things that Wen Nian could control. All she could do now was study hard. The art exam was about to begin in a month or so, so she decided to give it a try. The first person to know about this was Xu Chang. He strongly supported Wen Nian¡¯s participation in the art exam and even helped her find a lot of content for the past exams in the Film Academy, as well as the preferences of some examiners. Wen Nian had never participated in the art exam in her previous life, but she knew that the content of the exam was very difficult. Many people started preparing in their first year of high school because talent could not be learned in a day or two. Fortunately, Wen Nian had the piano, dance, and martial arts skills that she had learned in her previous life. It was easier to prepare. Now, not only did Wen Nian have to study culture, but she also had to prepare for her art ss. Hence, she had to hurry up and study. On the first day of school, Wen Nian arrived at school early to avoid the reporters who were still chasing after her. She was also a little nervous. Today was the day the results were announced. She wondered how her results were. Wen Nian didn¡¯t really care if she could enter the top 80 before the school year. She just wanted to know if her results had improved a little. Shen Jun also came to school early like her. Shen Mo and his wife took a ne and left early in the morning. Shen Jun had nothing to do, so he came to school first. Seeing Wen Nian walk in, a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Morning!¡± Wen Nian took out the hot breakfast. ¡°This is the soy milk, bean buns, and egg rolls my mother prepared for you. Fortunately, you came early. Otherwise, it would have turned cold.¡± ¡°As expected, our mother is thoughtful.¡± Shen Jun picked up a bean bun and ate it happily. Zhou Mei seemed to know that he didn¡¯t like sweet food very much. Every time he made these, the sweetness was just right. It wasn¡¯t too sweet and could retain its original taste. Wen Nian¡¯s face burned when she heard his words. When she saw her ssmates walking in one after another, she stepped heavily on Shen Jun¡¯s foot when no one was looking. The two of them kept making small movements under the desk. The students seemed to have reunited after a long time, and the ssroom was filled with chatter. It was only when Li Fang walked in that the ssroom fell silent. ¡°The results for the provincial examination are out.¡± Li Fang nced around, then her gaze stopped on Wen Nian, as if she was conveying something of deeper meaning.. Chapter 369 - 369: Wen Nian’s Ranking Chapter 369: Wen Nian¡¯s Ranking Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian had a bad feeling. Teacher Li¡¯s eyes were clearly filled with disappointment. Could it be that her results were not ideal? She quickly sat up straight and heard Li Fang say, ¡°First, congrattions to our ssmate, Shen Jun, for obtaining the first ce in the province.¡± Almost the moment they heard that Shen Jun was the number one in the province, the entire ss was in an uproar. Everyone looked at her enviously, and Li Fang¡¯s eyes were filled with relief. If Shen Jun could keep it up, perhaps this year¡¯s provincial top scorer would be in her ss. Just thinking about it made her happy! Then, she saw Wen Nian beside Shen Jun. Li Fang was a little disappointed. Wen Nian¡¯s results were clearly so goodst time. Why did she suddenly regress so much this time? ¡°Alright, quiet down.¡± Li Fang gestured for everyone to continue listening to her. ¡°This is our first time participating in the provincial examination. Everyone must be a little nervous, but it doesn¡¯t matter. There might be two or three provincial joint examinations in the next half a year. There will also be a few city-wide joint examinations. Everyone just needs to revise well. I believe that every single one of you will be able to achieve good results.¡± ¡°This time, our school took up five of the top 100 ces in the province. This is already a very good result. I hope everyone will continue to work hard.¡± Li Fang did not announce the results rankings for the school year. Actually, it was not only Wen Nian who did not do well, but many people did not perform well. She did not want to give the students so much pressure. Moreover, the school would post the exam resultster. Everyone would be able to see them. However, someone asked softly, ¡°What about Wen Nian?¡± Suddenly, many people turned to Wen Nian, and everyone started asking questions. ¡°That¡¯s right. Where¡¯s Wen Nian? Last time, she entered the top 100 of the school year.¡± ¡°Teacher, just tell us! I¡¯m still participating in the voting to see if Wen Nian can enter the top 80!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, Teacher! Just tell us.¡± ¡°Teacher, I¡¯m betting on a bag of potato chips. Did Wen Nian enter the top 80?¡± Hearing the students¡¯ questions, Li Fang¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Why are you asking? Why are you so concerned about other people¡¯s results instead of your own? You¡¯re all the top students in the province, right? Go and study in the morning! Whoever talks nonsense will work on five sets ofprehensive papers!¡± Seeing that Li Fang was angry, the students shrunk like quails. Only then did Li Fang heave a sigh of relief. She looked at Wen Nian again and nned to have a good talk with her after ss. Perhaps it was because of her family¡¯s matter that she did not do well this time? However, before the first period of physics ss ended, the school tform was already in an uproar. ¡°Wen Nian is rankedst in the school year of the provincial examination. She was suspected of cheating in the previous examination!¡± There was not a single word in the post. It directly uploaded a school¡¯s provincial examination results slip. Wen Nian¡¯s name was shockingly among thest 50 in the school year. They had just finished their vacation, and the physics teacher was a good-tempered person. Many students began to browse the Inte absent-mindedly with their phones. As soon as this post was released, the school tform became active. After all, other than the third-year students who were in ss, there were also many first-year and second-year students who were on vacation at home, waiting to visit their rtives. Everyone liked to chat on the school tform the most, and Wen Nian was thetest topic. Seeing that Wen Nian had failed mathematics and had just passed English and Chinese, the students discussed animatedly. ¡°Wen Nian really copied someone else¡¯s answersst time, right? Maybe she got the test paper in advance!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. Didn¡¯t I say that she used to be thest? Her dressing was so unconventional. How could she study hard?¡± ¡°But Wen Nian is indeed very serious about her studies in ss, right? This doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a difference between studying seriously and really studying seriously.¡± ¡°I agree with the person above. She might be pretending. A leopard can¡¯t change its spots!¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because something happened to her family? Many things happened to her family during the new year. I heard that her uncle¡¯s familymitted suicide!¡± ¡°That unreasonable family who went to the Wei Corporation to cause trouble? If her uncle is like this, how good do you think she will be?¡± Soon, the content on the school¡¯s tform was transferred to various social media tforms. ¡°Wen Nian''¡±s name almost never left the trending searches. The keywords #Wen Nian Countdown#, #Wen Nian¡¯s results are fake#, #Wen Nian potato chips# were trending again.. Chapter 370 - 370: Wen Nian Will Be Very Popular Chapter 370: Wen Nian Will Be Very Popr Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Shen Jun saw this, his brows were knitted tightly together. He could be considered Wen Nian¡¯s teacher. He knew Wen Nian¡¯s level best. With such a difficult exam, Wen Nian could at least enter the top 60 before the school year. It was impossible for her to be at the bottom. He then looked at Wen Nian, who was seriously thinking about the physics questions. She had no idea about this at all, so Shen Jun didn¡¯t disturb her. After the physics ss, Zhou Bei surrounded her. ¡°Wen Nian, did you not mark your answers on the answer sheet?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t understand what she meant at all. ¡°An answer sheet?¡± Sun Ying was even more direct. She mmed her phone on Wen Nian¡¯s table. ¡°Take a look quickly. Is this result wrong? Did you make a mistake when filling out the answer sheet?¡± Only then did Wen Nian look at her phone in confusion. She immediately said, ¡°No, this isn¡¯t my results.¡± She hadpared the answers with Shen Jun after the exam. She estimated that her results would at least reach 550 points. It was impossible for her to only score 300 points! ¡°I knew it was wrong. How could you score so little? You must have applied the wrong answer sheet, right?¡± Sun Ying was a little anxious. ¡°Do you want to rify it online? Theizens are too mean. I¡¯m so angry!¡± Wen Nian wanted to say that there was no need. After all, she knew that this was not her result. However, before she could speak, Li Fang called her from the ssroom door. ¡°Wen Nian,e to my office for a while.¡± ¡°Teacher, you were looking for me.¡± Wen Nian stood respectfully beside Li Fang¡¯s desk. Li Fang pulled a chair and gestured for her to sit down. ¡°Did you see the results?¡± Wen Nian nodded obediently. ¡°I know that there have been many things happening in your family recently. It¡¯s normal for you to have emotions when these things happen. I can understand.¡± Li Fang looked at her seriously. ¡°But Wen Nian, you have to know that this is the most important moment in your life. Your family has passed away, and it was caused by someone. I also know that you don¡¯t feel good. However, I hope that you can tide over the difficulties and adjust your emotions. If you can get into the ideal university, your family will be so happy for you, right?¡± Wen Nian knew that Li Fang was doing this for her own good, and her tone was filled with gratitude. ¡°Teacher, I know. Thank you. I will definitely adjust myself.¡± Only then did Li Fang nod in relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. There are still a few more provincial examinations. Don¡¯t be discouraged. The results this time are nothing. If you have any problems,e and look for me directly!¡± However, Li Fang did not say that the results of every provincial examination were rted to her bonus, especially since Wen Nian was considered a little famous. If Wen Nian did well, she would be considered the school¡¯s living signboard. ¡°Teacher, this isn¡¯t my result,¡± Wen Nian said. ¡°I¡¯ve calcted the score. It should be above 550 points.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Li Fang looked at her in surprise. 550 points was not very high, but she would be at least in the top 50 or 60 before the school year. However, she immediately thought of something and sighed. ¡°There¡¯s a first time for filling out the answer sheet wrongly.It¡¯s alright.¡± However, Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s definitely no problem with me applying the card. I¡¯ve already verified four times. There¡¯s definitely no mistake.¡± Li Fang did not know what to say for a moment. Although she could check the scores for the provincial examination, this was only a joint examination and not the real college entrance examination. It would probably not be so easy to check the scores. She could onlyfort Wen Nian and let her go back first. Then, Li Fang went to the principal¡¯s office to see if there was any way to find Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet. She could onlyfort Wen Nian and asked her go back first. Then, Li Fang went to the principal¡¯s office to see if there was any way to find Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet. Seeing Wen Nian return, Shen Jun said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely investigate this matter.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask me if I filled out the answer sheet wrongly? Or if I forgot to hand in the answer sheet?¡± Wen Nian asked with a smile. ¡°I taught you and I know you well,¡± Shen Jun said nonchntly. ¡°You would have scored at least 500 points. Even if you filled out the answer sheet wrongly, you would have gotten a much higher score that what you have now.¡± Wen Nian gently tugged at his sleeve. ¡°You really believe in me! Teacher Shen!¡± Shen Jun rolled his eyes at her. Then, he smiled and took out a stack of papers from his bag. ¡°Teacher Shen has already given you a break for the new year. Now, finish the important questions in these few sets.¡± Wen Nian felt like she was in a daze. Thinking about how she had really not studied recently, she resigned herself to her fate and picked up the paper, nning to fight to the death. Zhao Jiao, who had returned to the capital, was already furious. ¡°Are you kidding me? Why are theying after Wen Nian again? Does our Little Wen Nian just attract bad people?¡±¡± The assistant quickly poured her a ss of water. ¡°Boss, the heavens are about to give us a huge responsibility. This proves that Wen Nian will be very popr..¡± Chapter 371 - 371: Finding the Answer Sheet Chapter 371: Finding the Answer Sheet Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°This is like being struck by lightning after bing an immortal! She¡¯s struck by lightning every time!¡± Zhao Jiao looked resentful. ¡°This little girl is quite serious in her studies. My son personally tutored her. Don¡¯t you know Shen Jun¡¯s level?¡± ¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we investigate?¡± Tian Juan rubbed her hands. ¡°I have a senior who¡¯s a small leader in Hai City¡¯s Education Bureau. Why don¡¯t you leave this to me?¡± Tian Juan was so enthusiastic that Zhao Jiao looked at her suspiciously. ¡°Why are you so proactive?¡± Tian Juan chuckled. ¡°Boss, isn¡¯t this your future daughter-inw? And didn¡¯t you say that if I¡¯m willing, I can also try to be a manager?¡± ¡°Do you see Wen Nian as someone who will be a huge celebrity? Are you going to betray us so soon?¡± Zhao Jiao looked at her sideways. Tian Juan quickly ttered him. ¡°How would I know how to judge someone? It¡¯s all because you, my Boss, has a discerning eye. Didn¡¯t you say that she has great potential?¡± As she spoke, she poured another cup of coffee for Zhao Jiao and handed it over ingratiatingly. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m your trusted aide. You won¡¯t be at ease if you hand over any matters rted to Wen Nian to others! And if anything happens, I¡¯ll definitely report it immediately.¡± Seeing that Zhao Jiao¡¯s expression was not bad, Tian Juan added, ¡°Besides, you wanted to keep this a secret from Shen, right? You canpletely push the me to me. Just say that I insisted on being a manager and thought highly of Wen Nian. Besides, I definitely didn¡¯t know that Wen Nian was Shen Jun¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Zhao Jiao took a sip of coffee and said sarcastically, ¡°Aiyo, you couldn¡¯t tell? You¡¯ve nned this from the beginning, right? Damn you, Tian Juan. If you don¡¯t can¡¯t find out anything about Wen Nian¡¯s test results, you should give up on being a manager. Be my assistant until you retire and I¡¯ll support you in your old age.¡± Tian Juan hurriedly bowed. ¡°Alright! Boss, I understand! If I do this well, I¡¯ll be Wen Nian¡¯s manager!¡± ¡°Hmph, it depends on whether she¡¯s willing or not.¡± Zhao Jiao pouted. Tian Juan knew that Zhao Jiao had agreed, so she hurriedly took out the snacks she had prepared. ¡°Boss, please take charge of the situation first. These are nuts, potato chips, fruits, fruit juice, and ice cream. They¡¯re all in the fridge. I¡¯m going to the airport now. I¡¯m going to Hai City immediately. Love you!¡± ¡°Hmph, who cares?¡± Zhao Jiao rolled her eyes at her and continued eating her fruits. However, Zhao Jiao was relieved that Tian Juan had gone to Hai City. Tian Juan had been with her since she graduated from university and could be considered an elder of thepany. She was lively and knew how to socialize. She had umted a lot of connections in the past few years, so it was best for her to take care of Wen Nian. At the thought that Wen Nian had an eloquent and capable manager like Tian Juan, coupled with her, a beautiful and domineering CEO mother-inw, Zhao Jiao thought that Wen Nian was quite lucky. Before Tian Juan arrived in Hai City, she had already told her senior that she was going to investigate this matter. As soon as shended, she ran straight to the office for the Education Bureau . ¡°Tian Juan, you really don¡¯t visit unless there¡¯s something important! What¡¯s your rtionship with Wen Nian? Why are you helping her like this?¡± the senior teased. Tian Juan pursed her lips and said, ¡°You gave birth to a sonst year, and I presented a gift. It was an exquisite jade ornament for both you and Tian Yu. Don¡¯t you know that the person who is taking benefit has to obey all orders?¡± The senior couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°You. I had only gotten this jade and you¡¯re already ordering me around.¡± Then, he said seriously, ¡°After all, a provincial examination is not as strict as the college entrance examination, but we have records here. I¡¯ve checked. The answer sheet is recorded directly on theputer. It can¡¯t be wrong.¡± He pulled out an answer sheet, saying, ¡°When ites to these types of questions, it¡¯s either right or wrong¡ªno need for much discussion. For subjective questions this time, two teachers will be grading, and the scores will be averaged. The probability of both teachers making the same mistake is very low.¡± ¡°Can we find Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet?¡± Tian Juan asked with a furrowed brow. She came specifically for Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet. The provincial exam was just a mock exam, and having ess to the answer sheet would be the first step in rifying any misunderstandings. ¡°The workload is substantial, not easy to find. Do you know how many candidates there are in the entire province? But if we can locate the batch of answer sheets from their school, we should be able to find hers, though it¡¯s a bit troublesome,¡± the senior student shrugged. ¡°Moreover, even if you find the answer sheet, someone could still im it¡¯s fabricated online. What will you do then? And what if Wen Nian simply didn¡¯t perform well? Wouldn¡¯t all this effort be in vain?¡± However, Tian Juan shook her head. ¡°Get someone to help. Finding the answer sheet is the first step, and there¡¯s a second step. Don¡¯t you want to climb higher in your position? This is definitely an opportunity!¡± The senior student looked meaningfully at Tian Juan for a moment before saying, ¡°Xiao Juan, I¡¯ll trust you this once, just don¡¯t get me into trouble, okay?¡± Chapter 372 - 372: Poor Assistant Chapter 372: Poor Assistant Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Tian Juan smiled and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, my boss behind me is the deputy secretary of the mayor. He won¡¯t harm you for sure!¡± She knew that she would definitely win this time. Zhao Jiao had already inquired about Wen Nian¡¯s results. She was a big shot in Wen Nian¡¯s fan club, and there were even roommates of Wen Nian in the group. Tian Juan also knew that Shen Jun had people checking Wen Nian¡¯s results. Both of them were not the type to act recklessly. There had been plenty of people trying to frame Wen Nian before; this time, there was definitely a problem! If she wanted to be an agent, she needed a guarantee. With Wen Nian¡¯s current fame and poprity, it was impossible for her to choose an unknown agent like Tian Juan without a solid backing. In the end, Tian Juan¡¯s senior pulled some strings, enlisted the help of colleagues and security personnel, and after three to four hours, they finally found Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet. Wen Nian had been thinking about how to show proof of her innocence, or else she would have to prove herself in the next provincial exam. However, the next day, someone had already started to rify for her. An ount named ¡°Sister Juan¡± posted Wen Nian¡¯s answer sheet for the provincial exam and calcted Wen Nian¡¯s total score as 552 points. Although not exceptionally high, it was enough to rank among the top 50 in the entire school. When Zhou Bei saw the news online, she immediately informed Wen Nian. ¡°Is this your answer sheet? There are at least several hundred thousand candidates in the entire province, right? How did she find it?¡± Although Wen Nian found it a bit strange, she nodded, ¡°Yes, this is indeed my answer sheet.¡± Zhao Min, standing nearby, said happily, ¡°Great! With the answer sheet, who can say anything unpleasant aHowever, Wen Nian felt something was odd, especially when she saw the username ¡°Sister Juan.¡± It felt strangely familiar. However, Wen Nian felt something was odd, especially when she saw the username ¡°Sister Juan.¡± It felt strangely familiar. As soon as Wen Nian arrived at the ssroom, she was called directly to the office by Li Fang. ¡°This is the person who helped you find the answer sheet, she is, she is Sister Juan,¡± Li Fang introduced the person somewhat awkwardly. Tian Juan quickly stood up and smiled, ¡°I¡¯m Tian Juan. Yesterday, I was in the storage room of the education bureau, working with more than a dozen people in turns. It took almost four hours to find the answer sheet.¡± When Tian Juan introduced herself, Wen Nian was surprised. No wonder she found ¡°Sister Juan¡± so familiar. In her past life, Sister Juan was the number one agent in the entertainment industry, not only with a sharp eye for talent but also with powerful backing and formidable skills. The artists she managed were almost all at the level of Best Actor or Best Actress, and the resources she secured for them made many envious. In her past life, Wen Nian¡¯s status was not high enough to even exchange a word with this top-notch agent. Unexpectedly, in this life, she encountered her at school. ¡°Hello, thank you very much,¡± Wen Nian said sincerely, giving a respectful bow. Tian Juan nced at Li Fang, who tactfully left. Li Fang had also tried to check the results, but the people she knew didn¡¯t have much authority, so she could only ess theputer records. However, Tian Juan¡¯s senior went to find the answer sheet yesterday, and that person happened to be one of the people searching for it. Tian Juan took advantage of the opportunity to directly find Wen Nian. Seeing the teacher also leaving, Wen Nian spoke up, ¡°Are you representing Ding Sheng to meet me?¡± Tian Juan didn¡¯t expect this little girl to know she was from Ding Sheng. She raised her eyebrows, thinking that the big boss had indeed set his sights on someone much smarter than the average high school student. Seeing Wen Nian still looking at her, Tian Juan quickly said, ¡°I represent myself.¡± She handed Wen Nian a business card, which only had her name and contact information, without a specific position. ¡°I¡¯m still just a small assistant, but the boss gave me an opportunity to be an agent to manage some celebrities. However, I have to personally negotiate with them.¡± Tian Juan said pitifully, ¡°You don¡¯t know how challenging it is to be a small assistant in a bigpany like ours. I¡¯ve been an assistant for almost eight years before getting the chance to manage artists. I contacted you using thepany¡¯s name because I watched your movie and thought you were a rising star. But I can assure you that whatever I promise, I can deliver. I¡¯m someone who always keeps my word.¡± Seeing her expression, Wen Nian deeply understood. In her past life, she was a small actress, and Tian Juan, at this time, was a small assistant. The two were quite simr. Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s expression loosen up, Tian Juan quickly added, ¡°I don¡¯t have anything special, but I know a lot of people. Look, this is your answer sheet. You also know that the entertainment industry values connections the most, right? And I also have perseverance..¡± Chapter 373 - 373: Be My Agent Chapter 373: Be My Agent Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Tian Juan gazed at Wen Nian earnestly. ¡°And I¡¯m helping you not for any return; I genuinely believe in you. I always want to do something for the young actors I like. Besides, I heard that you donated to left-behind children. The entertainment industry needs conscientious and responsible stars like you.¡± Tian Juan¡¯s words were artful. Despite some ttery, everything she said was based on real situations, making it hard to dislike her. ¡°I know you prioritize your studies right now, but I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re looking for past exam papers from the Film Academy.¡± Tian Juan quickly took out a file from her bag. ¡°Here is a part of what I¡¯ve organized. I believe it will be helpful for you.¡± She then took out her phone. ¡°For some video materials, can we exchange WeChat and I¡¯ll send them to you? In the future, if there¡¯s any exam-rted news, I can inform you. Just focus on your studies, and I¡¯ll keep you updated on any developments.¡± Wen Nian watched her series of actions, genuinely impressed. She had only discussed the idea of participating in the art exam with Xu Chang, yet Tian Juan, still a small assistant, managed to subtly discern her intentions. Moreover, she swiftly organized the materials and proactively added Wen Nian on WeChat. No wonder she was a top-tier agent in her past life. Almost instinctively, Wen Nian took out her phone and added Tian Juan on WeChat. It was only then that she came back to her senses. ¡°I still have to take the college entrance exam, and I haven¡¯t agreed to sign with you.¡± ¡°I know, what¡¯s wrong with not signing?¡± Tian Juan smiled and said, ¡°Consider it as a small favor. Anyway, since you¡¯re going to take the art exam, just think of me as a messenger.¡± Tian Juan had a simple and honest appearance, and even when she smiled, she looked easy-going, making people feel at ease. But Wen Nian knew the person¡¯s capabilities in her past life. She could single-handedly challenge agents from severalpanies with the artists she managed. It was said that she could make people have heart attacks just by scolding them without using dirty words. Just as Wen Nian was about to say goodbye, Tian Juan looked at her phone and eximed, ¡°Oh, this¡­ thisizen says my answer sheet is fake.¡± She looked apologetically at Wen Nian. ¡°I was too eager to rify things for you. I¡¯ll quickly post the video of me going to the education bureau to find the answer sheet yesterday. I recorded a short segment and took a few photos.¡± Wen Nian watched as Tian Juan immediately began searching for yesterday¡¯s video, muttering to herself while searching, ¡°Fortunately, I impulsively recorded the video at that time; otherwise, it would be really hard to exin.¡± ¡°Wait a moment!¡± Wen Nian interrupted her. Tian Juan looked at her in confusion. Only then did Wen Nian speak, ¡°You¡¯re not my official agent, right? You privately asked someone to find the answer sheet for me, right? Using unofficial channels?¡± Tian Juan nodded innocently. ¡°I have a senior in the education bureau, and I asked him for help. He also found some colleagues, and even some security personnel who were off-duty that day came to help. Otherwise, how could we have found the answer sheet?¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Nian¡¯s heart sank halfway. She sighed, ¡°This matter is not easy to handle.¡± Seeing Tian Juan¡¯s still puzzled expression, Wen Nian exined, ¡°You entered the education bureau through unofficial channels and privately found my answer sheet. This is considered irregr. Even if it proves my scores, all the people who helped you yesterday, including the person who found the answer sheets and the security personnel, will be implicated.¡± ¡°Normally, there are many who seek favors from the education bureau, but when ites to such matters, if it¡¯s not reported, the officials won¡¯t investigate. But just look at the current discussion.¡± Tian Juan lowered her head and fiddled with her phone. Indeed, many people were saying that Wen Nian vited the rules by asking someone to find her answer sheet at the education bureau. Some even spected that the education bureau intentionally fabricated the results after taking money from Wen Nian. Wen Nian watched as Tian Juan¡¯s face turned pale, and her hands trembled slightly. She sighed, ¡°Or else, I can find awyer and say that I entrusted you to investigate this matter. But that might not work either. We didn¡¯t follow official channels, and all those people might still face consequences.¡± ¡°What do we do then?¡± Tian Juan became anxious, pacing in the teacher¡¯s office. ¡°My senior just had their second child at home. He can¡¯t afford to lose his job, or it would be a huge problem for me. And those security personnel from yesterday were just trying to help.¡± Wen Nian lowered her head; this situation was indeed difficult. Meanwhile, the urgent tone of Tian Juan¡¯s voice echoed in her ears. Thinking about Ding Sheng, argepany, and someone like Tian Juan, a top-notch agent, Wen Nian suddenly made up her mind. Since she had decided to pursue this path, joining Ding Sheng seemed like a favorable choice. Wen Nian took a deep breath and then grabbed Tian Juan¡¯s hand. ¡°Then, for the time being, consider yourself my agent..¡± Chapter 374 - 374: We Can Take Action Now Chapter 374: We Can Take Action Now Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Ah?¡± Tian Juan still looked surprised. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wouldn¡¯t sign a contract for now?¡± ¡°This matter started because of me, and you were just trying to help.¡± Wen Nian said softly, ¡°If you be my agent, my image represents thepany. If I am defamed, it means a loss for thepany. As an agent and an economicpany trying to recover losses, questioning the authenticity of the education bureau¡¯s results, my malicious nder, and the agent¡¯s request to check my real grades shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± Hearing this, Tian Juan was truly astonished; these were supposed to be her lines! Ever since Wen Nian¡¯s grades became a hot topic, Tian Juan had been nning all this. The goal was not only to clear Wen Nian¡¯s name but also to make her understand the importance of apany. Unexpectedly, a teenager like Wen Nian could think so clearly. Seeing Tian Juan still surprised, Wen Nian patiently exined, ¡°I am sure this is my answer sheet. If my grades are falsified, with many people online fueling the mes, you can let the economicpany investigate. It¡¯s certain that someone is hiring inte trolls, proving the intention to damage my reputation and infringe on my right to reputation. We have the right to sue.¡± Tian Juan nodded. Not only were people smearing Wen Nian online, but someone inside the education bureau had also taken money to manipte her grades. Moreover, her senior had already found a clue. The answer sheet was fine, the grades on the answer sheet were fine, but why did Wen Nian¡¯s results be an issue during the final province-wide score calction? Falsifying grades was the first step, defamation was the second, and there might be other tricks in the future. ¡°I¡¯ll inform my parentster. We should act sooner rather thanter. Let¡¯s sign a temporary contract first to resolve this matter.¡± Hearing Wen Nian¡¯s words, Tian Juan was genuinely pleased this time. A temporary contract was fine; as long as Wen Nian saw the resources and benefits she could bring, Tian Juan wasn¡¯t worried about her not signing a long-term contract. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s meet again at noon. I¡¯ll go handle some other matters now and make sure you won¡¯t be implicated.¡± Tian Juan promised with determination. Wen Nian shook her head, ¡°The next exam results can also prove me, and there¡¯s the college entrance exam results too. But if the people who helped you yesterday get implicated¡­¡± She didn¡¯t continue, but Tian Juan understood what she meant. She didn¡¯t want to involve others, didn¡¯t want others to lose their jobs for her sake. Tian Juan¡¯s lips curled up; she didn¡¯t misjudge this young girl. She was indeed a promising talent. Back in the ssroom, Wen Nian saw Shen Jun looking displeased. She quickly took out the prepared breakfast and exined the meeting with Tian Juan. ¡°Tian Juan?¡± Shen Jun inhaled sharply. Why would this bigshot agente looking for Wen Nian? Could it be at Madam Zhao¡¯s request? ¡°Yeah, you haven¡¯t heard of that name, right?¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t find it strange. Even when Tian Juan was famous in the industry, others wouldn¡¯t know her by this name. ¡°She¡¯s an assistant from Ding Sheng Media, not well-known, and doesn¡¯t have many resources.¡± Wen Nian thought about Tian Juan¡¯s pitiful appearance just now and added with some sympathy, ¡°I doubt bigpanies like this provide many resources to their assistants. Did you see what she was wearing earlier? Even simpler than Teacher Li. She doesn¡¯t look like an entertainmentpany employee at all. I assume her sry isn¡¯t high. I can¡¯t burden her and her friends further. Anyway, I need to rify things, and having an economicpany will be more convenient.¡± Shen Jun¡¯s mouth twitched. Thinking about how Tian Juan helped Zhao Jiao invest in a variety show two years ago, making a profit of several million. And Madam Zhao casually gave Tian Juan a house. Now, looking at Wen Nian sympathizing with Tian Juan for not having money, he suddenly felt that Wen Nian was indeed quite naive. But he wasn¡¯t nning to stop her. Since Wen Nian wanted to be an actress, joining an agentpany was just a matter of time. Rather than letting her go to anotherpany, it was better for her to be at Ding Sheng. Even if Madam Zhao was unreliable, Tian Juan was very reliable. Maybe she could indeed provide Wen Nian with some good resources, at least ensuring she wouldn¡¯t encounter messy situations. By noon, Wen Nian briefly exined the situation to her family. Since she wasn¡¯t yet 18 years old, in the end, Zhou Mei signed the short-term contract. The moment she received the contract, Tian Juan felt like crying. She quickly took a picture and sent it to her boss. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s all settled! We can take action now!¡± Chapter 375 - 375: How the Tables Have Turned Chapter 375: How the Tables Have Turned Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Indeed, after signing the contract, Tian Juan quickly took action and issued a statement. On one hand, it confirmed that Wen Nian was an artist under Ding Sheng Media, exining that she hadn¡¯t been assigned any work yet due to still being a student. On the other hand, she exposed the intentional use of fake scores to discredit Wen Nian, which had caused losses to thepany. The education bureau cooperated with the investigation, and the next step for thepany would be to file awsuit against those who vited Wen Nian¡¯s reputation. Tian Juan promptly released the video of the day they searched for the answer sheet at the education bureau. The education bureau also quickly issued a statement, confirming their cooperation with the investigation. In the process, they indeed discovered that a staff member had tampered with Wen Nian¡¯s scores, manipting the provincial exam score system. The police had already intervened in the investigation. The reversal happened too quickly, andizens struggled to keep up with the pace. However, with the official statements one after another, the direction ofizenments changed. ¡°So Wen Nian has joined Ding Sheng. The tallest tree attracts the most wind. No wonder there are always people defaming her.¡± ¡°I know Wen Nian¡¯s ssmates, and they all say she¡¯s always doing exercises after ss. How could she be at the bottom?¡± ¡°The police caught someone? I¡¯ll wait for the police announcement; otherwise, it¡¯s easy to be pped in the face.¡± ¡°Little Wen Nian is finally entering the entertainment industry! Exciting!¡± ¡°Great, if the scores are authentic, can I cash in the chips for the potato chips I betst time?¡± ¡°My potato chips! I thought I really lost, and the chips were sent out! Return my potato chips!¡± ¡°Those who harmed Wen Nian deserve to die a miserable death, return my potato chips!¡± After more than a day of turmoil, Tian Juan showed no signs of fatigue but was filled with energy. Zhao Jiao had tacitly approved her bing an agent. With her widework in the industry, she knew that Tian Juan had started managing artists. Many people had volunteered, but Tian Juan turned them down. She simply stated that it was mainly because she saw potential in Wen Nian, wanted to create goodwill for thepany, and had not signed a long-term contract. She wasn¡¯t truly intending to manage artists and not find any coboration opportunities for Wen Nian. In the entertainment industry, everyone is quite shrewd. As Zhao Jiao¡¯s first assistant, equivalent to the chief eunuch by the emperor¡¯s side, and with Tian Juan voluntarily managing Wen Nian, regardless of backgrounds or the terms of the short-term contract, Wen Nian was likely to be very famous in the future. This incident had a significant impact, and even Zhao Wu inquired about it. The police, working overnight, unexpectedly unearthed the truth. A senior college student interning at the education bureau epted a bribe of ten thousand yuan to tamper with Wen Nian¡¯s grades. The person who approached him conveyed that the two girls didn¡¯t get along, and their families keptparing them. Therefore, they wanted Wen Nian to suffer. The student, a recluse, had no idea who Wen Nian was. Believing that with hundreds of thousands of scores, changing one person¡¯s result wouldn¡¯t matter, he epted the money and altered the score in the system. The person who gave him the money was a small leader of the Education Bureau. He was usually a vegetarian, and many of his subordinates were very disgusted. This time, he was implicated. His usual corruption, bribery, and nepotism were also exposed. ording to his confession, he received money from someone in the Wei Group. The person gave him a hundred thousand, and he found an intern to carry out the task. The investigation circled back to the Wen and Wei families. Netizens suddenly realized that the Wei family was trying to divert attention. But when they interrogated the department head of the Wei Group, he insisted that he hated Wen Nian to the extreme. He believed that because Wen Nian became famous, people started paying attention to her, causing Wei Feng¡¯s past to be exposed. He had received the support of the old master and wanted to avenge him. While it seemed like this matter hade to an end, in reality, it elerated the progress of Wei Feng¡¯s case. The police didn¡¯t dare to dy it and sped up the proceedings. At this moment in the Jiang family, Jiang Ning hid in Jiang Chun¡¯s room, hardly daring toe out. ¡°Jiang Chun, if it weren¡¯t for your help this time, I would have been finished.¡± Reflecting on the events of the past few days, she was genuinely afraid of ending up like Wei Lai, still in custody. Knowing Wen Nian¡¯s ruthless nature, and with Huang Yue already incarcerated, Jiang Ning couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit fearful. Jiang Chun softly reassured her, ¡°We are real sisters. In the future, you will be the young mistress of the Wei family, and the Wei family will belong to you and Wei Xiao. That little department manager is already trying to curry favor with you! When the timees, you can just give him a low-level position. Otherwise, with hisck of connections and education, he probably won¡¯t even be the general manager before retirement.¡± Jiang Ning nodded but she still felt scared. However, in Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes, there was an unmistakable undercurrent of resentment. Wen Nian, you¡¯ve managed to turn the tables again! Chapter 376 - 376: Going to the Capital for the Art Examination Chapter 376: Going to the Capital for the Art Examination Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Jiang Ning had a mournful expression as she said, ¡°But I¡¯m not willing to ept this, Jiang Chun. How does she always turn bad situations into good ones?¡± Jiang Chun also thought the same, but she said, ¡°It¡¯s not her fault. She indeed has good grades and acting skills. I heard that many people volunteered for that public service advertisement, but Director Xu didn¡¯t even give them a chance.¡± Hearing her words, Jiang Ning became even more frustrated. ¡°And when did she sign a contract with Ding Sheng Media? Is thepany blind? Why did they choose her?¡± At the thought that Wen Nian was about to debut, Jiang Chun felt much better. How could such a bigpany not have any problems? She had witnessed many agents bringing artists to her father¡¯s social gatherings, essentially high-ss prostitutes. She smiled, ¡°That¡¯s just Wen Nian¡¯s destiny. With such high box office numbers for her movies, how could she not enter the entertainment industry? If she didn¡¯t want to enter in the first ce, why did she go into filmmaking? Everyone has their own fate.¡± Jiang Ning was feeling indignant, but she couldn¡¯t argue with Jiang Chun. After crying for a while in Jiang Chun¡¯s room, she left. Jiang Chun looked at the onlinements that were all siding with Wen Nian and felt a bit upset. However, thinking that Wen Nian had already signed with an entertainmentpany, she felt more at ease. Now that Wen Nian was a female celebrity, so what if she was the center of attention? The Shen family would never ept such a daughter-inw. After experiencing the results storm, life in the third year of high school was once again just about doing exercise questions. Other than doing the homework assigned by the teacher every day, Wen Nian also had to continue doing the exercise questions assigned by Shen Jun. She wished that she could turn one minute into two minutes as there was just not enough time. While she was studying with all her might, Wen Nian still had to prepare for the art exam. After the evening self-study session, she had to keep looking at the past exam content sent by Tian Juan. In reality, the exams at the Film Academy were more about whether you were suitable for this line of work. Having talent was, of course, good, but if youcked talent, had good acting skills, or were a moldable talent, the school would still keep you. However, in recent years, with the entertainment industry booming and various talent shows thriving, many teenagers had dreams of bing stars. Therefore, the number of people applying to the Film Academy was increasing. It was like a multitude of troops passing through a narrow bridge, and it wasn¡¯t so easy to pass directly. When Wen Nian received a WeChat message from Tian Juan, she was also in a dilemma. Piano was her strength, and showcasing her talent in ying the piano was an option. However, standing out from the crowd was a bit challenging. Thinking back to a low-budget web series she had filmed in her past life, her martial arts instructor had trained her in the use of a longsword for some time. She decided to practice this skill again. Since she was going to take the exam, she needed to have some special talents. Tian Juan: I¡¯ve already handled the enrollment for the art exam at the Film Academy in the capital for you. It would be best for you toe a couple of days early. Thepany will arrange your flight and hotel. There are some things to note in advance. You can bring your family along. If they are busy, I can apany you to the exam. While receiving this message, Wen Nian was contemting. Her family had recently opened a braised dish restaurant, and her parents were busy taking turns taking care of Wen Yan. Therefore, she decided to go to the exam alone. Since there was a manager apanying her, she was extremely familiar with Kyoto. Unexpectedly, after she and Li Fang had taken a leave of absence, she saw Shen Jun waiting for her at the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to the capital for more than a week to participate in the art exam. I was nning to tell you in the ssroomter. But I¡¯ll be back after the exam. Sister Juan has already prepared everything for me.¡± Wen Nian hesitated a bit before speaking. She knew that if she told Shen Jun in advance, he might also want to go with her. Since she had decided to venture into the entertainment industry, she couldn¡¯t rely on Shen Jun for everything. Unexpectedly, Shen Jun smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯ve applied for leave too. Let¡¯s pack up in the afternoon. The flight is tonight.¡± ¡°What? Why are you going?¡± Wen Nian looked a bit embarrassed. ¡°The college entrance examination ising soon, and you should focus on preparing for it.¡± ¡°Do you think I still need to continue revising?¡± Shen Jun interrupted her directly. ¡°You definitely won¡¯t let Uncle and Auntie follow you. Now that you¡¯re quite famous, of course I¡¯m going to be your bodyguard. You¡¯ll definitely be safe in the capital.¡± With that, he even raised his arm and showed his biceps, making Wen Nian speechless. However, thinking about Shen Jun¡¯s almost perfect score, Wen Nian felt that it wasn¡¯t a bad thing for him to follow.. Chapter 377 - 377: What’s Your Name? Chapter 377: What¡¯s Your Name? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios During lunch break, the two of them went straight back to the Wen family home. The Shen Jun family was in the capital, so there was naturally nothing to bring. However, other than clothes, Wen Nian had to think about if there was anything she could use during the exam. Seeing her pick up the clothes and fiddle with them, then looking at the long sword in her hand, Shen Jun said helplessly, ¡°Didn¡¯t Sister Juan prepare everything for you? You just need to be present. It¡¯s just a week. There¡¯s no need to bring too much.¡± However, Wen Nian still lowered her head and continued packing. She didn¡¯t find it strange. ¡°How do you know that she prepared it for me? It¡¯s my first art exam. It¡¯s better to bring more so that I won¡¯t be short of things.¡± Only then did Shen Jun feel that what he said just now was wrong and he quickly tried to make up for it. ¡°I thought, ording to entertainment news, agents prepare everything for artists. I assumed yourpany would be the same.¡± He knew that Tian Juan had be Wen Nian¡¯s agent. And so, Shen Jun contacted her directly. Tian Juan then used her award-winning level of acting skills to respond to Shen Jun¡¯s inquiries. ¡°Is she your ssmate? How would I know? I don¡¯t even know which school you attend, let alone who your ssmates are! ¡°Your mom said to give me a chance as an agent, and I certainly chose a promising artist! Wen Nian caught my eye. Your mom never cares about these small matters. How many artists does thepany have anyway? ¡°I signed the contract, and your mom only found out that I signed Wen Nian after the fact. She didn¡¯t say anything else.¡± Tian Juan¡¯s response followed one principle: the boss didn¡¯t know about Wen Nian signing with Ding Sheng. She made all the decisions independently. Although Shen Jun harbored suspicions about her exnation, he had no evidence. The contract was already signed, so what else could he do? In the end, Tian Juan even asked mysteriously, ¡°Little Jun, are you on good terms with Wen Nian? Why are you so concerned about her?¡± Thest conversation ended with Shen Jun unterally interrupting it by saying, ¡°She¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± Since that discussion, Tian Juan has been dutifully informing Shen Jun of every WeChat message exchanged between her and Wen Nian. Tian Juan understood the situation well ¡ª the boss¡¯s son was the future boss. This time, Tian Juan informed Shen Jun early that she had prepared clothing and props for Wen Nian. She also arranged a room next to Wen Nian¡¯s for Shen Jun. However, Shen Jun was not nning to tell Wen Nian about these arrangements. After two hours, Wen Nian finally finished packing, and the two boarded the ne together. Looking at the clouds outside the window, Wen Nian felt a sense of nostalgia. In her previous life, she had spent most of her time in Kyoto, rarely returning to the coastal city. In this life, despite the constant back and forth, she felt unusually happy. However, as the exam approached, she became nervous. This was an experience she hadn¡¯t gone through in her past life. But if she wanted to stay in Kyoto, there was no better school than the Film Academy in the capital. She had to give it her all. Sensing her nervousness, Shen Jun gently held her hand and reassured her, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Ding Sheng is an excellent talent agency, and you¡¯ve prepared well. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Wen Nian smiled and squeezed his hand in return. This life was different. She had family, Shen Jun, and the support of her fans. She was confident she could seed. As soon as they got off the ne, Wen Nian saw Tian Juan. She was still wearing a ck sportswear. She was not even 30 years old, but she did not like to dress up. She was the kind of person who could not be found in the crowd. Seeing Wen Nian and Shen Jun had gotten off the n, she quickly went to greet them. Seeing her open arms, Wen Nian thought that she was going to hug her. Unexpectedly, the cap in Tian Juan¡¯s left hand was ced on Wen Nian¡¯s head, and the sunsses in her right hand were already on Wen Nian¡¯s face. rom her bag, she quickly took out arge mask. ¡°You¡¯re a star now. Take care of yourself. Cover up a bit when you go out, and pay attention to your hairstyle. You¡¯re still a student, so your clothes can be ordinary, but they must be clean and tidy.¡± She spoke while helping Wen Nian put on the mask. ¡°I even added each rhinestone to this mask one by one. Even if you¡¯re photographed, it¡¯ll sparkle, and it¡¯ll make your face look smaller. I¡¯ll find you an assistantter, and they can take care of these things. You should let the assistant handle them.¡± Wen Nian was moved by her thoughtfulness. She was just a somewhat recognized actress at the moment, but Tian Juan had already thought about every detail. She truly lived up to her reputation as a superb agent from her previous life! Tian Juan nced at Shen Jun, then suddenly erupted with her acting skills. ¡°Is this your ssmate? With such good looks, are you interested in bing an actor? I can be your agent.¡± Surprisingly, she even took out a business card and handed it to Shen Jun. ¡°I¡¯m Wen Nian¡¯s agent now.. ssmate, what¡¯s your name?¡± Chapter 378 - 378: Great Kindness Chapter 378: Great Kindness Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian thought of the Shen family¡¯s power in the capital. Tian Juan, this former assistant, probably didn¡¯t know about Shen Jun¡¯s background. She was about to exin for Tian Juan when she saw that Shen Jun had already taken the business card. Then, he gritted his teeth and said to Tian Juan, ¡°My name is Shen Jun. Thank you.¡± ¡°Sure, sure.¡± Tian Juan knew when to stop. She quickly waved her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ve just started being a agent. If you want to be a celebrity in the future, contact me again. You can contact me anytime!¡± Then, she pulled Wen Nian and pushed her luggage towards the door. She could already feel Shen Jun¡¯s angry gaze. Three people arrived directly at a high-end hotel near the film academy. Just as they reached the entrance, Wen Nian grabbed Tian Juan and asked, ¡°Sister Juan, how much does a night at the International Grand Hotel cost? Why did you book here? Can thepany reimburse us?¡± Wen Nian was too familiar with the pricing here. This old-established hotel in the center of the capital had hosted numerous world leaders, and even the cheapest room for a night cost a five-digit figure. As a rtively unknown small celebrity and with Tian Juan, a little assistant transitioning from an internship to a junior agent, staying here seemed too extravagant. However, Tian Juan continued to pull her inside and whispered, ¡°Ourpany has benefits and discounts. I used my and a colleague¡¯s quota to book two rooms. Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s reimbursable.¡± Wen Nian looked at Tian Juan with gratitude. In her previous talent agency, even with discounts on hotels and flights, they would sell them to her at the original price and then deduct the amount from her sry. When she saw the room, Wen Nian was even more surprised. If it were a regr room, it would be one thing, but Tian Juan found her a mid-range room in an international hotel, costing nearly twenty thousand for a day. ¡°Sister Juan, if it¡¯s not reimbursable, you must let me know. Even with a 90% discount, this room is still quite expensive!¡± She felt a bit embarrassed. ¡°I know you want me to befortable while preparing for the exam, but this is too expensive.¡± But Tian Juan wore a contented smile and said, ¡°Exam candidates need to be in a good state, especially for your film academy entrance exam. These expenses are nothing. As long as you can pass, even if I have to pay for it myself, I think it¡¯s worth it! After all, I am your agent, right?¡± Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s grateful expression, tears welled up in her eyes. On the side, Tian Juan looked righteous, as if she had made significant contributions for Wen Nian. Shen Jun nced at the room number and rolled his eyes inwardly at Tian Juan. Although the 6th floor of the International Grand Hotel was considered mid-range, it was a floor reserved by Ding Sheng Media for hosting guests. Moreover, didn¡¯t Mrs. Zhao herself have shares in the International Grand Hotel? Tian Juan turned around and noticed Shen Jun¡¯s disdainful expression. She quickly forced a smile, ¡°Young man, I just happened to book two rooms. I¡¯ll go home, and you can stay next door. This way, you two can take care of each other.¡± Wen Nian originally wanted to decline, but considering the awkwardness of living with Shen Jun and Tian Juan, she reluctantly said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sister Juan. He lives in the capital; he just came to see me off. He can go home.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be so modest,¡± Tian Juan approached Wen Nian, then whispered, ¡°My husband was originally on a business trip. He came back early today; it¡¯s like a mini-honeymoon for us! Anyway, I¡¯ve already booked the rooms, and they won¡¯t refund me. Let your boyfriend stay.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s face showed surprise, then she blushed. With the demeanor of an experienced person, Tian Juan said, ¡°He came all the way to send you here; your rtionship seems really good, huh? Trust me, I¡¯m not an unreasonable agent. You can focus on building your career and have a normal love life. Don¡¯t worry, don¡¯t worry.¡± After hearing her words, Wen Nian¡¯s face turned even redder. Unable to resist Tian Juan¡¯s insistence, she reluctantly agreed to let Shen Jun stay, promising herself that she would reimburse Tian Juan for the expenses. Tian Juan took care of everything, and she took out several sets of clothes and a long sword that she had prepared for Wen Nian. After a few more instructions, she left the room. This time, Shen Jun also courteously escorted Tian Juan downstairs. ¡°Has Shen ssmatee to his senses? Want me to be your agent?¡± Tian Juan started teasing Shen Jun as soon as they entered the elevator. Shen Jun, with a serious expression, said, ¡°Your acting skills aren¡¯t quite up to par; it¡¯s a pity. Otherwise, should I rmend you to Mrs. Zhao?¡± ¡°You heartless little Jun! I¡¯ve put in so much effort, acting clueless, and you¡¯re trying to take advantage?¡± Tian Juan pretended to be angry. Shen Jun sighed, ¡°Yes, Sister Juan, you¡¯ve been the best to me. I won¡¯t forget your great kindness..¡± Chapter 379 - 379: Preparing for the Examination Chapter 379: Preparing for the Examination Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Shen Jun returned, Wen Nian had already started practicing swordy in the room. The content of the film academy entrance exam seemed simple, but the actual requirements were high. The first two exams were recitations of self-prepared scripts, which was nothing challenging for Wen Nian, who had experience in hosting training in her past life. She was quite confident. However, after the recitation, there was a talent showcase, and though the school¡¯s enrollment brochure stated simple requirements with no specific format, Wen Nian knew the talent showcase was crucial. The talent showcase could reveal your family background, your specialties, and even the entertainment path you might take in the future. Wen Nian was proficient in piano ying, but anyone interested could probably find videos of her performances at school, especially the one that caught Xu Chang¡¯s attention. The school teachers were likely aware of it. So, her talent had to be unique; being toomon wouldn¡¯t make her stand out. Moreover, the annual quota at the Film Academy in the capital was limited. If she didn¡¯t stand out, she wouldn¡¯t be selected in the end. Therefore, she had to seize the opportunity. The final part of the performing artsprehensive exam was essentially an acting test. Although most candidates hadn¡¯t studied acting, those aspiring for this path probably began preparing a year or two ago. With her experience from her past life, Wen Nian was naturally not worried. The only concern was whether the talent showcase would earn her extra points. If she wasn¡¯t shortlisted after the talent showcase, she wouldn¡¯t have the chance for the final interview. Looking at Wen Nian, who was fiddling with his sword, Shen Jun smiled and said, ¡°Heroine Wen¡¯s swordsmanship is really not bad, right? Didn¡¯t you learn mixed martial arts in school back then? Did the teacher give you special treatment?¡± Wen Nian gave him a sidelong nce, continued practicing, and couldn¡¯t say that she had experience from her past life. Gradually, Shen Jun also saw the intricacies. Wen Nian¡¯s wrist flew, although the movements were slow, they were very coordinated. With a gentle rotation, the longsword could swiftly move, emitting a gleam under the lights. After practicing for a while, the doorbell rang, and the waiter brought dinner. ¡°This can be reimbursed by Ding Sheng, right?¡± Wen Nian hesitated, looking at the expensive seafood feast. To reassure her, Shen Jun could only say that he had ordered it. ¡°Look at how useless you are. I ordered it.¡± Shen Jun gently tapped her head. ¡°All the seafood in this hotel is especially fresh. There are exams in the next few days. Eat here first to ensure your condition.¡± As soon as he finished speaking, Wen Nian had already started eating the seafood baked rice. ¡°Then I won¡¯t stand on ceremony. Come quickly. This is delicious! As expected of a big hotel!¡± After a luxurious night at the high-end hotel, the next morning, Wen Nian got up early and changed into the clothes Tian Juan had prepared. Tian Juan knew Wen Nian¡¯s strengths ¨C simple T-shirts, shirts, and either jeans or sweatpants. Wen Nian chose a white stand-cor shirt and slim-fit jeans. With her tall figure and beautiful legs, this outfit not only highlighted her advantages but also gave off a student-like vibe. For the second round of the audition, which included a talent show, Tian Juan specially prepared an improved Hanfu. The gentle green color, paired with Wen Nian¡¯s long sword, showcased both a heroic and graceful style. Wen Nian secretly praised Tian Juan¡¯s sense of aesthetics, but then she became puzzled. If Tian Juan had such good taste, why did she always wear sportswear every time they met? As she was contemting this, Tian Juan arrived in the room, still in sportswear. However, today¡¯s ck T-shirt had a big red heart, showing some improvement. ¡°I¡¯ve inquired already. This year, there are 30,000 applicants, and the performance department only epts a little over a hundred. I estimate that 90% of these 30,000 are here for the performance department.¡± Tian Juan had obviously gathered information early on. After sharing this, she drank arge ss of water. Wen Nian quickly poured her another cup of warm water. Tian Juan looked grateful, but she immediately said, ¡°I saw many small celebritiesing just now. The reporters probably went to wait around four. Most of the ces we¡¯re staying are filled with candidates. But I found out that I signed you up early, so your test center is towards the front. You¡¯ll finish the preliminary test in the morning, and the second round happens the day after tomorrow..¡± Chapter 380 - 380: Her Bag Chapter 380: Her Bag Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Upon hearing Tian Juan¡¯s words, Wen Nian felt somewhat relieved. People¡¯s concentration is generally highest in the morning, and it¡¯s easier to be drowsy in the afternoon. If she could take the exam in the morning, it would be ideal¡ªno need to wait for several hours, and she could rest in the afternoon. Reflecting on the timely registration by Tian Juan, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but feel fortunate. Without such an agent, she might have had to endure waiting in line for five or six hours. Seeing the relief on her face, Tian Juan understood that Wen Nian was a sensible person, and this brought her joy. Tian Juan added quickly, ¡°There¡¯s not much to find out about the initial exam. You¡¯re sure to pass with a standard performance.¡± Choosing her words carefully, not wanting to add too much pressure, she continued, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on getting through today and the day after tomorrow¡¯s exams first, and then we can consider other matters.¡± Wen Nian nodded resolutely. Looking at Tian Juan, she suddenly felt a sense of reassurance. Upon arriving at the exam venue, Shen Jun guided them through the crowd. The sheer number of candidates, journalists, and parents had turned the scene into chaos. Luckily, the police were there to maintain order; otherwise, entering the school gate would have been impossible. However, there were too many candidates. In addition, there were reporters everywhere around the school and many parents. It was already a mess. Fortunately, the police were also at the scene to maintain order. Otherwise, Wen Nian would probably not be able to enter the school. Apart from the candidates, no one else was allowed inside the school gate. In the end, Shen Jun pushed her through the gate, and then he disappeared from view. Wen Nian took a deep breath and silently clenched her fist. Since she was here, she was determined to pass. As Tian Juan had predicted, Wen Nian had an early exam number. Before she could review the recitation a few more times, it was already her turn. Fortunately, her prior practice paid off, and seeing the approving nods from the teachers, she felt confident about the initial exam. After returning to the hotel, Wen Nian focused almost entirely on solving questions and practicing with the longsword. If she aimed to enter Kyoto Film Academy, passing the artistic exam alone wouldn¡¯t be enough; her final high school exam scores also couldn¡¯t becking. At present, her scores were likely not even close to the passing threshold. Shen Jun diligently yed the role of a mentor, not only providing test papers but also reorganizing exam topics and concepts for Wen Nian. This way, she could revisit questions whenever she had a moment. Under this intense training regimen, Wen Nian reached the artistic exam. This time, she had already packed her things early. Since the talent show required candidates to change clothes on their own, she could only bring her Hanfu and longsword. ¡°All candidates¡¯ bags are to be ced here!¡± a female teacher shouted loudly. ¡°Everyone stay quiet. We will start with recitations. After the recitations, you cane and get your bags to change clothes. If anyone needs makeup, you can help each other.¡± Wen Nian stood in the front row of the queue, clearly, many people in her exam room had not taken this exam before. She obediently ced her bag in the designated area. In fact, as soon as she appeared, many people recognized her. When she approached to ce her belongings, people started whispering. ¡°Isn¡¯t she the Hope Goddess?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s her, the leadingdy rmended by Director Xu.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t she say she wouldn¡¯t enter the entertainment industry? Why is she taking the exam now?¡± ¡°She never said that. Otherwise, why would she go and shoot movies?¡± ¡°She¡¯s much prettier in person than on television. Her skin is wless.¡± ¡°Makeup, of course. She has a managementpany, Ding Sheng Media. Haven¡¯t you heard of it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Some people don¡¯t know who they are after acting in a movie just because they¡¯re prettier.¡± In her previous life, Wen Nian was already immune to such childish attacks. She ignored everyone and walked straight to the entrance of the examination hall on the second floor to wait for the exam. A pair of eyes red at her from the crowd behind her. ¡°Why would Director Xu like her?¡± Hao Ting asked Huang Yue. Hao Ting and Huang Yue were from the samepany. Both of them had been sent by thepany to take the exam, but Hao Ting had a background and was superior to Huang Yue in every aspect. Huang Yue looked at Wen Nian¡¯s back, thought about the advertisement that Hao Ting had snatched from her a few days ago, rolled her eyes, and fixed her gaze on Wen Nian¡¯s backpack, which exposed a portion of the sword hilt. ¡°She has her ways. I saw the reporters outside constantly taking pictures of her. If she gets eliminated in this round, it¡¯ll make news.¡± Huang Yue said sarcastically, ¡°Look at the weapon in her bag. Is it a knife or a sword? I¡¯ve been her ssmate for so many years; she wouldn¡¯t use these. I think she¡¯s just seeking attention. Maybe Ding Sheng Entertainment found her some fairy costume, and she wants to pass the exam with her appearance.¡± ¡°Which one is her bag?¡± Hao Ting followed Huang Yue¡¯s gaze and looked over.. Chapter 381 - 381: Clothing Destroyed Chapter 381: Clothing Destroyed Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue pouted. ¡°It¡¯s a long ck sports bag. Did you see that? A sword hilt is exposed. This bag is so big. It¡¯s probably ancient clothes inside, right? Ding Sheng Media has really put in a lot of effort.¡± ¡°Hmph, so ugly that no one would want her even if she were thrown on the ground.¡± Hao Ting sneered, then raised her eyebrows at Huang Yue. ¡°Should I also go and contribute to Miss Wen¡¯s second round of test?¡± Seeing Hao Ting¡¯s demeanor, Huang Yue knew she was up to no good, but she still said, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around, there are so many people here. Besides, Wen Nian also has a background, and you can¡¯t afford to offend her.¡± Hao Ting had a fiery temper, and with a bit of family money, she always acted domineering in the talent agency, snatching resources without feeling ashamed, thinking that thepany should pamper her. Huang Yue hadn¡¯t learned anything else in prison, but she had learned how to manipte fools. She was adept at using others to her advantage, and instigating Hao Ting to deal with Wen Nian was definitely a two-pronged attack. Sure enough, Hao Ting, after hearing her words, became even more defiant. ¡°Who does she think she is? In the entertainment industry, it¡¯s not just about looking pretty. I¡¯ll make sure she knows how powerful I am.¡± After speaking, Hao Ting picked up the coffee from her bag and headed straight for the ce where Wen Nian had put her bag. Coincidentally, a young man in ancient costume rushed past, lightly bumping into Hao Ting. Taking advantage of the situation, Hao Ting spilled all the coffee onto Wen Nian¡¯s bag. For the convenience of holding the long sword, Tian Juan had prepared a drawstring backpack for Wen Nian. It was spacious, revealing the hilt of the sword, and could also store her costume. Hao Ting had her eye on this drawstring design. As she walked by just now, she subtly pulled the drawstring, causing the bag to open. When she was bumped into, the coffee was directly poured into the bag. She was well aware that regardless of whether Wen Nian could handle weapons or not, she would undoubtedly have to pair them with ancient costumes. Now that coffee had been spilled, the clothes would be impossible to wear, spelling trouble for Wen Nian. Thinking about this, Hao Ting¡¯s lips curled up, and then she pretended to show a panicked expression. ¡°Oh my, why are you so careless? Because of you, my coffee spilled onto someone¡¯s bag.¡± The young man felt a bit awkward. ¡°Y-yes, I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose. I just finished my exam and hurried back to get my things. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°My coffee doesn¡¯t matter much, but the owner of this bag is in trouble.¡± Hao Ting didn¡¯t pause, addressing the young man, ¡°This situation happened because of you; apologize to her!¡± Back at her seat, she couldn¡¯t help but give Huang Yue a smug look. Huang Yue chuckled inwardly; although she couldn¡¯t catch Hao Ting red-handed this time, exposing Wen Nian¡¯s embarrassment was still a good thing. The young man stood awkwardly beside Wen Nian¡¯s bag, wanting to open it and check if the contents were stained by coffee. However, he hesitated, thinking that if it were a girl¡¯s bag and contained underwear or something, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for him to open it. In the end, he could only stand stiffly in ce. A few girls nearby, admiring his handsome face, cautiously handed him tissues, informing him that it might be Wen Nian¡¯s bag. As soon as he heard it was Wen Nian¡¯s bag, the young man became even more anxious. He picked up the tissues and began wiping the outside of the bag frantically. At this moment, a female voice sounded from behind him. ¡°Hello, student. What happened to my bag?¡± Wen Nian, having a front-row exam number, had already finished the recitation in the retest. Just as she returned to change her clothes, she saw a guy crouching and wiping her bag. When the young man turned around, his face turned red, and he spoke in a hurry. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I identally bumped into a ssmate earlier, and her coffee spilled all over your bag. Please quickly open and check if anything inside is damaged. If there is, I¡¯m willing topensate you. I just finished my talent show, and I can buy you a recement immediately!¡± Wen Nian took the bag and looked at the young man. She was surprised; wasn¡¯t this the future top actor, Gu Cheng? After entering the film academy, Gu Cheng was directly noticed by a prominent director of ancient dramas. He yed the male lead in a widely known TV series. Having experienced ridicule from many, he became a national heartthrob once the TV series aired, and within a year, he became hugely popr. Wen Nian almost blurted out his name a moment ago, but fortunately, she managed to hold back. Apologizing, Gu Cheng said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, please quickly check the things in your bag. You haven¡¯t changed into your performance attire yet, have you?¡± Wen Nian finally snapped out of her daze and quickly opened the bag. The pale green dress with white gauze had mottled coffee stains. Due to the thin fabric, the coffee had seeped through the entire dress, making it evident that the entire outfit was now unwearable.. Chapter 382 - 382: Don’t Despise Me Chapter 382: Don¡¯t Despise Me Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios At the moment she saw the dress, Gu Cheng knew it was over. This kind of exam ced significant emphasis on the preparation of the participants. If Wen Nian were to perform in such attire, even with exceptional talent, it would be challenging to leave a favorable impression on the judges and teachers. Gu Cheng felt the fabric of the dress and sensed that there must be simr outfits avable in some custom clothing shops in Kyoto. He quickly spoke up, ¡°Um¡­ where did you buy this dress? I¡¯ll go buy one right away. Do you still have more than half an hour of preparation time? I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Wen Nian looked at the clothes in her hand and shook her head. She had filmed many period dramas in her previous life and knew very well that Tian Juan must have gotten someone to customize this Hanfu. At the very least, it was a set of clothes for the third female lead of arge production team. It was definitely impossible to buy it. Besides, even if it were avable for purchase, could it be delivered within half an hour? She still needed time to change clothes and do her hair. Taking a deep breath, she gently said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I won¡¯t change the outfit then. Or maybe I¡¯ll improvise and y the piano instead. Anyway, it¡¯s just a show of talent.¡± ¡°But how can that work?¡± Gu Cheng, now quite anxious, had a face turning red, almost purple. ¡°I¡¯ll contact my family right now. They will find a suitable dress for you. I¡¯ll ask them to inform the school and help you postpone the exam. You¡¯ll have enough time to change clothes.¡± Seeing Gu Cheng about to take out his phone, Wen Nian quickly stopped him. ¡°No, that won¡¯t do. If someone says the school gave me special treatment, even if I get in based on my skills, public opinion will change. You should know how powerful words can be, especially in the entertainment industry.¡± Gu Cheng, desperate, was almost in tears. ¡°Then what should we do?¡± Looking at the somewhat naive Gu Cheng before her, and thinking of the icy and devoted swordsman he portrayedter, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but find it hard to connect the two images. Suddenly, Gu Cheng grabbed the long sword from Wen Nian¡¯s backpack and asked, ¡°Are you going to dance with the sword? Does this dress have a specific theme or scenario design?¡± ¡°No, not really.¡± Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°My agent just thought this dress looked good.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Saying so, Gu Cheng directly started undressing in front of Wen Nian. A few girls nearby quickly stepped back, but none covered their eyes. It had to be said that Gu Cheng¡¯s well-built upper body was too tempting. Wen Nian took a step back while holding her backpack, staring wide-eyed at Gu Cheng. ¡°What, what are you doing? Did something agitate you?¡± Indeed, his abdominal muscles were impressive, with not a hint of excess fat. Unlike peers who might appear frail, he exuded a masculine charm. However, Wen Nian currently had no interest in observing such details, as she had less than twenty minutes left for her preparations. Gu Cheng, feeling a bit embarrassed, handed the clothes over. ¡°This is also a modified version of a Hanfu. It¡¯s somewhat simr to the attire of a swordsman, but I use it for ying the flute in performances.¡± Approaching a bit more, Wen Nian stepped back again. He somewhat helplessly picked up his sleeves. ¡°You can tie them with a rope here. The length of the sleeves can be adjusted, and there¡¯s a belt. The designcks shoulder seams, so both men and women can wear it.¡± Wen Nian finally understood his intention, carefully examining Gu Cheng¡¯s clothes. The bamboo patterns were embroidered with silver thread, shimmering slightly in the sunlight. ¡°For pants, you can wear your own as long as there are no ws in the clothes. Please don¡¯t mind, this is just a makeshift solution.¡± Thest few words were almost uttered with all his strength. Gu Cheng sneakily looked at Wen Nian and saw that she didn¡¯t hesitate, directly taking the clothes. ¡°Thank you very much.¡± Looking at her bright eyes and gentle smile, Gu Cheng, almost involuntarily, said, ¡°I¡¯m Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng.¡± Wen Nian was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m Wen Nian. Thank you, Gu Cheng.¡± She then shook the clothes in her hand and quickly ran towards the women¡¯s changing room. Watching her leave, Gu Cheng¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t shift. Suddenly, his heart seemed to be struck by something. Then he heard the sound of cameras clicking nearby. ncing over, several girls sheepishly put away their phones. Gu Cheng lowered his head only to realize he was still shirtless. He quickly, somewhat embarrassedly, picked up his bag and hugged it to his chest. Blushing, he hurried towards the men¡¯s changing room.. Chapter 383 - 383: Breathtaking Chapter 383: Breathtaking Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Fortunately, Wen Nian¡¯s original pants were worn inside, with only some coffee stains on the waist. After putting on Gu Cheng¡¯s clothes, the stains werepletely hidden. Despite Gu Cheng¡¯s height of over 180 cm, the shirt was designed as a medium-length to match his long pants. Worn by Wen Nian, it became a long shirt that she could control well. However, as it was men¡¯s clothing, Wen Nian did not follow the original n to dress herself up. Instead, she opted for a high ponytail. Her advantage with long hair became apparent at this moment ¨C after her rebirth, she had never cut her hair, and now it was long and straight, perfectly suited for this male attire. Wen Nian almost jogged out of the changing room. The onlookers who witnessed the scene were stunned by her appearance. Gu Cheng had already put on a T-shirt and was waiting in the previous location for Wen Nian. With little time to spare, Wen Nian waved at him, and Gu Cheng gave her an encouraging gesture. Fortunately, with the help of Gu Cheng¡¯s clothing, Wen Nian made it in time for the talent show assessment. After a few days of examinations, many of the teachers in the examination hall were a little exhausted. This was especially true during the talent exhibition stage. There were impromptu instrument performances, off-key solo singing, and the perennially predictable dance disys. The teachers were already feeling mentally and physically drained. However, when Wen Nian appeared, the atmosphere in the examination room was revitalized. ¡°Hello, teachers. I am examinee number 61, Wen Nian. My talent show is a performance with a long sword.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s voice was pleasant, and she smiled confidently. She was dressed in a white men¡¯s long shirt, and with her simple high ponytail, she resembled a martial arts heroine. Holding the sword, she stood with a poised demeanor. Her entire aura was vastly different from her images in movies and advertisements. One teacher said, ¡°Examinee, please begin.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s hands rested on the long sword. She restrained her smile, her eyes shed, and she swiftly assumed a stance. The long sword danced in her hands, creating a sound akin to the rustling of the wind. Wen Nian¡¯s sword dance was not a simple martial arts disy. In the past, for the sake of beautiful shots, she had incorporated various dance movements into her swordy. After a set of sword techniques, there was a graceful feeling of using flexibility to ovee strength. Her figure was light, and with a gentle lift of her toes, she leaped more than half a person¡¯s height without relying on the wire, yet her expression remained exceptionally rxed. Afternding, she turned in ce. The long sword shifted to her left hand, and then, with her body tilting backward and her legs exerting force, she performed a high-difficulty somersault. Afternding, relying on inertia, she spun three times, apanied by intricate swordy. Finally, leaving the teachers astonished, she thrust the sword forward. Facing a male teacher wearing a cap just one meter away, he was still scared and hastily leaned backward, almost falling along with his chair. Fortunately, a teacher nearby quickly supported him. ¡°My performance is over. Thank you, teachers,¡± Wen Nian bowed, then looked apologetically at the male teacher she had startled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for scaring you.¡± The male teacher waved his hands repeatedly, saying, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± As Wen Nian left the examination room, the teachers didn¡¯t immediately call the next examinee. A female teacher teased, ¡°Did Director Sun get frightened by the sword energy of this little girl? That¡¯s a bit unbing of us!¡± Hearing her words, several teachers nearby also smiled, but most of the conversation revolved around praising Wen Nian. ¡°It¡¯s been a whole morning, at least we¡¯ve seen someone good.¡± ¡°Xu Chang has definitely hit the jackpot. With such talent, she could be a star in anyone¡¯s hands.¡± ¡°Did you see her swordy just now? It flowed like running clouds, and she even integrated dance movements. This girl is extraordinary!¡± ¡°But it seems her talent is more self-taught. I heard her family conditions are average. Maybe she¡¯s a self-made talent!¡± ¡°His poprity, looks, ability, and potential are immeasurable!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t Director Sun say that he wanted to film a ancient drama? Are you taking in this girl as your disciple?¡± The group exchangedments, and the atmosphere became more lively. However, Sun Zhi, who had almost been frightened just now, took off his hat and said with a smile, ¡°I worked for your school for nothing. You didn¡¯t even give me a drink. It¡¯s already considered abor fee for me to take in a disciple!¡± His words prompted yful banter from the others, and some rushed to fetch drinks and fruit juice. Despite the jests, everyone knew that Wen Nian will not only have no problem entering the film school but also no problem in securing a role in the next movie or TV drama.. Chapter 384 - 384: Scheme Chapter 384: Scheme Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios After the exam ended, Wen Nian felt a bit uneasy, especially seeing other candidates around her all dressed up, clearly well-prepared. Some even brought cellos and drum sets. She began to feel increasingly uncertain. Looking down at her own clothes, Wen Nian took a deep breath. After all, Gu Cheng was the future leading star; perhaps this outfit would bring her good luck. However, when she returned to the ce where she left her bag, Gu Cheng was nowhere to be found. Huang Yue had already changed into an elegant, high-end beaded dress, and her makeup was exquisite. She walked slowly to Wen Nian and said with a smile, ¡°Long time no see. Didn¡¯t expect to meet you here.¡± But Wen Nian didn¡¯t say much to her and tried to leave. The few people at the side also began to whisper when they saw the situation. In other words, it was true that Wen Nian and Huang Yue didn¡¯t get along. Huang Yue, knowing the importance of poprity in the entertainment industry, suppressed her frustration and continued, ¡°Are you looking for the boy from earlier? It seems he¡¯s already gone.¡± Wen Nian then turned her attention to Huang Yue and was surprised to find that, at some point, Huang Yue had gotten European-style double eyelids. Her eyes seemed unnaturallyrge, and it appeared she might have had some nose work done as well. In her previous life, Huang Yue kept tricking her into undergoing stic surgery. She did not expect Huang Yue to undergo stic surgery in this life. What goes aroundes around! Wen Nian smiled and said, ¡°Well, thank you. Your double eyelids are beautifully done.¡± Hearing thepliment, Huang Yue felt delighted. ¡°Really? It¡¯s just a minor adjustment. Many people in the entertainment industry do it. Besides, my eyes were alreadyrge.¡± Wen Nian coldly snorted internally but continued, ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s true. But about your nose¡­¡± She deliberately dragged out her words. Huang Yue looked at her anxiously before she walked over and whispered, ¡°I told you before that your nose isn¡¯t sharp enough. Look at the female celebrities these days. Which one of them doesn¡¯t have a tall nose? And your face is too round.¡± Huang Yue nced at the girls beside her. Almost all of them had naturally oval faces and sharp chins. ¡°Look at yourpetitors around you. Any round faces?¡± Wen Nian pretended to express concern, nced around, and then said, ¡°Director Xu told me that round faces appear the fattest on screen, and most directors are unwilling to use them.¡± Hearing this, Huang Yue was rmed, recalling instances when people criticized her for having arge face, even appearing fatter than male actors during filming, which made her feel embarrassed. Now, hearing that Director Xu had also expressed simr sentiments, Huang Yue instinctively touched her face. ¡°Did Director Xu really say that?¡± Huang Yue asked anxiously. ¡°Last time, he didn¡¯t let me audition for a movie, and in the end, he chose Wang Bing. Could it be because she has a pointed chin?¡± Wen Nian admired Huang Yue¡¯s ability to extrapte from the information. She gave Huang Yue a meaningful look and said, ¡°You know how it is.¡± Huang Yue became even more anxious. Thinking about the possibility of never getting the lead role due to her facial shape, or even not bing popr, Huang Yue secretly resolved to undergo stic surgery as soon as possible while she wasn¡¯t yet famous. Huang Yue, recalling the times when Wen Nian was always obedient to her, and thinking back to when they had a good rtionship, felt a sense of gratitude towards Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, thank you. No one in the industry would tell me these things. Otherwise, I might never get good roles just because of my facial shape.¡± Hearing her words, Wen Nian just smiled and didn¡¯t intend to engage in conversation. Huang Yue nced at Hao Ting, who had just changed into her clothes, and quietly said to Wen Nian, ¡°Be careful with Hao Ting, the one in the red dress. She deliberately spilled coffee on your bag just now. If you don¡¯t believe me, you can check the surveince footage. It has nothing to do with that boy.¡± After saying this, Huang Yue quickly walked away, afraid that Hao Ting would notice. Wen Nian looked over and a faint smile appeared on her lips. What a small world it was that she encountered her old rival Hao Ting in this exam. Hao Ting, who used to be her nemesis in the entertainmentpany, had unexpectedly alsoe? In her previous life, Wen Nian had been constantly suppressed by Hao Ting in thepany. There were even times when thepany arranged hostess duties that should have gone to Wen Nian, but Hao Ting managed to rece her through schemes. Stealing roles, snatching sponsors, taking credit for costumes, and grabbing crew members ¨C the two of them had done a lot of things in the past. ¡°Wen Nian, uh, sorry.¡± Suddenly, Wen Nian felt a tap on her shoulder, and when she turned around, she saw a timid girl. ¡°I¡¯m also from exam room 16. But I heard that the teachers there don¡¯t really like foreign dances. Is that true?¡± Looking at Hao Ting in her red dress, Wen Nian knew she must be performing Spanish dance, which was Hao Ting¡¯s specialty. Her eyes rolled, and a sudden n came to her mind.. Chapter 385 - 385: Good Luck Chapter 385: Good Luck Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Hao Ting had already walked to the two of them. Wen Nian had seen the examination number and examination hall pinned to her clothes just now and knew that she was also in the 16th examination hall. So, facing the girl in front of her, Wen Nian said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about that. There are too many teachers inside. But it seems like there are more candidates wearing Hanfu costumes. You see, the guy who lent me his clothes is also dressed in ancient costume.¡± ¡°Then, is it inappropriate for me to prepare a Rumba?¡± the girl asked nervously. Wen Nian, ncing at Hao Ting eavesdropping nearby, said, ¡°Rumba should be fine. I saw the ballroom dance teacher in our examination room. But I heard she dislikes Spanish dance the most. It seems like a few girls who performed it just now didn¡¯t pass, right?¡± The girl nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes, yes! I just saw a few girls in Spanish costumese out with disappointed expressions. They all said the teacher didn¡¯t seem to like these kinds of dances. So, I wanted to ask you.¡± Hao Ting, overhearing this, felt a shock. Her Spanish dance was undoubtedly top-notch. However, the downside of the art examination was its strong subjectivity. Especially when the teachers were from the same school, one person¡¯s strong preference could influence others, affecting the candidates¡¯ scores. Moreover, if the dance teacher didn¡¯t like it? Hao Ting, thinking that Wen Nian didn¡¯t know her and that Wen Nian didn¡¯t recognize the girl in front of her, believed in the authenticity of their conversation even more. Thinking about how she had indeed heard a few dancing girls say that the teacher had an expressionless face while watching their performances, Hao Ting became increasingly convinced that she had no chance. Just then, the girl asked Wen Nian again, ¡°If I change my talent now, is there still time?¡± Wen Nian pretended to ponder for a moment and then said, ¡°Unless you have a particrly outstanding talent, it¡¯s better to stick with dancing. However¡­¡± She paused and continued, ¡°I heard from Director Xu that talents can also be telling jokes or situationaledies, right? If you want to stand out, how about a beauty acting ugly? Pretending to be crazy or foolish? After all, we are in the performance department, and who knows, you might pass?¡± Under normal circumstances, Hao Ting would never believe Wen Nian¡¯s words. But the problem was that Wen Nian mentioned Director Xu in her words. In the entertainment industry today, who dares to underestimate Director Xu? Especially when Hao Ting knew about Director Xu¡¯s powerful family background, he was not just a self-made man from a poor family! She thought for a moment and immediately returned to the changing room. She decided to try Wen Nian¡¯s method. Hao Ting had already filmed a few online dramas. Although it was not very popr, she had learned some acting. She felt that she would definitely be fine. Seeing Hao Ting return to the changing room and looking at the dumbfounded little girl in front of her, Wen Nian patted her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you! The teachers have watched too many dances, just like how we choose clothes. But if there are really good-looking clothes, can¡¯t you tell?¡± She pointed at the girl¡¯s shoes again. ¡°I can tell from your shoes that you¡¯ve been practicing dancing for many years. You¡¯ll definitely be fine. Don¡¯t change your performance at thest minute.¡± The girl said in embarrassment, ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s possible, but I¡¯ve indeed practiced dancing for many years. I¡¯ve even participated in internationalpetitions, although I didn¡¯t get a good ranking.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all young. Maybe you can win an award the next time you get into the Film Academy?¡± Wen Nian smiled sincerely. The girl seemed to be encouraged and repeatedly thanked Wen Nian before hurrying to the examination room. As Wen Nian turned around, Hao Ting had changed into a T-shirt and shorts, evidently no longer nning to showcase her talent with the previous Spanish dance. As she passed by Wen Nian, Hao Ting gave her a disdainful look, then walked arrogantly to the examination room. Wen Nian said silently behind her, ¡°Good luck.¡± When she arrived at the examination hall, she saw an examinee in a dance suiting out with a dejected expression. Hao Ting even heard the teacher at the door say softly, ¡°Why is it another dance?¡± Only then did Hao Ting heave a sigh of relief. Thinking that she had already prepared a joke that thepany had told her boss in the past, she might be able to rely on her beauty and uniqueness to win the teacher¡¯s favor and sessfully enter the Film Academy. When it was her turn, Hao Ting introduced herself confidently and told a bad joke that had gone viral on the Inte. This was her specialty. Every time she told this joke at her agency, her manager, assistant, and other actors wouldugh out loud. However, after she finished her joke, the teachers below werepletely dumbfounded. Could this girl abe fool? Did she just tell the teachers at the prestigious Film Academy in the capital a joke that wasn¡¯t funny? Could this be some kind of unconventional interview method? Chapter 386 - 386: Most Cherished Memory Chapter 386: Most Cherished Memory Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian did not see the boy who lent her his clothes. She could only change her clothes and leave school first. As soon as she stepped out of the door, she saw Tian Juan and Shen Jun chatting. Shen Jun¡¯s cold face changed into a faint smile. Seeing Wen Niane out, the two of them walked over quickly. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ve ordered the best roast duck here!¡± Tian Juan happily pulled Wen Nian back. Shen Jun took the bag from her hand and frowned at the coffee stains on it. Wen Nian, aware of his cleanliness habits, hurriedly went to grab the bag. ¡°Since someone spilled a cup of coffee, let me hold it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk too much!¡± Shen Jun pushed her small head away, then disdainfully carried the bag without giving her a chance to grab it. Tian Juan smiled and put a duckbill cap and sunsses on Wen Nian, then took out a blue mask with rhinestones. ¡°Although it¡¯s an exam, there are quite a few reporters. Pay attention to your image.¡± ¡°Does he need to pay attention to his image too? Look at him¡­¡± Wen Nian was about to say why Shen Jun didn¡¯t care about his image when she saw Tian Juan tiptoeing, putting a ck duckbill cap on Shen Jun¡¯s head. Tian Juan handed Shen Jun another ck mask and said to Wen Nian, ¡°At most, I¡¯ll just say that he¡¯s your assistant. It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine.¡± Thinking that Shen Jun might be unhappy, Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect him to actually put on the mask, looking as if it were a matter of course. Thinking that Shen Jun might be unhappy, Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect him to actually put on the mask, looking as if it were a matter of course. Tian Juan smiled and said, ¡°This little boyfriend of yours is really not bad. He¡¯s handsome and responsible. He¡¯s also funny and humorous. He¡¯s also easy-going and treats you well. He even sent you all the way to take the exams. I heard that he¡¯s especially good at studying? Aiya, he¡¯s simply the best man in the current era. You¡¯re really lucky.¡± When Shen Jun heard this, he quickly coughed twice. However, Tian Juan seemed not to understand his meaning and continued, ¡°I heard that the person that you meet during your youth is the memory you cherish for the rest of your life! I really envy you two. If you get married in the future, Sister Juan will definitely give you a big red envelope!¡± Fortunately, the car was parked in the parking lot by the roadside. Wen Nian quickly opened the door and got into the car. Otherwise, she would really be speechless by Tian Juan. ¡°Aiya, you¡¯re a celebrity now. Next time, I¡¯ll open the door for you. Or, I¡¯ll ask your assistant to open the door!¡± Tian Juan continued to make fun of her. ¡°Sister Juan!¡± Wen Nian felt her ears burning and quickly interrupted Tian Juan. Tian Juan looked at Shen Jun, whose ears were also red, and then at his eyes, which were obviously a little smug. She knew that she had done the right thing by ttering him this time. ¡°Sister Juan, why didn¡¯t you ask me how I did? Why did you reserve a table at a restaurant directly?¡± Wen Nian changed the topic. ¡°Oh, I believe in my judgment! Don¡¯t talk about the film academy; with your grades, it won¡¯t be a problem for you to strive for a high-quality major in a good university,¡± Tian Juan said with some pride on her face. ¡°Besides, Director Xu noticed you. With such a handsome and excellent student like you catching his attention, you¡¯ll definitely be fine!¡± As she brought the conversation back to this, Wen Nian feltpletely embarrassed, with Tian Juan¡¯s softughter ringing in her ears. Shen Jun cleared his throat and finally asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter with your backpack?¡± Talking about this made Wen Nian furious. She knew what kind of person Hao Ting was, and if Huang Yue dared to say such things, it was probably because of something Hao Ting did. Wen Nian exined the whole incident in detail. When she mentioned wearing another boy¡¯s clothes, Shen Jun¡¯s expression became somewhat awkward. However, because Tian Juan was around, he didn¡¯t say anything. But Tian Juan was all about enjoying the drama and didn¡¯t mind the severity of the situation. She quickly said, ¡°I just saw someone posting pictures of a half-naked guy from the exam site. Could it be him?¡± She deliberately found the pictures and showed them to Shen Jun first before letting Wen Nian see. ¡°Is this the guy?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s him. His name is Gu Cheng,¡± Wen Nian nodded. ¡°His shirt is still with me, but I can¡¯t find him anywhere.¡± ¡°No problem, no problem. ording to what you said, both of you should have performed well. Just give it to him next time you see him,¡± Tian Juan reassured. Tian Juan carefully examined Gu Cheng¡¯s photo and then sincerely asked, ¡°His abs¡­ Ah¡­ No¡­ Is he handsome?¡± Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s unfriendly gaze, Tian Juan added, ¡°Do you think he¡¯s a promising talent? Is he worth signing a contract with?¡± Thinking about Gu Cheng in her past life, who struggled for seven years under a third-rate agency but still managed to be a top star, Wen Nian believed that if he signed with Ding Sheng, he would definitely soar to new heights. She quickly nodded, ¡°He¡¯s definitely full of potential! Sister Juan, sign him. He¡¯s bound to be popr..¡± Chapter 387 - 387: Little Rascal Chapter 387: Little Rascal Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Suddenly, Shen Jun, who had been silent on the side, said leisurely, ¡°Just because you borrowed a piece of his clothes, you¡¯re already nning his future for him?¡± Hearing Shen Jun¡¯s sarcastic tone, Wen Nian quickly exined, ¡°I¡¯m looking at it from a professional point of view. Don¡¯t think too much.¡± She then earnestly turned to Tian Juan and said, ¡°Gu Cheng has a special charm in his ancient costume appearance, exuding a heroic demeanor. His height and appearance are at the top among the male candidates I¡¯ve seen. And as you know, in art exams like this, many teachers secretly choose actors. If there¡¯s a suitable script and they don¡¯t want to spend much money, they¡¯ll definitely choose students to act. Once Gu Cheng is chosen, the chances of him bing popr are high. If he has an agent to select scripts for him, he¡¯ll surely be very popr.¡± Upon hearing this, Tian Juan finally took a serious look at Gu Cheng¡¯s photos. Although the candid shots taken by several girls were a bit blurry, it was evident that he was indeed handsome, albeit with a hint of youthfulness on his face. Thinking about the reporters she just met who were taking pictures of the candidates, Tian Juan quickly contacted someone to see if she could get clearer pictures of Gu Cheng. Wen Nian continued, ¡°Sister Juan, many talent agencies are eyeing this exam. I guess they¡¯ll bepeting for talents in the next round.¡± Tian Juan raised her eyebrows in surprise at Wen Nian, not expecting her to know all this. It seemed like she had done her homework. Wen Nian said, ¡°Those who made it to the final rounds, even if they don¡¯t enter the Film Academy in the capital, will likely continue to participate in exams in other regions. They are the pirs of the future entertainment industry.¡± ¡°So you think I should start signing talents too?¡± Tian Juan tentatively asked. However, Wen Nian shook her head, ¡°You have limited resources now, and the treatment thepany provides may be average. We¡¯re not suitable for recruiting arge number of artists; we should focus on quality. The artists you currently have are all outstanding and can be first or second-tier actors. Once your reputation improves, more resources will naturallye.¡± ¡°You really understand this. You¡¯re indeed self-taught,¡± Tian Juan admired with a look of approval in her eyes. She used to think that Wen Nian was energetic and beautiful, a sincere and willing learner, and her luck was quite good. Apart from not having a background, Wen Nian had almost all the advantages of the top female stars in the entertainment industry. But she didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to think of all this. It was truly far-sighted, even suggesting future career nning. Most artists, after reaching a certain height, would start nning and building their own teams, recruiting artists on their own. Wen Nian was not even 20 years old, yet she could already think of such things. Tian Juan¡¯s impression of her became better. Tian Juan nodded earnestly, ¡°Next time you see Gu Cheng, remember to get his contact information. Let him know I¡¯d like to meet him.¡± Just as she finished saying this, the car had already arrived at the restaurant, and everyone got out one by one. However, Shen Jun had a displeased expression. Wen Nian sneakily tugged at his sleeve, her eyes filled with innocence. Shen Jun then eased his expression. Once they were in the private room, he asked, ¡°What about the person who poured coffee? What¡¯s her name? I¡¯ll make sure she doesn¡¯t make it in the entertainment industry.¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes, not expecting him to hold a grudge more than she did. However, at the thought of what she had done today, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t hide the smile on her lips. ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything. I reckon that I definitely won¡¯t be able to see her in university.¡± Seeing the sly look on her face, Shen Jun shook his head. ¡°Little Rascal.¡± The Film Academy was very fast. The results were summarized on the day of the exam and announced on the website the next day. They even sent a text message to every candidate. Hao Ting looked at the message on her phone in disbelief. ¡°Student Hao Ting, I¡¯m very sorry that you didn¡¯t pass the second audition of the Capital Film Academy. Thank you for your recognition of the Capital Film Academy.¡± ¡°How, how is this possible?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s face was filled with disbelief. How could she not even pass the second round? Huang Yue was putting on makeup at the side when she received a notification on her phone that she had passed the second round. She looked gratified and turned to look at the furious Hao Ting in the dressing room. ¡°Oh, I passed the secpnd round!¡± Huang Yue seemed excited, then turned and asked, ¡°Tingting, did you receive the message too? You must have passed! With your great dancing skills, I passed, so you definitely did too!¡± She walked over, and Hao Ting quickly covered her phone. Huang Yue pretended not to have seen it, loudly eximing, ¡°Oh no? Tingting, you¡¯re so talented, how could this happen?¡± Actually, seeing Hao Ting¡¯s expression just now, Huang Yue had guessed that she probably didn¡¯t pass. With a loud voice and a surprised tone, Huang Yue attracted the attention of many staff members in the dressing room. Hao Ting¡¯s face turned even redder, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Passing the interview doesn¡¯t guarantee admission! Dream on!¡± Chapter 388 - 388: Problem at School Chapter 388: Problem at School Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Although she did not say much, the people around her understood. Hao Ting had indeed not even passed the second round. Everyone looked at her in surprise. Although Hao Ting was not the most beautiful artist in thepany, she had a good family background. She had learned music and dance since she was young, especially Spanish dance. She had even appeared on a few popr variety shows because of her good Spanish dance. But even so, she still did not pass the film academy¡¯s second audition. Sensing the gazes around her, Hao Ting was exasperated. She pointed at Huang Yue and said loudly, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a film academy exam? Stop being so sarcastic. So what if I didn¡¯t pass?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just concerned about you. I think your Spanish dance is the best. Even the teachers in the Film Academy might not be as good as you. How can you not pass?¡± Huang Yue looked a little sad, and her eyes were filled with tears. ¡°Moreover, your dancing skills are obvious to everyone in thepany. I¡¯m defending you! Perhaps those teachers are jealous of you for dancing well!¡± Then, Huang Yue started crying secretly. A few assistants beside her hurried over tofort her. Some even echoed her words. ¡°That¡¯s right. Who doesn¡¯t know that Tingting¡¯s dance is the best? She¡¯s even participated in internationalpetitions!¡± ¡°The Film Academy in the capital isn¡¯t much either. Don¡¯t they have any examiners with discerning eyes?¡± ¡°Even if she doesn¡¯t know how to dance, they¡¯ve seen Tingting¡¯s face before, right? Tingting has acted in many television dramas!¡± Hearing everyone talking at once, Hao Ting¡¯s mood worsened. Huang Yue thought of what she had said to Wen Nian and her eyes darted around. ¡°Everyone is right. Tingting is the queen of ourpany; there must be a problem with the school,¡± Huang Yue pretended to wipe away tears. ¡°I saw Wen Nian also going for the exam. We¡¯ve been ssmates for so many years. She can barely run 200 meters without getting out of breath. Now she¡¯s performing martial arts? If she passed the exam, there must be something wrong with the school!¡± Listening to Huang Yue¡¯s words, Hao Ting widened her eyes. She suddenly thought of the conversation between Wen Nian and that girl. Her hands couldn¡¯t stop trembling. If it weren¡¯t for listening to Wen Nian, how could she have changed her performance? She even prepared the choreography for the Spanish dance! Seeing Hao Ting gritting her teeth, Huang Yue pretended to take out her phone. ¡°Look, Wen Nian did pass the second round.¡± Her colleagues saw Hao Ting¡¯s angry face and red eyes. It was as if she wanted to eat someone alive. No one said anything. Some of the assistants even excused themselves and left the dressing room. Huang Yue took her phone and walked to Hao Ting¡¯s side. ¡°Tingting, it¡¯s fine. We didn¡¯t get into the Film Academy in the capital. We can still take the art exam in other cities. With your ability, you¡¯ll definitely be able to get in.¡± Hao Ting looked at Wen Nian¡¯s name on her phone in the section of sessful candidates, trembling with anger. ¡°Why does she get to pass? If it weren¡¯t for her, how could I not dance the Spanish dance?¡± Actually, Huang Yue thought that Wen Nian might take action, but she didn¡¯t understand how she made Hao Ting choose not to dance. Curious, she asked, ¡°What did she say to you? Why didn¡¯t you perform the Spanish dance?¡± Hao Ting didn¡¯t know how to exin. She couldn¡¯t say she eavesdropped on Wen Nian¡¯s conversation and then assumed Wen Nian was right, so she didn¡¯t dance, right? Looking at her uncertain expression, Huang Yue felt extremely pleased. Still, she maintained an angry expression. ¡°Is she out of her mind? Wen Nian used to y tricks on others in school. You must have fallen into her trap.¡± Huang Yue whispered again, ¡°Do you think she used connections? I¡¯ve known her for so many years. Even if she wanted to take ast-minute chance, she couldn¡¯t possibly know how to do a sword dance, right? Or did their talent agency pay money? It¡¯s the Film Academy in the capital. How dare they?¡± Hearing her say this, Hao Ting raised her eyebrows. What kind of school was the Capital Film Academy? How many big directors and A-list celebrities came from here? If someone took the money and deliberately went easy on Wen Nian, this would be big news! ¡°Hmph, if there¡¯s a conspiracy, someone will expose it. Wen Nian won¡¯t be able to jump around for long.¡± After saying this, Hao Ting picked up her phone and left the dressing room.. Chapter 389 - 389: Great Oracle Wen Chapter 389: Great Oracle Wen Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios To expedite the assessment in the Performance Department, the exams at the Film Academy consisted of almost one project every two days. Both teachers and students were exhausted. However, the hotel chosen by Tian Juan was close to the school,fortable, and with Shen Jun providing delicious food and drinks every day, Wen Nian found the exams to be a kind of rxation. The first two rounds of exams were sessfully passed. The third round of performance was the key to determining whether one could enter the Film Academy. As long as there were no major mistakes in the final interview, it was fine. For Wen Nian, who had spent over a decade in the entertainment industry in her previous life, although her acting skills couldn¡¯tpare to those of professionally trained actors, she was confident in outperforming most of the art exam candidates. Thus, she wasn¡¯t overly worried. ¡°Nian Nian, I couldn¡¯t find out the topic for today¡¯s performance, but I heard that some of the examiners are from the directing department, so the requirements might be very strict.¡± Tian Juan, feeling regretful, thought that her mistakest time led to issues with Wen Nian¡¯s costume. This time, she arrived at Wen Nian¡¯s room at six o¡¯clock and brought a sportswear outfit simr to a school uniform. Looking at the clothes somewhat resembling her school uniform and Tian Juan, who was also in sportswear, Wen Nian was speechless. But Tian Juan remained calm. ¡°School uniforms may not be the most fashionable, but they¡¯re not bad-looking, and since you¡¯re a student, a school uniform is definitely suitable.¡± She handed the clothes to Wen Nian. ¡°Look familiar, right? It¡¯s simr to the school uniform in your movie. With a ponytail, you can go to the exam.¡± ¡°A few examiners from the directing department pay close attention to whether an actor¡¯s face has screen presence. Since you¡¯ve already acted in movies, this school uniform might help leave asting impression.¡± Wen Nian sighed. She didn¡¯t know if Tian Juan¡¯s idea was necessary, but considering Tian Juan¡¯s abilities in her past life, there must be some reason for it. Moreover, Wen Nian thought it through. She was, after all, a student. If she dressed too extravagantly, it might leave a negative impression on the examiners. Wen Nian¡¯s clothes were simple, and she didn¡¯t need a makeup artist. However, this simplicity gave her a vibrant student vibe. Tian Juan kept nodding as she looked at her. ¡°Indeed, you are the person I¡¯ve set my eyes on. Truly a beauty that could cause a nation¡¯s downfall.¡± Hearing this praise, Wen Nian felt the urge to roll her eyes. The next moment, Tian Juan handed Wen Nian a business card. ¡°I¡¯ve checked out that Gu Cheng; he definitely has the potential to be popr! If you don¡¯t have time to approach him, just give him my business card. Definitely, definitely!¡± Seeing the gleam in Tian Juan¡¯s eyes, Wen Nian silently nodded. She wondered if having such an enthusiastic agent was a good thing for Gu Cheng. Once inside the school, as expected by Tian Juan, Gu Cheng and Wen Nian were assigned to the same examination room. The elimination rate in the first two rounds was very high, and there were only a few people left in the top 20 examination rooms. The moment Gu Cheng saw Wen Nian, he hurriedly ran over. ¡°Wen Nian, nice to see you again! Congrattions on passing the second round!¡± ¡°Thank you, thank you!¡± Wen Nian said with a smile, then quickly took out clothes from her bag. ¡°I¡¯ve dry-cleaned the clothes. I didn¡¯t see you after thest exam, so I brought them for you today.¡± Gu Cheng couldn¡¯t help but lift the corners of his mouth. ¡°You knew I would definitely pass the second round?¡± Wen Nian nodded vigorously. ¡°Not only will you pass the second round, but you will also smoothly enter the Kyoto Film Academy and soar to new heights in the future!¡± Upon hearing her words, Gu Cheng chuckled. ¡°How do you know that? Did you time travel back from the future?¡± Wen Nian nodded again, thinking to herself that his guess was pretty close. But she said, ¡°I am the Great Oracle Wen, and seeing your healthyplexion and a faint auspicious aura above your head, your future is bound to be prosperous.¡± Watching her yful gestures, Gu Chengughed even more joyfully. He quickly took out his phone. ¡°Last time I was in a hurry. Let¡¯s exchange WeChat. If the Great Oracle Wen¡¯s predictions are urate, we might be ssmates in the future.¡± Wen Nian also quickly took out her phone and whispered, ¡°My agent wants to meet you. We can talk more afterward.¡± The teacher leading the group had already begun to count the number of people. Gu Cheng then returned to his seat, mouthing ¡°good luck¡± to Wen Nian. Wen Nian waved back with a smile. Before she was required to turn her phone off, she sent a WeChat message to Tian Juan. Wen Nian: Gu Cheng has been handled.. WeChat added! Chapter 390 - 390: Performance Examination Chapter 390: Performance Examination Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Tian Juan had already told Wen Nian the content and procedures of the performance test. The entire test would consist of vocals, lines, and performance. There would be a piano and other musical instruments in the examination hall. The examinees could also bring their own musical instruments and y and sing on their own. The lines were the content prepared in the examination hall. The examinees were only given a five-minute time limit to test the examinees¡¯ memory and script foundation. The final performance test also had different themes. It required drawing lots to determine the content of the performance, and then a few teachers would evaluate it. After this exam, only about 10% of the candidates would enter the final interview stage. Wen Nian had practiced these skills for many years in her previous life. She was quite confident. When she walked into the examination hall, Wen Nian saw the cap-wearing teacher who had been frightened by herst time. That person had not changed his clothes and hat. Wen Nian could not see his face clearly, but she still looked at him apologetically. On the other hand, Wen Nian had prepared the song ¡°Wonderful U¡± for the vocal exam. There was an old piano in the corner of the examination hall. After Wen Nian gave her exam number, she walked over. Because the piano is not easy to move, other candidates would bring other instruments or apaniment. Surprisingly, no one chose the piano, as it was easy to make mistakes due to nervousness. However, Wen Nian was different. She knew that getting into the Film Academy was just a turning point in her future life. If she could showcase her abilities to the teachers present, it would increase her chances of getting more acting opportunities in college. After taking a few calming breaths, she gradually lifted her hand. The melodious tones of the piano, coupled with Wen Nian¡¯s gentle and captivating singing, resonated throughout the examination room. Wen Nian was not good at singing, but as an actress in her previous life, there was nothing else besides singing and dancing in everymercial performance. Instead, she couldplete the performance calmly and did not even y a single note wrongly. In the subsequent acting assessment, Wen Nian¡¯s talent truly shone. Drawing a scene from ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber,¡± she enacted the dialogue between Jia Yucun and a servant. In her previous life, she had portrayed this character in an unttering manner to vie for attention in a popr variety show. To prepare, she had dedicated over a week to intensive practice before participating in the show. At that time, observers were fixated on watching a beautiful girl depict an ugly character, unaware of the intense effort she had invested. Had any other candidate drawn this dialogue, they would likely have found it overwhelming. The partly ssicalnguage of the dialogue proved challenging to articte, especially considering the need to incorporate the setting and character¡¯s personality. Upon discovering that she had drawn a scene from ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber,¡± Zhao Zhi, seated in the middle, exhibited a twitch at the corner of his eye. Yet, a glint of anticipation also sparkled in his eyes. This young girl probably hadn¡¯t even read ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber,¡± let alone act out the scene. Merely delivering the lines without stumbling would be an aplishment. To their astonishment, Wen Nian spent five minutes meticulously reviewing the script. When the exam began, she set the script aside and immersed herself in the performance. Wen Nian, a beautiful young girl, suddenly transformed into a serious-looking man. She straightened up, adjusting an imaginary beard, and spoke in aposed voice, wlessly reciting Jia Yucun¡¯s lines. The lines were powerful, articte, and devoid of any mistakes. Several teachers couldn¡¯t help but express satisfaction through nods. Uponpleting the four lines of Jia Yucun¡¯s dialogue, Wen Nian swiftly transitioned to a submissive expression, leaning slightly forward as if reporting to a formidable master beside her. Her face assumed a fawning expression. Her shift between the two roles was seamless, osciting between a scheming and calcting expression and a ttering demeanor. Combined with Wen Nian¡¯s excellent delivery of the lines, several teachers nodded approvingly. Although it looked like the conversation between the two of them was only four to five hundred words, even an experienced actor would not be able to memorize such lines in five minutes. Many teachers felt that Wen Nian must have read ¡°Dream of the Red Chamber¡± before and had an amazing memory. However, Wen Nian knew that in her previous life, it had taken her seven to eight days to memorize this! Actually, the script test onlysted for two to three minutes, but a few teachers exchanged nces and saw their approval of Wen Nian. Sun Zhi, who was sitting in the middle, was even more overjoyed. He had really earned a lot bying to be an examiner for his alma mater for free this time! In the preceding dialogue assessment, Wen Nian had already infused elements of performance, making her subsequent acting the eagerly anticipated highlight for the teachers. Simrly, the performance assessment involved drawing lots. However, when Wen Nian glimpsed the content, she found herself momentarily stupefied. ¡°Topic 7: Rebirth. In your past life, you weathered hardships and, on the brink of death, seized an opportunity to return to high school. Performance content: Candidates, please perform how you feel after your rebirth..¡± Chapter 391 - 391: I’m Back Chapter 391: I¡¯m Back Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The examination of line proficiency has concluded, leaving the final performance test as the highlight. In fact, many candidates had already found performance teachers to learn from. There were even many students and artistes from managementpanies who had the same course. However, no one knew the questions of the Capital Film Academy. Actually, even the teachers only found out about the contents of the drawing of lots this morning to prevent the questions from being leaked. When everyone saw the question ¡°Rebirth¡±, many teachers were speechless. In the past few years, all kinds of online dramas had been popr. Indeed, rebirth had be a popr theme. Many online dramas had gained a lot of poprity because of the setting of rebirth. However, most teachers still felt that this kind of test was a little unprofessional. It was just that it was a test that catered to the market and was a little difficult to achieve. Moreover, during the morning session, candidates who drew the topic of rebirth generally struggled to immerse themselves in the role. Their performances were deemed subpar and challenging to watch. When Wen Nian drew Topic 7, the expressions on several teachers¡¯ faces became peculiar, perhaps questioning whether this young girl could convincingly portray the feeling of being reborn. As Wen Nian nced at the topic, it felt as though fate were ying a joke on her. Was she supposed to act out her own feelings upon returning to life? She couldn¡¯t help but remember. Each exam had a five-minute preparation time. Wen Nian seemed to hear voices from other exam rooms, with people shouting at the top of their lungs, ¡°I¡¯m resurrected! I¡¯ve been reborn!¡± She silently shook her head. The genuine excitement of being reborn could never be expressed in words. A teacher asked, ¡°Do you need the cooperation of a teacher on-site?¡± As this type of topked scripted lines and a plot, having someone to cooperate could make it easier. Simple cooperation from a teacher during the exam was allowed. After contemting for a moment, Wen Nian nodded, ¡°Could you please call my name at an appropriate time?¡± The teacher was momentarily puzzled. What did she mean by an appropriate time? He looked at Wen Nian with surprise, unsure if she was testing him or being tested herself. ¡°I¡¯ll cooperate with you. Is that okay?¡± Suddenly, the teacher in the middle, wearing a duckbill hat, spoke. Wen Nian felt his voice was steady, likely belonging to a middle-aged man. The voice sounded somewhat familiar, but she couldn¡¯t recall who this person was. Nevertheless, anyone serving as an invigtor here must be an outstanding figure. A simple interaction with her should not pose a problem. Wen Nian nodded and then bowed, saying, ¡°Thank you, teacher.¡± She then proceeded to lie down on the floor. Observing this action, several nearby teachers craned their necks, eager to see how this talented girl nned to enact the experience of rebirth. Wen Niany on the floor, contemting. She thought about the tragic end of her previous life, about the destruction of the Wen family. Suddenly, she opened her eyes. At this moment, a few teachers were so frightened that they leaned back. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes were already red. She panted heavily and her body kept trembling, like a wild beast struggling on the verge of death. Then her eyes went nk. She turned her neck a little stiffly and looked around in disbelief. She extended her hand in front of her, astonished as she turned it around, finding it intact. She continued to touch her cheeks, her eyes filled with panic. Rising quickly, her haste caused her to stumble, but Wen Nian paid no attention to the pain in her leg. She hurriedly walked to the window, staring wide-eyed at the reflection in the ss. Her throat tightened, eyes moistened, teeth tightly biting her lip, yet no sound escaped. However, the slight tremor in her body revealed a mix of emotions¡ª excitement, fear, and even a hint of despair. Suddenly, a man¡¯s voice rang out, ¡°Wen Nian?¡± Wen Nian abruptly turned her head, looking at the man before her. Tears finally streamed down her face. She tried to call out ¡°Dad¡± with a hoarse voice but couldn¡¯t produce a sound. Yet every teacher present could see from her lip movements that she was calling out ¡°Dad.¡± Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, originally filled with guilt and sorrow, transformed into indescribable joy. The subtle changes in her expression energized the surrounding teachers. Wen Nian¡¯s eyes were naturally beautiful, and even without a single line of dialogue, they conveyed aplete performance. From the disbelief of rebirth to witnessing the distress and sadness of a loved one, and finally, the joy of realizing the rebirth was real, she portrayed it all vividly. In the end, Wen Nian smiled gently and said in a choked voice, ¡°Dad, I¡¯m back..¡± Chapter 392 - 392: Cheating Chapter 392: Cheating Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios In fact, Wen Nian¡¯s performance time was not long, but she managed to immerse all the teachers in the atmosphere. Especially the expressions on her face and the emotional changes in her eyes just now¡ªmany graduates of the film academy might not reach such a high level of performance. The two female teachers were infected by her emotions. Their eyes were slightly red, and they sniffled, not saying a word. After a minute, Wen Nian gradually emerged from the depths of sorrow. She bowed slightly and said, ¡°Thank you, everyone. My performance is over.¡± Sun Zhi seemed somewhat excited. He was the first to apud, and the other teachers followed suit. The admiration in their eyes was hard to conceal. Particrly Sun Zhi, his emotions were overflowing. When Wen Nian turned around and called him ¡°Dad,¡± the sadness had almost enveloped his entire being. At the thought of his three-year-old daughter, his heart was hit hard. Wen Nian bowed again before leaving the examination hall. The teachers began to discuss animatedly. They were well aware of Wen Nian¡¯s talent. A gem like her, if the Film Academy in the capital didn¡¯t ept her, other schools would likely fight over her. ¡°Well chosen by Director Xu. This is a naturally talented actress, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°When she opened her eyes just now, it really scared me. If we weren¡¯t all watching, I would have thought she was possessed.¡± ¡°Truly iparable. She sheds tears in a second, handles it with ease. I didn¡¯t learn this even in my four years of college.¡± ¡°It seems like she has really experienced rebirth. This style of performance is truly astonishing.¡± ¡°Wang Dao, when she called you ¡®Dad,¡¯ were you also taken aback? The change in her eyes, tsk tsk, it¡¯s at an international level.¡± Wang Zhi nodded silently without saying a word. In fact, he had just seen Gu Cheng¡¯s performance, thinking there was only one exceptional talent in this long session. However, witnessing Wen Nian¡¯s performance gave him a new perspective. This year¡¯s film academy seemed to be hiding a wealth of talent! However, before Wen Nian could leave school, the overwhelming trending topics on the Inte revolved around her again. #Wen Nian Took the Capital Film Academy #, #Wen Nian Was Cheated on the Examination #, #The Capital Film Academy Cheated on the Examination # The Film Academy in the capital had been trending on social media since the first day of the exams. Various handsome and beautiful examinees, even a few photos, were enough to stir discussions. Many talent agencies were vigorously promoting their artists participating in the exam, aiming to attract more attention. Moreover, several already famous young stars, including Wen Nian, also took part in the art exam, increasing the focus on the event. However, no one expected that the Film Academy in the capital, with its decades-long history, would be hit with usations of exam cheating. Considering that the art exam was an interview, with seven examiners in each room, all of them being teachers or industry professionals from Film Academy in the capital, the idea of cheating under their watch seemed impossible. Netizens quickly jumped to spective thoughts. Some said Wen Nian entered the exam room with a big backpack and showered the teachers with gold bars upon seeing them. Others imed Wen Nian used witchcraft on the spot, forcing the teachers to pass her. But many believed that Ding Sheng Media behind Wen Nian must have paved the way for her, allowing her to pass the exam. Of course, most of her fans and neutral observers still acknowledged Wen Nian¡¯s talent. After all, everyone had witnessed her performances in movies and advertisements. Yet,izens always tend to believe there¡¯s an underlying story behind everything, especially when ites to female celebrities. Therefore, the controversy continued to escte. There were even rumors that Wen Nian¡¯s former ssmates had revealed that she had never participated in sports. She could not carry her shoulders or lift her hands. She had actually chosen to dance with the sword during the talent test. It would be strange if there were no problems. This wave of trending topics made Wen Nian and Ding Sheng Media attract the attention ofizens again. At the same time, the Film Academy in the capital was also attacked byizens. At that moment, Zhao Jiao, who was sitting in the office, was biting her apple fiercely. Tian Juan had sent her a message just now, telling her to calm down and not do anything behind the scenes. However, Zhao Jiao was still furious when she saw thements online. Seeing that someone in the fan club group was calling her, Zhao Jiao quickly picked up her phone and started discussing countermeasures with the other fans.. Chapter 393 - 393: The Center of Attention Again Chapter 393: The Center of Attention Again Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun also saw thements online. He frowned and was about to find out who started attacking Wen Nian again and delete the badments when Tian Juan grabbed his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t delete thements. It¡¯s best to treat the symptoms but not the root cause.¡± Tian Juan had a serious expression. ¡°Wen Nian will definitely encounter simr incidents in the future. Deleting thements is thest resort. It¡¯s better to take out evidence to guide public opinion.¡± ¡°Sister Juan, what do you n to do?¡± Shen Jun asked seriously. ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the director of the Film Academy. This matter not only affects Wen Nian and Ding Sheng, but also affects the Capital Film Academy.¡± Tian Juan lowered her head and quickly sent a message on her phone. ¡°It looks like this person is here for Wen Nian. Don¡¯t delete thements and find the other party¡¯s information. I¡¯ll do the rest.¡± Shen Jun nodded, then took out his phone and quickly operated it. Wen Nian originally felt that she had performed well today and would definitely have no problems with the exam, so she left the examination hall with a smile. However, as soon as she walked out of the door, she was sandwiched between Shen Jun and Tian Juan. This time, there was no need for Tian Juan to speak. Seeing many people surrounding her with cameras and phones, Wen Nian consciously quickly put on her hat and mask. ¡°Don¡¯t say anythingter,¡± Tian Juan whispered to her. At this moment, three people who looked like bodyguards appeared in front of the three of them. There was another person behind Wen Nian to cover the back. The group of people moved forward slowly. The reporters had been waiting for a long time. How could they let her off? ¡°Wen Nian, someone on the Inte said that you cheated in the exam. Is that true?¡± ¡°Your ssmates said that you don¡¯t know how to dance at all. You must have cheated to pass the second round. Do you have anything to say about that?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, did Ding Sheng bribe a teacher from the Film Academy? Is there really a deal between yourpany and the school?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, today is the performance test. Did you bribe the teacher too?¡± Hearing these questions, Wen Nian roughly understood what was going on. She was angry, but with her experience in her previous life, she knew very well that the more she exined, the more unclear it became. Furthermore, seeing that Tian Juan and Shen Jun were also wearing caps and masks, as well as the four bodyguards beside them, Wen Nian knew that Tian Juan should already have a countermeasure. It wasn¡¯t easy for them to get into the car. Only then did Wen Nian have the time to ask what was going on. Tian Juan had already instructed the driver to go straight to the hotel¡¯s underground parking lot. It seemed like it was impossible for them to go out for dinner today. The hotel must have been surrounded by many reporters. Shen Jun had already dug out the trending topic on his phone. ¡°I¡¯ve already found the ount and IP of the person who spread the rumors. We can locate him by handing him over to the police. He should have registered using his personal phone number.¡± This person was really not smart. He should have used a real-name SIM card. Moreover, he did not change his IP to post the information. He was just an amateur. Wen Nian looked at the rumors online and the corners of her lips twitched. In her previous life, no one paid attention to her even if she wanted to be popr. In this life, she couldn¡¯t keep a low profile even if she wanted to. It seemed to be a good thing for her to be an actress in the future! After Tian Juan had instructed everything, she finally had time to have a good talk with Wen Nian. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Haoting sshed coffee on your bag that day? I¡¯ve already asked the school to check the surveince footage. I¡¯ll check if anyone recorded the scene and reserve evidence first.¡± ¡°You suspect that she did this?¡± Wen Nian asked. Hao Ting and Huang Yue were both possible, but there were only so many resources in the entertainment industry. Wen Nian was very popr now, and it was hard to say if others were jealous. Tian Juan didn¡¯t mind. ¡°This kind of despicable method looks like it was done by Zhao Cheng¡¯s subordinates. It¡¯s unprofessional and dirty. Anyway, whether it¡¯s her or not, I¡¯ll get the evidence first. At most, I¡¯ll release it to divert attention. Anyway, she did it.¡± Looking at Tian Juan¡¯s serious expression, in Wen Nian¡¯s eyes, she finally ovepped with the swift and decisive Sister Juan in her previous life. Tian Juan continued, ¡°At our request, the school intends to release your exam video. Do you mind?¡± Wen Nian widened her eyes and looked at her. There were so many candidates from the Film Academy in the capital, and many of the content was not public. She did not expect Tian Juan, who was leading an artist for the first time, to have the means to contact the school administrators and even get the school to cooperate and produce a video. Seeing her expression, Tian Juan hurriedly asked, ¡°Is there a problem? Do you think you didn¡¯t do well?¡± Chapter 394 - 394: The Boy with Abs Chapter 394: The Boy with Abs Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian quickly shook her head. ¡°No, no. It¡¯s fine to publicize my video, but isn¡¯t it unfair to only publicize my video? Withoutparison, how can we prove that Teacher didn¡¯t go easy on me?¡± Tian Juan thought for a moment, then said, ¡°That¡¯s not a difficult question. Only 10% of the people in this batch can pass. If we release all the videos of these people, it¡¯ll be obvious who¡¯s better and who¡¯s worse. The school has to be fair and open!¡± However, the Film Academy in the capital acted faster than Tian Juan had imagined. A total of 307 people had passed the third round of examinations. The school worked overtime to organize all the videos of the examinees who had passed the examination. Furthermore, the score information of each examinee was also made public. Allizens could check the examination venue of each examinee through the school¡¯s official website. If it were other schools, they would naturally not do this. However, the students of the acting department of the Film Academy all wanted to be famous. The school took the initiative to release their examination videos. No matter what, at least they could be exposed in advance. It would be helpful for them to take on roles in the future and increase their poprity. Moreover, in order to prevent others from saying that they were going easy on him, the school even allowedizens to leavements. If any examinee who failed the exam thought that they should have passed but failed the second and third rounds, they could propose topare the video with the other examinees who had passed. The number of visitors to the website of the Film Academy in the capital reached an all-time high. The school¡¯s reputation soared, and even the number of fans on social media tforms increased by more than a million. There was indeed nothing to be picky about Wen Nian¡¯s first round of recital. The second roundpletely stunned theizens. Dressed in fluttering white clothes and with a fairy-like face, coupled with a long sword that was half the height of a person dancing back and forth, and some of Wen Nian¡¯s dance moves, even Wen Nian¡¯s haters couldn¡¯t say that her teacher had gone easy on her. Although the others were also talented, they paled inparison to Wen Nian. It was not that her martial arts foundation was strong, but that her movements were smooth and her dressing was extraordinary. She was definitely the most eye-catching among the many examinees. When it came to the third round of exams, the previous line exam had already made manyizensugh out loud. A little beauty in a school uniform yed two men withpletely different personalities and temperaments. Moreover, there was not a single word wrong with the ssic lines. This was definitely the first ce among the many examinees. In the final performance examination, although the cameras in the examination hall were not high-definition, the three angles disyed Wen Nian¡¯s performance. Even many veteran actors in the industry stood up to support Wen Nian. For a moment, the haters were speechless. Although there were still some Hao Ting¡¯s paid posters desperately resisting, a video taken by aizen in the waiting area of the examination hall happened to capture Hao Ting walking to Wen Nian¡¯s backpack. She opened Wen Nian¡¯s backpack and poured the coffee in. Theizens immediately focused their attention on Hao Ting, a lowly celebrity with a bad character. Of course, many people became fans of Gu Cheng, who saved the damsel in distress. Seeing the increase in fans on social media and many managementpanies contacting him, Gu Cheng thought of Wen Nian¡¯s words. After thinking about it, he still sent Wen Nian a WeChat message. Gu Cheng: Are you alright? It¡¯s fine as long as the matter is exined online. Everyone knows how capable you are. At this moment, Wen Nian was munching on a drumstick and listening to how Tian Juan quickly dealt with the public opinion online and threatened and tempted the dean of the Film Academy when her phone suddenly rang. ¡°Sister Juan, Sister Juan!¡± Wen Nian waved her phone. ¡°Have you seen Gu Cheng¡¯s WeChat? He will definitely be able to get in. Do you want to meet him?¡± ¡°A boy with abs?¡± Tian Juan¡¯s eyes lit up. At the side, Shen Jun silently took out a tissue and wiped Wen Nian¡¯s mouth forcefully. Wen Nian pretended to bite him and red at him. ¡°Sister Juan¡¯s first step to bing rich. Don¡¯t be petty!¡± Seeing her look, Shen Jun suddenly smiled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you the first step to Sister Juan bing rich?¡± Unexpectedly, Wen Nian nodded solemnly and said to Tian Juan, ¡°Then, do you want to take another step forward?¡± Chapter 395 - 395: Convincing Him to Sign a Contract Chapter 395: Convincing Him to Sign a Contract Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian acted very quickly. As soon as Tian Juan agreed to meet Gu Cheng, she immediately asked him out, and he agreed. Sitting in the private room, Tian Juan asked guiltily, ¡°Do you think he¡¯ll be willing? I¡¯m not famous.¡± Wen Nian looked certain. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This kid can be popr, but he has to have a managementpany. Sister Juan, if you¡¯re capable, you can be popr too!¡± Then, she clenched her fists again. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take advantage of his young and ignorant age to take him down first? Then, we¡¯ll give him resources and help him grow. At that time, he¡¯ll repay our kindness. When he bes famous, you¡¯ll be able to live a good life.¡± Looking at the sincere Wen Nian, Tian Juan felt a little awkward. Why did this little girl look like a member of a multi-level marketing organization rmending an unknown product that would make you rich overnight? Shen Jun, who was at the side, hadpletely lost his temper. In fact, he had long realized that Wen Nian had a good impression of Gu Cheng, but it was like an elder looking at a junior. Looking at her current sales model, Shen Jun suddenly felt that Wen Nian¡¯s temperament was very simr to Madam Zhao. After knocking on the door of the private room, Gu Cheng walked in apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯mte. My house is a little far away. There¡¯s a traffic jam on the second ring road for more than half an hour.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯s fine. We understand the traffic in the capital.¡± Wen Nian pulled out the chair between her and Tian Juan enthusiastically. ¡°Sit, sit.¡± Gu Cheng didn¡¯t sit down immediately. Instead, he looked at Tian Juan and Shen Jun. Wen Nian then introduced, ¡°This is my manager, Tian Juan.¡± ¡°You can just call me Sister Juan. How about I call you Cheng?¡± Tian Juan put on the innocent look of a big sister again. Gu Cheng quickly shook her hand and said, ¡°Sister Juan, I¡¯m Gu Cheng. My family calls me Cheng. I quite like this name.¡± Then, he looked at Shen Jun again. He felt that this person looked familiar, but he couldn¡¯t remember who he was. Gu Cheng thought that he was also an artist Wen Nian had hired to sign a contract with the managementpany. Unexpectedly, Wen Nian introduced him generously. ¡°He¡¯s Shen Jun, my boyfriend.¡± Gu Cheng waspletely shocked by thest three words. He stammered, ¡°Boy-boyfriend?¡± Then, she widened her eyes and looked at Tian Juan. Tian Juan chuckled and said, ¡°It¡¯s normal for young people to fall in love. Ourpany doesn¡¯t have that many sayings. Besides, Wen Nian is a capable person. As long as her rtionship with Shen Jun is stable and she doesn¡¯t have a random boyfriend, it¡¯s fine.¡± After saying that, she didn¡¯t forget to wink at Shen Jun. Beside her, Wen Nian blushed again. She realized that not only did Tian Juan not care about her dating, but she also seemed to be very enthusiastic about letting her and Shen Jun grow old together. However, Tian Juan immediately said to Gu Cheng seriously, ¡°But male actors, especially young actors like you, have the most female fans. If you want to take this path, it¡¯s best not to fall in love before the age of 30!¡± Gu Cheng scratched his head in embarrassment. Then, he looked at Wen Nian and Shen Jun and felt a little upset. However, Wen Nian did not sense anything abnormal about him and continued to help Tian Juan advertise. During the meal, Wen Nian mainly praised Tian Juan and Ding Sheng Media¡¯s abilities. Tian Juan was in charge of analyzing Gu Cheng¡¯s current situation and future development ns. Gu Cheng was confused and signed the contract without realizing it. ¡°You¡¯re already 18 years old. Signing the contract will have legal effect!¡± Tian Juan looked at the contract in her hand with satisfaction. Then, she said to Gu Cheng earnestly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve only signed a one-year contract with you. I won¡¯t scam you. I¡¯m still waiting for you to sign a long-term contract with me in the future!¡± Wen Nian nodded in agreement. ¡°I told you long ago that you would definitely be famous and soar. This is the first step of flying!¡± Then, the two women happily went to the washroom together, leaving behind the expressionless Shen Jun and the groggy Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng turned around and looked at Shen Jun¡¯s face, not knowing what to say. The atmosphere between the two of them was a little awkward. No matter how he looked at Shen Jun, he found him familiar. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he asked timidly, ¡°M-Master Shen?¡± Shen Jun nodded. ¡°If the Gu family finds out that you¡¯ve signed the contract, will Old Master Gu operate on you directly at home?¡± Gu Cheng felt his heart tighten. How did he sign the contract so carelessly? He quickly lowered his head and looked at the contract. There didn¡¯t seem to be any problem. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Shen Jun poured him a drink and raised the ss. ¡°Ding Sheng Media belongs to the Shen family. They won¡¯t cheat the Gu family..¡± Chapter 396 - 396: A Meaningful Life Chapter 396: A Meaningful Life Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Gu Cheng scratched his head in embarrassment. ¡°You know that my family is full of doctors. My grandfather even said that he wanted me to enter a medical university! Fortunately, my family doesn¡¯t go online much. Otherwise, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to see me today.¡± Shen Jun raised her eyebrows and looked at Gu Cheng. The older generation of the Gu family were famous neurosurgeons in the military. If they wanted Old Master Gu to undergo surgery, they had to be at the level of a chief. In Gu Cheng¡¯s father¡¯s generation, the three sons and two daughters of the Gu family were also medical practitioners. They could be considered a famous medical family in the capital. He did not expect Gu Cheng to want to be a celebrity. ¡°Even if they don¡¯t go online, they will find out about this sooner orter. They won¡¯t be able to hide it for long.¡± Shen Jun said slowly, ¡°If you need anything, just tell me. I will help you.¡± Gu Cheng definitely didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun to say that. He had heard that Young Master Shen was famous for not giving face to others. Gu Cheng nodded in a daze. He thought about it. If Shen Jun helped him, he might be able to suffer less. Hence, with gratitude in his eyes, he quickly raised his ss and said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll rece the wine with fruit juice. Let¡¯s drink first. Thank you, Young Master Shen.¡± When Wen Nian and Tian Juan returned to the private room, they saw that Shen Jun and Gu Cheng had already started to clink sses. However, both of them were drinking fruit juice. After the few of them had their meal, they returned home. As soon as she returned to her room, Shen Jun hugged Wen Nian. Wen Nian also felt that something was wrong with his emotions. She gently stroked his back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Shen Jun felt a lump in his throat, but he didn¡¯t know what to say. He was not jealous of Gu Cheng, but when he thought of theizens¡¯ments about Wen Nian today and how she would probably be more tempting in the entertainment industry in the future, Young Master Shen suddenly lost his confidence. He asked softly, ¡°What do you think of the entertainment industry?¡± Although she didn¡¯t know why he asked this, Wen Nian still answered seriously, ¡°Of course the entertainment industry is mainly about entertainment. It¡¯s just to enrich some of the audience¡¯s entertainment mood. If you want to make a name for yourself in the entertainment industry, you can be aedian, a professional actor, or even an inte celebrity.¡± She moved away from Shen Jun¡¯s embrace slightly and looked up at him. ¡°But the entertainment industry is big and deep. If you want to be famous for a while, you can take an unconventional path. But if you want to be a real actress and live up to your life¡¯s ideals, you can¡¯t just be in the entertainment industry.¡± ¡°So?¡± Shen Jun looked at her steadily. ¡°I like the feeling of acting. I like experiencing the love and hatred of different characters. I also hope that each of my characters can bring more positive impact to others. The most important thing is to make my life meaningful.¡± Wen Nian raised his hand and touched Shen Jun¡¯s face. ¡°And I¡¯m already very happy to meet you and be with you in this life.¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian¡¯s gentle gaze and his throat moved. He lowered his head and kissed her lips deeply. He sucked greedily, and Wen Nian was ignited by his sudden passion. The two of them walked to the bed unknowingly. Shen Jun¡¯s hand had already reached into Wen Nian¡¯s shirt¡­ Buzz! The phone in their pocket vibrated. Both of them were stunned for a moment before looking at each other awkwardly. Shen Jun nced at his phone and threw it aside angrily. He wanted to continue what had just happened, but the phone kept ringing like a death warrant. ¡°You, look at your phone first. What if there¡¯s something urgent?¡± Wen Nian pushed him and said in embarrassment. Only then did Shen Jun take a few deep breaths and suppress his emotions. He picked up the phone. ¡°You better have something very important!¡± Hearing his tone, Xue Jiang was stunned for a moment. Then, he said embarrassedly, ¡°I found the phone number you asked me to check. It seems to be the assistant of a small celebrity. Why are you investigating her?¡± Upon hearing Xue Jiang¡¯s words, Shen Jun remembered that he had asked Xue Jiang to investigate who had defamed Wen Nian. He did not expect Xue Jiang to act so quickly. ¡°Alright, give me all her information,¡± Shen Jun said hoarsely. ¡°I¡¯ve already sent it to your email. Someone with no background.¡± Xue Jiang asked in confusion, ¡°Why is your voice hoarse? Were you shouting outside while your girlfriend was taking her test? Aiyo! You should have told us earlier. The few of us should have rented the big screens in the major malls for a few days, and then¡­¡± Shen Jun couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk nonsense with him. He hung up the phone and looked at Wen Nian, who was pretending to look at the night sky. He became more and more frustrated. He opened his email and saw the message from Hao Ting¡¯s assistant. He secretly held his phone tightly and a cold smile appeared on his lips.. Chapter 397 - 397: Examination Video Chapter 397: Examination Video Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Since their good deeds were interrupted and Wen Nian had to prepare for the interview, the two of them did not continue to do anything outrageous. Wen Nian reported to her family that she was safe and slept soundly. However, Little Master Shen, who was unable to satisfy his desires, could not fall asleep no matter what. He looked at the message from Hao Ting¡¯s assistant in his email and thought of the announcement from the Film Academy in the capital. Shen Jun got up quickly, then turned on hisptop, his fingers quickly working on the keyboard. The next morning, the message board of the Capital Film Academy received tens of thousands ofments. Many people felt that the score of the exam was unfair. Many celebrities who already had a certain level of fame actually did not pass. Celebrity fans leftments on the Inte, wanting to see if their artistes had performed badly in the exam or if there was really a problem? There were too many candidates that applied to the film academy in the capital. Many celebrities who were slightly famous came to take a look. There were even a few who signed up for the second time. However, in order to prove the fairness of the school, a few celebrities who had been named by theizens also posted videos of their examinations. Among them, Hao Ting was the one with the most support. Especially after Huang Yue faked a post on social media, manyizens denounced the Film Academy and requested to release Hao Ting¡¯s exam video. Huang Yue: My heart aches for Tingting. A professional Spanish dancer actually failed the assessment? The news that Hao Ting did not pass the second round shocked the entirepany. With her temper, if there was really a problem with the film academy in the capital, she would have acted up long ago. She might even hold a press conference. However, Hao Ting did not say anything. In fact, she would immediately re up if anyone asked her about this. Considering the abnormality, there must be something amiss. Huang Yue was naturally willing to make this trip more and moreplicated so that she could reap the benefits. That was why she immediately posted something after Wen Nian cleared her name. Anyway, Hao Ting and Wen Nian were her enemies. It was fine if anyone was unlucky. Theizens were also agitated, especially Hao Ting¡¯s fans, who were even more dissatisfied with the film academy¡¯s assessment system. Yesterday morning, a few ¡°fans¡± began to request to release Hao Ting¡¯s examination video, and the other fans immediately leftments. ¡°Hao Ting has acted in three television dramas. She¡¯s also a role model among her peers. How can she not pass?¡± ¡°How can our Tingting be eliminated from the talent show? Her Spanish dance is top-notch.¡± ¡°I agree! Hao Ting¡¯s Spanish dance skills are extremely high. I bet not many professional dancers have such a solid dance foundation!¡± ¡°There must be something wrong with the film academy in the capital! Even if Wen Nian got in with her ability, it¡¯s impossible for Haoting not to get in.¡± Seeing thements online, Hao Ting panickedpletely. She quickly found her manager, Zhao Cheng, and hoped that the school wouldn¡¯t post a video. However, Zhao Cheng was just a third-rate manager. No one probably knew him. How could he influence the school? Hence, the video of Hao Ting¡¯s exam was still released. Hao Ting¡¯s performance in the recital exam was not bad. Manyizens even leftments below. With her script skills, she would definitely be able to get in. The operations of the Film Academy grasped the essence of traffic. They waited until theizens had almost attacked the school before releasing the video of Hao Ting¡¯s second round of examinations half an hourter. Not only were theizens shocked, even Huang Yue didn¡¯t expect Hao Ting to tell a joke. She looked at Hao Ting in the video. She had obviously changed her clothes in a hurry and didn¡¯t even have time to change her makeup. Her expression, which she thought was funny, made people speechless. Huang Yueughed until she was about to cry. Thements under this video immediately exceeded 100,000. Hao Ting also became popr on the Inte by telling jokes. ¡°It¡¯s a terrible joke from 800 years ago. How can she have the cheek to use it as a talent?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t take this exam seriously, do you? It¡¯s only right that you didn¡¯t pass!¡± ¡°Where are Hao Ting¡¯s fans? Come out and p their faces!¡± ¡°If she could pass this second round with this talent, can my fart be considered a talent?¡± ¡°Did someone control her? I don¡¯t believe this is Tingting!¡± ¡°Hao Ting¡¯s condition doesn¡¯t seem right. Could she have been hypnotized?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s fans really couldn¡¯t praise Hao Ting¡¯s performance in the second round. First, there was Wen Nian¡¯s fairy sword dance, and then there were the professional musical instruments and dance talents of the various candidates. It was indeed difficult for fans to refute. Hence, the fans took another path and thought that Hao Ting must have been hypnotized. Some even said that she had been bewitched. Seeing that the onlinements were affecting her more and more, Hao Ting finally couldn¡¯t sit still and immediately posted a rification on social media.. Chapter 398 - 398: Malicious Guidance Chapter 398: Malicious Guidance Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Hao Ting: ¡°I originally prepared a Spanish dance, but because of Wen Nian¡¯s malicious guidance, I changed it to a joke-telling talent. Wen Nian and I were in the same examination hall. I thought that she had a teacher¡¯s preferences, but I didn¡¯t expect¡­¡± Then, she added a beautiful photo with red eyes. In the photo, her eyes were wide and innocent, and there was a tear on her face. Seeing that she had mentioned Wen Nian, and recalling that Hao Ting had been sent out to pour coffee into Wen Nian¡¯s bag, Hao Ting¡¯s fans immediately started to attack. ¡°It¡¯s indeed Wen Nian! She¡¯s deliberately taking revenge!¡± ¡°Request the film academy in the capital to revoke Wen Nian¡¯s examination results. Such an immoral person won¡¯t enter the school!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right! Why does she get to change someone¡¯s choice of performance? Isn¡¯t this too unfair?¡± Mostizens scoffed at Hao Ting¡¯s convenience. ¡°You poured coffee into Wen Nian¡¯s bag and now you¡¯re ndering her. What grudge do you have?¡± ¡°She deliberately poured coffee into the bags of other candidates to prevent them from taking the exam. Is such a person morally upright?¡± ¡°Has Hao Ting¡¯s fans¡¯ brains already withered? Can Wen Nian influence Hao Ting to choose the type of performance?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you say that Wen Nian held a pistol and forced you to tell this lousy joke!¡± Looking at thements online, Hao Ting¡¯s expression turned very ugly. Actually, she had already regretted it when she posted this post. At that time, she had only seen someizens say that Wen Nian had casted a spell on her. She thought that she might be able to muddle through this and drag Wen Nian down with her. However, theizens were not as stupid as she thought. Seeing that the matter was getting more and more serious, the agency directly took back Hao Ting¡¯s social media ount, deleted her posts, and closed thements function. But how could theizens let her off? Not only did everyone take screenshots, but some people also said that they were at the examination venue at that time. It could prove that Wen Nian and Hao Ting had never even exchanged nces. Although Hao Ting¡¯s reputation was average, she still had many loyal fans. Hao Ting¡¯s social media ount closed thements. The fans swarmed forward and began to attack the person who spoke up for Wen Nian. ¡°You said you saw it? Do you have proof?¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re also hired by Wen Nian, right? How much did she pay you to speak up for her?¡± ¡°If it wasn¡¯t Wen Nian, why didn¡¯t Tingting dance Spanish?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s right. I clearly saw the photos taken by Huang Yue and Hao Ting in the examination hall. Hao Ting has already changed into her dress!¡± As many people surrounded him, the followingment suddenly attracted everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°She might have overheard my conversation with Wen Nian and taken Wen Nian¡¯s joke seriously.¡± Zhang Jing held her phone and posted thisment before heaving a sigh of relief. She had never wanted to get involved in this matter, but Wen Nian had been ndered one after another. As someone who had been encouraged by her, Zhang Jing still felt that she should tell her what she knew. After she posted herments, many people began to reply to her, asking her to exin what was going on. Zhang Jing thought for a moment and told her on her social media ount that she had asked Wen Nian if the teacher in the examination hall did not like to dance, Wen Nian¡¯s encouragement to her, and Hao Ting had left halfway through eavesdropping. Actually, Zhang Jing didn¡¯t think too much about it. If she hadn¡¯t watched Hao Ting¡¯s television drama, she wouldn¡¯t have known Hao Ting. Furthermore, she had heard that Wen Nian had been studying hard. She probably did not know the second and third female leads of such online dramas. The reason why Hao Ting had changed her talents could only be because she had eavesdropped on half of the content and thought that the jokes made by a very famous actor like Wen Nian were true. The content of her exnation was organized and simple. It was also because of this that her fans had increased by tens of thousands. After Zhang Jing¡¯s exnation, the film academy in the capital also released the surveince video of Hao Ting eavesdropping on the scene. There was a girl standing opposite Wen Nian. The two of them seemed to be talking about something. Hao Ting walked over and stood behind Wen Nian. She really eavesdropped for a while before leaving. The social media ount of the film academy in the capital did not say anything, but anyone could tell the school¡¯s stance when the video was posted. Hao Ting hadpletely offended the biggest giant in the industry this time.. Chapter 399 - 399: She’s Jealous Chapter 399: She¡¯s Jealous Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The Hao family was quite rich in the capital and had a lot of connections. They wanted to use their connections to delete the video released by the film academy in the capital. However, the school refused to be persuaded by force or persuasion. In the end, they even warned Hao Ting that if she still wanted to continue in the entertainment industry, she could forget about having any improper thoughts. Because of this, several of Hao Ting¡¯s coborations were suspended, and she had to pay a huge amount ofpensation. ¡°Why? It¡¯s all that b*tch Wen Nian¡¯s fault!¡± Hao Ting kept smashing things in the lounge, and the assistant didn¡¯t dare to go in. Her current situation was awkward, but everyone could tell that she would probably not be able to continue working in the entertainment industry. Previously, when people found out that she did not get into the film academy in the capital, they would at most mock her. But now, she had been secretly banned. On the surface, she had just said something wrong, but in fact, she had not only smeared Wen Nian¡¯s reputation, but she had also challenged the authority of the film academy in the capital. The ount that had defamed Wen Nian and the school¡¯s examination had already been found. It was the ount of Hao Ting¡¯s assistant. For a moment, Hao Ting¡¯s fans were collectively silent. A few old fans had already left the fandom. Hearing the scolding in the lounge, Huang Yue¡¯s lips curled up, but she immediately put on a worried expression. ¡°Xiao Yang, what¡¯s wrong? Is Tingting angry again?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s assistant said with an aggrieved expression, ¡°Someone found out about my ount. Tingting now feels that we were the ones to be med for her ruined reputation. But she was the one who posted the content on my phone!¡± In the end, Yang was already sobbing uncontrobly. She was only a few years older than Hao Ting. Other than being scolded every day, she only took the me. She had had enough. ¡°Huang Yue, I¡¯ll look for Brother Zhao to resignter. I really can¡¯t do it anymore!¡± Huang Yue handed her the coffee in her hand andforted her. ¡°Don¡¯t be like this. She doesn¡¯t feel good now. Besides, you know that she has a bad temper. I¡¯ll go in and persuade her.¡± She patted Yang¡¯s shoulder again before walking into the lounge. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to get lost? Who let you in?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s eyes were red, and her hair and clothes were in a mess. She looked like a lunatic. Seeing that it was Huang Yue, she quicklybed her hair and returned to her arrogant self. ¡°What are you doing here? Are you here tough at me?¡± ¡°How can that be? We¡¯re on the same side.¡± Huang Yue walked over and helped her straighten her clothes. ¡°You¡¯ve obviously been defamed by Wen Nian this time. She was especially good at pretending when she was in school. I¡¯ve been tricked by her many times, let alone an innocent person like you.¡± At this moment, Hao Ting had no rationality at all. Hearing her say this, she became even angrier. ¡°That¡¯s right, it¡¯s Wen Nian! She clearly knows me. How could she not have seen the video of me dancing Spanish? She¡¯s just jealous!¡± Huang Yue also added fuel to the fire. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of woman she is! She can¡¯t bear to see others doing well.¡± Then, she said mysteriously, ¡°Tingting, believe me. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t even run a few steps when she was in her second year of high school. The fact that she is suddenly doing a sword dance shows that there must be something wrong. Moreover, don¡¯t you think she said her lines too well? Look at the other young actors. Are any of them as good as Wen Nian?¡± ¡°Yes, yes!¡± Hao Ting seemed to have found a life-saving straw. She held Huang Yue¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I think of that? She seems to be prepared! She must have known the question in advance!¡± Huang Yue continued, ¡°Moreover, when someone questioned Wen Nian, the film academy immediately acted in response. In the past, the school would ignore such things. What kind of ce is the film academy in the capital? Why makes Wen Nian so special? You¡¯ve only said one sentence about her and the official ount spoke up for her!¡± Hao Ting panted heavily. She was getting angrier and angrier. Her fingers were cold, but she still held Huang Yue¡¯s arm tightly. In the end, Huang Yue said, ¡°You don¡¯t know, do you? She used to have a fiancA? who was from the Wei family in Hai City. You¡¯ve seen the news, right? Her current boyfriend is from the Shen family in the capital.¡± ¡°The Shen family? You mean the only son of the Shen family? Young Master Shen?¡± Hao Ting almost shouted. ¡°Who else?¡± Huang Yue pushed her hand away without batting an eyelid. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯ve failed this time. I advise you not to go against her. Although the Shen family won¡¯t really want her as their daughter-inw, there¡¯s no need for you to go against her head-on now, right?¡± Seeing that Hao Ting¡¯s eyes kept moving, Huang Yue didn¡¯t say anything else and left the lounge. However, Hao Ting was getting angrier and angrier. How should Wen Nian humiliate her like this just because she had support? At the thought that there was still arge sum ofpensation to be paid for breaching the contract, and thinking that she might not be able to stand up for herself in the future, Hao Ting¡¯s eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness.. Chapter 400 - 400: Love Letter Chapter 400: Love Letter Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios When Jiang Ning received Huang Yue¡¯s call, she was so excited. Huang Yue exaggerated the cause and effect of the matter to Jiang Ning and even tactfully expressed Hao Ting¡¯s intention to deal with Wen Nian. ¡°Are you serious? Hao Ting doesn¡¯t look very smart!¡± Jiang Ning was a little hesitant. Huang Yue wanted Jiang Ning to help her find the gift that Wen Nian had given Wei Xiao in the past and the mushy love letter. Then, she wanted Hao Ting to look for Shen Jun. However, Jiang Ning thought of the few times they had fought. She had never won against Wen Nian and she previously almost got into trouble. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! You¡¯re not the one who went to look for Shen Jun. Besides, only heaven and earth know about this. If you don¡¯t say anything and I don¡¯t say anything, no one will know. As Huang Yue fiddled with the newly-done manicure, she said leisurely, ¡°Anyway, Hao Ting can¡¯t stay in the entertainment industry anymore, so she will definitely risk her life to drag Wen Nian down with her. Think about it carefully. You can¡¯t miss this opportunity!¡± Jiang Ning gritted her teeth, realizing that without Shen Jun as her backing, Wen Nian would be nothing. She reluctantly said, ¡°Fine, wait for my message.¡± Huang Yue hung up and dialed another number. She quickly changed to a sweet voice, ¡°Brother Dao, help me stall Tingting. Once I gather evidence, she can turn things around.¡± The man on the other end spoke a few words, and Huang Yue¡¯s face showed a disdainful expression. However, she continued with ttering words, ¡°You¡¯re my brother, after all. Once this is done, you won¡¯t be left out. I¡¯ll remember your help, brother!¡± After hanging up, Huang Yue threw her phone away impatiently. Hao Ting wasn¡¯t naive. Huang Yue had a point; Wen Nian¡¯s influence was due to Shen Jun¡¯s support. Without him, what would happen to her? Hao Ting wasn¡¯t foolish enough to confront the Shen family or the Film Academy. Instead, she directed her focus towards Wen Nian. Even if she couldn¡¯t immediately ruin Wen Nian¡¯s reputation, causing Shen Jun to dislike her would be a good start. She contacted a private detective she had worked with before at her previous agency. The goal was to find evidence of any intimate rtionship between Wen Nian and Wei Xiao. What man would ept that his girlfriend had an ex-fiance, especially with preserved mementos like private gifts or love letters? This n was solely her idea. The Hao family had scolded her numerous times, but Hao Ting didn¡¯t want to give up. Seeing Wen Nian doing well made her ufortable. Jiang Ning moved surprisingly fast this time, arriving at Wei Xiao¡¯s house on the same day. She secretly took photos of the love letters Wen Nian had written to Wei Xiao. Jiang Ning stared at the neatly arranged stack of love letters in the drawer, which was also locked. Her anger was about to explode. But considering she would soon be engaged to Wei Xiao and that Wen Nian would be abandoned by Shen Jun, she suppressed her fury. Quickly, she took photos of the love letters. Jiang Ning sent the photos to Huang Yue, who forwarded them to the private detective Brother Dao. Eventually, Hao Ting also received over a dozen pictures of different love letters. Meanwhile, on the same day, while Shen Jun was at the supermarket following Wen Nian¡¯s instructions to buy sanitary pads and painkillers, he also saw the photos. ¡°Shen Jun, take a good look. This is your beloved girlfriend, the one you protect so much, Wen Nian!¡± Hao Ting, wearing a long ck coat that covered her entire body, had arge hat but no mask. Shen Jun frowned at her. In the next second, tears filled Hao Ting¡¯s eyes. She looked at Shen Jun with a pitiful expression, ¡°Look, your devoted girlfriend, how good is she to her ex-fiance? Do you think she loves you? She loves anyone who benefits her. If you weren¡¯t young master Shen, do you think she would still love you? Without the power of the Shen family, would she be your girlfriend?¡± As Hao Ting spoke, tears flowed down her face, controlled well enough to cry but with clear pronunciation and a coherent train of thought. She had carefully applied light makeup today, learned about the hotel where Shen Jun was staying, and waited for two hours before finally spotting him. Seeing Shen Jun in person, Hao Ting became even more determined to break him and Wen Nian apart. She believed she was prettier than Wen Nian, and surely the Hao family was stronger than the Wen family? Hao Ting said pitifully, ¡°You even helped her mock me like this. Do you know that I¡¯m now, now¡­¡± ¡°Airdrop me the photo.¡± Shen Jun took out his phone and looked at her steadily. Hao Ting was stunned by his gaze. Then, she nodded happily. ¡°Okay, okay!¡± After sending the photo, Hao Ting quickly asked, ¡°Shall we add each other on WeChat? If there¡¯s anything you want to know, it¡¯ll be easier for us tomunicate..¡± Chapter 401 - 401: The Talented Surnamed Wen Chapter 401: The Talented Surnamed Wen Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Hao Ting wore a hopeful expression, with a hint of shyness in her eyes as she gazed at Shen Jun with affection. She was already very delicate and pretty. Coupled with the light makeup today, she looked like a pure and innocent little white flower. Unfortunately, this little white flower met the cold-faced King of Hell, Shen Jun. Shen Jun smirked. ¡°You want my WeChat?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Hao Ting had been in the entertainment industry for more than a year and could tell that something was wrong with Shen Jun¡¯s expression. Still believing she held leverage over Wen Nian, Hao Ting gathered courage and said, ¡°I¡¯m from the Hao family. My dad and the Shen Corporation have coborated a few times. Let¡¯s exchange WeChat and be friends?¡± Hence, she mustered her courage again. ¡°I¡¯m from the Hao family. My father has worked with the Shen Corporation a few times. Let¡¯s add each other on WeChat and be friends?¡± Saying this, she handed over her phone with the QR code, eagerly waiting for Shen Jun to add her. ¡°Are you saying that selling a few bags of cement is also considered a coboration?¡± Shen Jun had already impatiently thrown the few sanitary pads behind him into the shopping cart. ¡°In that case, the Shen family doesn¡¯t need a big¡ªcoborator like the Hao family.¡± Hearing his words, Hao Ting felt a little shocked. She blurted out, ¡°What do you mean?¡± However, Shen Jun didn¡¯t answer. He slightly bowed, and Hao Ting felt a powerful pressure. Then Shen Jun said, ¡°If you dare to mess with Wen Nian again, there won¡¯t be a Hao family in the capital.¡± He then grabbed tworge packs of hand warmers from the shelf behind Hao Ting before leaving. Hao Ting stood there in a daze. Despite being of the same age, Shen Jun¡¯s imposing aura made it hard for her to move. After a while, she regained herposure. Thinking about Shen Jun holding sanitary pads and hand warmers, Hao Ting felt somewhat resentful. Why was he so good to Wen Nian? What did Wen Nian have that she didn¡¯t? Meanwhile, Wen Nian was wrapped in a nket with the air conditioning on full st. However, she still felt cold, and her lower abdomen was in severe pain. Since entering the entertainment industry in her past life, perhaps due to excessive indulgence, Wen Nian didn¡¯t suffer from menstrual pain. Although her current physical condition was generally good, the issue of menstrual pain still made her ufortable. Especially in the past few days, preparing for exams might have made her nervous, causing her period toe early. Watching Shen Jun enter with tworge packs of sanitary pads, Wen Nian helplessly remarked, ¡°Do you¡­ not know how many to buy?¡± Shen Jun awkwardly coughed. After seeing the photos of the love letters, he impulsively wanted to quickly deal with Hao Ting and then find Wen Nian in the hotel to get some rity. However, hepletely forgot which sanitary pads Wen Nian had asked him to buy, so he bought them all. ¡°Anyway, they¡¯ll be used, and having more is better than having less,¡± Shen Jun said apologetically, lowering his head. Then he tore open a hand warmer and handed it to Wen Nian. ¡°This should help a bit, right? I¡¯ll go make you some pain relievers.¡± After taking the warm pain reliever, Wen Nian¡¯splexion improved slightly. ¡°Ah, if only I could be a man in my next life, I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about menstrual pain anymore.¡± Shen Jun couldn¡¯t help but smile and say, ¡°Technology is so advanced now. You can do it in this life too.¡± Wen Nian red at him angrily and asked casually, ¡°It¡¯s just a sanitary pad. Why did you take so long? Did you meet a beauty who asked for your WeChat?¡± Hearing her say that, Shen Jun suddenly pursed his lips. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but sarcastically think: Did she hit the nail on the head? He truly had a face that caused trouble for the nation and the people, getting asked for WeChat even when buying sanitary pads! Was she even considered his girlfriend? ¡°Yo! Handsome Shen, indeed extraordinary. Even buying sanitary pads for the girlfriend can lead to someone hitting on you. Tell me, is the little beauty pretty? Did you add her on WeChat? Did she ask if you have a girlfriend?¡± Wen Nian sarcastically asked with a strange tone. Shen Jun didn¡¯t say much. He took out his phone and opened the photos. ¡°Indeed, someone wanted to add me on WeChat, but only to show me this.¡± ¡°Wow! Beauty Wen is indeed extraordinary, with excellent writing skills.¡± Shen Jun mimicked her tone. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we call you ¡®Talented Wen¡¯? Tell me, what was your mood like when you wrote those love letters? How many letters did you write?¡± Wen Nian never imagined that the love letters she had written to Wei Xiao in her past life could be dug up and that Shen Jun would find out about it. ¡°You¡­ Let me exin.¡± Wen Nian suddenly felt a little guilty. Shen Jun, wearing an expression of ¡°I¡¯m willing to hear your defense,¡± looked at her yfully.. Chapter 402 - 402: Another Incident Chapter 402: Another Incident Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Ah, I was young and ignorant, and besides, you already know about my past, right?¡± Wen Nian, realizing that she couldn¡¯t escape, quickly cooed, ¡°Everyone has their foolish moments when they¡¯re young, encountering scumbags is inevitable! But I¡¯ve reformed since then.¡± She kept shaking Shen Jun¡¯s arm and asionally rubbed her face against his hand. Shen Jun felt a tingling sensation on his arm but still kept a stern face. ¡°You¡¯re quite the literary genius, huh? You used to fail in Chinese, but you could write such cheesy love letters? ¡®You are my true love; we will have a beautiful future together. I will love you with all my heart and soul¡­''¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Hearing Shen Jun recite the contents of the love letter, Wen Nian¡¯s face turned red, and she hurriedly covered his mouth. ¡°I already said this was just my youthful ignorance! Why are you still bringing it up? Who hasn¡¯t made mistakes? Isn¡¯t it said that acknowledging one¡¯s mistakes and correcting them is a great virtue?¡± Wen Nianined, ¡°These were written when I was in the first year. Who gave them to you? She is really sly!¡± Seeing that she was genuinely upset, Shen Jun embraced her shoulders. ¡°I know you¡¯ve changed for the better, so I treated you leniently!¡± He yfully flicked her nose, ¡°Rest assured, your boyfriend, I, won¡¯t believe any attempts to sow discord. All of this is in the past.¡± ¡°Then why do you still keep the photos?¡± Wen Nian said, displeased. ¡°Is this love letter in someone else¡¯s hands? What does he want to do with it?¡± She was a bit anxious. The past with Wei Xiao was a stain on her life. Moreover, she didn¡¯t want to bring up these things at all. It might be a problem in the future, especially when she became an actress. ¡°Hao Ting found the photos from someone, and she approached me at the supermarket just now,¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t hide anything and exined what had happened. Wen Nian was annoyed, not knowing why Hao Ting, who had a conflict with her in the past life over resources, was causing trouble this time. Was it just because she couldn¡¯t stand seeing her happy? ¡°Alright, it¡¯s not good for your health to be angry during your menstrual period.¡± Shen Jun ced his big hand on her abdomen. It was indeed a little cold. He helped her put on the nket again. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this matter. As for these love letters¡­¡± he narrowed his eyes in a dangerous manner. Feeling the slight pressure on her stomach, Wen Nian immediately understood. She quickly raised her hand to swear, ¡°I will only write to Handsome Shen in the future, never to anyone else!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal! The great talented surnamed Wen.¡± Seeing Wen Nian¡¯s nervous and cute appearance, Shen Jun kissed her little mouth before lying on the bed with her in his arms in satisfaction. The next morning, Tian Juan anxiously knocked on the door. She had already called Wen Nian and Shen Jun countless times. If not for the fact that she was afraid that others would find out that the two of them were together, she would really have asked the waiter for the key card! Yesterday, Wen Nian finally slept peacefully. Shen Jun turned off their phones, but he was still woken up. Seeing the person in his arms wrinkling her brows, Shen Jun gently withdrew his arm from beneath Wen Nian and patted her a few times, watching her breathing return to normal before getting up to open the door. ¡°Wen¡­ Shen Jun?¡± Tian Juan almost bit her tongue when she saw Shen Jun open the door. For the past few days, Shen Jun had been living next door obediently. Thinking that the two young people might do something out of line, Tian Juan hurriedly pushed Shen Jun in and asked angrily, ¡°Why are you here? Do you know that the two of you are still students?¡± Seeing that she had misunderstood, Shen Jun quickly exined, ¡°She had her period yesterday. I went to buy her sanitary pads and medicine.¡± He was a little embarrassed. ¡°I was afraid that her stomach would hurt¡­ so I slept here. It was just a simple sleep.¡± Tian Juan heaved a sigh of relief. No matter what, nothing would happen during her menstrual period. Besides, Shen Jun and Wen Nian were not reckless children. She wanted to tease him, but she suddenly remembered the reason why she came to look for Wen Nian today. Looking at Tian Juan¡¯s changing expression, Shen Jun asked, ¡°Did something happen again?¡± His use of ¡°again¡± was quite apt. Tian Juan also felt that Wen Nian had been a regr on the trending searches since the new year. She was on the trending list at least three or four times a week. This was something that other celebrities could not get even if they begged. It was just that every time, it seemed to be a mixture of good and bad. Tian Juan pressed her aching temples and said, ¡°Someone said that the Film Academy leaked the exam questions. They even said that Wen Nian bribed the examiners. Thepany has already started to deal with it urgently. The Film Academy will also cooperate. However, the matter is a little serious. The Education Bureau has also set their sights on it..¡± Chapter 403 - 403: Transfer Record Chapter 403: Transfer Record Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Shen Jun pursed his lips. ¡°Does the Education Bureau care about such fictitious matters? Does the police station care?¡± ¡°The informant also got a video of Wen Nian¡¯s exam, but it¡¯s moreplete.¡± Tian Juan flipped through her phone. ¡°This examiner interacted with Wen Nian during both exams. Theizens¡¯ments were one-sided. Other than saying that Ding Sheng spent money to buy the exam questions, Director Xu and a few old actors who supported Wen Nian previously were also implicated.¡± In the end, she sighed. ¡°They didn¡¯te with good intentions. It happened so suddenly, and thepany didn¡¯t find anything.¡± ¡°And look.¡± Tian Juan pulled up a few more pieces of news. They were screenshots of Wen Nian¡¯s transfers and a flowing number. One was transferred to a person, but the name was covered, and the other was transferred to Xu Chang. Both were transfers of arge sum of 100,000 yuan. 100,000 yuan was not a small sum. The informant only sent a screenshot of the bank transfer record and did not say anything. However, theizens disyed their imagination. ¡°Is the first transfer to Hai City to someone in the Education Bureau? It was that person who helped her find the answer sheet.¡± ¡°Aiya, so much money. No wonder they were willing to dig out her answers from hundreds of thousands of answer cards.¡± ¡°Was the payment to Xu Chang for the purpose of purchasing exam questions? The entertainment industry is too dark.¡± ¡°Look at the people interacting with her in the video. I¡¯ve never heard of such a teacher in the Film Academy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that the entertainment industry is very dark. I didn¡¯t expect the Film Academy in the capital to be the same!¡± ¡°I am a student of the Film Academy, and I know all six teachers in Wen Nian¡¯s exam room. I haven¡¯t seen the person who interacted with her.¡± ¡°Yeah, other teachers have profiles at school. Is the one in the middle hired by Wen Nian?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, why do other candidates rarely have teachers helping them? Is Wen Nian from the royal family?¡± ¡°Ding Sheng is amazing. They actually bribed the Film Academy to insert their own people. Could this invigtor be one of Ding Sheng¡¯s staff?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve long heard that Ding Sheng¡¯s methods are dishonorable. Tsk tsk, inserting someone from thepany to be a judge. What a dog!¡± Even though Shen Jun did not know much about the entertainment industry, he could tell that not only did Wen Nian¡¯s enemies start to nder Ding Sheng Media, but even Ding Sheng Media¡¯s enemies started to defame Ding Sheng. Initially, this matter was directed at Wen Nian personally, butter on,izens aimed their criticism at Ding Sheng Media. It even implicated Xuchang and several other veteran actors. Obviously, there was a mastermind behind the scenes trying to use Wen Nian¡¯s situation to attack Ding Sheng Media. ¡°This matter is a little tricky. I¡¯m still waiting for the school¡¯s notice. It¡¯s only seven o¡¯clock now. I reckon the school hasn¡¯t gone to work yet.¡± Tian Juan gritted her teeth and said, ¡°These people are too wicked. They sent out the news in the wee hours of the morning and quickly postedments on the Inte. By the time we start the investigation, the ferment on the Inte is almost over.¡± ¡°I¡¯m now¡­¡± Shen Jun wanted to say that he could go check the information of the opposing party, but Tian Juan¡¯s phone rang, and she quickly answered it. ¡°What? Really?¡± She waved at Shen Jun and took his phone. Tian Juan looked at the content of the page in disbelief, then said to the other side of the phone in delight, ¡°Quick, thepany needs to contact Director Sun! We must be quick!¡± Shen Jun wanted to take back his phone, but found that Tian Juan didn¡¯t give him a chance. Tian Juan¡¯s phone didn¡¯t stop ringing, and she continued to direct Shen Jun to record things on the side. ¡°Director Xu also issued a statement? Good, very good, yes, make sure to coordinate with Director Xu.¡± ¡°You must contact the legal department now and file awsuit, whether you find the person or not, report it to the police first.¡± ¡°It¡¯s best to coordinate with Director Xu and Director Sun. Yes, contact theirpanies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m here with Wen Nian now. Good, I¡¯ll ask her about these things.¡± Wen Nian, hearing themotion, got up and saw what was happening in the small living room. Tian Juan was continuously making phone calls and instructing her subordinates, while Shen Jun was tapping on the keyboard and asionally jotting down notes. Wen Nian yawned and asked, ¡°What are you two doing?¡± ¡°Wen Nian, let me ask you! Who did you give this money to?¡± Tian Juan grabbed her shoulders and handed the phone to her. Wen Nian had just woken up and was still in a daze. It took her more than ten seconds to wake up. She looked at the screenshots on Tian Juan¡¯s phone and then asked in disbelief, ¡°How did you get my transaction records?¡± Chapter 404 - 404: Grandpa Is Here Chapter 404: Grandpa Is Here Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°So, who did you give this money to?¡± Tian Juan continued to ask. Seeing her serious expression and then seeing that Shen Jun didn¡¯t look back at all, Wen Nian felt a little flustered. ¡°I-I gave this money to an orphanage in Hai City,¡± Wen Nian replied. ¡°Could it be that the money I gave the orphanage was taken away?¡± She really couldn¡¯t think of any problems with donating money. Besides, her money didn¡¯te from illegal channels. ¡°Orphanage?¡± Tian Juan looked at her in confusion, then shouted in surprise, ¡°Orphanage! You gave the money to the orphanage!¡± One second, Tian Juan looked like she wanted to eat someone alive. The next second, she was overjoyed as if she had won five million yuan. ¡°A donation to the orphanage is good. You donated to the orphanage!¡± Tian Juan hugged Wen Nian¡¯s head and kissed her cheek fiercely. ¡°As expected of the person I like! Good job!¡± Wen Nian waspletely confused and a little embarrassed. Other than her mother who had kissed her when she was young, she had never been kissed by a woman! Before she could react, Tian Juan asked another series of questions. ¡°Which orphanage is this? What¡¯s the position of the person you transferred the money to? What¡¯s his name? Where did this moneye from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s thepensation for the mental damages awarded by the court in the case where Wei Lai framed me,¡± Wen Nian sighed, deciding to rify the situation. In fact, this matter wasn¡¯t so difficult to exin. When Wei Lai¡¯s incident was widely publicized and resulted in a criminal sentence, Wen Nian didn¡¯t want thepensation from the Wei family. Instead, she chose to donate it to an orphanage. Originally, Wen Nian didn¡¯t n to make a big deal out of her donation to the orphanage, so she didn¡¯t publicize it. She didn¡¯t understand how someone had found the transfer records. But before she could ask, Tian Juan started making phone calls again, and Shen Jun remained focused on hisputer. Helpless, Wen Nian had to open her phone and check the hot searches. Unexpectedly, the situation had changed drastically after she took a short nap. However, when she saw the trending topics on the Inte, she was more shocked than ever because Director Sun Zhi had actually scolded someone for her. Moreover, he had publicly scolded someone. Director Sun Zhi: ¡°Blind idiot! Whichpany¡¯s employee am I? Did I help a student cheat? I only said two words. If I say twenty thousand words to someone as stupid as you, can you act out that feeling? A bunch of mad dogs barking randomly. Keep talking nonsense, and don¡¯t force me to say more offensive things!¡± Director Sun was known for his bad temper in the industry, and many top-tier celebrities had been scolded by him. However, because he had both talent and connections, he could win awards for every film and TV series he directed. So, even if someone was scolded by him, many actors still lined up to work with him. However, Sun¡¯s dynamic post seemed to have no context, and manyizens were confused. They didn¡¯t understand why Director Sun suddenly lost his temper. It wasn¡¯t until someone left ament under the video of Wen Nian¡¯s performance exam, saying that the man wearing the hat must be someone hired by Wen Nian. They knew nothing yet dared to act alongside Wen Nian. It was obvious that they were colluding. Manyizens then said they wanted to expose the man in the hat and see his ugly face. Thements section was filled with demands to identify the man. At the bottom of thements was a big selfie of Director Sun, flipping the middle finger, with the caption: ¡°Grandpa is here. Let me show you!¡± Manyizens initially thought that Director Sun¡¯s ount had been hacked, but after seeing Sun Zhi¡¯s previous dynamic post scolding people, they suddenly understood! The man in the hat thatizens wanted to expose, the so-called Ding Sheng employee who allegedly helped Wen Nian cheat, was none other than the famous director Sun Zhi! The official ount of the Film Academy in the capital immediately issued a statement, exining that due to the unexpectedly high number of candidates, they invited many outstanding graduates from various schools to serve as judging teachers to ensure the smooth progress of the exams. In addition to Director Sun Zhi, there were also certain well-known directors from a television station, a top-tier star from an entertainmentpany, an international movie star, and a professor from a performance department of a certain school. However, due to the special identities of these judges, the school did not disclose this information. Beforeizens could react, Xu Chang also updated his dynamic post. He not only shared theplete transaction details of Wen Nian transferring money to him but also provided evidence of the transfer to the Left-Behind Children Fund. Xu Chang: ¡°After filming the charity advertisement, Wen Nian directly transferred money to me, expressing that she wanted to donate this money to the Left-Behind Children. However, she didn¡¯t publicize it and has never used it for self-promotion. I hope everyone won¡¯t be manipted by those with ulterior motives..¡± Chapter 405 - 405: The Truth About the Orphanage Chapter 405: The Truth About the Orphanage Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Xu Chang had already contacted several friends within the industry to make joint donations. Many celebrities were aware of this, and when Xu Chang posted his update, they expressed that they were already aware of the situation. However, no one had used this matter for publicity. Many were reluctant to im credit for their good deeds, and no one wanted to be the first to step forward. Once Wen Nian¡¯s situation came to light, many celebrities shared their donation transfer records. Netizens then realized that Wen Nian not only transferred money to Xu Chang, but many other celebrities had also received donations from her. While only a few people knew about Wen Nian¡¯s donation, many people rallied behind Xu Chang as if they were supporting Wen Nian. Public opinion shifted, and people began to show support for Wen Nian. She even gained a new wave of fans. ¡°Wen Nian is definitely a model student! Doing charity work without seeking attention, she¡¯s truly admirable!¡± ¡°I should make a donation too. Support Wen Nian!¡± ¡°She¡¯s so selfless; doing good without leaving a name. What a strong moralpass!¡± ¡°Wen Nian is a beautiful and kind fairy. Who would nder her?¡± However, someizens continued to resist. ¡°Even if this donation is exined, what about another one for a hundred thousand?¡± ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s family is skilled at maneuvering, donating money while also building connections. Deceptive!¡± ¡°So what if she donated to the left-behind children? Can it cover up the fact that she bribed the Education Bureau?¡± ¡°Donating money doesn¡¯t absolve her. I firmly don¡¯t support Wen Nian!¡± The debate between supporters and non-supporters continued, but the situation took an unexpected turn after a local TV station¡¯s noon news report. A report on the afternoon news on Hai City¡¯s official TV station shut some people uppletely. Hai City had been supporting the orphanage since the beginning of the year, especially the newly listedpany in Hai City. The founder of Rongchang Group, Zheng He, grew up in the Hai City orphanage. He had been silently donating to the orphanage every year. This year, he had even established a fund to provide schrships for orphans with outstanding academic results. Hai City TV Station also conducted an interview with the orphanage today. ¡°Thanks to Chairman Zheng¡¯s donation in the past few years, the children¡¯s lives are getting better and better. Look, this is our new ssroom.¡± In the video, a kind middle-aged female teacher said with a smile, ¡°The world is difficult. These orphans have a hard life, but fortunately, there are kind-hearted people. Last year, we even received a donation of 100,000 yuan. It was from that little actress, Wen Nian.¡± The teacher took out a yellow notebook and recorded the donations. The smallest amount was more than ten yuan, and thergest amount was tens of thousands of yuan, including the 100,000 yuan that Wen Nian had donated. The teacher at the orphanage did not say much about Wen Nian¡¯s donation. The news mainly introduced the current situation of the orphanage and called for everyone to pay attention to the orphanage. If it were any other time, no one would have watched the news thatsted for dozens of seconds. However, theizens still found traces of it in just dozens of seconds. As expected, after the news broadcast, someizens discovered that Wen Nian¡¯s previous transfer record of 100,000 yuan had been transferred to the teacher in the news. As there was no orphanage fund previously, even Zheng He¡¯s donation was to this teacher. It had been a long time since Wen Nian donated. If Wen Nian donated to the children left behind to gain a good impression in the entertainment industry, why did she silently donate to the orphanage? This could only prove that she was really kind. Tian Juan also made an announcement on behalf of Ding Sheng Media. Thepany would definitely use legal weapons to protect the rights and interests of thepany and artistes. They had already called the police and would sue those who spread rumors. Wen Nian¡¯s fans, who had remained silent collectively, finally had concrete evidence. They couldn¡¯t endure the baseless usations against her any longer. ¡°Wen Nian has done so much good without seeking any rewards. Being maliciously ndered like this, we can¡¯t let it go!¡± ¡°We must severely punish the mastermind behind this. If Wen Nian continues to be smeared, good people in the world will be disheartened!¡± ¡°Wen Nian donated so much money before graduating. How much have those who criticized her donated?¡± ¡°Some people just can¡¯t stand seeing others do well. Why do they have to spread rumors every time? Spreading rumors can lead to legal consequences!¡± The overwhelmingments on the inte made Han Ting itch with frustration. She never dreamed that Wen Nian¡¯s money had genuinely been donated selflessly. Walking back and forth in her bedroom, she contemted how to avoid being implicated. However, the room¡¯s door suddenly pushed open. ¡°Smack!¡± A hard pnded on her face. Holding her cheek, Han Ting red at the person in front of her, ¡°Dad, what are you doing?¡± Chapter 406 - 406: In One Move Chapter 406: In One Move Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°What am I doing? I want to ask you what you did.¡± Father Hao was so angry that his face turned red, and his hand that was pointing at Hao Ting kept trembling. ¡°The Shen Corporation has already canceled the coboration with our family. Do you know how important the coboration with the Shen Corporation is? How dare you provoke Young Master Shen¡¯s girlfriend? If you want to die, don¡¯t drag the entire family down!¡± Hao Ting widened her eyes and looked at him in disbelief. ¡°No, that¡¯s impossible. How could Shen Jun give up a coboration for that b*tch Wen Nian?¡± ¡°Impossible?¡± Mr. Hao¡¯s finger kept poking her forehead. ¡°You haven¡¯t brainwashed yourself? Our cement business is nothing in their eyes. How capable do you think the Hao family is? I think you¡¯ve lived a good life for a few days and don¡¯t know who you are!¡± At the thought that the Shen Corporation had canceled all their coboration and the other party had even politely said that they would definitelypensate the Hao family ording to the contract, Hao Ting¡¯s father felt angry. So what if he could getpensation? If he dared to ask the Shen family forpensation today, no one in the capital would dare to cooperate with the Hao family tomorrow. That would be the real way out. ¡°I¡¯m going to see Shen Jun! He can¡¯t do this!¡± Hao Ting turned around, picked up her coat, and was about to rush out. But Mr. Hao grabbed her hand. He squinted and asked, ¡°You met Young Master Shen? What did you say to him?¡± Mr. Hao had only seen the online video of Han Ting pouring coffee into Wen Nian¡¯s bag. He had no idea about other things Han Ting might have done. But when he heard that she could meet Shen Jun, Mr. Hao had a bad premonition. ¡°Just told him his girlfriend had cheated on him!¡± Han Ting yelled with red eyes. ¡°How can he stop the cooperation over such a trivial matter? Shen Jun, he¡­¡± Thinking about Shen Jun¡¯s cold eyes and his warning not to trouble Wen Nian again, Han Ting felt unwilling. Why did Shen Jun only see Wen Nian in his eyes when she was more beautiful, more famous, and even had a better family background than Wen Nian? ¡°You better behave yourself!¡± Mr. Hao only felt a headache. What kind of family was the Shen family? Hao Ting actually thought that she could talk to Shen Jun? ¡°At most, we¡¯ll lose the coboration with the Shen family. If you screw it up again, our family will really get out of the capital! You¡¯ll stay in the room and not go anywhere!¡± Mr. Hao mmed the door shut and Hao Ting stood rooted to the ground. Her phone rang. Seeing that it was a call from Huang Yue, she picked it up impatiently. ¡°Tingting, are you alright? I was so worried.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s voice was filled with concern. Ever since Hao Ting¡¯s ident, other than her assistant who had contacted her twice, no one else had contacted her. Hearing Huang Yue¡¯s concern, Hao Ting couldn¡¯t help but cry. ¡°Tingting, listen to me.¡± Huang Yue¡¯s voice was filled with worry. ¡°You should know about me and Wen Nian. I¡¯ve been in prison for so long because of her. Wen Nian is a vengeful woman. Tell me the truth. Did you do this?¡± Hao Ting was shocked, but she still said, ¡°What is it? I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°I know you understand.¡± Huang Yue chuckled. ¡°What kind ofpany is Ding Sheng Media? They will definitely be able to find out about this. When the timees, Wen Nian will deal with you like she did with me. With her current influence and status, as well as her boyfriend¡¯s family background, how many years do you think you will have to go to jail? It doesn¡¯t feel good to be in prison.¡± Hao Ting gripped the phone tightly, but she couldn¡¯t say a word. She was indeed afraid, especially when she thought about how Huang Yue was still a former ¡°victim¡± and was really sent to prison by Wen Nian. Hao Ting couldn¡¯t help but shiver. ¡°I¡¯m calling to give you a piece of advice. To celebrate, Shen Jun will take Wen Nian to the Blue Bar to rx. If you can seize the opportunity¡­¡± Huang Yue paused for a moment. As expected, Hao Ting asked anxiously, ¡°What opportunity? What opportunity?¡± Huang Yue raised an eyebrow before saying, ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s only major support is Shen Jun. What if Shen Jun were your support? A bar, alcohol, and loose morals¡­ The rest is up to you.¡± Hearing the busy tone on the other end of the phone, Han Ting hesitated. Although her brain wasn¡¯t very sharp, she wasn¡¯t truly stupid. She did know that Huang Yue had malicious intentions. But in her circle, there was no one else who could help her deal with the Shen family. Thinking that she had already gained a bad reputation in the entertainment industry, coupled with this incident that might be investigated by Ding Sheng Media, Hao Ting gritted her teeth, thinking, ¡°Can it be done? It might just depend on this one move..¡± Chapter 407 - 407: Blue Bar Chapter 407: Blue Bar Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Today¡¯s biggest protagonist, Miss Wen Nian, was still dizzy even after the matter was resolved. Like mostizens, she was surprised every time a turning point appeared. Looking at Tian Juan¡¯s exhausted expression, Wen Nian gave her a ss of fruit juice apologetically. ¡°Sister Juan, it¡¯s been hard on you today.¡± Tian Juan didn¡¯t stand on ceremony and drank the entire ss of fruit juice in one gulp. ¡°Wen Nian, being your manager is really a mixed blessing. Everyone is hoping that the artiste will have more traffic. I really can¡¯t take it anymore. Fortunately, the final interview is the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, I feel like I¡¯m about to die.¡± Although she said that, the corners of Tian Juan¡¯s mouth never rxed. Wen Nian¡¯s matter was a little strange. If it were an ordinary artiste, they would definitely not have a chance to counterattack. ¡°Wen Nian¡¯s sess is not just because of her kindness, which gave her a chance to turn things around, but also due to extraordinary luck. First, there was Director Sun scolding online viins, then there was evidence of Wen Nian¡¯s donation. Now, even relevant departments have issued statements, vowing to rectify online speech, and those who spread rumors will face legal consequences. Wen Nian seems to have a charmed life, and her poprity continues to soar with the ups and downs of her dramatic life. In just one day, several brands have approached Wen Nian for endorsements, and over a dozenpanies have submitted scripts. Tian Juan now sees Wen Nian as a money tree; with a slight breeze, she could shower down a wealth of coins. Feeling a bit overwhelmed under Tian Juan¡¯s gaze, Wen Nian sought help by ncing at Shen Jun. Receiving the signal, Shen Jun quickly walked over and said, ¡°Consider it winning a significant battle. I¡¯ve reserved a private room at the Blue Bar; let¡¯s celebrate?¡± Excited about the idea of drinking, Tian Juan also got into the spirit. ¡°I¡¯ve worked hard today. Boy, bring out your well-stocked liquor! Call Gu Cheng too; we¡¯re all part of the team. Let him experience thepany¡¯s positive atmosphere in advance.¡± Gu Cheng was the first to arrive at the bar¡¯s private room, followed by Wen Nian and the others. ¡°Wen Nian, today¡¯s events were really thrilling!¡± Gu Cheng was exhrated. ¡°You can¡¯t imagine¡ªI created over a dozen fake ounts and engaged in heated arguments with those who were smearing you. In the end, they ended up cursing me out!¡± Wen Nian¡¯s lips twitched. She couldn¡¯t understand what was so exciting about being scolded. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect such a big turnaround! My goodness, that p must havended on those people¡¯s faces like thunder.¡± Gu Cheng proudly drank his c. ¡°I even used fake ounts to argue with those people individually. Apart from those who apologized to me, the rest didn¡¯t even dare to utter a word!¡± Before he could finish speaking, Tian Juan pped him on the head. Tian Juan said disdainfully, ¡°You¡¯re my signed artist. Can¡¯t you speak with a bit more decorum? Talking about nonsense and farting around, it sounds so vulgar.¡± Gu Cheng, trying to appease her, said, ¡°Yes, yes, Sister Juan¡¯s criticism is right. Sister Juan, you were amazing today. Are all these your agent¡¯s doing? I¡¯ve truly struck gold by joining you! From now on, following you, I¡¯ll be living a life of luxury.¡± Gu Cheng then moved to hug her, but Tian Juan pushed him away with disdain. ¡°Pay attention to boundaries; I have a family. I don¡¯t like immature kids like you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s still Wen Nian¡¯s boyfriend who¡¯s impressive.¡± Tian Juan nced at Shen Jun secretly, noticing his smug expression. Tian Juan hugged Wen Nian¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Little Shen here not only traced those people¡¯s IPs online and provided evidence to the police, but also contacted his uncle. Otherwise, how could the city TV station broadcast the news about the orphanage?¡± Gu Cheng didn¡¯t understand what was going on, but Wen Nian understood. She had been wondering how news about the orphanage suddenly appeared in the noon news. It turned out to be Shen Jun¡¯s doing. ¡°I envy you. Your boyfriend is handsome,es from a good family, is smart, proactive, and devoted to you¡­¡± Unable to endure it any longer, Shen Jun quickly handed her a wine ss. ¡°Juan Sister, I have a bottle of red wine; give it a try.¡± ¡°No need to be so polite.¡± Seeing him blush, Tian Juan didn¡¯t continue teasing. The group of friends chatted andughed, finally lifting the pressure and gloomy mood of the past few days. After leaving the private room to go to the restroom, Shen Jun unexpectedly got pulled into the adjacent private room. ¡°Little Master Shen!¡± In the dim light, a woman¡¯s soft body pressed against him..¡± Chapter 408 - 408: Retribution Is Coming Chapter 408: Retribution Is Coming Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The woman exuded a sweet scent, and her voice was so gentle that it made one¡¯s heart soften. ¡°Young Master Shen, you¡¯re so ruthless. How can you treat me like this?¡± Hao Ting looked up at Shen Jun tenderly. She had carefully studied Wen Nian¡¯s makeup. Almost all of it was nude. In addition, Shen Jun was only a high school student. It was indeed impossible for him to like the type of heavy makeup. Hence, Hao Ting only put on simple makeup today. The focus was on the innocence of her eyes. Moreover, she had specially put on a miniskirt on a cold day. It was a little like a cheerleader¡¯s miniskirt, sexy and yful. She felt that Shen Jun would definitely like it. She kept moving forward, her breasts rubbing against Shen Jun¡¯s body. ¡°Little Master Shen, what¡¯s so good about Wen Nian? As long as you¡¯re willing, you can have any woman you want. As long as you¡¯re willing to help the Hao family, I¡¯m yours.¡± As she spoke, she reached down and was about to untie Shen Jun¡¯s belt. But in the next second, she felt a sharp pain in her wrist. ¡°Ah!¡± Hao Ting¡¯s face was pale from the pain and she could not speak at all. Shen Jun pinched her wrist hard. The coldness in her eyes made Hao Ting shudder. Her wrist was already at a twisted angle. Hao Ting could only scream loudly. The waiter heard themotion and hurriedly opened the door of the private room. He saw Shen Jun looking coldly at the woman kneeling on the ground. The waiter in the private room on the second floor of the Blue Bar had undergone strict training. These rich young masters in the capital were almost memorized by heart. When they saw that it was Shen Jun, the waiter quickly closed the door and used the walkie-talkie to contact the security guards, not allowing anyone else to enter the room. ¡°Little Master Shen, how should we deal with it?¡± The waiter did not even ask about the cause and effect. Shen Jun looked at him with satisfaction, then said, ¡°Throw him out. Tell your boss that someone leaked my whereabouts.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand!¡± The waiter immediately replied. The waiter lowered his head, but his eyes were wide open. The reason why the Blue Bar was so famous in the capital was because of its tight lips, especially since the private rooms on the second floor were filled with VIPs. Information could not be leaked, let alone the whereabouts of the Shen family. The security guard was very fast. He rushed to the second floor in a minute, but he did not rm the other guests. The security guard quickly knocked Hao Ting out and pretended to be a drunk guest as he was taken out. Only then did Shen Jun return to the private room. The three people in the private room had already started singing ¡°Qinghai-Tibet teau¡±. Hearing Tian Juan¡¯s hoarse roar, Gu Cheng cheered her on from the side. Wen Nian kept pping. Shen Jun quickly closed the door. He didn¡¯t want others to see such an embarrassing side. Wen Nian leaned over slyly and suddenly smelled his perfume. She frowned and asked, ¡°You went to thedies¡¯ room? You smell like perfume! Handsome Shen was stopped again to ask for WeChat?¡± Shen Jun wrapped his arms around her waist and said helplessly, ¡°Handsome Shen doesn¡¯t have much charm. Otherwise, why didn¡¯t he receive a love letter from the Great Schr Wen?¡± Upon hearing his words, Wen Nianpletely lost her temper. She smiled awkwardly and escaped from his clutches. She quickly ran to Tian Juan¡¯s side. ¡°Sister Juan sang well. It won¡¯t be a problem for you to participate in the talent show!¡± The few of them didn¡¯t n to leave the bar until past 10 pm. The bar owner, Li Xiang, stopped Shen Jun with an apologetic expression. ¡°Little Master Shen, I¡¯m really sorry about what happened today.¡± Seeing that Shen Jun didn¡¯t speak, Li Xiang felt a little guilty. Although he was quite famous in the capital, he couldn¡¯tpare to Shen Jun. What¡¯s more, what happened today was indeed at the bar. He smiled awkwardly and said, ¡°This matter was leaked by our new receptionist. She has already been fired. I can guarantee that there won¡¯t be a next time. Please be magnanimous.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s investigating me?¡± Shen Jun asked directly. He understood that Li wanted to avoid the main point. Clearly, the people investigating him were not to be trifled with. Li Xiang didn¡¯t know what to say, but when he thought about how Shen Jun didn¡¯t just have the Shen family behind him, but also the Zhao family, he made up his mind and whispered, ¡°Director Wu.¡± Hearing that Wu Gang was investigating him, Shen Jun frowned. He didn¡¯t expect Wu Gang to investigate him instead of finding trouble with him. Shen Jun didn¡¯t say anything. He patted Li Xiang¡¯s shoulder and left the bar with Wen Nian. After returning to the hotel room, Wen Nian asked, ¡°Did Wu Gang get someone to investigate you? Or me?¡± ¡°No matter who he investigates, he¡¯s dead for sure,¡± Shen Jun said through gritted teeth. At the thought of Wu Gang¡¯s dirty thoughts towards Wen Nian, he wished he could tear him apart. Wen Nian held his hand and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t be anxious. His retribution ising soon..¡± Chapter 409 - 409: Tricked Chapter 409: Tricked Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Huang Yue listened to the sound of water in the bathroom and looked at Hao Ting, who was curled up under the nket. She couldn¡¯t help but gloat. After telling Hao Ting that Shen Jun was at the Blue Bar, Huang Yue had been waiting at the entrance of the bar to watch the show. Regardless of whether Hao Ting could do it or not, there was definitely a good show waiting for her. What she didn¡¯t expect was that Hao Ting was knocked unconscious and thrown out. Although she wasn¡¯t thrown directly on the street, she only found a doorman and nned to call a taxi for her. Seeing that Hao Ting was already unconscious, Huang Yue suddenly had an idea. She quickly went forward and secretly gave the doorman 500 yuan to take Hao Ting away. She brought him straight to Wu Gang¡¯s room and even turned on the recording function on her phone. Seeing that Hao Ting was trembling, Huang Yue pretended tofort her. ¡°Who asked you to be so careless? Fortunately, you were knocked down by Director Wu and brought back. Otherwise, you might not have been sent away.¡± At this moment, Hao Ting no longer had any tears, and her body kept trembling. She had been woken up by the pain. When she woke up, her hands and feet were already tied to the bed, and she could not move at all. Her mouth was also sealed with tape. After taking the medicine, Wu Gang¡¯s temperament was unpredictable. He kept whipping her body with his belt and even burned her chest with the cigarette butt from time to time. Hao Ting naturally knew Wu Gang, but for some reason, she was taken away by him. When she saw him, her eyes were filled with fear. She struggled with all her might, but it was useless. Wu Gang struggled for nearly two hours before he was done. Only then did Huang Yue appear in the room. Hao Ting hadpletely lost the ability to think. The pain and psychological trauma on her body made her not know what to do. Just as Huang Yue reached out her hand, Hao Ting pushed it away forcefully and shouted. ¡°Damn it! Why are you shouting? It¡¯s not like you are a virgin.¡± Wu Gang walked out of the bathroom naked. Hearing his voice, Hao Ting was so frightened that she shivered and quickly covered her mouth. Seeing her like this, Huang Yue felt extremelyfortable. In the past, Hao Ting had snatched many of her resources, and she felt that she had vented her anger. ¡°It¡¯s your fortune to be with Director Wu. Don¡¯t reject me!¡± Huang Yue rolled her eyes at her. Then, she said gently to Wu Gang, ¡°Director Wu, you¡¯re tired too, right? I just ordered supper for you. Go eat first. I¡¯ll enlighten her.¡± Wu Gang nodded in satisfaction, then red fiercely at Hao Ting before walking out. Hao Ting looked at Huang Yue with hatred, but she couldn¡¯t say a word. Herst memory was at the Blue Bar with Shen Jun. But the security guards who rushed inter knocked her out. When she woke up again, she was on Wu Gang¡¯s bed. Huang Yue smiled, then took out her phone and opened the video. When Hao Ting saw the video, she pounced on Huang Yue like a crazy person. However, her legs were still tied up and she could not catch Huang Yue at all. ¡°You! You! You!¡± Hao Ting could not say anything else and could only look at Huang Yue fiercely. Huang Yue looked at her excitedly. ¡°Tingting, we¡¯re all good sisters. Don¡¯t tell anyone about this. It won¡¯t do anyone any good.¡± She waved her phone again, then smiled gently and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely give you priority for Director Wu¡¯s resources! But this video¡­ I want 500,000 yuan to keep quiet. It¡¯s not much, right?¡± However, Hao Ting could only say ¡°you¡± and nothing else. The reason why Huang Yue was fearless was because she knew that Hao Ting had offended Shen Jun. The Hao family would definitely not have a good life, let alone Hao Ting in the entertainment industry. Moreover, the person who slept with her was Wu Gang. What was Director Wu¡¯s status in the entertainment industry? Hao Ting would definitely not dare to expose this matter. ¡°Looks like you can¡¯t say anything else. Think about it slowly.¡± Huang Yue stood up. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I was the one who answered your father¡¯s call just now. He said that you were with me. I¡¯ll help you cover up this matter. Remember to thank me!¡± Hao Ting grabbed the shoe under the bed and threw it over, but it didn¡¯t hit Huang Yue at all. She suddenly fell onto the bed. The pain in her chest made her even more awake. Only then did Hao Ting realize that she had beenpletely fooled.. From the beginning to the end, she had been fooled by Huang Yue! Chapter 410 - 410: Owe Me a Favor Chapter 410: Owe Me a Favor Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The next time Wen Nian heard the news about Hao Ting was on the night before the interview. Hao Ting had hired Inte ghostwriters to smear Wen Nian and spread rumors. Ding Sheng Media was already prepared to sue her. ¡°She¡¯s already 19 years old. This evidence is probably enough for her to be sentenced to a few years,¡± Shen Jun said expressionlessly. Wen Nian sighed. Those who bullied her in her previous life didn¡¯t seem to have a good ending in this life. She looked at Shen Jun beside her. Indeed, it was very important to cozy up to the right person. Thinking that Hao Ting seemed to have a strong family background, Wen Nian asked nervously, ¡°Did her family cause trouble?¡± She wasn¡¯t familiar with the Hao family in the capital, but she knew that in her previous life, Hao Ting relied on her background to often dominate the managementpany. Even the manager had to give her some face. ¡°Apany that sells a few bags of cement dares to cause trouble?¡± Shen Jun snorted. ¡°And there¡¯s no Hao family in the capital anymore.¡± What he didn¡¯t say was that Hao Ting had already crossed his bottom line by framing Wen Nian one after another. Therefore, he had already gotten someone to collect evidence of the Hao family. Such apany would basically check the ounts one by one. There was definitely a problem. The Hao family¡¯s counterpart was also very happy to add insult to injury under such circumstances. Therefore, before Hao Ting¡¯s matter was exposed, the Hao family¡¯spany had already been investigated. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t think about these troublesome things. Whoever dares to bully you, I¡¯ll pay them back double.¡± Shen Jun held Wen Nian in his arms and stroked her hair gently. Wen Nian, on the other hand, snuggled up like a kitten and leaned her head in his arms. As expected, she felt at ease with Shen Jun around. Wen Nian was also full of confidence for the interview the next morning. When the teachers saw her, their eyes were filled with curiosity. It had to be said that the name Wen Nian had appeared too many times in the past few days. From being repeatedly ndered at the beginning to proving her ability and silently donating money, the teachers had a good impression of her. The interview ended in a rxed and happy atmosphere. When she stood up to leave, Wen Nian bowed to Sun Zhi in the corner and said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Everyone present knew what she meant. Other than being very angry, Sun Zhi¡¯s scolding of malicious fans was mostly to support Wen Nian. It was inevitable that Wen Nian would thank him. Unexpectedly, Sun Zhi suddenly said, ¡°Your words don¡¯t count. You owe me a favor. I¡¯ll remember it.¡± Wen Nian was stunned for a moment before nodding in surprise. Many A-list actors had no chance to get close to Director Sun Zhi, but the other party actually took the initiative to say that she owed him a favor. Wasn¡¯t this obviously giving her a chance? If not for the fact that there were other candidates behind, Wen Nian really wanted to ask for Sun Zhi¡¯s contact information immediately. Seeing her leave the examination hall reluctantly, the teachersughed. Sun Zhi chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re quite smart.¡± Then, he suddenly grabbed a teacher beside him and asked solemnly, ¡°How are the results of Wen Nian¡¯s cultural ss? Could it be that she can¡¯t get into the cultural ss?¡± The teacher beside him looked helpless. ¡°Director Sun, can¡¯t you check the background of the child you think highly of? Her results are not bad. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Another teacher smiled and said, ¡°Director Sun, you should think about whether you have a good script or not. Don¡¯t let other directors snatch away the good actors!¡± Hearing their words, Sun Zhi was relieved. He was most afraid of actors with acting skills but no culture. After the interview, Wen Nian insisted on returning to Hai City that day. ¡°It¡¯s the same if we leave tomorrow morning. Don¡¯t be in such a hurry!¡± Tian Juan was a little reluctant. However, Wen Nian still insisted on going back. ¡°Sister Juan, my grades in Year One and Year Two are not good. There¡¯s less than half a year left. I have to hurry. Otherwise, my marks won¡¯t be high enough.¡± Tian Juan knew that she was right, but she still said, ¡°But staying another day won¡¯t make a difference, right?¡± Wen Nian shook her head. The mock exam was in half a month. She didn¡¯t want to be left behind at this time. Although Shen Jun wanted the two of them to be intimate for another day, he could onlypromise when he saw Wen Nian¡¯s determined expression. When the two of them boarded the ne, Wen Nian heaved a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that Tian Juan would ask her to stay and attend some social event. Suddenly, she felt Shen Jun looking at her. She asked, ¡°Is there a flower on my face?¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t say anything and his expression was a little serious. Wen Nian¡¯s right eyelid twitched and she suddenly felt inexplicably flustered. Shen Jun said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid Wei Feng¡¯s matter will be resolved in the next few days..¡± Chapter 411 - 411: Vixen Chapter 411: Vixen Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Wen Nian was stunned. She thought that thiswsuit would take a few months to go through. She didn¡¯t expect the oue to be so soon. ¡°He hasn¡¯t woken up yet, right?¡± Wen Nian asked softly. Shen Jun nodded. He had known about this for a long time. The Wei family was very influential in Hai City, and the police and the prosecutor¡¯s office had sped up the process. In addition, the matter was conclusive, so the Wei family didn¡¯t intend to continue to exin. Wei Feng was already unconscious, so there was nothing much to say. They just had to go through the process. ¡°It¡¯s just as we expected. Even if Wei Feng goes to prison, he¡¯ll only cause trouble for others, let alone if he hasn¡¯t woken up yet.¡± Shen Jun looked at Wen Nian awkwardly. ¡°This might just be civilpensation in the end.¡± Wen Nian did not speak for a long time. She actually understood this matter, but when everything was about to be settled, she did not want to ept this reality. After a while, she said, ¡°But I don¡¯t want money. My parents don¡¯t want money either. We want justice.¡± Shen Jun put his arm around her shoulders and said, ¡°I know.¡± He didn¡¯t say much, but Zhao Wu had already told him that there was no turning back unless Wei Feng woke up or had other evidence. Wen Nian was a little depressed and did not say anything along the way. She only adjusted her mood when she reached home, not wanting her family to notice anything wrong. Although they had not seen their daughter for more than a week, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing felt that they had not seen their daughter for a long time. They asked about her well-being, making Wen Nian feel a little ufortable. ¡°Nian Nian, did you really see the great director? I saw him scolding people online. He doesn¡¯t have a good temper.¡± Zhou Mei thought of Sun Zhiyuan scoldingizens online and felt that this person was a little strange. However, she liked many of the television dramas he filmed. Zhou Mei was still very curious about this director. ¡°Director Sun Zhi actually has a bad temper, but he¡¯s actually quite upright.¡± Wen Nian felt the need to clear Sun Zhi¡¯s name. ¡°If it wasn¡¯t because of me, he wouldn¡¯t have scolded people online. He¡¯s quite a nice person.¡± ¡°What about Hao Ting?¡± Zhou Mei continued to ask. ¡°You didn¡¯t know her before. Why is she so bad? Fortunately, she was caught. Otherwise, something might have happened next time!¡± At the thought of someone bullying her daughter, Zhou Mei gritted her teeth in hatred. ¡°How can such a person be a celebrity? The threshold of the entertainment industry is really too low!¡± Wen Xing also said, ¡°Nian Nian, is everyone in the entertainment industry like this? Do you think you¡¯re confident in this exam? Do you want to change your major?¡± Zhou Mei nodded as well. She actually wanted to respect her daughter¡¯s thoughts, but when she thought about how so many things had happened to Wen Nian in just a week, she was a little worried. Wen Nian knew what the two of them were thinking. She quickly put her arm around her parents¡¯ shoulders. ¡°As the saying goes, good things take time. I did well this time. Moreover, I do want to be an actress. This is also my little dream.¡± She said in a coaxing tone, ¡°Besides, Sister Juan said that I¡¯m quite lucky. I might be famous in the future. When the timees, you¡¯ll live a good life with your daughter!¡± Upon hearing her daughter¡¯s words, Zhou Mei¡¯s eyes turned red. ¡°Who wants you to be famous? I want you to be safe and happy!¡± ¡°Mom, you¡¯re the best.¡± Wen Nian also burrowed into Zhou Mei¡¯s arms and tried her best to control her tears. With her family so concerned about her in this life, she felt that her life had not been in vain. The next day, Wen Nian arrived at school early. She thought that the papers distributed by the school this week would probably be piled up like a mountain. She had toe early to organize them. Unexpectedly, she was stopped by Jiang Ning at the school gate. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t be bothered to talk to her anymore. She wanted to bypass Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning refused to budge. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± Wen Nian said helplessly. Only then did she see that Jiang Ning¡¯s eyes were already red. Her eyes almost spewed fire. ¡°Wen Nian, you vixen!¡± ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Wen Nian rolled her eyes at her and nned to push her away. However, Jiang Ning grabbed Wen Nian¡¯s hand and shouted, ¡°Wen Nian, you vixen, you¡¯re shameless! You b*tch!¡± As she spoke, she reached out to hit Wen Nian, but just as she raised her hand, she was grabbed by arge hand. Wei Xiao lowered his head and red at her.. ¡°Jiang Ning! Have you had enough?¡± Chapter 412 - 412:1 Won’t Marry Jiang Ning Chapter 412:1 Won¡¯t Marry Jiang Ning Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios On Monday, there was a g-raising event at school. Many students came early. When they saw that the topics were gathered, many people gathered to watch themotion. Wen Nian really didn¡¯t want to get involved in the Wei and Jiang families¡¯ matters anymore, but she couldn¡¯t shake off Jiang Ning¡¯s hand. ¡°You¡¯re actually still protecting her? You refuse to marry me because of her! No wonder you still have the love letter she gave you!¡± Jiang Ning¡¯s tears had already flowed down as she looked at Wei Xiao sadly. Only then did Wen Nian remember that Jiang Ning had clearly said that he wanted to get engaged to Wei Xiaost time. Why was there no news after a few months? She looked at the sad Jiang Ning and then at the cold Wei Xiao. Thinking that she had been like this in her previous life, she suddenly sympathized with Jiang Ning. ¡°Do you have to make a fuss about this in school?¡± Wei Xiao pried her hand away from Wen Nian¡¯s. He was too strong. Jiang Ning was in pain and was pushed to the ground. Wei Xiao had no intention of helping her. ¡°You, you¡­¡± Jiang Ning was so angry that she could not speak. In the end, she said fiercely, ¡°You adulterous couple!¡± Then, she ran away crying, leaving behind Wen Nian, who was frowning, Wei Xiao, who had a cold expression, and the students who were pointing at her. Seeing that the main character had left, Wen Nian rubbed her aching arm and left. Wei Xiao immediately followed. ¡°Wen Nian, were you injured just now? Are you alright?¡± Wen Nian only shook his head, having no intention of talking to him. However, Wei Xiao didn¡¯t care at all. He kept exining, ¡°I¡¯m not engaged to Jiang Ning. She¡¯s a little angry, but you know that I¡¯m not the only one who has the final say in engagement.¡± ¡°What does she know?¡± Shen Jun leaned against the stairs at the corner of the second floor and said coldly. When the two of them saw him, they felt a little guilty. Especially when Wen Nian thought of the love letter incident, she quickly walked upstairs and pulled Shen Jun back to ss. Wei Xiao followed behind the two of them, not knowing if he should go forward and exin. When she returned to her seat, Wen Nian still took out Zhou Mei¡¯s breakfast of love. However, Shen Jun was not enthusiastic. He looked at her with an expression that said, ¡°Let¡¯s see how you¡¯re going to quibble.¡± ¡°I swear that this has nothing to do with me. I definitely didn¡¯t take the initiative to look for Wei Xiao.¡± Wen Nian looked up at Shen Jun pitifully. He raised his chin and gestured for her to continue. Only then did she tell Shen Jun what had happened just now. However, she didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun to not be surprised and even say, ¡°Wei Xiao won¡¯t marry Jiang Ning.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Wen Nian blurted out. Didn¡¯t the Wei family want to build a rtionship with the Jiang family? Didn¡¯t Wei Xiao return to the country for this matter? ¡°You really want to know? Why are you so concerned about him?¡± Shen Jun¡¯s tone was unfriendly. Wen Nian immediately smelled jealousy. She quickly grabbed his hand under the desk and shook it, looking at him curiously. Shen Jun sighed. ¡°The Jiang family isn¡¯t of much help to Wei Xiao¡¯s development in the capital. Jiang Wei is his backer.¡± He paused again and saw that Wen Nian had no intention of continuing to ask. Then, he continued, ¡°I don¡¯t know what deal the two of them have. Jiang Wei is supporting Wei Xiao as the head now. However, Wei Xiao¡¯s uncle, Wei Hai, is not to be trifled with. He has already obtained 15% of the shares and is probably going to fight his way back to thepany.¡± Hearing this, Wen Nian raised her eyebrows. Thinking of thest time she saw Jiang Wei¡¯s illegitimate son in the photo, everything made sense. Seeing that she seemed to be thinking about something, Shen Jun scratched her palm and continued, ¡°So Jiang Ning¡¯s family is a burden to Wei Xiao now. He might as well marry Jiang Chun.¡± ¡°How is that possible?¡± Wen Nian shook off his hand. ¡°Jiang Chun definitely won¡¯t agree. Who is she targeting? Don¡¯t you know?¡± What a joke! Jiang Chun was obviously here for Shen Jun. How could the eldest daughter of the Jiang family marry someone like Wei Xiao, who had no background in the capital? Shen Jun chuckled and thought that she was jealous. He pulled her hand again. ¡°Nothing is impossible. Businessmen prioritize benefits. If not for Wei Xiao¡¯s value, Jiang Wei wouldn¡¯t have helped him.¡± If not for the fact that she was afraid that Shen Jun would treat her as a monster, Wen Nian really wanted to say that it was because Jiang Wei¡¯s son was by Wei Xiao¡¯s side. Seeing that her expression kept changing, Shen Jun told her another important piece of news. ¡°Jiang Ning found the love letter from Wei Xiao¡¯s room.¡± He looked at Wen Nian meaningfully and tightened his grip. ¡°The great talent Wen Nian is indeed charming.. He still has the love letter from a year or two ago!¡± Chapter 413 - 413: Why Are You Apologizing? Chapter 413: Why Are You Apologizing? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Fortunately, the teacher walked in. Otherwise, Wen Nian wouldn¡¯t know how to continue this topic. Seeing that Wei Xiao kept turning around, Wen Nian was furious! This jinx. In the past, when she pursued him, he pretended to be affectionate and in the end, he wished she would die quickly. Now that the two of them had already canceled the engagement, why did he still keep her love letter? Could it be that he nned to extort a sum of money from her in the future? Wen Nian looked at Shen Jun, who had a faint smile on his face. She could only throw herself into the sea of questions angrily. She didn¡¯t want to continue this meaningless topic. Actually, Shen Jun didn¡¯t specially ask around. He tracked down Hao Ting and hacked into her phone to delete the photos of these love letters. Following the clues, he found out that Huang Yue had sent the photos to Hao Ting, and the initial photos were sent by Jiang Ning¡¯s phone. He took the opportunity to hack into Jiang Ning¡¯s phone and delete the photos of the love letters in her phone. However, when Jiang Ning realized that the photo on her phone was gone, she thought that Wei Xiao had deleted it. Their argument was about to start. Coupled with Jiang Chun¡¯s fanning the mes, Jiang Ning quickly realized that Wei Xiao had indeed never mentioned the engagement again. In the end, the two of them parted on bad terms. Only then did Jiang Ning look for Wen Nian and think that Wei Xiao still had feelings for her. The Wei family had Shen Jun¡¯s spies, and these small things did not escape his sharp eyes. During the morning exercise, Wei Xiao wanted to exin, but when he saw Shen Jun¡¯s cold gaze, he left tactfully. However, there were still some people who did not have good judgment. Jiang Chun, this ignorant person, was here again, but this time, he was here to look for Wen Nian. ¡°Wen Nian, Jiang Ning went overboard this morning. I apologize to you on her behalf.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice was gentle and her expression was very sincere. If Wen Nian hadn¡¯t known who she was long ago, she would have been deceived by her. It was a pity that Jiang Chun was just an ordinary high school student. With such acting skills, he might be able to be a small actor in the entertainment industry with his ability. Seeing the strange expression on Wen Nian¡¯s face and seeing that Shen Jun was expressionless and did note over to help her out, Jiang Chun clenched her fists and continued, ¡°I hope you can forgive her. Her engagement with Wei Xiao was originally decided by the two families. Now, because¡­ so please forgive her.¡± ¡°Is it because of me that the two of them can¡¯t get engaged? Isn¡¯t it because Wei Xiao doesn¡¯t want to get engaged?¡± A sneer appeared on Wen Nian¡¯s face. ¡°Besides, did Jiang Ning really feel sorry for me and me me wrongly? Why didn¡¯t shee and apologize to me?¡± ¡°She¡¯s so angry that she¡¯s dizzy. She really didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Jiang Chun did not expect Wen Nian to say that. She suddenly panicked. However, her eyes darted around and she immediately thought of a countermeasure. A smile appeared on her lips. ¡°You were engaged to Wei Xiao before. You should understand her, right?¡± What she meant was that Wen Nian had also experienced this before. Wen Nian should understand Jiang Ning. Wen Nian shook her head. ¡°I was the one who suggested that Wei Xiao and I cancel the engagement. This is different. Moreover, Jiang Chun, this matter has nothing to do with you. Why are you apologizing? Or is it because this matter really has something to do with you?¡± She did not deliberately lower her voice, and the students beside her looked like they were watching a show. Jiang Chun felt her throat go dry. She exined dryly, ¡°It has nothing to do with me, but I¡¯m still a member of the Jiang family¡­¡± ¡°You know very well whether it has anything to do with you or not.¡± Wen Nian lowered her head and continued to do the questions. In the end, she said, ¡°I won¡¯t waste my time because of idle people. If you want to look for Shen Jun, tell him directly. Don¡¯t waste my time.¡± Jiang Chun didn¡¯t expect Wen Nian to be so disrespectful now. Seeing the unfriendly gaze of the ssmate beside her, she remembered that her mother had said that she would definitely create an opportunity for her, so she left the ssroom dejectedly. When she reached the back door of the ssroom, she saw through the window that Shen Jun was exining the questions to Wen Nian with a gentle expression. The two of them were so close. Thinking about how Shen Jun didn¡¯t even look at her just now, Jiang Chun felt more and more unbnced. She pressed on the scar on her right arm and took a deep breath. As long as she returned to the capital, she would have a chance to get Shen Jun back.. Chapter 414 - 414: Doesn’t He Remind You of a Person? Chapter 414: Doesn¡¯t He Remind You of a Person? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The news of Jiang Ning and Wei Xiao¡¯s engagement being canceled spread like wildfire. Many people felt that Wen Nian must have contributed greatly. Perhaps Wei Feng was reported by his biological son because Wei Xiao was infatuated with Wen Nian. There was nock of such rumors in school, and Wen Nian couldn¡¯t be bothered with them. The art examination notice for the Film Academy in the capital had already been issued. Wen Nian had passed four rounds of the examination without any suspense. It was fine as long as her cultural studies results reached the standard. However, Wen Nian did not rx. She did not know what the cutoff score for this year¡¯s college entrance examination was. After all, she had not experienced it in her previous life. Moreover, she still nned to leave a way out. If she really did not pass, she would still have to go to university. Anyway, she had signed a short-term contract with Tian Juan. At most, she would not be an actress. Wen Nian thought sadly, and the pen in her hand did not stop. If she studied for another minute, she might be able to get into the university she liked. On an afternoon when Wen Nian was writing furiously, Li Fang suddenly appeared in the self-study ss and called Wei Xiao away with a serious expression. ¡°What?¡± Wei Xiao¡¯s shout suddenly sounded in the corridor, apanied by a low cry. Wen Nian seemed to have heard Li Fang say, ¡°My condolences.¡± Then, she saw Wei Xiao hurriedly run out. Shen Jun leaned close to Wen Nian¡¯s ear and whispered, ¡°Wei Feng is dead.¡± Wen Nian widened her eyes in disbelief. Seeing Shen Jun nod gently, she closed her eyes. It seemed like this matter was over. When Wei Xiao arrived at the hospital, many people from the Wei family had already arrived. Although some of them were crying, most of them were expressionless. In fact, Wei Feng had already been in the resuscitation room a few times. The doctor had also said that his condition was indeed dangerous. It was not easy for him to survive until now. Thewyer took out Wei Feng¡¯s previous will. His three sons had a share in the family assets, but the shares had been given to Wei Xiao long ago. Actually, there was nothing to fight for. With Wei Feng¡¯s death, the Wen family¡¯s prosecution process progressed at lightning speed. In the end, the Wei family was sentenced topensate the Wen family with 2.3 million yuan. Since the person involved was already dead, that was all they could do. When Zhou Mei sent Wen Nian a WeChat message, she could tell that her parents were indignant. Back then, Old Master Wen had wholeheartedly helped his friend, but he did not expect to end up in a bad state. Furthermore, the death of Wen Xun¡¯s family was still recognized as a suicide. The Wen family felt a little ufortable. However, Wei Feng was already dead and everything was pinned on him. What else could he do? Wen Nian was a little disappointed. The all-powerful Wei Feng in her previous life had actually died just like that. In her previous life, he had harmed the entire Wen family, but in this life, he had died so easily. Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists. ¡°We won¡¯t let it go just like that.¡± Shen Jun held Wen Nian¡¯s hand gently. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with Yang Shu¡¯s death and your uncle¡¯s family. I¡¯ll continue to investigate. I won¡¯t be responsible for anyone who harmed you.¡± Wen Nian looked up at him gratefully, while Shen Jun looked doting. ¡°Don¡¯t thank me. I¡¯ll be unhappy if you¡¯re too polite.¡± Wen Nian held his hand tightly. At this moment, Li Fang walked in with a young man. She asked Wei Xiao¡¯s deskmate to help pack his things and briefly exined that Wei Xiao¡¯s grandfather had passed away and he wouldn¡¯t being back to ss for the time being. Li Fang looked at Wen Nian again. It was indeed not appropriate for her to say anything after something like this happened to her two ssmates¡¯ families. She only handed Wei Xiao¡¯s things to the person who came. Wen Nian looked at the person who came and tightened his grip. Shen Jun acutely sensed that something was wrong with Wen Nian. He asked, ¡°Do you know him?¡± Wen Nian licked her lips, but she didn¡¯t know what to say. How could she exin that she knew Jiang Wei¡¯s illegitimate son? She couldn¡¯t say that she dreamed of him, right? When the man passed by the back door of the ss, he met Wen Nian¡¯s eyes. He looked away expressionlessly, clearly not knowing Wen Nian. Wen Nian suddenly had an idea and said, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he remind you of a person?¡± ¡°What else? Like a monkey?¡± Shen Jun rolled his eyes at her. Wen Nian pinched him hard and said, ¡°Be serious and take a good look! Who do you think his nose and chin look like?¡± Only then did Shen Jun recall the man just now. His eyes suddenly widened. This person¡¯s nose, chin, and thin lips did look like a human.. Chapter 415 - 415: Zhao Kai Chapter 415: Zhao Kai Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Don¡¯t you think he looks like Jiang Chun?¡± Wen Nian probed. ¡°I¡¯d believe it if you said that he¡¯s Jiang Chun¡¯s biological brother, but Jiang Chun seems to be the only daughter in the family, right?¡± Shen Jun nodded but didn¡¯t say anything. He was a little surprised. Instead of saying that this person looked like Jiang Chun, he looked more like a younger version of Jiang Wei. However, his eyes were much more beautiful than Jiang Wei¡¯s, and his aura was more upright. However, he did not know why this person would work for Wei Xiao. Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s expression, Wen Nian knew that Shen Jun had indeed figured it out himself. She didn¡¯t say anything else and just lowered her head to continue writing the questions. However, she could already see from the corner of her eye that Shen Jun was constantly sending messages to someone. Feeling Shen Jun¡¯s gaze on her, Wen Nian continued to do the questions, but her mind had already drifted away. Although Wei Feng was dead and the Wen family had receivedpensation, the grudge from their previous life was not over yet! Even if some things had not happened in this life, it was true that she had been killed by Huang Yue and Wei Xiao in her previous life. Even Zheng Mo, who had helped her in her previous life, might have been killed by them together. She could not let him off just like that! Since he wanted to build a rtionship with the Jiang family in the capital, she had to let him reveal his trump card first and break his wishful thinking! When Zhao Wu received Shen Jun¡¯s WeChat message, his face darkened. Recently, the Jiang family in the capital had been making a lot of moves. Not only had they started to snatch some real estate business from the Shen family, but they had also reached out to the government department. The Shen family and the Zhao family had many rtives. The family was powerful, and the Zhao family had more people in politics. Therefore, the power of the two families in the capital had always been difficult to shake. However, the Jiang family¡¯s series of small actions were obviously to interfere and continue to split the cake. Jiang Chun appeared beside Shen Jun, and someone who looked like the Jiang Wei appeared beside Wei Xiao. All of this was strange. Zhao Wu¡¯s men moved quickly and found the person¡¯s information immediately. The Wei family was originally from Hai City, and almost all the people around Wei Xiao were from Hai City. However, Zhao Wu didn¡¯t expect that the man Shen Jun wanted to investigate was rted to the Zhao family. The man who went to school was a department manager under Wei Xiao and was now Wei Xiao¡¯s assistant. His name was Zhao Kai. He also had an older sister called Zhao Jia. The two of them were the grandchildren of a distant cousin of Zhao Wu¡¯s father. Although they were from the same family, they only sent WeChat messages during the holidays. Zhao Wu could not even remember this uncle, let alone his grandson. However, Zhao Wu took a closer look at the siblings in the photo. If the younger brother still looked like Jiang Wei, then the older sister was almost a female version of Jiang Wei. However, the eyes of the siblings did not look like his. After all, this involved the Zhao family. Zhao Wu did not dare to make a conclusion easily. He only sent the information to Zhao Jiao in the capital. At that moment, Zhao Jiao was sitting in her office, listening to Tian Juan¡¯s report with a satisfied expression. ¡°I¡¯ve already asked about Wen Nian¡¯s art test results. As long as her overall results are not wrong, she will definitely be able to enter the Film Academy in the capital.¡± ¡°This is the brand that is working with Wen Nian. I¡¯ve screened six brands with good reputation and influence. Moreover, they match her image. I¡¯ll screen them again when the timees.¡± ¡°Director Sun wants to talk about whether Wen Nian can take a look at his script during the summer break after graduation. I¡¯ve taken a look at the general content. The content of the ancient drama is not bad. They want to cast Gu Cheng, who is one of the celebrity managed by ourpany, as the male lead.¡± ¡°Gu Cheng¡¯s test result at the film academy was ranked the 19th ce. It can be considered top-notch.¡± Zhao Jiao looked at Tian Juan, who was begging for praise, and threw her a banana. ¡°You have a discerning eye. Gu Cheng is a good seedling.¡± Tian Juan casually peeled the banana and said as she ate, ¡°I think we have to choose Wen Nian¡¯s script carefully. Television dramas and movies are not on the same level. After all, she¡¯s not a professional actress and needs to train.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I mean too. It¡¯s not a good thing for a small celebrity to be popr too quickly, or¡­¡± Her phone rang. Zhao Jiao nced at the caller ID and saw that it was Zhao Wu. She then picked up the call. Zhao Wu¡¯s voice was serious. ¡°Sister, take a look at the information I just sent you.¡± Hearing his voice, Zhao Jiao looked at the content of the WeChat. When she saw the photos of Zhao Jia and Zhao Kai, her expression became serious. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. Don¡¯t investigate Hai City anymore.¡± It was rare to hear Zhao Jiao speak so seriously. Zhao Wu heaved a sigh of relief, but he still reminded her, ¡°Don¡¯t let the Jiang and Xu families know..¡± Chapter 416 - 416: Transfer Chapter 416: Transfer Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing Zhao Jiao hang up the phone with a serious expression, Tian Juan didn¡¯t ask any questions. Zhao Jiao waved her hand, indicating for Tian Juan to leave first. After some thought, she decided to let her family know about the situation. Jiang Wei¡¯s personal abilities were not strong, but he was ruthless in his methods. Coupled with his wife¡¯s decent background, he had gained some reputation in the capital over the past decade. However, due to his involvement in shady dealings, the true aristocratic families in the capital did not approve of him. Thinking about the incident when Shen Jun was kidnapped years ago, Zhao Jiao felt uneasy. Wasn¡¯t it because of Jiang family¡¯s machinations that she had sent Shen Jun to Hai City Soon, Jiang Wei sensed someone investigating him, so he requested Jiang Chun to return to the capital for exam preparation. ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Chun looked surprised. ¡°The college entrance exam is just around the corner!¡± Jiang Wei directly contacted Jiang Guo and asked him to start preparing the transfer procedures for Jiang Chun. Since she had transferred from a school in the capital, the procedures were straightforward. Jiang Guo was somewhat helpless. ¡°I don¡¯t know either! But you know your dad¡¯s temper; once he decides something, he won¡¯t change his mind. Since you¡¯re in the third year of high school and only reviewing now, and there are no new courses, I¡¯ll go tomorrow to handle the procedures for you.¡± ¡°No!¡± Jiang Chun quickly interrupted, but seeing Jiang Guo¡¯s puzzled expression, she didn¡¯t know how to exin. Jiang Ning, understanding her thoughts, hurried over to help. ¡°Dad, the third year of high school is crucial. Going back and forth at this time, adjusting your state will affect Jiang Chun¡¯s grades.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter how many points the Jiang family¡¯s children have.¡± Jiang Guo waved his hand. ¡°With your father around, you can go to any school you want, right? If I tell you to go back, you should go back.¡± Jiang Ning wanted to say a few more words, but she didn¡¯t expect Jiang Guo to frown and say to her, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go to the capital too? I¡¯ll find a suitable school for you.¡± ¡°No! I won¡¯t go!¡± Thinking about Wei Xiao and Wen Nian being in the same ss, and those love letters Wei Xiao left, she became even angrier. Jiang Guo also said angrily, ¡°Behave yourself if you don¡¯t go! Don¡¯t think that I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking. That kid from the Wei family is very smug now. Perhaps the Wei family will be his in the future. If you still want to be with him, you have to behave yourself. He doesn¡¯t insist on you now!¡± Watching the argument between the father and daughter, Jiang Chun turned and went back to her room. She originally wanted to plead with her mother. She didn¡¯t want to return to the capital so early, but she didn¡¯t expect Xu Li to agree to let her return to the capital. ¡°Shen Jun doesn¡¯t have a good impression of you now. If you still want to be with him in the future, it¡¯s a good thing toe back first. Only distance can produce beauty.¡± Xu Li¡¯s voice was faint. ¡°Your father naturally has ns for you toe back. There are a few children from families in the capital who areing back for the college entrance examination.¡± Jiang Chun was shocked. She knew that the Shen family in the capital was not the only influential one, but she didn¡¯t want to end up in amercial marriage like many sisters in the Xu family. ¡°Mom, I think I¡¯m more suitable here. Didn¡¯t you ask me to look for Shen Jun back then?¡± Jiang Chun tried her best to exin. ¡°And why did Dad suddenly settle the procedures for me? Didn¡¯t he tell you anything?¡± Actually, Xu Li had always been puzzled about this matter. Jiang Chun was doing well in Hai City, but Jiang Wei insisted that she transfer back. However, Jiang Wei only asked her to contact the children of other families in the capital. Xu Li felt that it seemed to make sense. The two of them chatted for a while longer, but Xu Li had no intention of helping Jiang Chun stay. Jiang Chun could only hang up the phone resentfully. She looked at Shen Jun¡¯s photo on her phone and felt a little suffocated. However, she was not at the stage where she couldpete with the Jiang Wei. Jiang Guo was very fast and quickly went to the school to settle the transfer procedures. The news of the school belle transferring quickly spread. Jiang Chun also sent Shen Jun a WeChat message. Jiang Chun: ¡°Something happened back home, so I have to return to the capital. I hope we can meet again in the capital. I hope we can still enter the same university.¡± Shen Jun didn¡¯t hide anything and showed Wen Nian his WeChat. Seeing Wen Nian frown, he immediately exined, ¡°I just found out about this. We definitely didn¡¯t contact each other in private before!¡± Wen Nian didn¡¯t expect Jiang Chun to transfer schools. Logically speaking, she wasn¡¯t someone who would give up easily. Moreover, Jiang Chun had established a good persona for so long. Could it be that she wanted to make a short-lived appearance? Did she think that Shen Jun would have any regrets? Wen Nian looked at Wei Xiao¡¯s empty seat and suddenly had a guess.. Could it be that Jiang Wei was afraid that Jiang Chun would discover something and wanted her to return to the capital? Chapter 417 - 417: Your Brother? Chapter 417: Your Brother? Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Seeing her looking at Wei Xiao¡¯s seat, Shen Jun was a little jealous. He gently hooked her little finger. Wen Nian turned around and smiled at him. ¡°My childhood friend is going to transfer schools. Aren¡¯t you going to send him off?¡± Shen Jun took out his phone. On it was the WeChat message he had replied to Jiang Chun. There were four big words: ¡°Have a safe trip.¡± Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help butugh, causing many students to look at her. She quickly lowered her head, suppressing a smile. Jiang Chun would definitely be infuriated seeing these four words! But thinking about the illegitimate child of the Jiang family, Wen Nian asked, ¡°Is the influence of the Jiang family in the capital significant? Jiang Chun said she can just go back and take the exams? There¡¯s no need to worry about her student status?¡± ¡°The Jiang family in the capital isn¡¯t particrly powerful, but it shouldn¡¯t be difficult to organize a student to transfer schools or which university you want her to enter.¡± Shen Jun gently stroked Wen Nian¡¯s small hand. ¡°But the Xu family is quite powerful.¡± ¡°The Xu family?¡± Wen Nian was puzzled. ¡°Jiang Chun¡¯s mother¡¯s family. Her family belongs to an antique family. They have a lot of influence and have a lot of money. Almost all the rich families have some cooperation with the Xu family.¡± Shen Jun exined, ¡°When the Jiang family first invaded the capital, if not for the Xu family, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to gain a foothold.¡± Upon hearing this, Wen Nian remembered that there was indeed a Xu family in the capital¡¯s antique circle. However, when she was framed and imprisoned, the Xu family seemed to have been destroyed. She heard from her cellmate that the Xu family had recruited an ingrate son-inw and used some tricks to swallow the Xu family¡¯s assets¡­ She didn¡¯t expect this ingrate to be Jiang Wei. Wen Nian suddenly had a sh of inspiration. Instead of finding evidence to fight Wei Xiao, it was better to let the Xu family deal with Wei Xiao. Sometimes, it was much easier to borrow strength than to fight personally. During the lesson, Wen Nian was thinking about how to let Jiang Chun see Zhao Kai before she left. And the opportunity came silently. During the PE ss in the afternoon, most people were writing furiously in the ssroom. Wen Nian saw two cars at the school gate and pulled Shen Jun to the field to exercise. The temperature rose at the end of spring, and the vegetation on the campus was lush, making people feelfortable. There were two cars parked at the school gate. One was Wei Xiao¡¯s car, and the other belonged to the Jiang family. Wen Nian had seen this car pick up Jiang Ning a few times. Reluctantly, Jiang Chun packed her bag and looked back at the school. When she saw Shen Jun, her eyes lit up. She hurried over. ¡°Shen Jun, are you here to send me off?¡± Shen Jun pursed his lips and didn¡¯t say anything. Wen Nian saw Wei Xiao¡¯s car and Zhao Kai in it. Then, he quickly said, ¡°I heard that you¡¯re going to transfer schools. It¡¯s so sudden.¡± Only then did Jiang Chun reluctantly squeeze out a smile. ¡°It¡¯s quite sudden, but it doesn¡¯t matter. We can still meet in the capital. Don¡¯t you think so, Shen Jun?¡± Jiang Chun looked up at Shen Jun, his eyes filled with hope. Shen Jun also felt that it was inappropriate to not speak anymore, so he only replied with a ¡°yes¡±. Wen Nian was a little unhappy, but she still pulled Shen Jun and said, ¡°Then let¡¯s send Jiang Chun to the school gate?¡± Thinking of their rtionship when they were young and thinking that he might not see Jiang Chun again in the future, Shen Jun nodded. The three of them arrived at the school gate. Wei Xiao, who had already gotten out of the car, suddenly saw the three people in front of him and were about to return to the car. Wen Nian didn¡¯t give him a chance. She took a step forward and asked, ¡°Wei Xiao, you have returned to school too? Have you settled everything at home?¡± Hearing Wen Nian call him, Wei Xiao nodded awkwardly and wanted to continue getting into the car. Zhao Kai, who was beside him, had already opened the door for him. Wen Nian continued, ¡°Jiang Chun, is your brother picking you up? I¡¯m so envious of you. My brother won¡¯t be so considerate.¡± Jiang Chun, who had wanted to say a few more words to Shen Jun, did not look at Wei Xiao at all. She only turned around when she heard Wen Nian¡¯s words. The moment she saw Zhao Kai, Jiang Chun was stunned. This person was too simr to Jiang Wei. Be it his facial features or contours, he was simply a younger version of Jiang Wei. At this moment, Wei Xiao stammered and exined, ¡°Jiang Chun is an only child. She doesn¡¯t have a brother. This is my assistant.¡± ¡°You two look very simr! My brother and I just happen to look a bit alike. I thought all siblings in the world were like this,¡± Wen Nian said with a slightly embarrassed expression. Wei Xiao quickly continued to exin, ¡°There are simrities! Look, sometimes, when female celebrities put on makeup, I can¡¯t even tell who is who. There are so many people in the world, so it¡¯s normal for a few of them to be simr. It¡¯s very normal..¡± Chapter 418 - 418: Problem Chapter 418: Problem Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Although Wei Xiao¡¯s exnation made sense, everyone present had their own thoughts. No one thought that way. Jiang Chun¡¯s eyes were fixed on the man opposite him, but that person acted as if he didn¡¯t see her. He just stood silently behind Wei Xiao. ¡°Jiang Chun! Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Jiang Ning ran over and broke the awkwardness. Seeing Wei Xia is also there, Jiang Ning happily walked up to him, ¡°Wei Xiao? Do you also know that Jiang Chun is going back to the capital? Are you here to see her off?¡± ¡°Transfer?¡± Wei Xiao looked surprised; he hadn¡¯t heard that Jiang Chun was transferring. But on second thought, with Zhao Kai by his side, maybe he and Jiang Chun would meet sooner orter. Jiang Wei was likely taking precautions. Transferring her was indeed a good choice, but it was a pity that the two still crossed paths. Jiang Ning turned around, gave Wen Nian a re, and then said to Shen Jun, ¡°You have a conscience, at least you know toe and see Jiang Chun off. She saved your life; don¡¯t forget your gratitude!¡± Hearing her words, Jiang Chun quickly went over and pulled Jiang Ning, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. Shen Jun came to see me off with good intentions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I said he has a conscience!¡± Jiang Ning said unhappily. ¡°Your eyes are swollen from crying over the transfer. Isn¡¯t it all because of him?¡± ¡°Jiang Ning!¡± Jiang Chun quickly interrupted her, then looked at Shen Jun with a hint of embarrassment, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her nonsense. I just feel a bit reluctant to leave you¡­ and the ssmates.¡± Seeing Jiang Chun on the verge of tears, as if she would cry in the next moment, Wen Nian silently apuded her. She was really a good actress. Not many actors couldpare to her crying scene. Unfortunately, she probably didn¡¯t want to be an actress. But thinking about this excellent opportunity, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t let it slip away. She added, ¡°The college entrance exam is approaching. Why transfer now?¡± She sighed again. ¡°Well, I thought your own brother hade to fetch you. I thought something had happened to your family.¡± ¡°Your home is the one with problems!¡± Jiang Ning retorted without hesitation. when she turned around and saw the man next to Wei Xiao, she also froze. Wasn¡¯t he too simr to Jiang Wei? No wonder Wen Nian thought Jiang Chun¡¯s brother hade. Seeing that Jiang Chun was a little embarrassed, Jiang Ning hurriedly said, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense. Jiang Chun doesn¡¯t have an older brother!¡± ¡°Oh, so she doesn¡¯t have a brother. My mistake.¡± Wen Nian, feeling satisfied with the situation, then pulled Shen Jun to go back to the ssroom. Jiang Chun wanted to say a few more words, but Shen Jun only said ¡°Have a safe trip¡± to her and turned to leave. Upon hearing these words, Jiang Chun felt like she could not breathe. What did he mean by a safe trip? Did he want her to leave? On the other hand, Jiang Ning applied for leave and returned home to help Jiang Chun pack her things. As she packed, she keptining that Wen Nian was a vixen. ¡°Why is Wei Xiao so willing to talk to her? He hated her to death in the past!¡± Jiang Ning said as he helped Jiang Chun pack her luggage. Jiang Chun was thinking about something else. The man beside Wei Xiao had been lingering in her mind. ¡°Jiang Ning, have you seen the person beside Wei Xiao?¡± she asked. ¡°You mean the one who looks like Uncle?¡± Jiang Ning shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him before, but he really looks like Uncle. No wonder Wen Nian thought he was your brother!¡± Jiang Chun continued to ask, ¡°About your rtionship with Wei Xiao, have you never seen him before? Did he just arrive recently?¡± Jiang Ning thought for a moment, ¡°It seems like it was before the New Year? His previous assistant resigned, and he got a new one. I saw his back before; I didn¡¯t expect his front view to look so much like your dad!¡± Seeing Jiang Ning¡¯s yful expression, Jiang Chun couldn¡¯t force a smile. After seeing Jiang Ning off, she looked at the luggage scattered on the ground and suddenly felt a bit irritated. She picked up her phone and made a call. The call was answered, and Xu Li¡¯s somewhat impatient voice came through, ¡°Isn¡¯t itte toe home? What¡¯s the matter with calling me?¡± After thinking for a moment, Jiang Chun asked, ¡°Is my dad supporting Wei Xiao taking over the Wei family and helping the Wei family expand in the capital?¡± ¡°It seems like it, why? What¡¯s the problem?¡± Xu Li showed no interest in the matter. ¡°Mom, please listen to me.¡± Jiang Chun¡¯s voice, rarely serious, said, ¡°There is a problem with this situation..¡± Chapter 419 - 419: Make Her Feel Digusted Chapter 419: Make Her Feel Digusted Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios In the afternoon, Wen Nian was in a very good mood. Even the speed of solving the questions was much faster. Shen Jun nodded as he looked at the papers. ¡°As long as you maintain this state, you will definitely have no problem getting into the Film Academy in the capital.¡± Shen Jun put down the test paper and looked at her seriously. Wen Nian looked up and was a little excited. ¡°Really? I saw that the cutoff score in the past years wasn¡¯t low either.¡± ¡°Basically, anyone who surpasses this score line can be admitted. However,¡± Shen Jun elongated his tone, ¡°Sister Nian is well-known, with millions of fans and excellent results in the arts exam. If your college entrance exam scores are low, it would be a stain on your life.¡± He patted her shoulder with emphasis, ¡°Sister Nian, you still need to work hard.¡± Wen Nian brushed off his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t embarrass Teacher Shen. Besides, I¡¯ve also signed with Ding Sheng Media. If my scores are low, Jie and the boss might eat me alive.¡± Shen Jun thought of Madam Zhao¡¯s strict and tyrannical attitude at work. Then, he looked at Wen Nian. If her results were low, she might really be dragged out by Madam Zhao to criticize her everypany meeting. However, looking at Wen Nian¡¯s happy face, he thought of something else and asked, ¡°What happened to you during PE ss just now?¡± Wen Nian thought that if Shen Jun didn¡¯t ask, this matter would be over. Unexpectedly, after two sses, Shen Jun asked again. With Wen Nian¡¯s personality, even if she didn¡¯t like Jiang Chun, he would say it directly and wouldn¡¯t do such small tricks. Shen Jun felt that she was hiding something from him. ¡°Last time when that person came to the ss, I felt something was off,¡± Wen Nian thought for a moment and said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think he looks too much like Jiang Chun? It¡¯s like they¡¯re long-lost siblings. If not for the age difference, I would have suspected he¡¯s Jiang Chun¡¯s dad.¡± Actually, in her past life, Wen Nian had seen Jiang Wei up close. Zhao Kai indeed bore a striking resemnce to him. Shen Jun pursed his lips and stared at her. It was obvious that Wen Nian had given up on writing the paper and wanted to go out for a walk when she saw a car at the door. But she didn¡¯t want to say it, and Shen Jun didn¡¯t intend to continue asking. There was no need to ask clearly about such things. Perhaps Wen Nian wanted to y a little prank? Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s expression, Wen Nian continued, ¡°If she doesn¡¯t give up on you, I have to disgust her, right? Besides, who knows if that person is really her long-lost brother? Isn¡¯t this how the melodramatic plots of television dramas are yed?¡± Shen Jun shook his head indulgently, pulled her hand again, and didn¡¯t say much. But in his heart, he became alert. He knew the information Zhao Wu had found. Zhao Kai was a member of the Zhao family, but he was rted to Jiang Wei. All of this was not simple. With the departure of the biggest rival and Wei Xiao rarelying to school, Wen Nian¡¯s life became calm andfortable. Every day, besides diligently practicing and asionally teasing Shen Jun, she would sneakily eat some snacks brought by Zhou Mei. There were no major events happening. Moreover, Wen Nian¡¯s scores in several mock exams were good, and a few schools had already approached her, promising admission without an entrance exam. However, she turned them all down. She still hoped to enter the Film Academy in the capital based on her own abilities, not just because she wanted to be an actress, but also because Shen Jun would definitely return to the capital. In several mock exams, Shen Jun consistently secured the first ce, even scoring 30 points higher than the second-ce student in the provincial exams. Many universities approached Li Fang, hoping to arrange interviews with Shen Jun, but he turned them down one by one. During the evening self-study session, Wen Nian was leaning on the windowsill, enjoying the evening breeze to clear her mind. Shen Jun, who had just been called away by Li Fang, returned. ¡°Which school is it this time?¡± Wen Nian turned around and asked. Shen Jun replied, ¡°The University of Science and Technology in the capital.¡± ¡°Oh? That¡¯s not bad. You still rejected it?¡± Wen Nian immediately perked up when she heard that it was a school in the capital. Shen Jun nodded, ¡°The automation and ship engineering programs at the University of Science and Technology are good, but unfortunately, they¡¯re not what I want.¡± ¡°Then where do you want to go?¡± Wen Nian tilted her head and looked at him. ¡°Why don¡¯t you attend the Film Academy with Sister Nian? Sister Juan also said that you¡¯re a good seedling. I think you¡¯re perfect for acting as the cold-faced prince and the expressionless CEO!¡± Before she could continue, she was hit on the head. ¡°I, expressionless CEO, will fire you first!¡± Shen Jun said as he knocked her on the forehead again. Wen Nian quickly covered her head and protested softly, ¡°The college entrance examination ising soon.. You should be careful not to whack my intelligence away!¡± Chapter 420 - 420: The Two Important Days Chapter 420: The Two Important Days Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios The two of them teaued each other for a while more before Wen Nian asked seriously, ¡°You never said where you wanted to apply for university. Do you already have a goal?¡± Shen Jun nodded. ¡°I originally wanted to go to Hua Du University. The Computer Science Department is top-notch internationally.¡± ¡°Hua Du University?¡± Wen Nian thought about the outrageously high score line in this school. Indeed, big shots were willing to challenge high difficulty. Suddenly, she remembered that Shen Jun had said ¡°originally¡±. She hurriedly asked, ¡°It was originally Hua Du University. Have you changed now?¡± At the thought that Hua Du University was just across the street from the back door of the Film Academy, Wen Nian really didn¡¯t want Shen Jun to change schools. Shen Jun seemed to have seen through her thoughts. He took her hand. ¡°Now that you¡¯re opposite Hua Du University, of course I still have to go there.¡± ¡°However, I n to apply for a double degree. I also n to apply for economic management.¡± Although whe had heard that top students always applied for double degrees, hearing Shen Jun¡¯s rxed tone, Wen Nian felt that the heavens were unfair. God knows she has really worked hard in the past two years, and her grades have improved a bit. Some people don¡¯t study much every day, but they can casually choose any university. It¡¯s really frustrating! you?¡± Wen Nian asked again. ¡°The rank of Science and Technology University and Hua Du University is simr, right? Hua Du University didn¡¯t n to try and recruit you?¡± Shen Jun raised an eyebrow and whispered in her ear, ¡°I¡¯ve already been approached. No matter how many points I score, I can go directly, and it¡¯s even for a double degree.¡± ¡°What?¡± Wen Nian shouted. Seeing that ssmates were looking over, she quickly blushed, lowered her head, and then tightly held Shen Jun¡¯s hand. ¡°When did this happen? Why didn¡¯t I know?¡± ¡°It was a few days ago when you were napping during the break,¡± Shen Jun said, teasing her by flicking her little nose. Wen Nian was speechless. She had only slept for a while, and how did Shen Jun manage to decide such a big thing during that time? But when Wen Nian thought about it, she asked with doubt, ¡°Wait a minute, then you can go home and take a nap, right? Why are you still¡­¡± Seeing Shen Jun¡¯s gentle expression, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t continue questioning. She understood that Shen Jun continued to go to school for her. What meaning did all these lectures have for him now? ¡°Have you figured it out?¡± Shen Jun looked at her with a mischievous smile and gently pecked her hand when ssmates weren¡¯t paying attention. ¡°Of course, I will still take the college entrance examination,¡± Shen Jun sighed. ¡°If the provincial top scorer is in our ss, Teacher Li¡¯s bonus will double, right?¡± Wen Nian was a bit speechless. She didn¡¯t expect Shen Jun to think of this aspect. But Teacher Li had always taken good care of her. Even in the previous life, she was grateful to her. Thinking that Shen Jun¡¯s school and major were already decided, Wen Nian threw herself into the struggle of sleeping only five hours a day. Despite all of Zhou Mei¡¯s efforts to supplement her, she still didn¡¯t gain any weight, and she became even more beautiful. On the day of the college entrance examination, Zhou Mei specially bought two red T-shirts for her and Shen Jun. ¡°This is a sign of good luck. You will definitely get a good result!¡± Zhou Mei kept arranging Wen Nian¡¯s admission ticket and exam pen. She turned to Wen Nian and said, ¡°Nian Nian, just rx. No matter how you perform, it doesn¡¯t matter. Don¡¯t put too much pressure on yourself.¡± To fully support Wen Nian in the college entrance examination, Zhou Mei and Wen Xing specially closed the shop just to cheer for Wen Nian. When Shen Jun appeared at Wen Nian¡¯s doorstep, Wen Nian burst intoughter. He was dressed in the big red T-shirt that Zhou Mei had prepared, with white sports pants featuring red stripes, looking like he was about to participate in the Olympic Games. Wen Nian, on the other hand, wore a red T-shirt and a white skirt with red stripes. The two of them standing together looked like a pair of models for matching couple outfits. Zhou Mei looked satisfied with her creation. ¡°This fiery look is just right! You two will be fine!¡± Shen Jun then held Wen Nian¡¯s hand as they got into the car. He could feel her nervousness, and he reassuringly squeezed her hand. ¡°Rx, you¡¯ll be fine,¡± Shen Jun assured her, gripping her hand firmly. Wen Nian took a deep breath. The two important days that would change her fate had finally arrived.. Chapter 421 - 421: Publicity Ambassador Chapter 421: Publicity Ambassador Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Before the exam, Wen Nian was incredibly nervous. She tried to awaken the dusty memories¡ªafter all, she had a second chance at life. In such an important moment as the college entrance exam, she should at least remember the essay topics from back then, right? However, after days of deep contemtion, she realized that during the same period in her past life, she was probably running around various film sets as an extra. She hadn¡¯t paid attention to the college entrance exam, let alone the content of the tests. But surprisingly, she felt more rxed in the exam hall. The questions were almost all simr to the ones she had practiced before. Even theplex math problems at the end were topics that Mr. Shen had helped her review just a few days ago. Was it the strength of her teammates, or was her luck just off the charts? The two days of exams quickly came to an end, and Wen Nian felt a tremendous sense of relief after thest subject. She believed she had performed reasonably well. In the previous mock exams, she easily scored over 600 points each time, so she estimated that the final exams wouldn¡¯t be much different. On thest day, Zhou Mei enthusiastically prepared a table full of food to properly entertain Shen Jun. From initially disapproving of her daughter dating, to witnessing Wen Nian¡¯s gradual changes, Zhou Mei knew that Shen Jun was a good kid. The credit for Wen Nian¡¯s positive transformationrgely belonged to him. Shen Jun, still wearing the red T-shirt Zhou Mei had gifted him, sat at the dining table. Seeing the two young ones dressed in red, Zhou Mei suddenly felt a sense of satisfaction. If her daughter could be this happy forever, that would be wonderful. Wen Xing and Shen Jun even had a bit to drink. Although Wen Xing wasn¡¯t much of a talker, throughout the meal, he kept saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Thinking about how his daughter used to be in her first year of high school, and now looking at her, he realized that having a good boyfriend really made a positive impact. Unintentionally, Wen Xing drank a bit too much, and in the end, it was Wen Nian who escorted Shen Jun out, while Zhou Mei took care of the tipsy Wen Xing. ¡°My parents are really happy; thank you,¡± Wen Nian blushed, a hint of a smile in her eyes. ¡°Thank me for what? It¡¯s all your own effort,¡± Shen Jun said, holding her hand as they strolled down the street. ¡°When you receive the eptance letter, you can thank me then. Being a teacher is not easy,¡± he added with a smile. Looking at him, Wen Nian couldn¡¯t help but smile. ¡°You knew that I would definitely be able to get in? What if¡­¡± Before Wen Nian could say anything, Shen Jun quickly covered her mouth. ¡°There¡¯s no ¡®what if¡¯. You¡¯ll definitely get in. Don¡¯t spout nonsense!¡± Looking at his serious expression, Wen Nian kissed his palm gently. ¡°Little old-fashioned, you¡¯re really superstitious!¡± Shen Jun blushed. He didn¡¯t believe in these things, but he didn¡¯t want Wen Nian to say them. Realizing that the college entrance exams were over, Wen Nian tentatively asked, ¡°Now that the exams are done, do you want to go back to the capital?¡± She knew that Shen Jun¡¯s family only had Zhao Wu in Hai City, and now that the exams were over, he should return. However, Shen Jun raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you want to go on a trip with me? A graduation trip is a must, right?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Wen Nian hadn¡¯t thought about going on a trip at all. In fact, even in her past life, she didn¡¯t travel much. It seemed like she was always busy but never knew exactly with what. ¡°We can visit the scenic spots in Jiangnan, go to Disnend, or even travel abroad. How about scuba diving in the Maldives? I¡¯ve already nned a few routes. Take a look and see which one you like. If we¡¯re going abroad, I¡¯ll take you to get your passport tomorrow; I¡¯ve already arranged everything.¡± Wen Nian had no idea he had so many ns. Looking at the person in front of her, she felt a warm sensation in her heart. Thinking about a trip together, she felt a sense of anticipation. Just as she was about to speak, her phone rang. ¡°Wen Nian, congrattions on the end of the college entrance examination! You¡¯re not busy now, right?¡± Xu Chang¡¯s voice sounded with a hint of hesitation. Listening to his polite words, Wen Nian knew that Xu Chang must have something on his mind. She wasn¡¯t one for formalities. Xu Chang had shown her kindness, and if he needed something, she would definitely help. She asked directly, ¡°Thank you, Director Xu. Is there anything I can help you with?¡± Xu Chang hesitated a bit but eventually spoke, ¡°I should have asked your agent about this first, but since this charity event doesn¡¯t have any profits, I wanted to talk to you first.¡± Wen Nian then learned that a charity fund for left-behind children had been established, and with the attention she garnered online, the fund had received many donations. Xu Chang wanted Wen Nian¡¯s help in promoting a new movie and bing the ambassador for women¡¯s federation publicity.. Chapter 422 - 422: Helping You Upgrade the Cabin Chapter 422: Helping You Upgrade the Cabin Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios ¡°Women¡¯s Federation?¡± Wen Nian hadn¡¯t expected Xu Chang to approach her for this matter. Xu Chang said in embarrassment, ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being greedy. My new movie is about to be released. It just so happens that it reflects the fact that women can only bear the malice of society when they are raped, so I want to promote it with the Women¡¯s Federation.¡± Xu Chang¡¯s idea was good. Moreover, with the support of the relevant departments, his movie would at least have a sublimation. The meaning would bepletely different. However, the Women¡¯s Federation felt that Wang Bing¡¯s influence was not strong enough. It might even backfire if the female lead of the movie was the publicity ambassador. It would makeizens feel that they were using the official hype, so they directly rejected Xu Chang¡¯s suggestion. ¡°In the end, I had no choice but to look for them a few times. Only then did they have the intention to cooperate. They felt that the content of your previous movie was also within the scope of women and children¡¯s protection. Coupled with your positive image and the fact that you donated to the orphanage and the children left behind, so¡­¡± Wen Nian understood what he meant. ¡°So, they think I¡¯m more suitable to be a publicity ambassador? And then cooperate with your movie¡¯s publicity?¡± ¡°Sigh, that¡¯s right. Moreover, the public service ambassador doesn¡¯t have a sry.¡± Xu Chang was in a difficult position. ¡°Moreover, the publicity for my movie actually doesn¡¯t have much to do with you¡­ In the past, it would have been fine if you didn¡¯t sign with thepany, but it¡¯s different now, so I want to ask you first.¡± Wen Nian pondered for a while. Although there was no remuneration for such an official public service event, it was definitely a good opportunity to establish a positive image. Even A-list celebrities might not have such an opportunity. She could understand that Xu Chang wanted to promote the new movie, but not everyone could be the publicity ambassador. Perhaps it would not be a problem for Wang Bing to be an A-list celebrity in the future, but her level was indeed not high enough now. However, Wen Nian was different. She had poprity and opportunities, and she really wanted to help more people. She said, ¡°Director Xu, I¡¯m willing to be a publicity ambassador. You¡¯re my benefactor, so it¡¯s my duty to help you promote it. I¡¯ll discuss it with my agent and give you an answer tomorrow.¡± Hearing her say this, Xu Chang was more or less relieved. It wasn¡¯t that he couldn¡¯t find anyone else to help him. There were many people more influential than Wen Nian, but not many of them could obtain official recognition. Wen Nian was young, but what she did had a huge impact, especially after the news of her silently donating to the orphanage was exposed. Even he had a new understanding of her. Not only was this youngdy morally upright, but she also did good deeds without leaving a name. She waspletely a clear stream in the entertainment industry, so he was willing to continue working with Wen Nian. ¡°Director Xuchang contacted you for something? What¡¯s the connection with the Women¡¯s Federation?¡± Shen Jun, who overheard some of the conversation, asked with curiosity. ¡°I¡¯m afraid my graduation trip is going to be ruined.¡± Wen Nian spread her hands and told him the entire story. Shen Jun nodded. ¡°Sister Juan will definitely support you in this matter. Actually, earning money isn¡¯t your goal now. It¡¯s very important to build a good image. Everything else can be umted slowly, but this kind of opportunity isn¡¯t easy toe by.¡± Under Zhao Jiao¡¯s influence, Shen Jun had a rough understanding of the entertainment industry. Naturally, he knew how rare this opportunity was. Actually, Wen Nian thought so too. If an actor could be the official publicity ambassador, the meaning would bepletely different. She had yet to enter the Film Academy, so she was really lucky to have such an opportunity. After discussing this matter with Tian Juan, she immediately agreed. She even promised to donate a sum of money to the Women¡¯s Federation to help more women and children. Wen Nian packed her luggage again, and Shen Jun was called back by Shen Mo the day before. The two of them agreed to meet in the capital. However, she did not expect to meet Huang Yue on the ne. At that moment, Huang Yue had already changed her appearance. Her sharp chin matched her smiling lips, and her nose had be much sharper. Her facial features had indeed be exquisite, but her face gave off a stiff feeling. When she saw Wen Nian, she said proudly, ¡°Aiyo, Superstar Wen is still in the economy ss? Is fame the only thing that doesn¡¯t make money?¡± Wen Nian looked down at the clothes she was wearing. She was still dressed as a student in a T-shirt and sweatpants. There was nothing special about her. However, Huang Yue was dressed in luxury brand clothes and was holding thetest bag. It wasn¡¯t easy for Huang Yue to find an opportunity, and Shen Jun wasn¡¯t by Wen Nian¡¯s side. She wouldn¡¯t let go of such a good opportunity to mock Wen Nian. ¡°Why don¡¯t I help you upgrade the cabin? This bit of money is nothing to me..¡± Chapter 423 - 423: Good Job Chapter 423: Good Job Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios With Wen Nian¡¯s personality, she naturally wouldn¡¯t let her help with the upgrade. Huang Yue kept persuading her. ¡°You¡¯re a small celebrity after all. Does thepany dislike you so much? Why did they only book an economy ss for you?¡± ¡°Oh, right. Your college entrance examination is over, right?¡± Seeing that Wen Nian was ignoring her, Huang Yue raised her voice again. ¡°You were still at the bottom of the school year in your first year of high school. I wonder if you can pass the cutoff point of the Film Academy? No matter how good your art test results are, if your cultural studies results are not enough, you won¡¯t be able to enter. It¡¯s useless even if you¡¯re famous!¡± At the thought that she did not pass the art test in the end, thepany had already bought news for her and nned to brag about it. After all, she was Wen Nian¡¯s ssmate. She might be able to use Wen Nian¡¯s poprity to attract another wave of traffic. However, Huang Yue¡¯s acting skills were not good and her stic surgery face was not pleasing to the teachers. She did not pass the three rounds of the test at all. There were also manyizens who dug up the past between her and Wen Nian. There were also many sarcasticizens on her social media ount. In the end, Huang Yue and her assistant deleted the maliciousments for the entire night. Upon hearing Huang Yue¡¯s words, many people looked over. Many families had gone out to y after the college entrance examination. Many people indeed knew Wen Nian. When they heard Huang Yue mention Wen Nian¡¯s past results, everyone started discussing. ¡°Wen Nian? It¡¯s really her. Was her grades so bad in the past?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not right. Didn¡¯t her fans say that she¡¯s a beautiful top student? Could it be a persona?¡± ¡°A persona is just a persona. It¡¯s normal for her not to be a real top student.¡± ¡°How many top students are there in a ss? Moreover, they have to film. It¡¯s normal for their results to be bad.¡± ¡°But I remember thest time the Education Bureau looked for her answer sheet. Didn¡¯t they say that she could score more than 500 points?¡± ¡°More than 500 points is not a low score. She will definitely have no problem getting into a good university!¡± ¡°What kind of ce is the Film Academy in the capital? It¡¯s survival of the fittest. You might not be able to get in with 500 points, right?¡± Listening to the discussions around her, Huang Yue became even morecent. ¡°How did you do in the college entrance exam? I remember you can¡¯t even speak a few sentences in English. Won¡¯t it be troublesome for post-production if you have English dialogues in your future films?¡± ¡°Did you also take the college entrance exam this year?¡± Wen Nian suddenly asked. Huang Yue instinctively replied, ¡°Yes, so what?¡± Then she saw Wen Nian smile, ¡°After spending so much time in prison, you can still take the college entrance exam with me this year? Did you study well in prison?¡± Wen Nian¡¯s tone was calm, without much fluctuation, but when Huang Yue heard the words ¡°prison,¡± she was infuriated. If it weren¡¯t for Wen Nian, how could she end up in that hellish ce? If it weren¡¯t for Wen Nian, how could she waste so much time? The talent agency had pulled many strings to help her participate in the arts entrance exam. Huang Yue naturally wouldn¡¯t reveal such things. She pointed at Wen Nian, then turned away resentfully. Then, behind her, Wen Nian¡¯s calm voice echoed, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you wanted to help me upgrade my cabin?¡± Huang Yue couldn¡¯t believe her ears,pletely unsure how to respond to that statement. However, Wen Nian didn¡¯t care whether she felt awkward or not and continued, ¡°You should be aware of Director Xu¡¯s charity fund for left-behind children, right? Use the money for upgrading my cabin and consider it your contribution. Remember to take screenshots, don¡¯t let malicious fans use you of not making a donationter.¡± Huang Yue looked at Wen Nian for a long time before saying, ¡°Okay!¡± By this time, the discussions around them had subsided. Wen Nian sighed; it seemed she needed to be more careful when going out in the future. If she had to go act or participate in events, it wouldn¡¯t do without someone apanying her. Fortunately, after suppressing Huang Yue¡¯s arrogance, no one troubled Wen Nian on the way. There were only a few people who asked for her autograph, and Wen Nian politely declined. She was still a minor celebrity, and she didn¡¯t want to attract too much attention. After getting off the ne, Wen Nian saw Tian Juaning to pick her up. Beside her stood Wang Bing, who was a little uneasy. Without waiting for Tian Juan to put on the mask for her, Wen Nian consciously put on her sunsses and mask. Only then did Tian Juan nod in satisfaction. ¡°Wen Nian, sorry to trouble you again.¡± Wang Bing looked at Wen Nian apologetically. Wen Nian took her hand and shook her head. ¡°This is a very good opportunity for me. I have to thank you.¡± Looking at their backs, Huang Yue narrowed her eyes. Although Wang Bing was also in disguise, she still recognized them. She was a little anxious.. If these two women were together, could it be that Wen Nian had a good job in the capital? Chapter 424 - 424: Cold-faced Beauty Chapter 424: Cold-faced Beauty Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Even when they returned to thepany, Huang Yue was still thinking about Wen Nian and Wang Bing¡¯s departing backs. Suddenly, her phone rang. She was shocked. When she saw that it was Director Wu, sheposed herself and picked up the phone gently. ¡°Yue Yue, have you gotten off the ne?¡± Wu Gang¡¯s voice seemed to have a hint of gentleness. ¡°There¡¯s a social event tonight. You and Hao Tinge over.¡± At the thought of the disgusting middle-aged men at the table every time she went to socialize, Huang Yue felt a little ufortable. However, when she thought of how Wen Nian hade to the capital today, she raised her eyebrows. ¡°No problem. Director Wu will definitely go with me. I¡¯ll bring Hao Ting too. Don¡¯t worry.¡± After hanging up the phone, Huang Yue walked straight to the dressing room in a corner on the third floor of thepany. This was a public dressing room. Almost all celebrities who were not famous used this dressing room. Xia Tian had a lot of work to do in the summer, and there were many peopleing and going here. No one noticed the expressionless Hao Ting in the corner. When Huang Yue walked in, the staff greeted her warmly. When Hao Ting saw her, she cowered and looked a little panicked. Huang Yue said to her gently, ¡°Haoting,e out with me for a while. We have a job.¡± Hao Ting instinctively shook her head, but when she saw Huang Yue frowning, she quickly followed her out. ¡°W-why are you looking for me?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s body was trembling, and her voice was trembling. ¡°Director Wu has a social event tonight and wants you there. Dress up properly and don¡¯t act like a dead person!¡± Huang Yue pointed at her forehead impatiently. Hearing Director Wu call her, Hao Ting¡¯s body trembled even more, and the color on her face faded. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯m not feeling well today. Today¡­ Can I not go?¡± ¡°Do you think you can?¡± Huang Yue smiled and said, ¡°Hao Ting, do you still think you¡¯re the eldest daughter of the Hao family? If it weren¡¯t for Director Wu, your parents would have gone to jail. How dare you disobey Director Wu?¡± Hao Ting¡¯s tears flowed down. She kept shaking her head, but she could not say a word. The Hao family ispletely finished; there¡¯s no more Hao family in the capital. Thepany of the Hao family was found to have numerous financial issues, including tax evasion, bribery, and other crimes. The incident where Hao Ting falsely used Wen Nian was also brought to light, and the talent agency had no intention of protecting her. However, at this critical moment, Wu Gang intervened. Although he couldn¡¯t save the Hao family, he coerced and tempted Hao Ting¡¯s assistant to take the me, ensuring that Hao Ting herself escaped unscathed. Unfortunately, in exchange for her safety, Hao Ting became Wu Gang¡¯s ything. To be precise, she became Wu Gang¡¯smodity¡ªhaving a bit of fame, a bit of allure, but most importantly, being young and submissive, regardless of the situation. With disdain, Huang Yue gave a few instructions and then left to change her clothes. When they arrived at the private room, there were already a few small celebrities and a few pot-bellied CEOs inside. ¡°Yue Yue,e over quickly.¡± Wu Gang was already hugging a small celebrity. ¡°If you¡¯rete, you¡¯ll have to drink three sses as punishment.¡± Huang Yue skillfully walked to the group of CEOs and began to toast. Hao Ting sat stiffly beside Wu Gang, drinking expressionlessly. Wu Gang didn¡¯t bother with her either; he found her interesting initially, with a bit of resistance adding vor. However, as time went on, she became more apathetic, so Wu Gang handed her over to others, treating her as a ything. Meanwhile, Huang Yue, with skillful movements, began mentioning Wen Nian, ¡°I came on the ne with Wen Nian today. Oh my, she¡¯s not favored in thepany, still flying economy ss.¡± Hearing that Wen Nian had alsoe to the capital, Wu Gang paused for a moment. Of course, he knew that he had offended Young Master Shen, who was behind Wen Nianst time, which caused the project in his hands to be dyed. He held the wine ss angrily and tightened his grip on Hao Ting¡¯s waist. When Hao Ting heard that Wen Nian hade to the capital, she thought of what her father had said. She felt resentful, but she also had a faint hope. Seeing that Wu Gang remained silent, Huang Yue whispered again, ¡°She came alone this time, and Shen Jun isn¡¯t with her. Wang Bing came to pick her up.¡± ¡°Wang Bing?¡± Wu Gang suddenly narrowed his eyes, thinking of Wang Bing¡¯s beautiful face and enticing figure. He swallowed hard, ¡°Is she rted to Wen Nian?¡± At this point, a slightly drunk executive beside them hugged Huang Yue¡¯s waist, ¡°Don¡¯t you remember? Wang Bing is the female lead in Director Xu¡¯s new movie. Oh, she has charm; I love her poker-faced expression! Didn¡¯t Director Wu also have high expectations for her?¡± Huang Yue leaned directly into the executive¡¯s embrace and softly asked, ¡°Director Wu, do you know Wang Bing? I saw her today; she truly is a cold beauty!¡± Chapter 425 - 425: Scandal Chapter 425: Scandal Trantor: As Studios Editor: As Studios Actually, after hearing this CEO¡¯s words, Huang Yue guessed that Wang Bing was most likely rted to Wu Gang. Wu Gang was definitely someone who would go for the wool. Other than thest time when he failed to attack Wen Nian, almost no new actress in the entertainment industry could resist him. As expected, Wu Gang snorted. ¡°She¡¯s just a small celebrity who doesn¡¯t know how to appreciate favors. Only ayman like Xu Chang would choose her.¡± ¡°Eh? Wang Bing is quite pretty and has a personality.¡± The CEO who was hugging Huang Yue continued, ¡°She didn¡¯t give anyone face in the previous drinking party! I think she¡¯s on the list and has a backer! But her figure, tsk tsk, is beautiful and perfect!¡± As he spoke, he rubbed Huang Yue¡¯s chest hard. Huang Yue pouted and pushed him away without leaving a trace. Wu Gang said with a displeased expression, ¡°She¡¯s just like that. Isn¡¯t she the same even when she¡¯s naked? There¡¯s nothing strange about it.¡± Looking at Wu Gang¡¯s uncertain expression, Huang Yue knew that her guess was right. Even if Wang Bing had nothing to do with Wu Gang now, he must have slept with her in the past. At this point, Huang Yue whispered again, ¡°Director Wu, both of these people were promoted by Director Xu. Maybe Wen Nian¡¯s visit this time is for some work?¡± Huang Yue spoke softly, leaning closer to Wu Gang. Wu Gang naturally understood what she meant and coldly snorted, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just that Xu Chang¡¯s new movie is about to be released? They brought Wen Nian to promote it. If there¡¯s anything good, I¡¯ll definitely think of you.¡± A nearby young star chimed in, ¡°Oh? Director Xu¡¯s movies are really good. If this movie goes to the next level, Director Xu might win the Best Director award this year.¡± ¡°Humph! Is he even worthy?¡± Wu Gang snorted coldly, ring fiercely at the young actor. Everyone knew that Wu Gang had been working hard for years. A few years ago, he even tried to buy off some judges to win an award. Although the matter was settled by paying money and the online storm subsided, people in the industry knew he was behind the scenes. Wu Gang couldn¡¯t let Xu Chang be satisfied, especially when he, as a seasoned director, hadn¡¯t won any awards for so many years.