Chapter 121: Simultaneously Offending Three Bigshots – Part Eight

Aunt Xiao asked Yun Ning to stay with her at night because she was afraid to sleep alone?!

Meng Xi stared at Yu Liuxue in disbelief. Her heart instantly fell into disarray, and she couldn’t help but suspect that Yun Ning had secretly pulled some tricks behind everyone’s back to win Aunt Xiao over. Otherwise, if something had happened to Aunt Xiao, she would have come to her—the future daughter-in-law—first, not to Yun Ning, an outsider.

Aunt Xiao had said so herself: Meng Xi was the daughter-in-law she was most satisfied with. In the past, she had entrusted Meng Xi with all kinds of tasks precisely because she trusted her. So now, there was no reason for her to suddenly call Yun Ning over—unless Yun Ning had somehow wormed her way into Aunt Xiao’s heart without anyone noticing.

Xie Zhenxue’s damp eyes also turned toward Yu Liuxue, anxiousness creeping into her expression. She had been sticking to Aunt Xiao like glue whenever she had free time—pouring tea, fetching water, even peeling fruit¹ for her. She wanted Aunt Xiao to get used to her presence, to make herself a habit in Aunt Xiao’s life. Over time, Aunt Xiao wouldn’t be able to do without her, and her goal would be achieved.

Everything had been going according to plan. Except for filming and sleeping, she was practically always by Aunt Xiao’s side. So how had Yun Ning managed to sneak in?

Xie Zhenxue’s lashes dropped in unison. She quickly gathered her thoughts and suddenly realized: could it be because of those old-school romance novels?

For her writing, Aunt Xiao had recently been devouring novels from over a decade ago. She’d get so engrossed that she’d forget to eat—truly losing sleep and appetite over them. Xie Zhenxue had reminded her at least ten times. She remembered that whenever Yun Ning came by, she would occasionally bring a few books. And every time Aunt Xiao saw those books in Yun Ning’s hands, she’d get incredibly excited—like a Greedy Ghost spotting a pile of glittering gold coins.

In those moments, Aunt Xiao would become animated, chatting away non-stop. Even if Yun Ning only responded half-heartedly, Aunt Xiao didn’t mind at all. She’d continue talking enthusiastically, always with a smile on her face, her tone intimate and tinged with fondness.

Xie Zhenxue suddenly understood. So that’s how it was.

Yun Ning was good at studying, which meant she was smart. She knew to start from Aunt Xiao’s favorite things, which was how she’d managed to win her over and become the first person Aunt Xiao thought of. Xie Zhenxue couldn’t help feeling annoyed with herself. How could she have been so foolish? Why hadn’t she thought of such a good idea?

All she’d done was blindly follow Aunt Xiao around, possibly even annoying her by now.

Yu Liuxue stared at Yun Ning in shock, unable to stop herself from scrutinizing her closely. Then she asked the System, “Did I ever say something like that in front of Yun Ning?”

The System thought for a moment. “I don’t think so.”

Yu Liuxue: “!!!” Then why would Yun Ning say that on purpose? Was she hinting again that she planned to ambush her at the hotel tonight?!

Yun Ning’s bag contained a few books she’d recently rented from a secondhand bookstore. She had already skimmed through them and thought that Xiao Yuetong would definitely enjoy these melodramatic novels full of deep, twisted love and emotional torment. So without hesitation, she brought them along for Yu Liuxue.

Xiao Yuetong’s career was finally picking up. If things kept going this way, she was on track to become a well-reputed gold-medal screenwriter—completely opposite of Yun Ning’s original goal in approaching her.

Yun Ning had invested a full hundred million into “Her Me.” Of course she wouldn’t sabotage her own money. So she came up with a brilliant plan—slowly numb Xiao Yuetong’s mind with these over-the-top, thunderously dramatic novels. If Xiao Yuetong lacked self-control, she’d get sucked in, unable to pull herself out. Eventually, she’d abandon her proper work and spiral into ruin.

If Xiao Yuetong had enough self-control, then so be it.

Yun Ning handed the briefcase in her hand to Yu Liuxue. “Aunt Xiao, the things you asked me to bring…” She deliberately paused. A faint blush bloomed on her pale cheeks, and her eyes flickered uneasily, as if she were shy.

“I’ve prepared everything.”

Meng Xi and Xie Zhenxue both perked up like startled rabbits, ears twitching. Aunt Xiao asked her to bring something?

What could it be?

Their gazes simultaneously locked onto the dark brown briefcase, itching to snatch it open and take a peek. Yu Liuxue was momentarily stunned by Yun Ning’s bashful expression. She instinctively took the briefcase and carefully opened it for a glance.

On the colorful cover, the title “CEO’s Deep Love²: Fiery Girl Runs Off with His Baby” stood out in bold, eye-catching letters.

Yu Liuxue’s eyes lit up. Just from the title, she could tell this was one of those ultra-high-energy, sweet-and-innocent novels that would get completely locked on Jinjiang³. A pleased smile crept onto her face. No wonder she’s the villain—she even figured out exactly what I like. But when she noticed how Meng Xi and Xie Zhenxue were practically trying to glare through the briefcase with their eyeballs, she quickly closed it with a straight face. “Ningning, that was very thoughtful of you.”

After a moment’s thought, she realized this was a great opportunity to get closer to the villain, so she added, “Auntie really likes it. Ningning, you’re the one who understands me best.”

Meng Xi immediately let out a cold snort in her heart. If Aunt Xiao had asked her, she could’ve done even better than Yun Ning. But seeing Yu Liuxue’s refusal to let them see what was in the briefcase made her feel a little hurt. They were practically family now, yet Yu Liuxue still kept things from her, hiding and covering up.

Could it be something shameful inside?

Xie Zhenxue stared at the briefcase in disappointment. The more Yu Liuxue refused to show it, the more curious she became, her mind starting to spiral with wild guesses.

Yun Ning noticed and the corners of her lips curled into a faint smile.

Her gaze swept calmly over the indignant Meng Xi and the contemplative Xie Zhenxue, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

“Ningning!” Xiao Kewei came running over. “You really had me worried! You didn’t answer your phone or reply to my messages. Do you know how worried I was…”

Suddenly, he came to an abrupt stop. Meng Xi’s face was twisted with rage, her expression dark as storm clouds. She looked like she was ready to leap up and deliver a spinning kick that would leave him paralyzed for life.

Xiao Kewei: “…” Sorry for the interruption.

Yun Ning hadn’t been willing to see him for a while now. He’d been camping out near the school gates every day, but never caught sight of her. Today, he finally ran into one of Yun Ning’s classmates and immediately rushed over, coaxing and pleading until he got her whereabouts. The moment he heard she was going to visit her mother, he jumped in the car and sped over.

He had assumed that with “Her Me” being so popular, Meng Xi would be too busy to show up on set. Who would’ve thought not only was Meng Xi here, but even Xie Zhenxue was on break? Xie Zhenxue was now dead set on breaking up with him. No matter how sweetly he talked, she wouldn’t fall for it. She even had her bodyguards throw him out.

Just as Xiao Kewei was preparing to try again, Yun Ning also broke up with him. After weighing his options, he figured that since Xie Zhenxue was busy filming and had a packed schedule, bothering her now might backfire. So he made a snap decision to wait until her scenes wrapped before trying to win her back.

And so, he turned his attention to Yun Ning.

But the result…

Four pairs of eyes turned to look at him simultaneously. A bead of cold sweat slid down Xiao Kewei’s forehead. He forced an awkward smile. “Mom, Xiao Xi, Zhenxue… you’re all here?”

Yu Liuxue was delighted to see her so-called son crash and burn, but remembering the lesson from last time, she immediately built an impenetrable wall around herself, determined to avoid any collateral damage. She knew Xiao Kewei probably wished he could drop dead on the spot, so after a moment’s thought, she said, “Ningning’s busy right now. Whatever it is, wait until she’s done.”

She had meant to give Xiao Kewei a way out, hoping he’d take the hint and leave. But instead, he turned to Meng Xi with a tense and anxious expression. “Xiao Xi, let me explain. It’s not what you think.”

Yu Liuxue rolled her eyes so hard she nearly died on the spot.

As expected, Meng Xi’s temper flared. Her high heels clicked sharply against the floor as she strode up to Xiao Kewei and yanked his ear hard. “Fine. Then explain everything to me right now! Otherwise, Xiao Kewei, we’re done!”

It wasn’t a huge deal, but with Yun Ning and Xie Zhenxue both present, if Xiao Kewei didn’t give her a satisfactory explanation, what did that make her? He was her boyfriend, yet he had some ambiguous relationship with her sworn enemy and even went out of his way to please her. What was she supposed to be in all this?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got.

Xiao Kewei winced in pain and quickly lowered his head. “Easy, easy, Xiao Xi, you’ve misunderstood. There’s really nothing going on between me and Ningning!”

Yu Liuxue shook her head. She set her briefcase aside, stood up, and walked over to Xiao Kewei, her face full of disappointment as she joined Meng Xi in giving him a stern scolding. “Kewei, you’ve really let me down! Do you think the punishment last time wasn’t enough? Fine.”

“Starting today, you’re grounded. Stay home and reflect on your behavior. Without my permission, you’re not allowed to take a single step outside your room!” Yu Liuxue exaggerated her expressions, frantically winking at him. “Otherwise, I’ll break your legs!”

Xiao Kewei stared blankly at his mother’s incessant blinking and hesitated. “Mom, what’s wrong with your eyes? Are they uncomfortable or something?”

Yu Liuxue: “…” Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless.

Meng Xi glanced suspiciously at Yu Liuxue, who quickly lowered her head and rubbed her eyes, pretending they were irritated. “Maybe some dust blew into them just now.”

Xie Zhenxue immediately stepped forward. “Aunt Xiao, let me take a look.”

Yu Liuxue had no choice but to play along, turning toward the female lead so she could examine her eyes for something that wasn’t there. As Xie Zhenxue leaned in, her heart pounded wildly. Her cheeks flushed red, making her dewy eyes look even more alluring. Meng Xi glanced at Xiao Kewei, then at Xie Zhenxue, let out a cold snort, released Xiao Kewei, and rushed to Yu Liuxue’s side. “Aunt Xiao, are you alright?”

Soon, Yun Ning also walked over, blocking off Yu Liuxue’s last escape route.

Yu Liuxue: “…”

Xiao Kewei: “?” Something about this scene felt… off.

He stood there dazed, watching his only remaining girlfriend and two exes crowd around his mom, fussing over her eyes with great concern. Scratching his head, a sudden thought struck him—could it be…

Were they trying to win over his mom on purpose?!

Could it be that they only pretended not to like him, while secretly competing to win his mom’s approval?

Xiao Kewei’s heart surged with hope. He straightened his back proudly. So that’s what this was!

Instantly, he felt reinvigorated.

Yu Liuxue, now surrounded on all sides, didn’t dare move a muscle. She stood there looking small, pitiful, and helpless. After Xie Zhenxue blew into her eyes a couple of times, she quickly blinked, shook her head, and took two steps back. “I’m fine now.”

Xie Zhenxue felt a pang of disappointment. She hadn’t even had the chance to get close to Aunt Xiao for long.

Yu Liuxue opened her eyes and saw her so-called son still standing there, looking inexplicably confident. She was baffled. “Does Xiao Kewei really think his pretty face is enough to shield him from the storm that’s coming?”

She found an excuse and bolted, terrified of getting caught in the crossfire. Xie Zhenxue quickly followed, fleeing the imminent crime scene. Soon, only Yun Ning and Meng Xi remained. Yun Ning didn’t even glance at Xiao Kewei before turning to leave. Meng Xi stared at her back, and when she saw Xiao Kewei still daring to look at Yun Ning, she immediately aimed a sharp kick at him. “Xiao Kewei!”

“Ow!” Xiao Kewei cried out in pain, but his face showed no remorse. “Xiao Xi, there’s no need for this. I get it now.”

He thought he had Meng Xi all figured out. But when he was kicked out of the film crew, his face was black and blue—looking like a painter’s palette. Sitting in the car, Xiao Kewei began to question his life choices. Had he been wrong?

No way!

Yun Ning had stayed unusually long this time. Xie Zhenxue couldn’t stop brooding over how Aunt Xiao had gone out of her way to call Yun Ning over instead of her. Especially after filming ended today, she had personally watched Yu Liuxue lead Yun Ning into her room, and they didn’t come out until nightfall.

That was four or five hours. Enough time to go from the bathroom to the living room, then to the bed… multiple times.

When Yun Ning finally came out, her hair was a mess, her clothes wrinkled like they’d been thoroughly rumpled. Most telling of all, she had cautiously looked around to make sure no one was watching before quickly stepping into the elevator.

Her whole demeanor screamed nervous guilt, like someone with a guilty conscience.

Xie Zhenxue leaned against the cold tiled wall, her head tilted back, eyes welling up with tears. A wave of sourness welled up in her chest.

Had Aunt Xiao and Yun Ning already become… that kind of relationship?

But Aunt Xiao had told her before that she was the most important person in her heart.

As Yun Ning stepped into the elevator, she glanced subtly in the direction where Xie Zhenxue was hiding. Then, slowly and deliberately, she buttoned her shirt all the way to the top. Facing the mirror inside the elevator, she carefully smoothed out her messy hair with her fingers, her expression calm and composed.

That woman Xiao Yuetong was nothing special after all.

Yu Liuxue had nearly been scared to death by the villain. Yun Ning’s visit today wasn’t just a casual drop-in—it was a full-on interrogation about Xiao Yuetong and her own parents. She had come armed with photos from who-knows-where and confronted Yu Liuxue face-to-face for a long time. Just when Yu Liuxue was about to give up and confess everything, Yun Ning stood up and left, calm and unhurried.

Before leaving, she gave Yu Liuxue one final, deep look.

That look sent chills down Yu Liuxue’s spine. The moment the door closed, she collapsed onto the couch, wailing like a ghost. The villain no longer had any feelings for her so-called son, and she had no leverage left to control her. If this went on, she was going to get killed!

As she fake-cried in despair, Yu Liuxue racked her brain for a solution.

Finally, she came up with an idea.

After hearing it, the System was silent for a long time before finally asking, “Host, are you really sure you want to stir the pot like this? Are you sure you won’t end up playing with fire and crashing hard?”

Yu Liuxue smiled with confidence. “Absolutely.”

System: “…”

Xie Zhenxue returned to her room feeling dejected. She sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the message from her agent: “Zhenxue, have you secured Xiao Yuetong yet? The brand is in the final stages of consideration. Sure, your drama’s doing well right now, but the competition isn’t exactly weak. If you don’t step up your game, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Secured? She let out a bitter smile. Far from securing anything, she felt like her relationship with Aunt Xiao was growing more distant by the day.

Yun Ning was clever. She knew how to flatter Aunt Xiao and maintained that inappropriate relationship with her, putting her miles ahead. Meng Xi might not be on Yun Ning’s level yet, but she was the Producer, and she had plenty of contact and dealings with Aunt Xiao. Her work was solid too, so Aunt Xiao liked her quite a bit.

Only she, Xie Zhenxue, had been left far behind. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t surpass their place in Aunt Xiao’s heart.

What good was her acting skill? Even if she stayed up all night memorizing scripts and lines, Aunt Xiao never saw her determination or effort. Xie Zhenxue picked up her phone. “Ge, just give me a little more time.”

After sending the message, she put the phone down and buried her face deep into the pillow.

Yu Liuxue had noticed something was off with the female lead lately. Her mood had been low, and she wasn’t clinging to her the way she used to. This state had lasted for over half a month with no sign of improvement. With the plot at a critical juncture, she was worried the female lead might suddenly fall apart. Unable to sit by any longer, she pulled her aside for a private talk. “Zhenxue, how about I give you a day off? You should go to the hospital and get checked out.”

“I’m really worried about your condition right now.”

Hearing that, Xie Zhenxue’s eyes instantly welled up. “Aunt Xiao…”

Seeing her on the verge of tears, Yu Liuxue grew even more concerned. “Zhenxue, did something happen? Tell me. If there’s anything I can do to help, I will.”

The System chimed in with a timely reminder, and Yu Liuxue suddenly understood. “Is it about that jewelry endorsement? Don’t worry, Zhenxue. Just give me a few minutes. I’ll make a call and be right back.”

Xie Zhenxue watched her walk off, eyes rimmed red. In less than three minutes, Yu Liuxue returned. “Zhenxue, you’ve been doing well lately, and the brand was already leaning in that direction. I’ve just finalized it for you. So now, just focus on filming.”

A warm current flowed through Xie Zhenxue’s heart. Her cheeks flushed as she said, “Aunt Xiao, I’m sorry for dragging everyone down…”

Seeing her mood improve, Yu Liuxue let out a breath of relief. “Zhenxue, didn’t I tell you before? If something’s bothering you, you have to tell me. Don’t bottle it up inside.” She pretended to be upset. “What, you don’t trust me anymore?”

“Or am I no longer important to you?”

“No, Aunt Xiao, I didn’t mean that.” Xie Zhenxue panicked, bowing her head as her face turned scarlet. “I just didn’t want to trouble you…”

“Don’t do that again. Next time something comes up, you have to tell me, understand?”

Hearing those words, Xie Zhenxue’s heart bloomed with joy. So Aunt Xiao still cared about her after all. She tried hard to suppress the smile tugging at her lips and obediently replied, “Aunt Xiao, I understand. I won’t make you worry again.”

“Good. Now go get ready for your scene. Xiao Xi still has something to discuss with me.”

The joy in Xie Zhenxue’s heart was instantly dampened. She stared blankly as Yu Liuxue quickly walked over to Meng Xi, then forced a smile back onto her face. Her head drooped in disappointment, but after a moment, she lifted it again. Since Aunt Xiao was willing to help her secure the endorsement, that meant she still held a place in her heart.

As long as she kept working hard and helped Aunt Xiao restore her reputation, then when Aunt Xiao finally had time to breathe, she would definitely remember her kindness.

Meng Xi was practically fuming with rage over Xiao Kewei lately. Just now, one of her friends told her that Xiao Kewei had gone to a bar alone and, not long after, started flirting with a blonde woman, laughing and chatting like no one else existed. He might as well have planted an entire Hulunbuir Grassland⁴ on her head.

Meng Xi’s eyes were red with anger. “Aunt Xiao, how could he treat me like this? He used to listen to everything I said, but ever since that day he came over, he’s been like a completely different person. I want to break up with him!”

Yu Liuxue instantly felt a headache coming on. She was starting to wonder if her so-called son had eaten something strange. But now wasn’t the time to get into that. Honestly, she hoped the supporting female lead would dump her son before he ruined her. This wasn’t the right place to talk, so she grabbed Meng Xi’s arm and led her somewhere more private.

“Xiao Xi, I understand how you feel. What Kewei did was definitely wrong.”

“So whether you decide to leave him or not, I just want you to know—you’ll always have a special place in my heart.”

To make her words more convincing, Yu Liuxue spoke with such sincerity that even she almost believed it.

Meng Xi blinked in confusion, a flicker of joy rising in her chest. So she really was that important to Aunt Xiao?

“What about Yun Ning and Xie Zhenxue? Are they the same?” Meng Xi was competitive by nature and always wanted to be number one. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she asked without thinking. Yu Liuxue didn’t even blink before spinning her tale. “Of course! Xiao Xi, you’re so outstanding—how could they possibly compare to you?”

Meng Xi pouted. “But Aunt Xiao, you clearly like Yun Ning more. I can see it. Out of the three of us, you care about her the most. That day, she just got a little bug bite, and you immediately called the best doctor on set to treat her…”

Xie Zhenxue stopped in her tracks. The smile on her face slowly faded, and a chill spread through her body.

So in Aunt Xiao’s heart, she was the one who mattered the least. The one she cherished most was Yun Ning, then Meng Xi, and only then herself.

Tears blurred Xie Zhenxue’s vision. Her ears rang like an alarm going off when a heart stops beating. She instinctively stepped aside, and as she cried, she laughed. She had never imagined that all those things Aunt Xiao had said to her were lies.

All that gentleness, all that concern, all those words about how important she was—none of it was real.

She was the least important one. So what did she have left to lose?

Faintly, she could still hear their conversation.

“You know, I’ve always had the highest hopes for you. It’s just that Zhenxue is my female lead, so I have no choice but to…”

Xie Zhenxue let out a tearful, self-mocking laugh.

So that’s how it really was.

Translator’s Notes