Chapter 120
Although there was no live stream for the opening ceremony, Chen Zhiyi's fans posted photos and videos of the event on various media platforms, which was practically a live stream.
The trending topics on Weibo were almost entirely dominated by Lin Ting, Chen Zhiyi, and Sun Ziyan.
First came "Sun Ziyan's downfall," "Sun Ziyan took the bullet for her," "The truth about Sun Ziyan being abandoned by a wealthy family," and "Sun Ziyan's idol status was ruined." Then came "Lin Ting was framed for plagiarism," "Lin Ting only has a high school diploma," and "Lin Ting's father went to jail." Finally, it became "The two are truly in love," "A real sister-in-law," "A brave sister-in-law," "A cultural inheritor of sister-in-laws," and "A sister-in-law who brings honor to the family."
The fans have perfectly demonstrated their true colors as spectators who enjoy watching the drama unfold and instantly switch sides when it comes to pragmatism. Right now, online comments are praising Lin Ting to the skies, and an uninformed passerby might actually think that Chen Zhiyi is dating a female savior.
"Sister-in-law is really brave. She doesn't speak up until she does, and when she does, it's amazing. When faced with smears, you should confront them head-on. That's much more effective than a lawyer's letter. It's time to change the spokesperson for my brother's family."
“Well said. I can understand why my sister-in-law didn’t dare to go public with her relationship three years ago. I’ve been through it too. People are indeed prone to backing down when they feel inferior. The most beautiful form of love is when both parties are equal, and neither of us is any worse off.”
"She is neither humble nor arrogant when talking about her shortcomings, and her eyes light up when talking about what she loves. She is sincere and kind. No wonder her brother fell in love with her when he was just beginning to understand love."
"My romantic view of relationships between older women and younger men has become even stronger."
“My sister-in-law is right. True love should be respected. My brother is a person, not someone we can rely on for our feelings and ideals. He can’t stay single for us forever. What we fans can’t accept is that he takes the money we spend on voting to debut while dating in private, creating all sorts of single personas to attract fans, but in reality he’s constantly dating in private, deceiving his fans. That’s what it means to be a disqualified idol and to have your idol’s image ruined.”
"Yes, Leslie Cheung's rise to fame was entirely due to his own efforts. From the moment he became popular, he repeatedly emphasized that he did not accept gifts, did not need fan support, and did not need to be picked up or dropped off at the airport. If you liked him, you could write him a letter, watch all his works carefully, and leave a comment on his official media. Love at first sight and a ten-year relationship are rare even among ordinary people. Leslie Cheung was really a good person."
"Both of them are wonderful people. They were attracted to, bound together by, and in love with each other. Neither of them has ever cheated on the other, and they are each other's one and only in their romantic history. There's nothing to complain about. The only point of contention is that they were photographed together three years ago but didn't go public immediately. I understand the girl's concerns. Besides, whether or not to go public is their private matter. Now that they've gone public, I can only offer my blessings."
"Besides the allegations of plagiarism and her family background, there are no other flaws about my sister-in-law. She was framed for plagiarism. There are plenty of people with bad family backgrounds. Whether a person is good or not depends on themselves. Having a skill, an independent career, financial control, and goals to pursue—all of these combined make them better than 99.99% of people. Stop talking about whether the two are a good match. Before criticizing others, take a look in the mirror."
"When my sister-in-law talks about original design and cultural heritage, her eyes light up with unwavering determination. She truly wants to bring Chinese design to the world stage. She's a person with dreams and a global perspective. Calling her 'sister-in-law' is a bit beneath her."
"What's it called?"
"He has a name and surname; he should be called 'Designer Lin' or 'Artist Lin.'"
"..." is a bit of a mouthful.
Although the opening ceremony took a little longer than expected, it was a great success, and all the media, fans, and customers present went inside to take a look.
Lin Ting pulled Sun Ziyan, who was nearly broken, into her hand and slipped his business card into hers, apologizing again, "I sincerely invite you to work at Yunshang. If you still want to work in the entertainment industry, and if you're willing to start with small roles, I think Chen Zhiyi should have plenty of resources. You're still young, you still have a chance to start over."
Sun Ziyan stared blankly at the business card in her palm. It was like a ray of light shining into the darkness. She had been wallowing in darkness for too long and could hardly believe it. "Really? I still have a chance to start over."
Lin Ting grabbed her hand, somewhat anxiously, "Yes, believe me, I will help you raise the penalty for breach of contract."
Sun Ziyan's eyes were filled with tears. "Thank you, and I'm sorry."
Lin Ting smiled and said, "We're even now."
"Actually, I came here today because I was encouraged by others. I wanted to get revenge on you, but I never thought it would happen today, especially in front of so many media outlets and fans. The contrast between my life and the past few years has been too great, and I'm prone to psychological issues and easily provoked, which is why I listened to what others said," Sun Ziyan apologized.
Lin Ting: "It's okay. Forget everything that happened in the past. I think you'll get better slowly."
Sun Ziyan: "Hmm, I think you can guess who the person who encouraged me is?"
Lin understood and nodded.
The opening ceremony mishap was initially thought to have affected customer traffic, but the store was bustling with customers all day long. Every clothing display area was packed with people, and the three girls kept talking non-stop. Chen Zhiyi naturally took on the role of a salesperson, answering everyone's questions. Since he had boasted that he would be a good guide even if he weren't an actor, we gave him a chance to demonstrate his abilities, and he was included in the staff training as well.
At the peak of the crowd, the master tailor who was making sample garments on the third floor also came down to help. The master tailor was different; he knew the process by heart and answered the customer's questions effortlessly. He was also quick and accurate in taking measurements, which made the four young people look flustered.
The first day was a great success, with sales volume much higher than Lin Ting had expected. Everyone was exhausted and clamoring for the boss to give them a raise and hire more staff.
It's only my first day at work, so a raise isn't in line with workplace etiquette, but giving out a red envelope as an opening gift is no problem; everyone should get a slightly thick one.
"I didn't expect that I, a temporary worker, would get a red envelope?" Chen Zhiyi joked.
Song Xiaolei put her arm around Lin Ting's shoulder and leaned towards her, saying, "Our big boss Lin is so generous. If you follow her, you'll live a life of luxury."
Lin Ting pretended to be modest: "It's not that extravagant. We'll just take your red envelope for our staff dinner later."
Xiaoyuan understood and immediately raised her hand in agreement, "Master, please treat us."
"Master," Chen Zhiyi said, savoring the memory, "I have a feeling I'm about to become an immortal, but it doesn't matter. Treating you to a meal is only natural."
Song Xiaolei: "Then let's hurry up and pack, and then Yunshang's first team building activity will begin."
It was almost 9 p.m. before everything was packed up. The veteran workers were tired and sleepy, so they went straight home without having a dinner party. In the end, the four young men won in terms of physical strength.
Just as the four of them were about to close the door, a familiar face they hadn't seen in a long time walked in.
Chen Zhiyi strode forward, his posture suggesting a hostile intent and emphasizing that the entire army was on high alert. "What are you doing here?"
Han Ming grinned, his expression provocative. "Chen Zhiyi, why are you so nervous? Lin Ting and I are friends, after all. What's wrong with me coming to celebrate her grand opening? Or are you hiding something? Oh, right, I said last time that if you put Lin Ting in trouble again, I would definitely step in and take her away without hesitation. My premonition was right."
Chen Zhiyi was clearly unafraid. "You think you can still take it away? You couldn't do it even when it was all yours for the past two years. Now that I'm right here beside her, guarding her closely, do you think you can take it from her?"
These two men started bickering the moment they met, acting more like women than women do.
Lin Ting quickly stepped between the two and said to Han Ming, "Why are you here at this hour?"
Han Ming: "I had a play performance during the day, and I rushed over as soon as it was over. Did you receive the flower basket?"
Lin Ting: "I saw it, thank you!"
Han Ming: "I saw the video online and I was quite happy. It seems that you have completely let go of the pain that has been suppressed in your heart. You can now express these feelings."
Lin Ting laughed and said, "Yes, I used to always hide things, not trusting him or myself. I was always afraid that people would see my shortcomings and despicable side. Now that I've spoken out, I feel relieved. I don't care about other people's opinions anymore. If I don't care, I'm fearless, and I live a more relaxed and carefree life. I can just be myself. Is it too late to realize this at this age?"
Han Ming patted her on the shoulder and said, "It's not too late, it's good." As a friend, he felt it was wonderful to see Lin Ting able to let go of her burdens and live for herself. After all, he had seen how conflicted and painful she had been for those two years.
Chen Zhiyi walked over and removed Han Ming's hand from Lin Ting's shoulder. "Speak properly and don't get physical."
Han Mingchao raised his chin at Chen Zhiyi, "You can still tolerate this?"
Lin Ting joked, "Sometimes I can't stand it, she's too clingy."
Chen Zhiyi was displeased. Why was he always siding with outsiders? "So what if I'm clingy? Otherwise, if I ever stop being clingy, you'll be in trouble."
Lin didn't understand, "What's wrong with me? It's your problem, isn't it?"
Han Ming laughed, "It's okay. No matter which side has a problem, isn't it all an opportunity for me?"
Chen Zhiyi: "..." Sure enough, the oriole was always watching from behind.
Standing behind her, Xiaoyuan looked on with envy. "In this life, I admire no one but my master. She can make two top men fight over her. This glorious history is something we can brag about when we're old."
Song Xiaolei didn't care whether it was exaggerated or not; she just felt that Han Ming's face was so deep and moving under the moonlight. His nose was straight, his lips were soft, and his skin had a faint glow, as if it had been kissed by the moonlight, carrying an indescribable purity and mystery.
A woman nearing thirty experienced the feeling of being moved once again.
So, if it weren't for preconceived notions, Lin Tingxuan really had bad taste in Chen Zhiyi, but thankfully she did.
Song Xiaolei has a very open-minded view on love. She believes in the simple phrase, "If you like someone, go for it. You don't know if it's right or not until you've been with them."
In the end, the five of them drank together, booked a private room at the "Little Ears" bar, ordered some snacks and barbecue, and started drinking recklessly.
After a few rounds of drinks, it's time to pour out one's heart. When there are women present, the man becomes merely an accessory; his job is to stay sober and then take the woman home afterwards.
It is said that women are like water; once they are intoxicated by alcohol, they become completely uncontrollable and always need to comfort and cry to each other.
The three of them had flushed faces from drinking. Song Xiaolei hugged Lin Ting and said, "Think about it, we've known each other for almost ten years, haven't we? We went through thick and thin together in our twenties, and now that we're thirty, we can still fight side by side. It's so great!"
Lin Ting touched her warm, smiling face. "Yes!"
Song Xiaolei, looking quite drunk, seemed rather dazed. "My parents used to say I only knew how to play, study, and have a mediocre job, and that my life would just pass by uneventfully. But I didn't think being mediocre was so bad. After all, the chances of success are slim, and it's unlikely to fall into my lap, so I should accept mediocrity and be content with what I have. But I never expected that at thirty, I would reach the peak of my career, be able to start a business with my best friend, and realize our shared dreams. Now I'm energetic every day, and I can stick to 996 or 007 work schedules. If I had been like this before, more serious, more focused, and more hardworking in everything I did, wouldn't things be better now? And my parents wouldn't always say I've accomplished nothing?"
Lin Ting comforted her, "Don't make such pointless assumptions. Thirty is great too. Thirty is the age of establishment. This time, we will definitely stand tall and proud, making all those who looked down on us in the past bow down in submission." As Lin Ting spoke, she pointed with her index finger, exuding an air of commanding authority. Chen Zhiyi couldn't help but chuckle, while Han Ming, who had never seen this side of Lin Ting before, was quite surprised.
Xiaoyuan hugged him too, and the three of them huddled together. "Yes, let's work together to make 'Yunshang' a household name, then start a chain, aim for an IPO, and dominate Fashion Week. I want to be the first golden phoenix to fly out of our town, to make my parents proud, and to let those old folks who laugh at me for being a girl know that I'm much better than their precious grandson."
Lin Ting felt sorry for Xiao Yuan, knowing that she came from a family that favored boys over girls and had suffered a lot of grievances since childhood because she was a girl. Lin Ting leaned in and rubbed her face against Xiao Yuan's forehead, "I will."
Xiaoyuan, still drunk and dreaming, said, "I want to find a handsome guy as my boyfriend, even more handsome than my master!"
Lin Tingyi thought, "This seems a bit difficult."
Song Xiaolei leaned closer and said shamelessly, "It's not difficult at all. We should treat men like dirt, change men like clothes, and enjoy all the pleasures of the world."
...
The two men, dressed in similar attire, drank Perrier while watching the three girls rambling incoherently.
Han Ming couldn't help but ask, "Why is the shop closed tomorrow? Are they just going to let them drink as much as they want?"
Chen Zhiyi slowly took a sip of water from his glass, not in a hurry at all but rather enjoying himself. "I asked the front desk to prepare some hangover medicine, and they can take it after the event. There are other people in the shop, so their being half a day late won't make much of a difference. Besides, life is short, and they've been busy preparing for the shop's opening, which has been very hard work. Now that everything is settled, they should be allowed to relax."
Han Ming reminded him, his voice deep, "Lin Ting vomited after drinking before; it hurts his stomach."
“I heard you say that it’s okay, she won’t drink like that today. When you’re depressed or sad, drinking is more about numbing yourself and covering up the pain with pain. It’s easy to get hurt if you drink too much. But when you’re happy, drinking is to release yourself. I like to see her open up like this and do things that she wouldn’t normally do. She lives a disciplined and repressed life. Look, right now she’s smiling like a flower, her face is all red. How lively and lovely she is.”
When Chen Zhiyi said this, his gaze was focused on Lin Ting, and the tenderness and love in his eyes were almost overflowing. Even Han Ming saw his infatuation.
"She seems aloof and cold. Influenced by her family of origin since childhood, she always keeps herself wrapped up and doesn't easily show her joys and sorrows to others. But in fact, she is passionate inside and has a little bit of a wicked side. She started drinking when she entered university, and she was the one who started drinking in her dormitory. So it's good to be a little indulgent."
Han Ming finally realized the key to his defeat against Chen Zhiyi: loving her did not equate to understanding her.
Afterwards, all three girls were quite drunk, and before leaving, they were each given some hangover soup.
Chen Zhiyi took Xiaoyuan away. Song Xiaolei and Han Ming were going the same way, but their homes were in the opposite direction from Chen Zhiyi's, so Han Ming had to take them back.
All the way there, Song Xiaolei lay obediently in the back seat with her eyes closed. She didn't wake up even when they arrived at her house's underground parking garage. Han Ming called her several times to no avail, so he had no choice but to carry her out.
As she pulled him into her arms, Song Xiaolei grinned and chuckled to herself. What was a little alcohol compared to the former nightclub princess of the M Group?
Fortunately, Song Xiaolei's house had a fingerprint lock. Han Ming held her right index finger and pressed it, and sure enough, the door opened.
After entering the room, Han Ming walked to the sofa, put Song Xiaolei down, covered her with a blanket, and prepared to leave.
At this moment, Song Xiaolei opened her eyes, and Han Ming was startled, "You weren't asleep?"
Song Xiaolei pouted, her tone soft, but her eyes were full of sly triumph. "If I didn't pretend to be asleep, how could you take me home? My original intention was to have you take me home, but this is fine too. I'm happy to be alone with you in a room."
Han Ming didn't understand at first, "What?"
Before he could react, Song Xiaolei wrapped her arms around Han Ming's neck and pressed herself against him. Her breath, mingled with the scent of alcohol and her own fragrance, mingled in their nostrils, creating a subtly intimate atmosphere. Song Xiaolei's face was flushed a deep red, her long, wavy hair spread across the sofa, her eyes filled with a seductive allure, a veritable fox spirit in human form. Her crimson nail polish slowly moved down Han Ming's eyebrows, tracing his features. "So handsome, beautiful from head to toe. I love you so much. On this long night, a lone man and woman, so full of mutual affection... if I forced myself on you, the law would surely find me innocent."
Han Ming felt a sharp pain in his nerves, as if he had been struck by an electric current. His mind went blank and his whole body went numb.
My neck, ears, face—everything that was visible was completely red.
The next second, the fox spirit who was originally on top of him flipped over and sat on him.
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