Chapter 75: After a Secret Marriage with the Top Star, She Cheated on Her (4)

There was a clear pause in Yu Bing’s reaction, but her expression remained unreadable. She simply looked at Yu Liuxue and said calmly, “You’re in a relationship.”

In a relationship? No, I’m married. Afraid this would spiral out of control and Yu Bing would dig up her secrets, Yu Liuxue clung to Yu Bing, lifted her head, and looked at Xiao Nian. “I don’t have time today. Let’s meet in a few days and sort everything out in one go.”

Xiao Nian had taken a huge risk getting out of the car to grab Yu Liuxue. Some passing pedestrians were glancing her way, seemingly on the verge of recognizing her behind her sunglasses. Xiao Nian didn’t dare gamble with her reputation. She withdrew her hand, her eyes under the sunglasses flashing with displeasure as she lowered her voice: “You have three days to think it over. Gu Qingzhi, don’t test my patience.”

With that, she immediately got back into her car and fled faster than a rabbit.

Even after she left, Yu Liuxue was still clinging onto Yu Bing. For the first time, a ripple of emotion flickered in Yu Bing’s usually calm eyes. She spoke faintly, “Are you done hugging?”

Yu Liuxue beamed up at her, answering with something unrelated. “Sister Yu, thank you for saving me again. I don’t even know how to repay you.”

Yu Bing filtered out the flattery automatically and turned away. “Nianjiao is looking for you.”

“Huh?” Yang Nianjiao is looking for me? Why? I haven’t caused any trouble lately. Could it be that the issue with the show still isn’t resolved? With that suspicion, Yu Liuxue followed Yu Bing into Yang Nianjiao’s office. Just as she was about to sit down, she heard Yu Bing reporting her like a tattletale, “She’s in a relationship.”

Yu Liuxue: “…!”

Yang Nianjiao’s gaze snapped toward her like a predator’s. She set down her coffee cup and turned to Yu Liuxue with a fake smile and a very real chill in her voice. “You’re in a relationship? Violating your contract with the company?”

Yu Liuxue shuddered instantly, casting a resentful glance at Yu Bing, only to see her helpfully closing the door and drawing the blinds, blocking out all outside view. The room dimmed, and Yang Nianjiao stood up. Her heels clacked ominously on the floor as she slowly approached, leaning down to grit out, “With who?”

She paused, then burst out angrily, “Do you have any idea how taboo dating is for girl group members?! Didn’t your agent make that absolutely clear when you signed? When you debuted?”

Gu Qingzhi’s career had just started turning around. If word of a relationship got out now, could she even survive in this industry? Let alone her new fans—Yang Nianjiao herself was nearly livid.

An idol dating was basically career suicide. Unless you were someone like Xiao Nian, already established with a few hit dramas and successfully transitioned into acting—then a relationship wouldn’t even make a dent.

Yang Nianjiao’s eyes were full of stormy fury. Yu Liuxue leaned back cautiously and answered carefully, “I know, but… I got into the relationship before I joined the company.”

Yang Nianjiao: “…?” Before joining the company?

What was the agent even doing—couldn’t even vet a celebrity’s relationship history properly? Yang Nianjiao was already thinking about how to punish the agent when Yu Liuxue calmly added, “Also, President Yang, I’m not in a relationship.”

Yang Nianjiao shot her a side glance.

“I’m married.”

Yu Bing, who had been leaning against the desk with her arms crossed, suddenly looked up.

Married?

Yang Nianjiao was instantly dizzy. She rubbed her temples. Gu Qingzhi was what—early twenties? And already married? She tried to comfort herself: maybe it was some sleazy guy from society who coaxed her into it with a few thousand yuan.

With that in mind, her expression eased slightly. “Who’s the other party? What do they do? Someone in the industry or outside of it?”

Yu Liuxue could already imagine how Yang Nianjiao would react, so she cautiously edged away, then darted to Yu Bing’s side for protection. Under Yu Bing’s cool gaze, Yu Liuxue replied sweetly, “Xiao Nian.”

“I married Xiao Nian.”

Hearing that name, Yang Nianjiao knew this was bad. Worse, Yu Liuxue repeated it for emphasis. Her emotions surged, and she fought the urge to kick Yu Liuxue out the window. Pointing to the sofa, she said expressionlessly, “Come here.”

“Sit.”

Yu Liuxue quickly looked to Yu Bing. “Sister, President Yang is calling us over to sit.”

Yu Bing’s lashes lowered mercilessly. “She’s calling you.”

Yu Liuxue: “…QAQ”

As Yang Nianjiao’s fury neared explosion, Yu Liuxue finally shuffled over and sat down nervously. Yang Nianjiao glared at her, getting more irritated the longer she looked. She sat on a nearby sofa, crossed her legs and fingers, and asked coldly, “When did you get married? How did it happen?”

From her tone, it seemed like there was still a chance to salvage the situation. Energized, Yu Liuxue spilled everything: “I met Xiao Nian before she got famous. I was her fan. After getting to know each other, we registered our marriage.”

“You all know what happened next. She became famous.”

Married before Xiao Nian’s rise? Yang Nianjiao had thought Gu Qingzhi had latched on after Xiao Nian got popular. But then something didn’t add up. “If you two are that close, then why, when the media caught you together, did her side claim you were a nobody trying to ride her coattails?”

That stung. Yu Liuxue wiped imaginary tears. “It was the agent’s idea.”

Yang Nianjiao immediately looked at Yu Bing, but stopped short of saying anything. Yu Bing remained indifferent, clearly uninvolved.

Yang Nianjiao knew Xiao Nian had built her fame partly through clout-chasing, subtly stepping on others. After she became wildly popular, fans conveniently forgot her scandals. If anyone tried digging them up now, they’d be gone in under two hours.

Thinking of that, Yang Nianjiao had to admit Xiao Nian’s agent was skilled—way better than Mercury Girls’ agent.

Her expression didn’t improve. As a boss, she had a lot more to consider. After a long silence, she finally stood up and said coldly, “Get divorced. Divorce her immediately.”

They’d been married this long, and not a whisper had leaked. Clearly, Xiao Nian didn’t want it public. Yang Nianjiao added, “I don’t care what method you use to make her agree. I want to see your divorce certificate soon.”

She put on her glasses. Yu Liuxue quickly responded, “Got it, President Yang.”

Divorce Xiao Nian? It wasn’t quite the right time yet. But of course, she wouldn’t say that aloud. After exiting the office behind Yu Bing, Yu Liuxue turned around and pouted. “Sister Yu…”

Yu Bing gave her a glance and nodded, tossing out a sentence before leaving, “Go prepare for the divorce.”

Yu Liuxue stood there thinking for a moment, then suddenly slapped the system excitedly. “System, tell me—doesn’t Yu Bing like me?! Why else would she push me to divorce?”

The system’s tone was flat: “Host, she probably just thinks your life is pathetic and wants you out of this mess out of pity.”

“I think you’re wrong.” Yu Liuxue shook her head earnestly. “We’ve only met a few times. Even if I’m down bad, it’s got nothing to do with her. She cares this much—it must be love! Oh my God, I’m fatally charming!”

System: “…” Is this what they mean by one look and you’re in bed, one touch and you’re pregnant?

In high spirits, Yu Liuxue skipped back to her apartment. Thinking about the big sum she could get from divorcing Xiao Nian as compensation for her youth, she lost all motivation to join the talent show. After all, it was just mutual exploitation—one season of a show couldn’t earn her as much as a clean divorce could.

Xiao Nian had tried several times to talk to her. Could it be she wanted a divorce now?

“System, how far has the relationship between Xiao Nian and the female lead progressed?”

Ever since Zhou Zhou added Xiao Nian on WeChat and Xiao Nian started saying “good night,” the two had been exchanging daily “good morning” and “good night” messages. Sometimes Zhou Zhou would flirt a little, and Xiao Nian, if not busy, would chat a bit. But if she got tied up, it might be hours before she replied.

Zhou Zhou held her phone, lips curling involuntarily. She was certain: Xiao Nian definitely had her in her sights.

She couldn’t help picking up the small mirror to examine her own face. This face was truly heaven’s favorite—so beautiful that even though she had grown used to it from a young age, she still sometimes found herself captivated by her own looks. Putting down the mirror, Zhou Zhou smiled to herself. She was so beautiful, and so was Xiao Nian. If the two of them ended up together…

Zhou Zhou giggled with joy and began calculating how she could further win over Xiao Nian’s heart, then use Xiao Nian’s connections to rise to fame and surpass Gu Qingzhi’s popularity. Thinking about her teammate who was currently stealing the spotlight made Zhou Zhou feel deeply annoyed.

She sent another message to Xiao Nian, and this time the reply came quickly: “There’s a role in my new drama that suits you well. Want to give it a try?”

Zhou Zhou: “!!!”

She hurriedly replied, “But Sister Xiao Nian, I’ve never acted before. Can I really do it?”

“No worries, I can teach you.” After a pause, another message came: “If you’re willing to learn.”

When the system reported this to Yu Liuxue, Yu Liuxue was full of question marks. She sprang upright from the bed. “Xiao Nian likes the female lead that much? Quick, help me calculate how much joint marital property we have.”

Yu Liuxue ground her teeth. If this marriage ended, she would make sure to skin Xiao Nian alive—she’d make Xiao Nian spell her name backward!

Though, come to think of it, “Xue Liu Yu” actually sounded kind of nice. Oh! I really am a woman whose every cell radiates deadly sweetness.

Busy plotting how to divide Xiao Nian’s assets, Yu Liuxue righteously ghosted the talent show’s filming. Yang Nianjiao shamelessly helped her take leave, claiming she was unwell and needed to rest at the company for a few days. After dealing with the production crew, Yang Nianjiao twirled a pen between her fingers and looked at Yu Bing. “Tell me…”

“What does she even see in Xiao Nian?” Was it just her face? Sure, Xiao Nian was attractive, but her character left much to be desired.

Yu Bing lifted her eyelids. “She’s young.”

Especially with young girls—they’re easily moved by emotions, easily deceived by those with ulterior motives. Marriage is a lifelong matter and should be considered carefully. Otherwise, it could be too late for regrets. Luckily, they caught things early with Gu Qingzhi. Otherwise, just the backlash from Xiao Nian’s fans—both violent and vicious—would’ve been enough to wreck her.

Best case, depression. Worst case, suicide.

Yang Nianjiao couldn’t help sighing, “Young girls these days are just too easy to fool.”

There are plenty of attractive and powerful people in every industry like Xiao Nian. As long as they treat a young, naïve girl kindly, the girl will believe she’s been given the whole world. They’re easily swayed by sweet words, ultimately becoming puppets on someone else’s strings.

Maybe that’s how Gu Qingzhi got roped in by Xiao Nian.

Yu Liuxue managed to carve out some time to meet with Xiao Nian, but she didn’t contact her directly. Instead, she called Xiao Nian’s agent. “Sister, do you know where Ms. Xiao is? She arranged to meet me.”

The agent paused for a moment. “Where are you? I’ll come get you.”

After Yu Liuxue said she was at the company, the agent instructed her to wait in front of a nearby flower shop where there were fewer people—easier to avoid attention. Yu Liuxue said goodbye to Yang Nianjiao, shoved her hands into her pockets, and stood in front of the shop. On a whim, she bought a flower for ten yuan. When the agent arrived and rolled down the car window, Yu Liuxue jogged over and handed the flower in sweetly. “Sister, this is for you.”

The agent didn’t accept it, only gestured for her to get in. Yu Liuxue opened the door and got in. When she kept staring, the agent reminded her expressionlessly, “Buckle your seatbelt.”

Yu Liuxue raised the flower again and tilted her head. “Then please take the flower, Sister.”

After a moment of eye contact, the agent finally accepted the flower and tossed it up front. Disappointment flickered across Yu Liuxue’s eyes. She quietly fastened her seatbelt, leaned against the door, and fell silent. The agent glanced at her again. “She’s waiting for you at home.”

Yu Liuxue let out a quiet “oh” and remained downcast.

The agent led her into Xiao Nian’s villa. Yu Liuxue looked around and estimated the property was worth at least tens of millions. The agent noticed her curiosity but said nothing. Xiao Nian was fiddling with her phone but immediately set it down when she noticed Yu Liuxue. “Sit.”

Yu Liuxue obediently sat. The agent took a seat nearby. The three formed a quiet triangle.

Xiao Nian had plans that evening and didn’t want to waste time, so she got straight to the point. “Gu Qingzhi, let’s get a divorce. I’ll give you two million as compensation.”

Only two million? Yu Liuxue’s eyes reddened immediately. She tried to stand but looked utterly lost. Glancing at the agent and seeing no reaction, she tearfully asked, “Ms. Xiao, did I do something wrong? Weren’t we fine? Why do you suddenly want a divorce?”

She looked so panicked that Xiao Nian began to doubt herself. Maybe she was overthinking. Gu Qingzhi probably still liked her deep down. She had just thrown a tantrum because of what Yu Jie did last time.

But none of that mattered. After a moment, Xiao Nian added, “Four million. Let’s part on good terms.”

Yu Liuxue acted as if she hadn’t heard. She turned to the agent in desperation. “Sister, am I holding Ms. Xiao back? Just tell me what I need to change. I won’t join that talent show. I won’t step into the entertainment industry. I’ll go back to being an ordinary person, okay?”

After pleading with the agent, she looked back at Xiao Nian. “Ms. Xiao, don’t divorce me, please, I—”

“If you sign this agreement, I’ll transfer the money immediately.” Xiao Nian pulled out a document and slid it onto the coffee table. The black-and-white text looked especially harsh. Yu Liuxue stubbornly shook her head. “Ms. Xiao, give me one more chance. I won’t talk back anymore, I won’t make you angry, I—”

Xiao Nian frowned. “You think the money’s not enough?”

Yu Liuxue pressed her lips together and looked toward the agent, eyes glistening. “Sister, please help me. Please talk to Ms. Xiao for me…”

The agent finally spoke. “Take the agreement and think it over. If you decide, give me a call.”

Xiao Nian let out a sigh of relief—she had feared Yu Liuxue wouldn’t agree. She turned to her agent. “Sis, send her back.”

She was in a hurry to make her appointment and had no intention of humoring Yu Liuxue. The agent frowned slightly, clearly disapproving of Xiao Nian’s approach. But knowing she wouldn’t listen, she said nothing more and led Yu Liuxue away.

Once they were in the car, Yu Liuxue hugged the divorce agreement and cried her eyes out.

“Sister, am I really that unlikable?” Her eyes were swollen and her voice nasal. “You didn’t say it, but I can feel it—you don’t like me.”

“In your heart, do you also think I’m not good enough for Ms. Xiao? She’s so famous, and I’m just a nobody. If the truth about us got out, she’d be thrust into the spotlight, and that would be bad for her career.”

Yu Liuxue leaned slightly toward the agent, stubbornly explaining, “But I’ve worked so hard. I joined that survival show and took all the hate just to become famous, to stand beside her. That way, I wouldn’t bring her shame—I’d bring her glory and pride.”

“I’ve really tried to keep up with her.” Her voice trembled.

At last, the agent gave her a real look. Her emotions were fleeting and well-hidden. Then, the agent curled her lips slightly. “Is that so?”

Yu Liuxue nodded quickly. “Yes. So, Sister, please talk to Ms. Xiao for me. Ask her to give me another chance.”

The agent let out a low chuckle and said bluntly, “No matter how hard you try, you’ll never reach her level.”

“Ms. Xiao is amazing, but aren’t you amazing too?” Yu Liuxue blinked. “Didn’t you make her famous all on your own? If you’re willing to help me, I think I can do it too.”

“I’m younger than Ms. Xiao, more obedient, I have a long future ahead of me—and more potential.”

The agent’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. She studied Yu Liuxue for a long moment, then narrowed her eyes.

Just then, they pulled up to the company’s entrance. As they parked, the agent received a text:

“Hello, I am a lawyer from DY Entertainment. I’ve been authorized by Ms. Yang Nianjiao and Ms. Gu Qingzhi to negotiate the divorce with you and Ms. Xiao Nian, as well as to proceed with the settlement and division of marital assets…”

After glancing at the message, Yu Liuxue’s tearful expression vanished instantly, replaced by a sweet smile through her tears. After stepping out of the car, she leaned against the door. “Sister, we’ll see each other again, right? I’ll miss you.”

Only then did the manager realize she’d been played by Yu Liuxue.

As soon as she got out of the car, Yu Liuxue ran into Yu Bing, who was about to leave. She ran up excitedly. “Sister Yu!”

Yu Bing turned around and immediately noticed her swollen, walnut-like eyes and red nose from crying. She glanced into the car at the manager, and the two shared a look before silently looking away. Yu Liuxue stood in front of Yu Bing, her eyes sparkling. “Sister Yu, where are you going?”

Yu Bing stared at her expressionlessly. “Your mascara’s smudged.”

Then, without a hint of sympathy, she brushed past her.

Yu Liuxue: “…”

The system burst out laughing with a pfft, making Yu Liuxue instantly furious. It quickly shut up, not daring to make another sound. By then, Yu Bing was long gone. Yu Liuxue turned back to the glass wall outside the company building to examine herself. Her eye makeup had run completely, smeared by tears, leaving her with panda-like eyes.

No wonder Xiao Nian’s manager had been looking at her with such disdain.

After returning to her apartment with the divorce papers, Yu Liuxue had just finished packing when Yang Nianjiao had her sent off to film. Sitting in the car, she was completely confused—Yang Nianjiao actually sent lawyers to help her fight for assets in the divorce? Wasn’t she afraid Yu Liuxue would leave the company after getting rich?

The legal team from DY Entertainment was formidable. With their help, Yu Liuxue figured she could at least walk away with one-third of the money, plus multiple properties and luxury cars.

Thinking about it cheered her up again. When she returned to the dormitory, her roommates immediately swarmed around her. “Qingzhi, you’re ranked first in all the votes! You’re definitely debuting!”

Debuting? She blinked and smiled but didn’t respond.

Some netizens accused Yu Liuxue’s “hidden strength” performance of being lip-synced. Then someone leaked that she was being chauffeured in a Rolls-Royce, sparking rumors she was being kept by a DY Entertainment executive. Though her roommates were curious, they wisely refrained from asking.

Her fans, however, were indignant. “This is the joy of the growth arc! Our girl is improving so much—it makes us moms so happy!”

Others: Hetui! Social climber! Nepotism baby!

As the show’s drama queen, Gu Qingzhi’s name lit up the industry again. People fiercely debated whether she had lip-synced or not. During this time, new filming resumed—but Xiao Nian’s appearances dwindled. Her new drama was about to start, and she was getting into character for the shoot.

Then the manager disrupted all her plans, summoning her to the company and showing her a message: “Gu Qingzhi’s side has already retained a lawyer—from DY Entertainment. You’ve heard of them, right?”

Xiao Nian immediately frowned. Of course she had. Of all people, you don’t mess with DY Entertainment’s legal team. Otherwise, forget about staying in the industry.

Her expression darkened. “What does Gu Qingzhi want?”

She immediately pulled out her phone. “I’ll talk to her right now.”

The manager stopped her calmly. “You have two options. One, agree to a proper asset division and give her what she deserves.”

“That’s impossible.” After everything she’d been through to reach this point, Xiao Nian refused to give away half her fortune just because she was married to Gu Qingzhi. “What’s the second option?”

“She goes public with your marriage. Then, under public scrutiny, you go through a divorce lawsuit and asset division.”

Xiao Nian: “…”

Everything she had done was to keep their relationship a secret. If Gu Qingzhi made it public, her reputation would take a massive hit—and her role in the upcoming drama might be pulled. After a long silence, she pleaded, “Sis, help me.”

During filming, Yu Liuxue learned through the system about Xiao Nian’s little schemes. But Yang Nianjiao was already prepared, having instructed the lawyers to keep a close eye on Xiao Nian’s assets so she couldn’t secretly move them. DY Entertainment’s legal team pushed hard. Even with all her connections, the manager could only hide a small portion—which, though small, was still enough to last an ordinary person several lifetimes.

Yu Liuxue was a bit disappointed. Even a mosquito’s leg is still meat, after all.

With her new drama looming and her divorce drama heating up, Xiao Nian was overwhelmed. In the end, she had no choice but to request a delay from the director to focus on the legal fight with Gu Qingzhi’s team of lawyers.

Xiao Nian had been popular for a long time and had earned quite a bit. She owned more than a dozen properties, a fleet of luxury cars, and even held shares—she was, by all means, a wealthy star. The thought of having to split most of it made her furious. If only she had prepared earlier.

Meanwhile, Yu Liuxue focused wholeheartedly on filming, completely unconcerned about the divorce proceedings. She channeled all her energy into generating buzz for herself. The production team welcomed her involvement, and even before the show aired, it was already brimming with hot topics. Her fanbase grew rapidly.

“Milky-skinned Gu Qingzhi! Talented Gu Qingzhi! Popularity queen Gu Qingzhi! Real-life fairy Gu Qingzhi!” Her fans were passionate about hyping her up. When they learned she was being mocked for not having a fan site manager, a few professionals stepped up. “Leave it to us!”

“We’ll make sure our girl looks amazing in every shot!”

“Visual center Gu Qingzhi!”

Yu Liuxue rubbed her nose and shivered. “Did President Yang hire internet trolls for me?”

Ordinary talent shows didn’t attract much attention. What people loved were dramatic catfights and scandals. Though Yu Liuxue hadn’t delivered either—her name suddenly skyrocketed in search rankings. Confused, she later discovered it was because fans of a certain director’s niece had insulted her and got caught by her own fans.

What followed was all-out fan war among contestants.

Energized, Yu Liuxue jumped into the fray with a burner account and shouted: “Please, someone tell the director’s niece to let Gu Qingzhi go. Do you know how hard it is for her to come back on this show as a returnee? She’s debuted before, and she’s not bad! Meanwhile, that niece went off-key and cracked her voice in her first recording. The director even made everyone re-record just to protect her!”

Everyone: “???” Major tea?!

They stopped fighting and scrambled to find out who this “niece” was. Watching the stage performance again and again, they finally spotted the editing gap—the positions didn’t match, the sound was off, and other contestants seemed to teleport across the stage.

It’s you!

The niece, now under fire, rushed to the director in tears. But before he could respond, another revelation exploded online: “Does anyone remember when Gu Qingzhi supposedly slipped off the steps at an event? Here’s the truth.”

A horizontal phone video captured the entire moment. In the crowded back row, a contestant suddenly shoved someone hard, sending them tumbling from two meters high. She flailed mid-air until two people rushed over. One caught her and gently lowered her to the ground.

To make things clearer, the blogger slowed the footage and circled the shoving hand—and the niece’s expression as she turned back.

“Back then, someone claimed to be an eyewitness, saying Gu Qingzhi tripped on her own. Was that a lie?”

People were shocked. “Didn’t Gu Qingzhi herself say she slipped?”

“Are you stupid? Could she tell the truth? Would she dare? She finally got some attention clinging to Xiao Nian—she wouldn’t throw that away just to call out the truth. What’s a little suffering? Getting famous is all that matters.”

Yu Liuxue’s fans were instantly enraged.

But most people were focused on the two women who had rushed to help. “I recognize Xiao Nian on the left, but who’s the one on the right? So cool!”

“Don’t ask. Just know she’s a staff member from the production team.”

“But wait—wasn’t Xiao Nian supposedly the one Gu Qingzhi clung to? Yet she ran to save her the moment she fell. She’s amazing. How can someone be so good?”

“Good, my foot. She didn’t even save her in the end. Probably just putting on a show to maintain her image.”

The online discussion was nonstop, and not long after, another video from a different filming angle was released. This one was even clearer and shot from a closer distance—everyone’s faces and expressions were plainly visible. When the fans saw Xiao Nian toss the microphone and rush forward anxiously, her own fans suddenly felt a bit conflicted. Why? She had clung to the spotlight so shamelessly—why would you still rush to help her, sis?

But soon, they had no time to feel upset. Wait—?!

The person who caught Gu Qingzhi… wasn’t that Yu Bing?!

Yu Bing’s fans, who had just been enjoying the drama, immediately went wild. “Gu Qingzhi, get your hands off our girl!”

“You even took your coat off to prevent her from getting exposed, and then carried her to get checked—I’m so jealous I could die!”

Fans from different camps had different reactions to the video. Some rational viewers stared at the screen and suddenly pointed out, “Xiao Nian and Yu Bing’s expressions don’t seem right… there’s a kind of tension, like they’re competing for something. What do you guys think?”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Are you saying my Nian-jie and Yu Bing-jie are fighting over Gu Qingzhi? Are you out of your mind?”

Xiao Nian was browsing Weibo when her manager suddenly pushed the door open. “The divorce can’t be delayed any longer. If you two get spotted together again, it’ll be a mess.” Seeing Xiao Nian about to speak, the manager calmly continued, “The consequences of deleting the video are unpredictable. We could shift the blame onto that contestant, but it’s risky.”

Xiao Nian hesitated for a long while before finally nodding and agreeing to give up a large chunk of her assets. Seeing her troubled expression, the manager said coolly, “You can always earn more money. Don’t regret this little loss.”

The manager only found out Xiao Nian was already married after signing her on—otherwise, she never would’ve agreed to represent her. She’d been wary of Gu Qingzhi for years, only for things to end up exactly the way she had feared. As she was about to leave, she gave Xiao Nian a subtle reminder: “For now, just focus on your work. Everything else can wait.”

She knew Xiao Nian wasn’t listening.

With Xiao Nian’s agreement, things progressed quickly. The lawyer began inventorying Xiao Nian’s assets for Yu Liuxue, then started handling the necessary paperwork. Even while still living in a shared dorm with seven other people, Yu Liuxue could see her net worth skyrocketing.

She got four villas, seven large city-center apartments each over 200 square meters, two luxury cars worth over a million, several mid-tier cars, and one supercar worth more than ten million. On top of that, she received 230 million yuan. When the money was transferred into her bank account, Yu Liuxue grinned at her phone, unable to stop smiling.

“System, you did a good job this time. I’ll reward you with a dinner with Zhou Zhou and Xiao Nian.”

System: “…” Spits

Xiao Nian couldn’t wait any longer. As soon as the assets were sorted, she called Yu Liuxue to come over and sign the divorce papers. Yu Liuxue nodded eagerly, “Alright, alright, I’ll come right away.”

Yang Nianjiao had her secretary drive Yu Liuxue over. Seeing Yu Bing idly drinking plain water, she walked over and said, “Gu Qingzhi went to finalize the divorce with Xiao Nian. Word is, she’s still by her side.”

Yu Bing looked up. “Got it.”

Yu Liuxue hadn’t seen the manager in a while. As soon as she got out of the car, she sweetly ran over. “Jie, we meet again.”

The manager looked down, calmly eyeing her smug, gleeful face with a fake smile. Yu Liuxue beamed, tilting her face up. “Jie, have you thought it over? I’m all alone now, just got divorced too—so pitiful. Won’t you help me out? I’ll be grateful for life.”

“Xiao Nian is waiting inside,” the manager replied and turned away.

Even though the manager ignored her, Yu Liuxue didn’t give up. The future was long—she’d get Xiao Nian’s spot eventually. Xiao Nian was in the courtyard with a few people helping to process the divorce. As a big celebrity, Xiao Nian was extremely private, especially when it came to explosive matters like a divorce.

In public, Yu Liuxue still called her “Teacher Xiao” obediently. She walked up to her with a bright smile. “Teacher Xiao, I’m here.”

Her smile was more radiant than the sun. Just looking at her made Xiao Nian seethe inside. But just like Sister Yu said, she had no other choice—she had to swallow her anger and finalize the divorce quickly. Xiao Nian showed her no kindness, but Yu Liuxue didn’t mind at all. After reading the list handed over by the lawyer and seeing no issues, she signed and received her divorce certificate.

Xiao Nian let out a breath of relief—it was finally over.

Yu Liuxue carefully put away the certificate and smiled, “Teacher Xiao, I wish you happiness in your next relationship.”

Xiao Nian tensed immediately. Did she know something? But Yu Liuxue stood up and, after warmly thanking the lawyers, was escorted out by the manager. At the door, Yu Liuxue blinked and added, “Jie, if you’ve made up your mind, you have to give me a call.”

“Oh, and let me reintroduce myself—I’m Gu Qingzhi, a member of Mercury Girls under DY Entertainment. I’m currently on a talent show and ranked first in popularity. But I think I can go much further than this. What do you think?” Yu Liuxue tilted her head and leaned closer, lowering her voice. “To tell you the truth, I’m planning to quit the show.”

The manager stared at her. When she heard the last part, she finally reacted. “Why?”

Yu Liuxue smiled brightly. “If you want to know, Jie, come find me.”

“Anytime you come looking for me, I’ll welcome you with open arms.”

Just then, Yu Bing approached and overheard Yu Liuxue hinting for someone to come to her place. Her face emotionless, she walked straight over. Yu Liuxue turned around instinctively at the sound of footsteps. When she saw it was Yu Bing, she blinked in surprise. “Yu-jie? Why are you here?”

Was she worried about her and came all the way here to protect her?

Yu Bing glanced at Yu Liuxue, then turned to the manager and said, “Jie, are you coming home for dinner tonight? Grandpa and Grandma made your favorite—Dongpo pork knuckle.”

Yu Liuxue’s face was full of question marks: “???”

Wait a minute? Why was Yu Bing also calling Xiao Nian’s manager “Jie”? The two of them…?

Yu Yu nodded and took out her car keys. “Have Mom and Dad returned from their trip?”

“They land at six tonight. Little brother already drove to the airport to pick them up.”

Yu Liuxue: “…?!”

Xiao Nian’s manager-jie is actually my Yu-jie’s real sister?!