"She has a guardian."

Zhou Yuan clenched her fist, breaking the sunglasses on one leg: "You brat! How dare you threaten me—"

"I have to catch a flight, so I'll contact you again next time."

"beep---"

"Hey! Hey!" Zhou Yuan suddenly stood up, though not upright; she was bent over, her head touching the car canopy, and shouted loudly:

"You brat! You dare to teach me a lesson after seducing and deceiving a pretty girl?!"

"Sis! Sis!" The assistant in front quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and came over to pull her.

"How dare you steal a kiss from someone else's girl in broad daylight in the woods and then accuse me of hitting on her?! You're asking for it—"

The assistant, embarrassed, said, "Sis! What do you mean 'other people's house'? That's theirs! And you just had someone go into the woods, you're really something else—"

Before she could finish her rant, Zhou Yuan suddenly looked down and exclaimed, "What? His?!"

A thought suddenly struck her: "That's right... why did he say that Ranbao has a new guardian?"

And then again...

"How did he know I called Ranbao 'Baby' on set?!"

"..."

The assistant rolled her eyes: "Come down here, my sweet and innocent sister!"

———

Thanks to Zhou Yuan's "diva-like" behavior, Wen Qingyu behaved herself a lot, and the subsequent recording went very smoothly. The only exception was a small celebrity who missed the recording due to scheduling conflicts. The production team left someone behind for her to do a brief post-record interview and a formal tour of the various work areas before the recording for the day was considered over.

Because of a flaw in the confidentiality agreement signed with the program team last time, Mu Yiran took the official seal to the legal department again.

Just before leaving, Director Chen suddenly invited Mu Yiran to dinner. He was probably scared by Zhou Yuan and insisted that Mu Yiran agree.

Mu Yiran saw him trembling with fear, like a swollen balloon floating in the sky, ready to burst at any moment.

Thinking about how much trouble she had caused just now, Mu Yiran felt a little guilty and agreed.

“Great! Another invited judge is coming!” Director Chen lowered his voice mysteriously, “You might even know Aorsa! She’s from Lacuna.”

oh? !

Mu Yiran's eyes widened in surprise!

Lacuna...could he really be a slacker?

I'll quickly tidy up the sketches in the workspace and then leave.

But while organizing, she discovered that several sample images of the accessories were missing. Mu Yiran flipped through them, "Hiss... Yunli, have you seen them...?"

"?"

There was complete silence behind me.

Mu Yiran turned around and looked around. The venue provided by the production team was very large. Each designer's workspace was forty square meters, with an open design that allowed for a complete view.

The door was left ajar, but Ji Yunli, who had been arranging fabrics and alchemy racks, had vanished.

Mu Yiran was intrigued and looked toward the metalworking table where the jewelry sketch she was looking for was tucked in the edge, swaying gently in the wind.

"..."

At this moment, Ji Yunli pushed open the door and entered—

"Aorsa? Are you leaving?"

"Hmm, I'll pack up and leave..." Mu Yiran looked at her new coat and bag, both of which were designer brands, especially the bag. Although Mu Yiran paid her a decent salary, it was still almost half a year's salary for Ji Yunli.

"Did you go shopping for clothes?"

"Huh?" Ji Yunli pinched the bag strap. "Well...didn't the director say there would be a lot of big shots tonight? There happened to be a boutique nearby, so I went to take a look. I can't embarrass you and our studio when we're out in public."

As she spoke, she handed the bag she was carrying to Mu Yiran, "I also bought one for Aorsa. You always give me gifts before, hehe, this time it's my turn to give you one!"

"I saw you had a lot of coats like this, so I bought a similar one!"

"I... okay, thank you for the gift."

Mu Yiran really couldn't say anything more now, and let Ji Yunli put a coat on her.

"Let's wear this! It's gotten colder today! This one's thicker! Let's hurry out, I just ran into the director, he said the car is ready and they're calling us—"

Mu Yiran was half-pulled along by her arm as they walked out. Ai Ni, who had been following behind like a shadow, frowned. Her expression, which hadn't been pleasant all day, turned even colder. Years of experience made her extremely wary of this assistant. She wanted to pull her away, but Mu Yiran gave her a look first.

Get on the bus.

“Yunli, I didn’t mean to criticize you just now,” Mu Yiran said, her voice softening as she looked at the girl who was pouring water for her and the director. “In the studio, at least next to me, you can feel more at ease.”

Ji Yunli paused, her head lowered. The projection made her refined face even more three-dimensional, and made it even harder to see her original face hidden under layers of makeup.

Ji Yunli blinked in a daze. Everything in her vision seemed to be covered by something, becoming unreal and making it difficult for her to distinguish reality from illusion.

"Even at work, you don't need to put this pressure on yourself."

"Yeah, yeah!" Director Chen downed the bottle of water, which looked as big as a Wahaha drink in his hand, and enthusiastically offered Mu Yiran a cigarette. After being refused, he wanted to smoke but didn't dare, so he could only make conversation to satisfy his craving.

"You young people, when you first enter this industry, you're easily blinded by those vulgar things. You don't need to! You know that!"

"It's okay to be blinded by your surroundings! Don't let your heart be blinded. There will always be valuable things, and besides, you're working for your boss, so how could you not get good things?"

"Don't rush things, right?"

Ji Yunli's eyes had cleared. She smiled, skillfully took the lighter from the small table, and lit the director's cigarette. "Thank you, Director Chen. I will definitely work hard with Aorsa!"

Seeing that Mu Yiran didn't mind, Director Chen comfortably started smoking, chatting with Ji Yunli about his philosophy of life while puffing out smoke.

Mu Yiran listened silently, her mind slowly drifting as she watched them, one speaking and the other looking up to listen...

A few seconds later.

Mu Yiran silently rolled down the car window. The cold November wind made her feel much more awake, but she still...

I miss Shi Youxi so much.

Thinking that the man hadn't messaged her all day, based on past experience, she figured he was probably back and was deliberately keeping quiet to give her some surprise.

Even though she had guessed it, Mu Yiran still couldn't stop thinking about it...

She scratched her slightly feverish cheek, opened an app, pinned it to the top, and typed:

I'll be having dinner with the production crew tonight, so I'll be home late...

No, delete it, it is—

I'll be back very late.

Done, sent!

…

"The private room is 6907, Guanhai Garden." The waiter kindly pressed the elevator button for them.

“Let’s go inside and wait, Aorsa. I’ll have someone pick up your other assistant downstairs; she’s probably blocking the way behind us,” Director Chen said, rubbing his stomach.

"Thank you, Director Chen, for your trouble."

Mu Yiran took out her phone and saw the message Ai Ni had sent her. They were indeed stuck in traffic. It was the weekend and it was drizzling. There had been a minor car accident on the elevated road, causing a complete traffic jam. Their two cars were only a few traffic lights apart, and now it would take half an hour for Ai Ni to arrive.

The other end was still sending her messages reminding her to keep her communication on and to bring the locator and some exquisitely designed gadgets she got from Shi Men.

Mu Yiran felt a pang of regret thinking about the broken Patek Philippe, but Ai Ni insisted that she make sure to wear it, so Mu Yiran obediently wore it.

That makes sense.

Can a watch be as expensive as one's life?

Upon arriving at the private room, Director Chen, who was in charge, frowned as soon as he saw the assistant director sitting inside, and then he noticed Helian Xin and her group who were already sitting at the dining table.

hiss…

He clearly only gave Mu Yiran special treatment...

How did this turn into a communal feast?!

Mu Yiran, who was a head shorter than him, turned her head and was not surprised to see Helian Xin and the others.

But Qi Qiulin and Lu Tingyi were also there...

Director Chen's fleshy face twitched, and he gave an awkward laugh:

"Everyone's here?!"

"Sharon and President Lu are here too, why didn't you tell me?"

Qi Qiulin had bright red lips, but no other makeup on her face. In Mu Yiran's eyes, the shadow of Ms. Wen was much less noticeable in her at this moment.

The woman, adorned with jewels, said with a beaming smile:

"I heard that Director Chen is going to meet another referee today."

"I've asked you several times but you wouldn't tell me who you are. I'm really curious too, so I'd like to mooch a meal from you. You don't mind, do you? Hmm? Aorsa?"

“Ranran…”

Lu Tingyi's gaze was fixed on Mu Yiran. Although it had only been half a month since they last met, the girl seemed different, like a thorny white rosebud that had fully bloomed.

Pure and alluring to the extreme.

Is this change related to the man who pulled her in the video...?

Who exactly is that man?!

Mu Yiran pretended not to hear the shout, and just nodded with a slight smile: "Of course, Director Chen is treating anyway."

Director Chen: "......."

This private room is very large, with transparent floor tiles. It's built on top of a swimming pool, and you can see the pool right outside the balcony, allowing you to fully enjoy the most neon-lit night view of the city.

It looks open and spacious, but it's actually sealed off with layers upon layers of enclosures.

Mu Yiran observed calmly, then was led by Qi Qiulin through a double door to an automatic door with carved solid wood patterns.

The automatic door senses the sensor and closes.

Mu Yiran was pressed down to sit by Qi Qiulin. There were several empty seats next to her. Qi Qiulin casually pointed and asked Ji Yunli, who had just taken off her coat and was wearing a dress, to pour the wine, while asking:

"Does Mr. Lu know Aorsa?"

Hearing her question, Wen Qingyu pouted, "They don't know each other—"

Lu Tingyi's voice was louder than hers:

"Ranran and I grew up together—"

Mu Yiran's voice was as bright as if she were wearing a honeybee:

I saw him on the street.

Director Chen: "......."

Helian Xin: "..."

Qi Qiulin: "...Oh, really? I was wondering. Our table will be quite lively at President Lu and Qingyu's wedding banquet, since everyone there will be familiar with us."

"...Wedding banquet?" Mu Yiran was somewhat surprised. The bitterness only lasted for a moment, and she mostly found it funny.

For some reason, Lu Tingyi couldn't meet the woman's gaze. "It's just an engagement! Because of some other reasons... I originally planned to tell you later, but you kept not answering my calls—"

"Why do you want to talk to me alone? Is Brother Tingyi going to tell Senior Sister something I can't hear?" Wen Qingyu affectionately took the man's arm, rested her face on his shoulder, and her left hand clung to him, boldly revealing the pink diamond ring on her ring finger.

Wen Qingyu asked curiously, "Is there something you want to say to Tingyi, senior?"

"Nothing to say, you two are a perfect match," Mu Yiran said with a smile, raising her glass to lightly clink it against the two people who were joined together.

"Happy wedding, may you die young... may you have a son soon."

"Ranran!" Lu Tingyi heard her nonchalant tone, as if she truly didn't care that he was married to Wen Qingyu, and...

He noticed the ring on Mu Yiran's hand.

I've always worn it on my ring finger before.

If, as Wen Qingyu said, Ranran had an improper relationship with someone, then given her personality, she wouldn't openly display it to outsiders.

Then it can only be...

Lu Tingyi couldn't help but overthink, feeling a tightness in her chest and an uncontrollable unease rising within her.

"Ranran, you...."

“Aorsa is just as my senior said, quick-witted and eloquent,” Qi Qiulin said first.

Lu Tingyi stopped talking somewhat awkwardly and picked up his wine glass to drink.

"Sharon has met Uncle Cheng?" Mu Yiran finally straightened up a bit after hearing about Li Bingcheng.

After their last meeting, Lee Byung-seung told her that he was going abroad to confirm some things, but he didn't say what those things were.

But Mu Yiran had a vague feeling that it was related to her parents…

The red wine she swallowed instantly dried up, and a dark glint flashed in Qi Qiulin's eyes. She stared at the still swirling wine, letting the swirling wine swallow the ferocity in her pupils...

"...Yes, a while ago, my senior in France had dinner with me, and we talked about you the whole time."

"I've never seen a senior treat a girl so well."

"With so much favoritism and extraordinary talent, Aorsa is truly blessed..."

Helian Xin, standing to the side, sneered ambiguously, "Aorsa always manages to surprise people; her network of connections is so extensive."

"It feels like everyone you've met these past few days has some connection to you."

Mu Yiran leaned back in her chair nonchalantly, swirling her wine glass as she casually remarked, "I have a wide network of connections, so you're envious?"

Helian Xin took a sip of wine but suddenly couldn't swallow it. "...What I mean is, maybe I've met Aorsa before."

Mu Yiran, seemingly oblivious to her unspoken message, clicked her tongue and said, "Ah, then it's not a surprise, it's a shock."

Helian Xin couldn't hold back any longer and slammed down her wine glass: "Are you crazy?!"

Her rebuke did bear a resemblance to her arrogant and domineering self at 17, which made Mu Yiran smile inexplicably.

Lu Tingyi frowned slightly and scolded her, as was his habit: "Ranran, you can't be so rude!"

Mu Yiran rolled her eyes: "I wasn't being rude to you, why are you yelling at me?"

"Hey everyone! Let's not ruin our friendship while we're having a meal together. We'll be seeing each other all the time, right?" Director Chen stood up and swept the table across the table, afraid that things might break out if this continued.

Director Chen has seen plenty of people like them who turn on each other off-set, but the show isn't even finished filming yet! He doesn't want any rumors of discord among the crew to spread!

He still felt it was all a matter of Yu Li's strength. He clearly knew that Helian Xin and her group were at odds with Mu Yiran! Yet he still let it slip and insisted on blocking them with their meal!

He asked impatiently, "Has anyone arrived yet?"

Yu Li, who had been watching the drama unfold, pretended to glance at his phone. "I heard there was an earthquake over the border, the plane had to make an emergency landing, and they're changing flights to come here. It'll probably be a little late—"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sound came from the doorway. Director Chen jumped up and exclaimed, "Oh, they're here!"

As the ornate automatic door opened, Director Chen's trembling, excited face froze. "What is this?"

Several people came in, led by a middle-aged man with single eyelids. Everyone at the table looked like a stranger, except for two people.

Mu Yiran noticed that Helian Xin's expression instantly froze, filled with intense disgust.

Yu Li stepped forward and introduced, "Come, everyone, let me introduce you. This is President Li of HG Entertainment Company in H country."

Qi Qiulin walked over and took the initiative to greet the man:

"President Li Zhenrong! It's been a long time. Are you also interested in this program, President Li?"

The man shook hands, speaking in heavily accented English:

"No, I'm here to discuss cooperation."

Yu Li: "President Li's company has always cooperated with us in China, and Wenxin has also sent a lot of trainees there."

"His wife has always been very interested in jewelry. Last time she showed me her new necklace, and I recognized it immediately—it's a Saorsa!"

Yu Li also took out photos to prove it to Mu Yiran.

Mu Yiran glanced at it casually, then fixed her gaze on it fiercely!

A few seconds later, she slowly nodded:

"It is indeed a Saorsa product."

It was just not her doing.