Chapter 117: Simultaneously Offending Three Bigshots – Part Four

Meng Xi felt a surge of anger stuck in her chest, leaving her dizzy with rage. But that wasn’t the end of it. Xie Zhenxue, with tears clinging to her eyelashes, looked at Yun Ning with overwhelming gratitude and said, “Thank you for trusting me! Rest assured, I will cherish this hard-won opportunity and perform my best! I promise I won’t let your investment go to waste!”

After repeatedly expressing her gratitude, Xie Zhenxue wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, her face full of thankfulness.

Meng Xi gritted her teeth tightly, her beautiful face tense. She couldn’t help but glance at Yu Liuxue, who remained indifferent, even with a hint of amusement. This left Meng Xi feeling somewhat dissatisfied. If it weren’t for Xiao Kewei’s tearful pleas and near-kneeling attempts to win back her affection, she wouldn’t have agreed to reconcile with him.

Xiao Kewei’s looks were exactly to her taste. Whenever she took him out, all her girlfriends praised how handsome her boyfriend was, and some even tried to flirt with him behind her back. Although she caught them in time and warned them, she couldn’t deny that it felt quite good.

Meng Xi was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, cherished like a family heirloom by everyone around her, never hearing a harsh word. She had always been the apple of everyone’s eye. But today, she had been repeatedly wronged by Yun Ning. Meng Xi was both angry and frustrated—angry at Yun Ning’s shamelessness and frustrated by her lack of resources to compete.

She glared fiercely at Yun Ning, but Yun Ning remained unmoved, the faint smile on her lips especially irritating to Meng Xi.

Yun Ning responded to Xie Zhenxue, “No need to thank me.”

Xie Zhenxue immediately flashed a radiant smile at her, looking charmingly vulnerable. Yu Liuxue, munching on snacks, suddenly sat up in shock. Could the villainous Little Devil King end up with the heroine in the end?!

Elder Brother Zhao noticed Meng Xi’s displeased expression and quickly intervened, saying, “The food is coming. Let’s all sit down and talk over dinner.” Yu Liuxue nodded in agreement, but then heard Elder Brother Zhao continue, “I think, since Yuetong wrote the script herself, she understands her characters best. So when it comes to casting… we should consider Yuetong’s opinion.”

“Right, Yuetong?” Elder Brother Zhao gave her a pleading look.

In that moment, Xie Zhenxue, Yun Ning, and Meng Xi all turned to look at Yu Liuxue. Yu Liuxue thought, “I suspect, Elder Brother, you want me dead, and this is the proof.”

Yu Liuxue was caught in a dilemma. If she agreed to Xie Zhenxue as the lead actress, she’d offend Meng Xi, the human nuclear bomb, risking exposure and backlash from her parents when her son’s matter came to light. But if she disagreed, she’d offend Xie Zhenxue, the future Movie Queen, and Yun Ning, who occasionally schemed against her.

Yu Liuxue hesitated, and seeing this, Xie Zhenxue’s tears fell like broken pearls. She bit her lip, saying nothing, just watching Yu Liuxue with tearful eyes, which put a lot of pressure on Yu Liuxue.

She glanced over and saw Meng Xi’s expression, which clearly said, “If you dare agree with them, I’ll jump up and break your legs!” She shivered, feeling quite intimidated.

Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck Yu Liuxue’s otherwise ordinary mind!

She smiled slightly, “Zhenxue, Xiao Xi, Ning Ning, we’re a professional crew, so casting isn’t something I can decide privately.” She paused, noting their expressions softening, then continued, “How about this, Zhenxue: when we hold auditions, you come too, okay?”

“I believe that an outstanding actress like you can surely win us over with your true talent and captivate the audience.”

Yu Liuxue silently applauded her own cleverness!

Xie Zhenxue realized she had been impulsive earlier. Now that she had calmed down, she saw the sense in Yu Liuxue’s words. If she simply asked Aunt Xiao for the role, she wouldn’t feel secure, and she’d have no grounds to defend herself against slander in the future.

Xie Zhenxue turned her sorrow into joy, “I understand your thoughtful intentions, Aunt Xiao! Don’t worry, I’ll secure this role with my own abilities!”

While this side was harmonious and pleasant, Meng Xi remained unhappy. Although this was the best compromise for now, she had never experienced such frustration before, always doing as she pleased. So, without even touching her meal, she stormed off with a producer’s title as an excuse.

Once Meng Xi left, the atmosphere in the room improved by eighty percent.

Yun Ning, always discreet, wouldn’t let her displeasure show, and Xie Zhenxue was focused on building a rapport with Yu Liuxue and securing the lead role. Her gentle and approachable nature made her easy to get along with, so Yu Liuxue enjoyed the meal immensely.

After Meng Xi stormed out, she immediately called Xiao Kewei, “Xiao Kewei, get over here right now and explain what’s going on between you and Xie Zhenxue!”

She was furious. Xiao Kewei always acted submissive and eager to please in front of her. When she first learned about his relationship with Xie Zhenxue on Weibo¹, she was dumbfounded for a while. It wasn’t until a girl she disliked mentioned it in a group chat in a snide manner that she snapped out of it. She never imagined Xiao Kewei would flirt with another woman while dating her. But the truth was, not only did he do that, he was also two-timing, having a full-blown relationship with Xie Zhenxue.

When Meng Xi found out, she broke up with Xiao Kewei. But he flew over that night, crying and admitting his mistake, saying it was a moment of confusion and that he had already broken up with Xie Zhenxue. Seeing him so heartbroken, Meng Xi’s heart softened, and in a moment of weakness, she agreed to reconcile.

When they got back together, she warned Xiao Kewei repeatedly not to let it happen again. But from what Xie Zhenxue implied today, it seemed they had only broken up recently, and only because Xiao Yuetong intervened and threatened her. Otherwise, Xie Zhenxue wouldn’t have been so desperate to prove herself to Xiao Yuetong.

Meng Xi frowned, thinking of Xie Zhenxue’s tearful demeanor, looking down on her for being so pathetic. Really, over a man?

As soon as Xiao Kewei received Meng Xi’s call, he knew he was in trouble. Without a word, he rushed over by taxi. Seeing Meng Xi sitting angrily by the window, he composed himself and walked in, “Xiao Xi…”

He barely started before Meng Xi splashed a glass of cold water in his face. She set the glass down and sneered, “Xiao Kewei, you’ve got some nerve.”

Xiao Kewei didn’t dare wipe the water off his face, letting it drip down as he struck a pleasing pose, then lowered his head, looking dejected, “Xiao Xi, is there something I didn’t do perfectly, making you this angry?”

He refused to mention Xie Zhenxue, which made Meng Xi quite displeased. “I saw Xie Zhenxue today.”

Xiao Kewei’s heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the two of them sat down for tea and a chat?! Meng Xi observed his expression and, seeing his reaction, curled her red lips. “She wants to fight for the female lead role in a TV series I’m producing. What do you think… should I agree?”

“Of course, it’s entirely up to you, Xiao Xi.” Xiao Kewei replied without hesitation. He sat down, proudly praising, “My Xi sister is amazing! You’re a producer now! What do you want? I’ll buy it for you right away as a reward for you, Xiao Xi…”

Did Meng Xi need his little reward? Her face turned cold. “Xiao Kewei, if you don’t properly explain your relationship with Xie Zhenxue today, don’t expect to leave here upright.”

Xiao Kewei had already thought of a strategy. He blinked innocently and said, bewildered, “Xiao Xi, I broke up with her a long time ago. If you don’t believe me, look, I’ve deleted and blocked her WeChat and phone number. Since our breakup, I haven’t contacted her at all.”

As he spoke, he handed his phone to Meng Xi. She took it without hesitation and thoroughly checked it inside and out.

Xiao Kewei wasn’t lying. She couldn’t find anything related to Xie Zhenxue on his phone. Meng Xi was puzzled. Then why did Xie Zhenxue say that? Was she trying to provoke her on purpose? She gritted her teeth. This matter wasn’t over.

Xiao Kewei successfully dodged a bullet and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He felt that being in a relationship was like going to war, constantly worrying if his girlfriend was about to chop off his head. But… it was thrilling!

Meng Xi returned the phone to Xiao Kewei and nonchalantly poured herself a glass of water. “Your mom was trending last night, did you know?”

Xiao Kewei really didn’t know. He couldn’t help but open Weibo. “Did my mom get into trouble again…”

His voice abruptly stopped, and even his hand holding the phone trembled slightly. “?”

His mother… actually trended because of her beauty?! And she strongly attracted a wave of appearance fans?! He opened the comments section, and seeing those shameless admirers, he fell silent.

Am I going to have a stepfather?!

Xiao Kewei’s feelings were incredibly complicated, but he instinctively thought that if his mother wanted to find a partner, she would have done so when she was the right age over a decade ago. Why wait until she was forty to start a twilight romance? Thinking this, Xiao Kewei felt reassured. As long as his mother remained single, he would be the only one she could spend money on, ensuring his allowance was always secure.

Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered that his account balance was low. Why not… ask mom for some pocket money tonight?

After soothing Meng Xi, her mood finally improved. She consoled herself, thinking that Yun Ning didn’t visit the set often anyway. Wouldn’t the set still be her domain then? With this thought, Meng Xi was suddenly filled with energy like she had been injected with adrenaline. “You can leave now. I need to get back to work on the set. Don’t disturb me unless I call for you.”

“Can I come to bring you flowers?” Xiao Kewei asked.

Meng Xi was momentarily stunned, then flew into a rage. “Are you trying to use the opportunity of bringing flowers to visit that Fox Spirit, Xie Zhenxue?!”

Xiao Kewei: “…?”

After taking a beating, Xiao Kewei returned home with a bruised face. Yu Liuxue laughed when she saw her son. She held a glass of milk, “What happened? Did karma finally catch up with you?”

Xiao Kewei fell silent, constantly reminding himself, this is my mom, my own mother, my great-grandmother. He absolutely couldn’t talk back to the woman who held the purse strings. Xiao Kewei put on a flattering expression, “How could that be? I was just in such a hurry to see you, mom, that I accidentally fell.”

Yu Liuxue laughed again, “Oh? That fall of yours is quite miraculous.”

Xiao Kewei only thought about the money, so he nodded at everything his mother said. He dutifully massaged her shoulders and legs. When he felt the time was right, he finally spoke up, “Imperial Mother, um… I wanted to go out drinking with some friends recently…”

Yu Liuxue’s face changed instantly. “Drinking?!”

Xiao Kewei shivered and looked up blankly. What’s wrong with drinking? Why did his mother react so strongly?

Yu Liuxue immediately put on a heartbroken expression, covering her face with one hand. “Kewei, don’t you know our family’s situation? A long time ago, when our family was still poor, your mother couldn’t afford rent or even white rice…”

Alright, mom, I get it.

“Do you know? Back then, I was even scammed out of a hundred yuan, which made our already struggling family even worse.” Yu Liuxue looked up, reminiscing sincerely about the past. “So, Kewei, how can you be so extravagant?”

Yu Liuxue slowly pulled out a steel ruler² from behind her and smiled gently, patting Xiao Kewei’s head. “Kewei, after hearing mom’s story, do you still want to drink?”

Xiao Kewei: “…” No, I don’t dare.

Failing to get any money, he planned to leave. Yu Liuxue suddenly called him back and sighed deeply, “I’m sorry, Kewei. I was too harsh earlier. After thinking it over, I feel that I was unfair to you.”

Xiao Kewei’s eyes lit up. Had his mother changed her mind?!

Yu Liuxue stepped forward slowly, holding the steel ruler in one hand and placing the other on Xiao Kewei’s shoulder with a sincere expression. “So after thinking it over, I can’t be unfair to you. I can’t stifle your interest in drinking.” Yu Liuxue thought for a moment, her eyes lighting up. “How about this? I happen to know an uncle who owns a distillery. Why don’t you work there?”

“That uncle’s distillery is the largest in the area. As long as I give him a call, you’ll be able to drink as much as you want when you go there. You’ll definitely drink to your heart’s content.”

“What do you think, Kewei? Do you like it?”

Xiao Kewei: “…” Saipan! Buddha?!

Xiao Kewei wanted to refuse, but his mother stood there smiling kindly, holding the steel ruler. He had no doubt that if he dared to say no, the steel ruler would come down hard on his backside. Xiao Kewei nodded fearfully, “I like it, mom. I love it to death.”

Yu Liuxue was very satisfied. “Then I’ll go talk to uncle now. Kewei, I have high hopes for you. Don’t disappoint me.”

Xiao Kewei smiled through tears, “Don’t worry, mom. I definitely won’t let you down.”

It’s just a distillery, right? He didn’t believe he couldn’t conquer it!

On his first day there, the uncle his mother knew personally came to welcome him. The man smiled apologetically, “Sorry, Kewei. Uncle just received a small order worth several million, so it’ll be tough for you for a while. Yu Tong has already told me. Once this order is done, you’ll be free to go. Rest assured, uncle will treat you to a feast afterwards.”

Xiao Kewei was very magnanimous, “No problem, uncle. It’s my pleasure to trouble you.”

He thought his mother’s uncle would at most have him mixing drinks, but when he changed into his work uniform and was led to the job site, he fell silent at the sight of a warehouse full of boxes. At that moment, a clearly high-ranking person walked over and scolded him sharply, “What are you standing around for?! Hurry up and load the goods! Handle them carefully, don’t break anything! If you break one, you’ll pay for it! Understand?! If you don’t finish moving these goods by this morning, you won’t get to eat!”

Xiao Kewei suddenly felt dizzy. Unloading goods?!

He was actually at a distillery unloading goods? And for such a meager wage?! He might as well go to a construction site and move bricks!

The person spoke again, “This is what happens when you don’t study hard.”

Xiao Kewei, in tears, thought, this isn’t the result of not studying hard, it’s clearly the trouble caused by his mouth. He couldn’t help but wonder if it was too late to beg his mom for forgiveness. When no one was looking, Xiao Kewei quickly called Yu Liuxue, “Sorry, the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later…”

Unwilling to give up, he sent several text messages, all of which went unanswered. Xiao Kewei was silent for a while, then slowly opened WeChat, “Mom, I know I was wrong.”

“Failed to send because the recipient has blocked your messages.”

Xiao Kewei couldn’t help but think, “?” Mom actually blocked me?!

After giving her cheap son a small lesson, Yu Liuxue felt refreshed, “Humans are truly strange creatures. Knowing I’m not the only one having a hard time suddenly makes me feel better.”

System: “You humans are indeed fascinating creatures.”

Yu Liuxue frowned and suddenly looked up, “Did you just call me a creature?”

Although she knew Yu Liuxue was deliberately stirring trouble, the System panicked, “No, no, Host, you’re not a creature?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” You’re the one who’s not a dog.

Yu Liuxue’s plan was now on track. With the investment and a producer secured, she only needed to convince that young friend to be her director, and she could start recruiting the crew. At the same time, she could announce auditions to begin selecting suitable actors. These were all minor tasks, so Yu Liuxue didn’t hesitate to delegate them to Meng Xi.

Meng Xi, having never faced such hardship, immediately refused, saying she wouldn’t do it. Yu Liuxue pondered, “Xiao Xi, is Auntie getting old and confused? Auntie remembers these are the producer’s responsibilities, right? The producer is the ruler of the entire crew…”

Meng Xi: “I understand, I’ll handle it right away.”

Although she didn’t want to deal with these trivial matters, it was her first time as a producer, and she wouldn’t allow any blemishes in her career. Even though she was determined, when Meng Xi actually started, she didn’t know where to begin. After running into walls like a headless fly³ for several days, she suddenly realized she wasn’t short on money. Why not spend a significant amount to hire an experienced assistant to help her?

Meng Xi clapped her hands, feeling foolish for not thinking of it sooner.

Meanwhile, the female lead and the antagonist were busy preparing for auditions and assembling the crew, respectively. As for Yun Ning… Right, there hadn’t been any news about Yun Ning for a while. Yu Liuxue looked up and asked the System, “What’s Yun Ning up to?”

“Preparing for exams,” the System replied.

Exams? Yu Liuxue raised an eyebrow slightly. In that case, Yun Ning probably wouldn’t have the time to cause trouble. It had been four days since Xiao Kewei and Xie Zhenxue were photographed by the media. For the past few days, Yu Liuxue had been on edge, fearing something might happen on Xie Zhenxue’s end. So she didn’t hesitate to send her cheap son to the distillery as a laborer, cutting off any chance of him appearing in front of cameras.

In terms of effectiveness, her decision back then was brilliant. As for Xie Zhenxue…

Although Xie Zhenxue had long broken up with Xiao Kewei and was focused on securing a role, Yu Liuxue couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off as she stared at the message Xie Zhenxue sent on the screen: “Aunt Xiao, this is my understanding of Ji Can.”

After elaborating at length, Xie Zhenxue added, “Aunt Xiao, I’m not sure if my understanding aligns with your original intention. If there’s any discrepancy, please guide me.”

Yu Liuxue couldn’t help but sigh deeply. How did the female lead suddenly become a well-behaved little puppy?

While Meng Xi was busy, Yu Liuxue also officially announced on Weibo that her new script would soon begin casting. She was quite bold: regardless of acting experience, anyone could sign up for the audition.

This announcement left those who had recently developed a fondness for Xiao Yuetong’s beauty feeling disappointed: “Are you planning to completely let yourself go? With so many big names collaborating with you before, you couldn’t produce anything decent. Now you’re daring to ruin newcomers? Anyone who acts in your drama will probably have an indelible stain on their career.”

These harsh words immediately prompted fans to respond: “How can you say that? What if Aunt Xiao sees this and is deeply hurt, losing all hope in young people? You should apologize to Aunt Xiao!”

“Aunt Xiao, don’t listen to those haters. They’re just hired trolls sent to slander you. Focus on writing your script and ignore the comments. No matter what, we, your fans, will always support and love you!”

Passersby: “…” Can’t bear to watch.

Yu Liuxue was stunned by the comments, and suddenly, she clenched her fist, “Since my fans support me so much, I’ve decided! I’ll expand the originally twenty-episode drama to two hundred episodes!”

System: “…?” Host, calm down! Your fans will be overwhelmed by you!

Once Yu Liuxue made up her mind, not even ten oxen could pull her back. She immediately dove into scriptwriting again. Perhaps influenced by Xiao Yuetong, she felt like a genius! How could she write such a brilliant script!

The casting soon began. Because of Yu Liuxue’s statement, not only serious actors but also longtime extras and those who fancied themselves as protagonists hoping to break into the entertainment industry all showed up.

Meng Xi, holding a thick stack of application materials, was red with anger, “This is madness! Absolute madness!”

Even as a newcomer producer, she knew the quality of actors determined a drama’s success. How could Xiao Yuetong, a veteran screenwriter, not understand this? It was clearly adding difficulty to her work! Meng Xi set the application materials aside, “Sort these out for me immediately.”

If not for her determination to prove herself, she would have quit on the spot!

A month passed, and the casting finally began. As the screenwriter, Yu Liuxue was already waiting in the room. Meng Xi, as the producer, followed closely behind. Seeing Yu Liuxue, Meng Xi felt annoyed, but the other was a senior by a decade. She couldn’t possibly vent her frustration on a forty-year-old auntie, could she?

Surprisingly, Yun Ning also showed up.

Meng Xi couldn’t help but snort coldly the moment she saw Yun Ning, then turned her head away. Yun Ning didn’t mind and pulled up a chair to sit beside Yu Liuxue. Yu Liuxue had just smiled at Yun Ning… Wait! She suddenly turned back, realizing she was sandwiched between Meng Xi and Yun Ning!

The casting began quickly.

Before Yu Liuxue could express her opinion, Yun Ning and Meng Xi dismissed each candidate with a single comment each.

“Even a pig would act more naturally than her.”

“Not pretty enough.”

“With his level of line delivery, I’d rather hire a freshman from a broadcasting school.”

“Not pure enough.”

“How did she graduate after four years in college with this level? How did she even manage to graduate?”

“Not stunning enough.”

Yu Liuxue suddenly understood: “…” She realized these two had no intention of seriously casting roles. The task of the supporting actress and the villain had clearly become to prevent her from successfully filming a good TV drama and making a comeback!

After watching performances for half a day, everyone felt both physically and mentally exhausted, as if they had been in a forty-minute math class that seemed endless, only to find out that just ten minutes had passed.

Just as Meng Xi was about to lose her temper, it was finally Xie Zhenxue’s turn. Xie Zhenxue was particularly nervous because, for her, this wasn’t just a role or a TV drama; it was her last chance to win back Xiao Yuetong’s heart. Only by delivering a perfect performance, interpreting the character and script with utmost precision, could she hope to capture Xiao Yuetong’s heart again and secure a place in it.

Xie Zhenxue’s palms were sweaty with nerves. Before entering the room, she took a deep breath. Once inside, her eyes followed Yu Liuxue closely, ignoring everyone else. Xie Zhenxue wore a faint smile: “Hello everyone, I am Xie Zhenxue, and today I’m auditioning for the role of Ji Can.”

After speaking, she quickly immersed herself in the role.

Although Meng Xi didn’t want to admit it, Xie Zhenxue was indeed the most natural actor they’d seen so far. Her age and appearance perfectly matched the character’s setting. Yun Ning was straightforward, deciding on the spot, and even Meng Xi, albeit reluctantly, nodded in agreement.

Yu Liuxue, the only one with reservations, was a bit skeptical, “Isn’t Xie Zhenxue too serious?”

After all, she had written a comedy!

Meng Xi and Yun Ning both turned their gazes towards her, staring expressionlessly, yet their meaning was clear: Do you have any objections?

Yu Liuxue: “…”

After a week, the casting was finally complete. The main roles, supporting roles, and extras were all decided, and contracts were being signed. Thanks to Meng Xi’s efforts and Yun Ning’s funding, the crew was quickly assembled. The only position left undecided was the director.

Meng Xi wanted to hire a famous director, but Yu Liuxue was fixated on a recently graduated male student on the list.

“A renowned director is reliable and has a good reputation, which will draw more attention to our TV drama.”

Yu Liuxue: “The student is cheaper.”

Meng Xi held back her frustration and gritted her teeth, “An experienced director can help us avoid many pitfalls.”

Yu Liuxue: “The student is cheaper.”

Finally, Meng Xi couldn’t take it anymore and decided to ignore Yu Liuxue. She kept telling herself that Xiao Yuetong was an elder, and she shouldn’t argue with her. So she directly asked her father to find a famous director to act as an assistant director, to prevent Yu Liuxue from ruining her hard work.

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue was busy convincing the male student, earnestly proving she was there to hire him for the shoot. After much hesitation, he agreed. As soon as he signed the contract, Yu Liuxue cheerfully informed him, “Oh, I forgot to tell you, the assistant director helping you is your graduation advisor.”

The male student: “…?!!!”

He stared at the document in front of him, shivering violently. He had barely escaped the clutches of that old man, and now he was going to fall back into the pit? Tears filled his eyes. Your grandpa is indeed your grandpa; he could already foresee himself being tormented to death by that old man.

Once everything was ready, filming began.

Xiao Kewei learned about this from the internet. He stared at a photo of his three girlfriends and his mother together, starting to question his life. How did all three of his girlfriends end up in the same production crew?! He shivered violently, suddenly feeling afraid. If one day, news of him juggling three relationships got out, then…

He didn’t even have the heart to unload the goods anymore. He simply sat on the steps, staring at his phone. Sure, he could understand Xie Zhenxue and his mother being in the same crew, since his mother was the screenwriter and Xie Zhenxue was an actress, but how did Meng Xi, who was as idle and spoiled as he was, infiltrate the crew?

And Yun Ning, wasn’t she supposed to be preparing for exams?

Xiao Kewei frowned, realizing things weren’t simple—could it be that Yun Ning also planned to enter the Entertainment Industry and compete with his other girlfriend for roles?!

At this moment, his buddy came over, wiping sweat off his face, “Xiao, what are you looking at?” The guy craned his neck for a peek and then understood, “Heartbroken?”

He patted Xiao Kewei’s shoulder, offering advice in a seasoned tone, “Don’t be sad. We haven’t finished our work yet. Hang in there for another half month, and we’ll get our paychecks and go out for a big feast.”

The mention of drinking made Xiao Kewei shudder. If he hadn’t lied about wanting to drink with his buddies back then, he wouldn’t be in this mess now.

Xiao Kewei decisively declined his enthusiastic invitation.

However, Xiao Kewei never imagined he would end up trending online. The reason was his handsome looks, which had enamored countless girls at the factory. Some girls, too shy to talk to him directly, secretly took photos of him to keep on their phones, soothing their longing.

One day, a girl saw him sitting alone on the steps, exuding a melancholic and decadent aura, and couldn’t resist taking a photo to show off to her friends. One friend shared it with another, and eventually, someone sent the photo to a marketing account. To attract attention, the account fabricated a story for Xiao Kewei:

“This is a young man who just graduated from a vocational school. The weather is nice today, but he can’t feel happy because his girlfriend, disgusted by his poverty, harshly humiliated him and ran off with a wealthy man. The young man is heartbroken and vows to make something of himself and achieve great things! Never underestimate the young and poor, for one day, the dragon shall soar!”

This Weibo post quickly went viral, and everyone who saw the photo exclaimed, “Wow, he’s so handsome?! I, I, I, I have a car and a house, I can be your girlfriend!”

“Young man, Auntie’s contact number is 168XXXXXXXX…”

Xiao Kewei: “…” What on earth?

When Yu Liuxue heard about this from others, she was equally baffled, “?”

She opened Weibo, and after confirming that the person in the photo was indeed her son, she instinctively glanced at Xie Zhenxue and Meng Xi. One was buried in memorizing lines, while the other was bustling around, almost lifting off the ground with activity. Neither seemed worried about their boyfriend being snatched away.

Yu Liuxue withdrew her gaze and touched her chin. “If there’s free publicity to be had, why not take advantage of it?”

The System immediately responded with, “?” Are you even exploiting your own son?!

Yu Liuxue promptly reposted on Weibo: “Who wants to be my son’s girlfriend?”

Everyone: “…?!” What does that mean?

Wait a minute! Could it be…

The person in the photo is Xiao Yuetong’s infamous son?!

The crowd suddenly realized, no wonder he looks so good. But then again, something felt off. “Is Xiao Yuetong planning to go the celebrity route recently? How come after she trended, her son is next? Did they get a yearly package for trending?”

“There’s a 99% chance of that, but all they have to market is their looks, right? One is a ratings poison in the screenwriting world, and the other is a good-for-nothing scoundrel. Truly a mother and son duo.”

This incident was indeed too coincidental. No one expected Xiao Kewei to suddenly enter the public eye in such a manner. However, even though he had become a trending topic, without Yu Liuxue’s orders, he still couldn’t return home and had to continue working as a loader at the distillery.

A few days later, there was an unexpected follow-up to Xiao Kewei’s situation. An anonymous person submitted a post: “Stop criticizing Brother Xiao. He’s been demoted to work at the distillery for nearly two months because he wanted to drink. On one side is my mother-in-law, on the other is my husband. Even though I feel sorry for my husband suffering, I don’t dare say anything to my mother-in-law. I’m really caught in the middle.”

Fans immediately retorted, “What kind of daydreaming is this?”

Xiao Kewei never imagined that the whole world would end up knowing he was being punished by his own mother, forced to work hard labor at the distillery. Doesn’t a man care about his dignity?

But this wasn’t his biggest concern. What worried him most was that neither Yun Ning nor Meng Xi had reached out to him yet. He was a bit panicked. Had they discovered what he did, and were they upset with him?

Nervously, he put down the goods and started calling Yun Ning. She glanced at the phone but didn’t pick up. She had something to discuss with Yu Liuxue, and compared to revenge, Xiao Kewei seemed less important.

As she approached, she noticed the other person holding a thick, colorful book. She glanced at the title: “The Pricey Bride: The Cold-Hearted CEO’s Substitute Lover.”

Looking closer, she read inside—

【Young Master Zhang grabbed Xia Liang’s hair and pressed his lips to hers, prying open her teeth and invading like a beast, biting and sucking. Xia Liang’s eyes sparkled with tears, her face flushed, and she gasped involuntarily, saying, “Young Master Zhang, you beast!”】

【Young Master Zhang let out a wicked, arrogant laugh and unbuckled his belt, “I’ll show you what a beast really is! Your brother defiled my Yingying, so I’ll make sure you can’t live or die, bear my child, and make your brother regret it for life!”】

【Woman, are you satisfied? Do you want more? Beg me.】

Yun Ning blinked, …what is this?

Translator’s Notes