When Zhou Liuan said this, his eyes were filled with anticipation and there was a smile on the corners of his lips, making him look very sincere.
However, Shi Miao didn't believe a single word he said.
When her identity was revealed, Zhou Liu'an seemed to treat her well, but this friendliness was always superficial. Since her cousin Yanzi was well-informed and never hid anything from her, Shi Miao knew very well that this cousin and her eldest brother Zhou Yuntang were busy taking Zhou Man home and buying her clothes.
To Zhou Liuan and Zhou Yuntang, Zhou Man was their acknowledged sister. Shi Miao was nothing.
He suddenly wanted to invite her to a variety show, constantly claiming she was his most adorable sister. It was obvious there was something fishy going on. Since his aunt Wang Hui had withdrawn his entertainment resources, and Zhou Liuan's recent failure to clear his name, he was becoming increasingly obscure in the entertainment industry. His previous luxury endorsements had all but vanished, leaving him struggling. He must have paid a hefty price to secure this variety show opportunity. Whatever his motives, Shi Miao had no intention of fulfilling them.
Shi Miao showed an apologetic look, "I don't know much about filming programs, and I'm afraid of dragging you down, so I decided not to do it."
Zhou Liuan looked displeased when he heard Shi Miao's refusal.
He was able to get this variety show this time because his father sponsored the show and invested a considerable amount of money. For some unknown reason, his father suddenly changed his mind and wanted him to bring Manman into the entertainment industry and make her a huge star, ideally with a fan base comparable to his own. Manman also expressed her anticipation for this, so Zhou Liuan naturally agreed.
As the largest sponsor, the production team would arrange a script for Manman, allowing him and Manman to attract fans. However, they all knew that Manman's identity had a major flaw - her biological mother, Tao Xiaran, was a criminal. Many people, before even getting to know Manman, would prejudge her from a sinful background and judge and insult her from a moral high ground. Zhou Man was his beloved sister for eighteen years, and Zhou Liuan naturally did not want her to be criticized by everyone. That was why he came to invite Shi Miao. As long as Shi Miao, as the victim, was willing to forgive Manman and befriend her, who would have the right to criticize her?
He can also take the opportunity to hype up his brother-sister relationship with Shi Miao on the show and repair his reputation that was damaged some time ago.
Zhou Liuan had thought it over carefully, but she didn't expect Shi Miao to refuse. How could she refuse?
Despite the rage rising in his chest, Zhou Liuan tried his best not to show any uneasiness, adjusting his expression to one of sadness. "Why are you unwilling? Is it because I hurt you before, and you're still dissatisfied with me?"
"I misunderstood you back then, and I didn't know you were my sister. Are you really unwilling to give me a chance to make amends? We are blood relatives."
As he finished speaking, his head dropped, like a puppy drenched in rain. Zhou Liuan practiced this expression countless times in front of the mirror. During the period of his most severe fan loss, he relied on this expression to consolidate his remaining followers.
Shi Miao sighed inwardly, thinking that after his loss, Zhou Liuan had indeed studied acting. It would be a shame if he didn't use his acting skills for a movie. A sad look appeared on her face. "Brother, do you really want to make it up to me? Just lie to me, but don't lie to yourself."
"If you had any idea about my recent situation, you wouldn't have invited me to the show."
Wen Ying, whose expression had been tense ever since her son appeared, could no longer contain herself and scowled. "Your sister has been recuperating since she was discharged from the hospital. She must rest for at least ten hours a day and must not overwork herself. Sometimes, when she has too many classes, she has to take time off. Do you still want your sister to be overworked on the show? How many times have you visited her during her time in the hospital?"
The truth was that some classes were too easy for Shi Miao, and she didn't want to go. She would rather spend that time practicing, so her medical records came in handy. But in Wen Ying's eyes, she couldn't help but feel more distressed for her frail daughter.
Zhou Liuan's face was etched with embarrassment. During Shi Miao's hospitalization, he was furious that she had exposed his father's mistress, leading to the breakdown of his parents' relationship. Naturally, he didn't want to visit her. Later, he was busy with work and comforting Manman, and naturally, Shi Miao, who had no place in his heart, was forgotten.
Of course, Zhou Liuan knew he couldn't tell the truth. He just sighed and played the victim. "Mom, it's not that I don't want to care about Miaomiao, but I've been really busy lately."
"Dad's temper is like dynamite because of his divorce. My brother and I just stood up for you in front of him, and our accounts were suspended. Recently, I've been tripped up by people in my circle, and I have to pay for resources myself. This is the first time I've experienced such hardships, and I've been extremely busy lately. I hope that as my family, you can understand me."
He calmly told his aunt about the incident to his mother.
His aunt was truly outrageous, having his endorsements revoked. Many of his fans were fans of the strong, so a good portion of them left. His rivals were even more amused by his appearances, buying press releases to discredit him.
Wen Ying sneered, "I asked your aunt to say hello. Don't you think the freedom I gave you wasn't enough? Now you're free, right? You're free, so why aren't you happy?"
Zhou Liuan was speechless, secretly resentful in his heart: Ever since Shi Miao came back, he has suddenly fallen out of favor with his mother.
Shi Miao just looked at Zhou Liuan with calm eyes, and there was no emotion in his voice. "Second brother, my friends said they saw you and eldest brother taking Zhou Man to buy a villa."
"That villa is very close to her university."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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