《After I Reincarnated and Became Famous in Showbiz, the Jerks Started Feeling Regretful》 Chapter 1 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios On a winter night in Yanjing, the cold wind was like a blade. When Ming Dai got into the taxi and gave the address of the villa where the banquet was held, the driver couldn¡¯t help but turn around to look at her. Fortunately, Ming Dai was already prepared. She had a long black down jacket wrapped around her dress and was covered from head to toe. Unfortunately, as someone who meets customers everyday, the driver¡¯s eyes were really sharp. ¡°Are you that female celebrity called¡­ Ming Dai?¡± Without hesitation, Ming Dai lowered her voice and denied it. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°You are! Isn¡¯t the villa you are heading to hosting a charity banquet tonight? There are so many celebrities, but you are probably the first to take a taxi there! Hey! I heard that you went bankrupt because of that incident?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ming Dai looked away with a cold expression. ¡°You young ladies just don¡¯t know how to cherish your blessings. Instead of being a proper actress, you insist on harming others. Heh, tell me, were you the one who pushed him? Don¡¯t worry! I definitely won¡¯t tell anyone!¡± Ming Dai was silent. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that it was too difficult to get a taxi on a snowy night, she would have immediately called for a stop and distanced herself from this noisy driver. However, she did not know how to drive. Her driver who used to be on call had already resigned a few days ago. The driver carried on with his gossiping. Ming Dai averted her gaze. Recent memories surfaced before her eyes¡ª Ming Dai was a female celebrity. Although she had no acting skills and was involved in scandals, she still relied on her unique beauty to become famous. Half a month ago, a little boy rolled down the stairs and was admitted to the ICU with serious injuries. Ming Dai, who was present, was summoned by the police for investigation. This normal procedure was defamed by some people as ¡°Ming Dai pushing a little boy downstairs and being suspected by the police¡±, and it spread like wildfire on the Internet. Even after Ming Dai confirmed that she was not a suspect, the public¡¯s suspicions did not diminish. Ming Dai¡¯s advertisements and film contracts were all affected, so she had no choice but to hold a press conference to clarify the truth. In the end, on the day of the press conference, the little boy who had just left the ICU was pushed to the scene by his parents in a wheelchair. He actually personally identified Ming Dai as the culprit who had pushed him! There was an uproar at the scene. Ming Dai was also stunned. The press conference was left unsettled in the chaos. Shortly after the boy returned to the hospital, his injuries worsened and he died. This time, public opinion exploded. Ming Dai had become the ¡°murderer¡± in the public¡¯s eye! An overwhelming wave of anger and criticism swept through Ming Dai¡¯s world. Her partners terminated their contracts one after another; her parents called and scolded her; friends drew a clear line with her; fans left her fandom and turned against her¡­ She had lost almost everything overnight, but Ming Dai did not give up. She learned from her former assistant that someone had looked for her on the day of the incident. If Ming Dai wanted to find a witness, then this person was the only possibility! She came to this banquet today to look for this person! ¡­ The taxi slowly came to a stop. Ming Dai could see the brightly lit villa through the window. At the entrance of the villa where luxury cars gathered, that one taxi was very conspicuous. After Ming Dai paid the bill, she was about to get out of the car when she heard a soft scolding behind her. ¡°Lying b*tch.¡± Ming Dai turned around in a daze. But she saw the taxi driver looking ahead with an expression that said it had nothing to do with him. Ming Dai tightened her grip on the car door until her palms turned red. The taxi driver turned around with a smile. ¡°Miss Ming, please close the door. The cars behind are all waiting.¡± Under that smile was an unscrupulous and malicious intent. It was obvious that he firmly believed that Ming Dai would not make a scene with him in front of everyone. Ming Dai indeed did not know how to do it. She only gave him a deep look before closing the door and leaving. * * * The red carpet segment of tonight¡¯s charity banquet had only just begun, and many celebrities had yet to appear. The reporters were a little bored and lazily took pictures of the unknown guests on the red carpet. The world seemed to have suddenly fallen silent. Someone turned to look at the entrance of the red carpet, and more and more people followed. At that moment, they could not help but hold their breaths as they stared blankly at the person walking over. There was no need for a spotlight, because the light was already rushing towards her¡ª The wind blew through the thick clouds, revealing the full moon that was like a silver plate. The moonlight that fell happened to fall on her. It was as if the veil of a goddess had fallen gently and draped over her body. It was hazy like the moon and looked like a scene from a dream. Under the moonlight, her skin had the texture of cold jade. Her fair skin was something that could not be created by others. Below her thick black hair, there was a pair of amber eyes that shone like the setting sun. If one looked carefully, there seemed to be lights sparkling in her eyes, adding a sense of vulnerability to her pure innocence. There was no jewelry or extra makeup. Just the rose-like red lips and the simple black fishtail dress had already made her peerless beauty. Even the scenery behind her paled in comparison. This uniqueness was hard to describe with words. Her existence was more like the imagery in a poem, exceeding the peak of imagination, like there was no limit to romance. ¡­ Where did this fairy come from? ¡ªQuestions popped up in the reporters¡¯ minds. Soon, they realized that the person¡¯s outline was familiar. Someone called out hesitantly, ¡°Ming Dai?¡± The fairy, who was so beautiful that she did not look like a real person, nodded slightly in the direction of that person. There was an uproar in the surroundings, and loud discussions erupted like a pot of boiling oil. ¡°Is that Ming Dai?¡± ¡°Is Ming Dai that beautiful?¡± The entertainment reporters who were quite familiar with Ming Dai were stunned. In their impressions, Ming Dai was always wearing seductive gowns and gaudy makeup. She looked indescribably cheap. As for the current Ming Dai, her beauty could no longer be measured. It was a unique beauty that had transcended worlds! The reporters were so excited that they were like sharks that smelled blood. They rushed forward and wanted to tear Ming Dai apart and eat her up. The questions thrown out were even sharper¡ª ¡°Mingdai, did the Gu family help you get acquitted from the police station?¡± ¡®Did you ever apologize to the victim? Did you visit his funeral?¡¯ ¡®You insist you¡¯re not the killer. Do you have any proof?¡¯ ¡°¡­¡± No one expected Ming Dai to come to the banquet with such fanfare instead of hiding from the limelight! As for Ming Dai. She straightened her back like a small green pine standing proudly in the cold wind. Ignoring those words, she endured the fatigue of not resting for nearly 40 hours and walked to the end of the red carpet to present her invitation. The security guard glanced at her contemptuously and took it with one hand. He casually scanned the invitation barcode against the machine. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, your invitation is no longer valid.¡± The security guard at the entrance was still a distance away from the reporters, so no one else heard this. But how sharp were these reporters? When they saw that Ming Dai had not entered for a long time, they realized that something was fishy. They tried to break through the layers of security and aimed the camera at Ming Dai. Ming Dai raised her exquisite chin. ¡°This is the invitation I received a month ago.¡± The security guard could not hide his irreverence. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am, but this invitation has now been disqualified.¡± In the cold winter wind, Ming Dai¡¯s figure looked even thinner and more graceful. Her slender bare feet in the strappy high heels were red from the cold, as if peach blossom powder had been rubbed into the cold jade. She felt a little helpless. Chapter 2 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios At this moment, she saw a familiar figure from the corner of her eye. Ming Dai¡¯s desire to enter the banquet had the upper hand. She shouted faster than her brain, ¡°Yunzhi!¡± There was a hint of rebuke mixed in with the intimacy. It was as if time had moved back to the time when the two of them were still together. At that time, she was also like this. Whenever she complained, it was more like she was acting spoiled. Zhou Yunzhi would look at her helplessly, dotingly and patiently¡­ The man looked up when he heard the voice. He was wearing a suit and had a tall, straight figure. He was handsome and elegant, with an aura as clear as a god. The rock was like a pine on a rock, and he was as solemn as the wind between bamboos. But at this moment, he gazed at her with an unfamiliar and cold look. That kind of alienation was like a basin of cold water being poured on Ming Dai, making her tremble all over. Ming Dai endured the awkwardness and forced a bright smile at him. She said in a familiar tone, ¡°What took you so long? There¡¯s something wrong with my invitation. Looks like I can only go in with you.¡± As she spoke, she took two steps towards Zhou Yunzhi. Her snow-white arm naturally wrapped around his arm. Under the watchful eyes of the security personnel and reporters, no one knew how nervous Ming Dai was. Ming Dai could almost imagine that if Zhou Yunzhi shook her off and said that he didn¡¯t know her, it would be equivalent to throwing her remaining dignity on the ground and crushing it. The situation would definitely be a hundred times worse than now. Fortunately, Zhou Yunzhi still retained his upbringing from a prestigious family and did not choose to shake off Ming Dai¡¯s hand in front of everyone. At the same time, he did not lower his head to look at Ming Dai, nor did he respond to her words. He directly handed over his invitation letter. The security guard wanted to say something, but when he scanned the invitation with the machine and saw the golden word ¡°VIP¡± appear on the computer screen, his attitude changed. ¡°Professor Zhou, please come in!¡± This enthusiasm was worlds apart from the way he treated Ming Dai. Zhou Yunzhi looked straight ahead and moved his long legs that were wrapped in his suit pants. Ming Dai, who was almost unable to react in time, was pulled forward by his hard arm. Just like that, the two of them stepped into the grand villa¡¯s main entrance under the ¡°regretful¡± gazes of the reporters. Stepping inside, the air was as warm as spring. The corridor leading to the main hall was deserted. Ming Dai¡¯s tense expression eased a little. She looked up and was about to thank Zhou Yunzhi. Zhou Yunzhi had already quickly let go of her, as if she was a virus that he could not wait to avoid. Ming Dai¡¯s hand froze in mid-air. Before the flowers on her face could bloom, they were frozen by the coldness in the blink of an eye. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Yunzhi was indifferent. His attitude towards her was not much different from how he treated the security guard outside the door. It was hard to imagine that three years ago, they were incomparably intimate and always stuck together. Zhou Yunzhi was Ming Dai¡¯s ex-boyfriend and the youngest director of Yan University. He was also a well-known genius on scientific research in the industry. He should have enjoyed all the praises, but because he was dating her, he was constantly disturbed by the media. Their relationship inevitably cooled down during this process. In the end, Zhou Yunzhi, who could not bear it any longer, broke up with her. Ming Dai felt guilty towards him. She had poor grades and had never gone to university, so she always had respect for a scientist like Zhou Yunzhi who had contributed to the country. When Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s annoyed gaze landed on her, Ming Dai repeated, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re sorry, don¡¯t do anything to embarrass yourself.¡± This time, Zhou Yunzhi spoke. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why did you come to this banquet? Even if you did something wrong, are you unwilling to admit your mistake and give up this glory?¡± Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s cold gaze seemed to have seen through her flesh and blood and seen through her vulgar nature. Ming Dai instinctively defended herself. ¡°I didn¡¯t do it. I¡­¡± Zhou Yunzhi looked away impatiently. ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain these things to me. It has nothing to do with me.¡± Ming Dai recalled that when they were dating, Zhou Yunzhi always looked at her as if she was a childish, clumsy, and ignorant child. He tolerated her from top to bottom, and that knowledgeable and powerful look made her look humble and insignificant. He was concerned about the students¡¯ studies, the progress of the experiment, and the future of the industry¡­ but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to the trivial matters of her being ostracized during filming. He thought it was a waste of time. In the past, Ming Dai would feel wronged. Now she no longer felt that way. She thanked Zhou Yunzhi sincerely. ¡°Anyway, thanks for bringing me in.¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much. I didn¡¯t refuse. I just don¡¯t want to become a topic of entertainment news.¡± Zhou Yunzhi flicked his sleeves as if he was brushing away some inconspicuous dust. Ming Dai was the dust on his body. Even if it had left a mark in his glorious life, it was only a fleeting moment. ¡°Yunzhi?¡± Ming Dai felt Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s aura soften almost instantly. She looked to the other side curiously¡ª It was a lady who was about the same age as Zhou Yunzhi. She was not considered beautiful, and her facial features were only delicate. Only her eyes were bright and dazzling. Her skin was a light wheat color, and her exposed arms were covered with smooth thin muscles. It was obvious that she worked out all year round and exuded a strong vitality. She was healthy and vigorous. However, the most attractive thing about her was her strong sense of self-confidence. She was always calm and at ease, as if there was no problem in the world that she could not solve. She looked very much like Zhou Yunzhi. Ming Dai had some guesses about the identity of the person who came and took half a step back. The other party had already strode over and glanced at Ming Dai. She did not hide her amazement. However, she only nodded slightly at Ming Dai and quickly said to Zhou Yunzhi, ¡°Congratulations on your research results being featured in this highlight issue of ¡®Science¡¯. Coincidentally, my grandma is here. She wants to talk to you face to face about this thesis.¡± Zhou Yunzhi raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that she¡¯s not feeling well today and couldn¡¯t come?¡± ¡°Which is why I can¡¯t stay too long. I¡¯m leaving in half an hour.¡± Zhou Yunzhi immediately wanted to rush in. She was the one who grabbed Zhou Yunzhi first. ¡°Your friend¡¯s still here.¡± Zhou Yunzhi seemed to have just remembered Ming Dai¡¯s existence. He glanced at Ming Dai and explained, ¡°She¡¯s not a friend. She¡¯s just someone I knew in the past. There was a problem with the invitation and she asked me to bring her in¡­ Professor Sun¡¯s matter is more important. Let¡¯s go.¡± Ming Dai rarely saw Zhou Yunzhi being this good-tempered and patient with anyone, so she couldn¡¯t help but take half a step back silently. At this moment, a hand reached out to her. ¡°Yunzhi doesn¡¯t know how to speak properly. Don¡¯t take it to heart. Hello, I¡¯m Zhao Xian, Yunzhi¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Ming Dai looked up and saw Zhao Xian grinning at her. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh!¡± Ming Dai was slow by half a beat and quickly grabbed the other party¡¯s hand. ¡°Hello, my name is Ming Dai.¡± Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s patience was completely exhausted. He knocked on the dial with his finger and said, ¡°Time is of the essence.¡± Zhao Xian ignored him and said goodbye to Ming Dai. She politely invited her for a meal next time. When they turned around to leave, Zhao Xian habitually reached out to hold Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s arm. Unlike the resistance and stiffness he had when Ming Dai held onto him, Zhou Yunzhi naturally bent his arms and there was an indescribable gentleness in his actions. As they walked, they conversed in low voices. Occasionally, bits and pieces of words would drift over. To Ming Dai, they were ancient greek, creating a gap between her and them. Ming Dai puffed up her cheeks as she watched the two of them leave intimately. How compatible. She thought. Chapter 3 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After they left, Ming Dai had her own things to do. She held her head high again and walked through the long corridor into the main hall of the villa where the charity banquet was held. From the moment she appeared, countless gazes fell on her. They were stunned at first, but after recognizing her identity, more emotions surged. Mockery, sarcasm, disdain, curiosity¡­ ¡°That looks like Ming Dai? She has the audacity to come here?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t she? She¡¯s the daughter of the Gu family!¡± ¡°The daughter of the Gu family who was found at the age of 25. Hehe.¡± ¡°Chairman Gu and his wife must be helpless too. After all, she¡¯s been at the bottom for too long. Her character has already been determined and can¡¯t be fixed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Look at how well Gu Lingsi was raised. The twins are like heaven and earth.¡± ¡°I heard that she tried to snatch her sister¡¯s fianc¨¦ because of jealousy! Shameless!¡± ¡°This is nothing. She can even attack an innocent little boy. She most likely has an antisocial personality disorder and a twisted mind!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Those whispers drifted into Ming Dai¡¯s ears, causing her to lose focus for a moment. Gu Lingsi was Ming Dai¡¯s twin sister in name. In reality, the two of them were not related by blood. Twenty-eight years ago, Ming Dai and Gu Lingsi, who had just been born in the hospital, were accidentally swapped. Hence, Ming Dai, who was supposed to be the daughter of the Gu family, fell from the clouds into the mud and lived in a village in the city where sewage flowed. Gu Lingsi, a girl at the bottom of the social ladder, jumped into a wealthy family and grew up pampered. The careless person was Ming Dai¡¯s biological mother, Gu Lingsi¡¯s adoptive mother, and the wife of the Gu family, Wei Yin. She could not blame anyone else. The two children were innocent, and the Gu family could not bear to let Gu Lingsi go back to her biological parents. After some discussions, the entire family decided to announce to the public that they were twins. Their younger sister, Ming Dai, had gone missing when she was young and was only found by the Gu family when she was 25 years old. And Gu Lingsi was the person she was looking for tonight. ¡­ ¡°Who told you to come!¡± A loud shout snapped her out of her thoughts. Immediately after, someone grabbed Ming Dai¡¯s wrist and pulled her to a secluded place. The stumbling Ming Dai could barely recognize the other party. Wasn¡¯t that her brother-in-law, Ning Shu, whom she had ¡°stolen¡± from her sister? Ming Dai felt dizzy all the way. When she finally regained her balance, she was pushed against the wall again. The back of her head hit the wall so hard that she saw stars. There was even a brief explosion in her ears. Then, the pain spread to the back of her head. Coupled with the fatigue of her body, which had not rested for a long time, a wave of nausea surged from her empty stomach. Ming Dai covered her mouth and her face instantly turned pale. She subconsciously held onto something to stabilize her balance and grabbed the person¡¯s forearm¡­ Slap! Her hand was slapped away mercilessly! Ming Dai looked up in a daze. There were still tears from the pain at the corners of her eyes. She looked like a delicate flower looking at the water, weak and pitiful. It was a pity that Ning Shu, who was standing in front of her, did not have any pity for the fairer sex. He even mocked Ming Dai coldly. ¡°Still acting?¡± His tone was cold, and his face was as cold as his voice. Ning Shu was born handsome. Because he had a quarter of the English bloodline, his facial features were deeper than others. He was as three-dimensional and perfect as if he had been carved by a knife. However, he was too cold. He was like ten thousand years of snow on a tall mountain that had not melted for years. When he faced Ming Dai, he was not gentle at all. Ming Dai, who had finally recovered, was not in a good mood after being looked at like trash. She frowned slightly and her tone hardened. ¡°What do you want?¡± Ning Shu snorted. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be asking you this? Who allowed you to come?¡± Ming Dai pursed her lips stubbornly. ¡°This is my freedom!¡± ¡°Freedom? I¡¯ve canceled your invitation.¡± Ming Dai came to a realization when she saw Ning Shu¡¯s mocking gaze. ¡°So it was you¡­¡± How could she have forgotten that the Ning Corporation was behind this charity banquet! ¡°You canceled it without informing me. Do you want to see me make a fool of myself?¡± Ming Dai clenched her fists. ¡°You¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t know your place.¡± Ning Shu looked down at her condescendingly. ¡°I thought that after your scheme was exposed, you would have the tiniest bit of shame and wouldn¡¯t come to me again and again. It seems like you don¡¯t.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s eyes widened slightly and there was a hint of confusion in her amber-like eyes. ¡°My scheme was exposed? What are you talking about? I wanted to ask before, what did you mean by lying¡­¡± Before she could finish speaking, the frost covering Ning Shu¡¯s body shattered inch by inch, and intense anger erupted from within. He sent a punch flying, brushing past her hair and hitting the wall! Ning Shu¡¯s eyes were red as he gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Playing dumb with me again? Ming Dai, if you were to put this disgustingly hypocritical acting skills into your work, you would have long entered the Oscars! Do you still think that I¡¯m an idiot who was fooled by you? Were you very pleased when you saw me foolishly circling around you back then? You¡¯re just a promiscuous woman, and I¡¯m just your prey! Have you ever thought that you would fail at the hands of your prey one day?¡± The confusion in Ming Dai¡¯s eyes deepened. She and Ning Shu had been dating since last year. He was the one who took the initiative to pursue her. Ning Shu was the famous CEO of Ning Corporation, a big shot in the business world. He had always been cold and heartless to others, but after getting to know Ming Dai, he did not put on any airs. Once, Ming Dai asked Ning Shu why he was so good to her. He said, ¡®I owe you.¡¯ Ming Dai did not understand and chased after him to ask. Ning Shu smiled and shook his head, avoiding the topic. After they got together, he doted on Ming Dai even more and practically took care of her from food, clothing, accommodation, to work. Ning Shu would go through everything with Ming Dai. He would remember that she was on her period and would instruct the helper to make bird¡¯s nest soup. He would also give her priceless jewelry and luxurious clothes when she was competing with other female celebrities on the red carpet¡­ Ning Shu pampered Ming Dai like a real princess. Ming Dai almost thought that this was love. Unfortunately, nothing was perfect. In Ming Dai¡¯s opinion, on an ordinary day, Ning Shu did not return at night. Ming Dai thought that he was too busy socializing and fell asleep peacefully. However, halfway through her sleep, she was dragged out of bed by him. Ning Shu grabbed Ming Dai¡¯s neck and questioned her angrily if she had lied to him. Ming Dai, who was half-asleep, had no idea what had happened. She could only watch as he got someone to throw all her things out of the villa¡­ On that rainy night, Ming Dai, who was standing in a pile of messy clothes, looked like a homeless stray cat with wet fur. This was not the end. Before Ming Dai could clarify with Ning Shu the reason, she heard the news that Ning Corporation had announced in a high-profile manner that the heir would get married with the Gu family. At first, Ming Dai thought that Ning Shu was throwing a tantrum and took the initiative to ask for peace, but she was ruthlessly humiliated by him. ¡°Marry me? Ming Dai, look in the mirror and see if you¡¯re worthy.¡± Ming Dai was enlightened. It turned out that the love she thought was just a game that this man had started. His princess could be Ming Dai, Gu Lingsi, or anyone else. Chapter 4 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The only thing that Ming Dai did not expect was that the unscrupulous media would dig out photos of her and Ning Shu and spread rumors that Ming Dai was a mistress. Not long after, Ming Dai was revealed to be Gu Lingsi¡¯s long-lost ¡°biological¡± sister. Hence, Ming Dai¡¯s behavior was seen as jealousy towards her sister. In addition, Ning Shu and the Gu family did not come out to clarify things. Thus, Ming Dai became the scheming vixen in the public¡¯s eyes. She was a b*tch who snatched her sister¡¯s marriage contract for revenge. Only Ming Dai herself knew nothing about this¡ª ¡°What did I lie to you about?¡± She was confused. She looked at Ning Shu, hoping that he could give her an answer. However, Ning Shu seemed as if he would be insulting himself by explaining more to her. ¡°You know very well.¡± Ning Shu stood up straight and restrained her emotions. She regained her cold attitude. ¡°Today¡¯s charity banquet is also a day to welcome Lingsi. You¡¯d better not come out and ruin the atmosphere and make everyone unhappy because of you. If you know what¡¯s good for you, leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, I¡¯ll get someone to ¡®invite¡¯ you out!¡± Ning Shu turned around and was about to leave when his sleeve was suddenly grabbed. ¡°Wait!¡± Ming Dai quickly said, ¡°Where is Gu Lingsi? I have something to discuss with her. I¡¯ll leave after I¡¯m done speaking¡­¡± ¡°Why do you want to see her?¡± Ning Shu¡¯s vigilance was really funny. It was as if Gu Lingsi was a weak and kind little flower. Almost like if Ming Dai, this poisonous creature, said a word to her, Gu Lingsi would be devoured by her. Ming Dai simply stated her intentions. ¡°Gu Lingsi should have been there on the day of the accident. I want her to testify for me¡­¡± ¡°Should have been?¡± Ning Shu seemed to have heard a huge joke. ¡°If you¡¯re not sure, why are you looking for Lingsi? Are you trying to use her guilt towards you to get her to help fake the evidence?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just making her tell the truth!¡± ¡°If you have the time to study these little thoughts, why don¡¯t you apologize to someone properly! Scram!¡± Ning Shu, who did not believe Ming Dai at all, waved his arm in anger. Ming Dai was accidentally hit by his hand and lost her balance and fell to the ground. ¡°Hiss!¡± Ming Dai gasped. This time, not only were her wrists bruised, but even her elbows and knees were bruised. Holding onto the wall, she finally stood up. Ning Shu had already left. Ming Dai endured the pain and walked out of the quiet corridor. At some point in time, there were more and more guests in the banquet hall. The huge crystal lamp above their heads had already been extinguished, and only the ambient lights were lit. Suddenly, the stage in front lit up and shone on a Steinway white grand piano. White dry ice mist curled around it, making the scene look fairy-like. Sitting in front of the piano was a pair of beautiful people with matching looks and temperament. They looked at each other and smiled. They raised their arms and placed them on the black and white keys, playing Schumann¡¯s ¡°Tr?umerei¡± with four pairs of hands. One of the women was Gu Lingsi, whom Ming Dai was searching for. She was wearing a pure white satin dress and had black hair and snow-white skin. Her smile was as bright as the moon reflected on the sea. Gu Lingsi was also an actress. She was different from Ming Dai, who was a popular celebrity with a bad reputation. She was intelligent, highly educated, versatile, kind and noble. Before she debuted, she was protected by the Gu family¡¯s halo. After she debuted, everything went smoothly. She was recognized as a goddess in the entertainment industry. There were many die-hard fans and people who liked her. As the soft and dreamy notes flowed from the stage like spring water, Gu Lingsi seemed to have become the center of this world and the heroine of the story. Ming Dai, who was standing below the stage, was just a supporting actress in the background. Perhaps she was a stupid and evil ignorant supporting actress. Ming Dai laughed self-deprecatingly. She had thought that Ning Shu was good enough to her. It was not until she saw him and Gu Lingsi together by chance that she realized what it meant to be pampered. Ming Dai suppressed her surging emotions and quietly retreated from the back of the crowd. After Gu Lingsi¡¯s performance, she would definitely go to the lounge at the back. All she needed to do was wait there in advance. With this thought in mind, Ming Dai lowered her eyes slightly and absent-mindedly walked around the person walking towards her. She stepped aside, but the other party did not do the same. He aimed straight at her¡ª ¡°Ah.¡± Ming Dai exclaimed softly. The glass of red wine in the other party¡¯s hand completely drenched her chest. Even though the dress was made of black fabric and there were no obvious traces, the sticky and moist fabric still stuck tightly to her skin, causing Ming Dai to have goosebumps all over. The instigator was not apologetic at all. Instead, he held his wine glass with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Apologizing was more like provocation. Ming Dai covered her wet collar and recognized the other party. Tang Xue was the youngest daughter of the Tang family and the only girl in the younger generation. She was doted on and raised arrogantly. Tang Xue, who did not even listen to her parents, had listened to Gu Lingsi, who was two years older than her, since she was young. She was her loyal follower and fan. After Ming Dai returned to the Gu family, she stood up for Gu Lingsi more than once. That glass of red wine was so full that it was about to overflow. It was clearly poured on Ming Dai on purpose. After pouring it, she scanned Ming Dai from head to toe and tsked disdainfully. ¡°How much is the dress? I¡¯ll compensate you. But which brand is this dress from? Why haven¡¯t I seen it before? It can¡¯t be a has-been or some miscellaneous brand, right?¡± Ming Dai knew that Tang Xue was humiliating her. After the partners filed compensation lawsuits one after another, the dazzling array of jewelry and gowns in Ming Dai¡¯s cloakroom were emptied as collateral. In order to attend the banquet, Ming Dai had finally found a niche branded gown. She had bought it casually when she was traveling overseas in the past. The price did not exceed 2,000 yuan. It was precisely because Tang Xue saw through this that she deliberately came to embarrass her. Ming Dai straightened her back and ignored Tang Xue. ¡°Stop right there!¡± Tang Xue¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Who told you to leave? I haven¡¯t finished speaking!¡± Ming Dai pretended not to hear her. Tang Xue rushed over and grabbed her arm. Ming Dai suppressed her frown as it happened to press against her bruised spot. ¡°Why are you pretending to be weak!¡± Tang Xue cursed angrily. ¡°Let me ask you! What were you doing with Brother Ning Shu just now?! Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on between the two of you! You want to betray Sister Lingsi? No way! You adulterous couple!¡± Ming Dai was not angry. Instead, she wanted to laugh. ¡°If you want to know, ask Ning Shu. Are you afraid that¡¯s why you came to me instead of him?¡± Ning Shu was a man of his word in the circle. Tang Xue was just bullying the weak and fearing the strong. As expected, Tang Xue¡¯s expression turned ugly. At this moment, someone approached them silently. He wrapped his arms around Tang Xue¡¯s waist and pressed his lazy and beautiful face on Tang Xue¡¯s shoulder. Such a sticky action was not greasy at all. Instead, he looked like a noble and clingy cat. That pair of naturally flirtatious peach blossom eyes looked up slightly. It was as if he was looking at Ming Dai, but also as if he was not looking at her. In the end, it landed on Tang Xue and she complained, ¡°It¡¯s only been a while and you are gone.¡± The sharp thorns on Tang Xue¡¯s body softened as she hugged the man¡¯s arm happily. ¡°So you were looking for me?¡± The man hummed. Then, he slowly glanced at Ming Dai. ¡°Who¡­ is this?¡± ¡°Ming Dai. Don¡¯t you recognize her? That murderer!¡± Then, she thought of something and Tang Xue looked uncomfortable for a moment. ¡°Ming Dai?¡± The tip of the man¡¯s tongue seemed to have candy in it. He repeatedly pressed it against her before he snorted. ¡°I think you dated me before? I have too many ex-girlfriends, so I don¡¯t have a deep impression of them.¡± Chapter 5 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai watched their performance expressionlessly. This man who was intimate with Tang Xue was called Ning Xu. He was Ning Shu¡¯s younger brother and Ming Dai¡¯s ex-boyfriend. Ming Dai met him when she went to school to film. He was only in his fourth year at that time, two years younger than her. Ning Xu claimed to have fallen in love with her at first sight. He was a playboy who had grown up in a honey pot. Love came with a bang for him. Even though Ming Dai was dating Zhou Yunzhi and had rejected him many times, he still insisted on pursuing Ming Dai for more than a year. In the end, after Ming Dai and Zhou Yunzhi broke up, he successfully took over his place. When he was dating Ming Dai, Ning Xu was undoubtedly the perfect lover. He would always hug Ming Dai affectionately and call her ¡®sister¡¯. When he started sweet-talking, he would do it again and again. At that time, Ming Dai had just returned to the Gu family and was under a lot of mental pressure. Thanks to his coaxing, she managed to survive the most difficult time. He liked to give gifts to Ming Dai, from flowers to jewelry, from casual romance to grand surprises. There were all kinds of expensive gifts and he was never stingy. He said Ming Dai was the rarest treasure. It was the gifts¡¯ honor to be able to accompany her. Unfortunately, Ning Xu¡¯s passionate love came and went quickly. After dating for half a year, Ning Xu proposed to break up. He explained that Ming Dai was shallow and ignorant, and it was really boring to be together with her. Not long after, Ming Dai learned from others that Ning Xu¡¯s self-proclaimed love at first sight was just a bet between him and his scoundrel friends. Moreover, during the year he pursued her, Ning Xu continued flirting with other girls. He was a prodigal son, a sea king. Ming Dai was just a fish that had stayed in his pond for a longer time. Regarding this, Ming Dai, who had come to her senses, made up her mind to stay away from such men in the future. ¡°Ah, I remember now. It¡¯s Ming Dai.¡± Ning Xu emphasized. The tip of his tongue seemed to have a poisonous sugar pill. Even his smile was charming and unrestrained. ¡°It¡¯s the woman who seduced my brother after breaking up with me.¡± Tang Xue was on his side. ¡°It¡¯s her! She betrayed Sister Lingsi!¡± The way Ning Xu looked at Ming Dai became more and more playful. Only then did Ming Dai remember¡ª Among the men and women pursuing Gu Lingsi, Ning Xu also had a place. When he was young, he had promised to marry Gu Lingsi. Even if Gu Lingsi became his sister-in-law, she would always be the moon in his heart. When Ming Dai was dating him, her background had already been exposed. Ning Xu was even one of the few people who knew the truth. So, who knew if Ning Xu¡¯s affection was for Gu Lingsi¡¯s sake or not? Ming Dai instantly felt very tired. ¡°Whatever you say.¡± She lifted the hem of her skirt and prepared to leave. After taking two steps, her skirt seemed to be pressed down by something. When she turned around, she realized that Ning Xu had deliberately stretched out his toes to step on Ming Dai¡¯s dress and not let her leave. Seeing her look over, Ning Xu revealed a bright smile. There was actually a kind of naive cruelty in his smile, like a childish and ignorant child¡¯s prank. It made one¡¯s heart turn cold. He had already let go of Tang Xue and said to Ming Dai slowly, ¡°Who asked you to leave? You wanted to benefit from us brothers, but you didn¡¯t have the ability to do so. Do you think you don¡¯t have to settle this score? You¡¯re not much, but you¡¯re good at dreaming.¡± Ming Dai gripped her skirt tightly and tugged at it twice, but it did not budge. She suppressed her anger and looked at Ning Xu. ¡°Others might not know, but how can you not know? Ning Shu and I became familiar with each other after we broke up! Moreover, I didn¡¯t know that you were biological brothers at that time!¡± Why should it be her fault? ¡°Really? Why don¡¯t I believe you?¡± He raised his eyebrows and looked down on her wantonly. ¡°Believe it or not.¡± While Ning Xu was not paying attention, Ming Dai suddenly kicked his calf. The solid force coupled with the power of the pointed high heels made Ning Xu groan and cover his calf. His foot that was stepping on the corner of his skirt naturally loosened. Ming Dai took the opportunity to pull back her skirt. Seeing that Tang Xue¡¯s scream had attracted the attention of the surrounding people, she quickly fled the scene. ¡°Ming Dai! Stop right there!¡± Ning Xu called her angrily. On the other hand, Ming Dai ran even faster, leaving the chaotic noise behind her as she entered an uninhabited balcony nearby. The lights on the terrace were probably broken. Even the moonlight in the sky was coincidentally blocked by the clouds, so the darkness enveloped the terrace and no one wanted to approach. However, it was exactly what Ming Dai wanted. She closed the door, ducked into the shadows, and stood close to the wall. It was not until the chaotic footsteps behind him mixed with Ning Xu¡¯s displeased and angry voice whistled into the distance that he heaved a sigh of relief. As the nervousness faded, Ming Dai also had the time to observe her surroundings. The terrace was quiet and the view was surprisingly good. It faced the dense and lush forest behind the villa. There was a moon-shaped lake nearby, and the grass-covered hill undulated gently. It was just a little cold. Ming Dai was only wearing a thin black dress and shivering in the cold wind. She looked into the room to make sure that Ning Xu was not back before she planned to go in. At this moment, the performance in the room was coming to an end. After finishing her performance, Gu Lingsi stood up and showed gratitude towards the applause in the banquet hall. Logically speaking, Ming Dai should have rushed to the waiting room to wait for Gu Lingsi. However, the figures who walked onto the stage one after another nailed her feet to the ground and she could not move an inch. It was a graceful and elegant middle-aged couple. The man was tall and calm, and he was born with the dignity and solemnity of a superior. The woman was petite and beautiful. She was over fifty years old, but she still had the innocence and casualness of a person who had been pampered for her entire life. Beside the middle-aged couple stood their young son, who had inherited his parents¡¯ high-quality genes. He had a strong contour and was handsome. His eyebrows were similar to his father¡¯s, and even his bearing was 50-60% similar. The three of them walked onto the stage and stood beside Gu Lingsi. As they were too far away, Ming Dai could not hear what they were saying. They were just praising their daughter, and their expressions were filled with pride for Gu Lingsi. Gu Lingsi obediently held her mother¡¯s shoulders. When she heard her family¡¯s sincere praises, she naturally revealed the delicate shyness of her youngest daughter. The blissful smile on her face was so bright and clean. What a harmonious family of three. Together with Gu Lingsi, they were the perfect family of four. There were no other extra seats. Ming Dai¡¯s heart ached. ¡°What¡¯s so great about that terrible playing? I can also play the piano. My teacher even praised me for being very talented¡­¡± Her heart was empty and she couldn¡¯t help but mutter softly. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± In the darkness, someone was suddenly amused. ¡°Who!¡± Ming Dai turned around vigilantly and grabbed the door handle. Her eyes were wide open and the corners of her eyes were slightly raised, like a cat facing a great enemy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± Behind the lush ivy, a man¡¯s deep voice sounded. Ming Dai was stunned. She was not someone to be controlled by a voice, but she was still stunned by this voice. It was as deep as a cello; as mellow as the pulse of the earth; as charming as the mountain wind blowing through the bamboo sea. His voice seemed to have a strange power, weaving an illusory and real dream on the small balcony. Even the negative emotions that were growing in Ming Dai¡¯s heart like weeds were magically soothed by this voice. ¡°Who are you?¡± Chapter 6 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The man sat behind the shadows, almost blending into the darkness. The angle of his position and the way the ivy leaves that cascaded down like a waterfall cleverly covered him¡ª this was why Ming Dai did not notice him before he made a sound. However, Ming Dai quickly realized that her tone was a little too aggressive. The other party must have come to the terrace before her, but she was the one who disturbed their peace. Her attitude quickly softened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to interrogate you.¡± The man laughed softly. It was like a feather gently tickling his cochlear. A numbing feeling crept up from the back of his neck. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s bothering you.¡± Even though she could not see his face and did not know his identity, Ming Dai could still feel the goodwill from this stranger. The kindness of strangers was usually pure and clean, so it was even more precious and moving. For a long time, Ming Dai had only received straightforward malice from strangers. They did not know her, nor did they understand her. However, because they had too much dissatisfaction and resentment in their lives, they vented it all on the Internet. Ming Dai was just a target that had been erected. After enduring malice for so long, Ming Dai almost thought that no stranger would be kind to her, let alone have the right to confide her grievances. But today, there was Zhao Xian first, and then there was the mysterious gentleman on the terrace. The long-lost warmth enveloped Ming Dai in the cold winter night, making her almost cry uncontrollably. Ming Dai tried her best to widen her eyes so that tears would not flow out. There was a surge of emotions in her heart. She could not help but muster up the courage to complain loudly. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you hear it. Anyway, I just feel that her piano skill is very ordinary!¡± Ming Dai found it funny again after saying it all in one breath. It was as if she had become an unreasonable little girl. Regardless of whether she had done anything wrong, she stubbornly and childishly asked her parents to stand behind her and help her unconditionally. She thought that she would not receive any response and wanted to find an excuse to leave in embarrassment. Unexpectedly, the man agreed with her. ¡°No, it¡¯s not ordinary. It¡¯s very bad.¡± ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± ¡°Shumann¡¯s ¡®Tr?umerei¡¯ is meant to bring the listener into a quiet and delicate mood with poetic intent. He deliberately abandoned those showy expressions of skills and focused on the embodiment of emotions. Every melody is the expression of the romantic aesthetic in his heart. These two performers are obviously amateurs and don¡¯t understand the deeper meaning Schumann wanted to convey. They deliberately showed off clumsy techniques with no sense of rhythmic breathing. They pressed the keys too hard, and not to mention the mistakes and missed beats¡­ If anyone thinks that they played well, we can only say that the person who praised them has poor taste.¡± The man gave a serious and sharp evaluation. He was like a professional music critic, his every word hit the nail on the head. How could Ming Dai know so much? The piano she was talking about was just her homework for the role. She had acted as a vicious, supporting actress in the piano major in one television drama, which was why she had specially found a professional piano teacher for a month of training. The teacher had indeed praised Ming Dai for being very talented, but what if she was just fooling around because of the high tuition fees? Ming Dai did a good job. She could play the entire song in front of the camera without looking at the score. There was no need to specially find a stunt double. Unfortunately, in the end, these piano scenes were cut into pieces because the director said that the only scenes of the supporting actress needed was when she was dealing with the female lead viciously out of love for the male lead. There was no need to showcase the piano scene¡­ Now that a few years had passed, Ming Dai had completely forgotten about the little piano knowledge she had. Listening to the man¡¯s comments was like listening to ancient greek. She was not proud at all. Instead, she was embarrassed, as if she had played with a big knife in front of Guan Yu. ¡°Actually¡­ I don¡¯t really understand. I just don¡¯t like her and am deliberately venting.¡± Ming Dai explained weakly. She did not want to lie to this kind-hearted person. At the same time, Ming Dai was also afraid that the other party would hate her because of her thoughts and think that she was vicious and narrow-minded. The man did not fly into a rage. ¡°Sometimes intuition speaks louder of talent. Your piano teacher didn¡¯t lie to you.¡± He was good at reading people and saw through Ming Dai¡¯s lack of confidence at a glance. He comforted her gently and tolerantly. However, his tolerance was different from Zhou Yunzhi¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t that he saw her as inferior, but that he had already seen the vastness of the universe and still pitied the greenery. It was as if the spring sun had brushed past the ground that was cracked by the cold. Everything grew wantonly in this gentleness. The emotions that Ming Dai had been suppressing for too long suddenly broke down. She could no longer control her tears. They rolled down her cheeks like large pearls. ¡°Thanks for the compliment.¡± She sobbed as she thanked him. However, she felt that this was very impolite and tried to hold back her tears. Unexpectedly, her tears fell even more fiercely. She cried like an aggrieved child. The ivy leaves rustled. The man seemed to be unable to sit still and wanted to get up to comfort her. Ming Dai did not notice that all she could think about was how embarrassing it was that she could not stop crying. She hurriedly said, ¡°Thank you so much.¡± Then, she grabbed the corner of her dress and ran away. The man did not even have time to stop her. He stared blankly in the direction where Ming Dai¡¯s skirt disappeared and did not come back to his senses for a long time. Ming Dai knew nothing. She covered her face and ran for quite a distance. When she controlled her tears, she heaved a sigh of relief. As for that man, she did not dare to think about how panicked he was when he saw her tears. It was simply a social death! At this moment, Ming Dai noticed that she had accidentally run into the corridor that connected to the lounge of the annex building. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks and was glad that no one was around when she saw a figure come out of the corner. It was the man who had played the duet with Gu Lingsi on stage earlier! Ming Dai turned around and wanted to hide, but the other party discovered her first¡ª ¡°Dai? It was really you I saw just now.¡± His voice and tone were extremely gentle as he walked towards Ming Dai unhurriedly. Ming Dai subconsciously stood up straight and her back stiffened slightly. It was a defensive posture. ¡°Shen Qinghe.¡± She said his name. Ming Dai had dated four boyfriends in total. Only her first boyfriend had hurt her deeply when she was at her most innocent and ignorant age. This person was Shen Qinghe¡ª Winner of three Golden Roosters, he had countless fans and was praised by his peers. He was known as the male god of the entertainment industry. The only blemish on him was probably the scandal with Ming Dai a few years ago. In fact, very few people around them knew that the two of them had actually been in a relationship. In the eyes of the outside world, this scandal was even more out of Ming Dai¡¯s league. When Shen Qinghe debuted in a major literary film, he was nominated for the Best Actor award. As for Ming Dai, her debut work was an online movie that was frenzied. Ming Dai acted as a pretty vase and had no acting skills at all. Even though she insisted on not revealing her body, the labels of this movie being vulgar and low-grade were still firmly stuck on her and accompanied her throughout her acting career. Chapter 7 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios When the scandal first spread, Shen Qinghe¡¯s fans were furious and felt that he had been tainted. Hence, Ming Dai¡¯s Weibo account was filled with the scolding from his fans every day. They created fake rumors, photoshopped her pictures, and claimed that she did plastic surgery¡­ These were all considered light punishments. There were even people who dug out Ming Dai¡¯s address and phone number. They continuously harassed her with phone calls and bombarded her with text messages. They also sent her wreaths, animal carcasses, and even death threats. Ming Dai was so frightened that she had nightmares every night and moved three times in a row. It could be said that the bloodbath that Ming Dai had experienced after her debut was mostly because of Shen Qinghe! What did he say when Ming Dai complained to Shen Qinghe aggrievedly? The smile on that exquisite face was perfect without a trace of smoke. He said in a gentle tone¡ª Ming Dai, our reputations are too different. It won¡¯t do you any good to make it public. Ming Dai, don¡¯t get the paparazzi to play these tricks behind your back. It will only embarrass you. Ming Dai, there are so many people out there who hate you now. Have you ever found the reason for this? ¡­ Ming Dai had not seen Shen Qinghe for a long time. She had just caught a glimpse of him on the stage playing a duet with Gu Lingsi. Their gazes towards each other were affectionate and gentle. And now, he¡¯s calling her ¡°Dai¡± sweetly like they were the closest of friends. She was not touched. She was simply amazed by his good acting skills. Shen Qinghe observed her reddened eyes with interest. ¡°Did you cry?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ming Dai was unwilling to show weakness in front of Shen Qinghe. Shen Qinghe thought that he had seen through her thoughts and smiled. ¡°Is it because of the news these past two days? Are there a lot of people scolding you online? It must be very stressful.¡± When Ming Dai heard this, she crossed her arms defensively. She did not think that Shen Qinghe would be so kind. As expected, Shen Qinghe was not concerned about her. His next words were: ¡°That¡¯s why¡ª¡± There was an imperceptible coldness hidden in his gentle voice. He said meaningfully, ¡°Who asked you to be so stupid when you do bad things? Even if you¡¯re in a bad mood and want to vent your anger, you should choose those who don¡¯t dare to say it out loud. This kind of child can¡¯t be controlled. It¡¯s the hardest to deal with¡­ Oh right, you forgot to deal with the aftermath, right? Tsk, if you were smarter, you wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this.¡± His regretful words fell into Ming Dai¡¯s ears, making her feel chills all over, as if this was the first time she had met Shen Qinghe. ¡°I didn¡¯t do this, but you¡­¡± Why was he so familiar with this topic? Shen Qinghe laughed heartily. ¡°You¡¯re too funny! Are you suspecting that I¡¯ve done such a thing before? Dai Dai, have you forgotten? I¡¯ve acted as a psychopathic killer in the past. It¡¯s a basic operation to commit a meticulous crime!¡± Ming Dai did not believe him at all and wanted to bypass him to leave. Shen Qinghe strode over and blocked her path. He leaned against the wall with one leg bent and one hand in his pocket. His posture was casual and carefree. Her carefully styled hair fell uncontrollably on her forehead, vaguely covering her exquisite eyebrows. She looked even more unruly, like a refined scum with darkness hidden in her bones. ¡°Are you going to look for Lingsi? She changed her lounge.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s eyes widened in anger, and her eyes were alive with anger. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we get back together? If you agree, I¡¯ll tell you her location.¡± Shen Qinghe said slowly. When he looked over with his deep eyes, there was a deep affection in them. Ming Dai had long been covered in wounds because of this hypocritical deep love. Hearing this, she only felt that it was strange. ¡°Are you crazy?¡± ¡°When we broke up, I thought you were too boring. Now, you seem to have become interesting again? I heard that you were dating CEO Ning not long ago. I¡¯m quite curious about what he sees in you¡­ Oh, no, he just announced his engagement to Lingsi. Does that mean you¡¯re the one who interfered?¡± ¡°You like Gu Lingsi too?¡± Ming Dai remembered that the two of them were a well-received on-screen couple. Even Shen Qinghe¡¯s fans were very friendly to Gu Lingsi. Shen Qinghe was stunned for a moment before he smiled. ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t tease you anymore. Gu Lingsi¡¯s resting room is the first room on the second floor. Go.¡± His lowered eyes were frosty as he leaned close to her ear and reminded her. ¡°Remember, clean up better this time.¡± Ming Dai only reacted after he had walked far away. Shen Qinghe came over and said that because he thought that she was going to cause trouble for Gu Lingsi. However, he did not want to help Gu Lingsi. Instead, he reminded Ming Dai to ¡°clean better¡±. Ming Dai did not think that he was helping her. Whether it was her or Gu Lingsi, they were just interesting toys in Shen Qinghe¡¯s eyes for him to play with. Deep affection? Sincerity? What a joke. Ming Dai had already seen through his true nature from all the injuries she had suffered in the past. As for his reminder, Ming Dai did not fully believe him and planned to go over and take a look first. The annex building was quiet and there was no one along the way. As soon as Ming Dai stepped onto the second floor, she saw Gu Lingsi¡¯s assistant coming out of the lounge. The assistant recognized Ming Dai. ¡°Miss Ming?¡± The other party¡¯s expression was faintly arrogant. Although Gu Lingsi was friendly to Ming Dai, most of the people around her had that same attitude. Ming Dai ignored her and asked, ¡°Is Gu Lingsi here?¡± The assistant frowned. ¡°Miss Ming, how many times do you need me to remind you? You should call the young mistress ¡®Sister¡¯ instead of calling her by her name without any manners.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s hands, which were hanging by her sides, secretly grabbed the hem of her skirt. ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me Miss Ming too?¡± She retorted stubbornly. The assistant did not expect Ming Dai to be so sharp-tongued and his face turned ashen. ¡°The young mistress will be back soon. Go in and wait for her!¡± With that, he left with heavy footsteps. Ming Dai also snorted and pushed open the door of the lounge. When she opened the door, there seemed to be a soft click from inside the house. She thought that someone was there, but when she looked around, the room was empty. The window was slightly open, and the curtains swayed in the wind. The hanging crystal pendant knocked against the wall. Ming Dai naturally thought that she had heard this sound just now. When she walked in, her gaze involuntarily swept around. The room was filled with Gu Lingsi¡¯s belongings, and many of Ming Dai could tell the way at a glance¡ª There were two dresses hanging on the hanger against the wall. They were the new haute couture designs that Gu Lingsi¡¯s mother had picked out from the brand¡¯s catalog last month. Ming Dai was also there at that time, but she had been invisible for a long time. The Hermes Himalayan platinum bag that was casually placed in the corner of the sofa was a birthday present that Gu Lingsi had received from her brother, Gu Changming, last year. Ming Dai was born on the same day and month as her. The birthday present was a warning to her not to cause any trouble. There was a custom-made black pony pendant hanging on the bag. The English word ¡°Lucas¡± was embroidered on the leather surface with gold thread. It was a reference to a pure-blooded horse that Father Gu had given to Gu Lingsi three years ago. Father Gu had spent three years entering the Xiangjiang Jockey Club and finally managed to win the horse ownership. He had spent more than a million dollars to give it to his daughter to take care of her uneasiness. This was because that year was also the year Ming Dai and Gu Lingsi¡¯s background were exposed. ¡­ Chapter 8 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Sometimes, Ming Dai hated herself for having such a good memory. Fortunately, she had just cried in front of a stranger and vented her emotions. She was still calm. Ming Dai found a sofa and sat down. She took out her phone and unlocked it, preparing to find something to do to pass the time. She could not open the social media platform. Once she does, she would see endless negative comments. She could not log into the chat app either. There were too many people sending her messages, trying to probe, scolding her, giving hypocritical consolation, and so on. In the end, she habitually chose the mini-game that she often played. The Match-3 game did not need to connect to the Internet and was repetitive. It looked boring, but it was one of the few sanctuaries for her. Ming Dai, who had scanned the room in a hurry, did not notice that there was another wardrobe in the lounge. Designed for aesthetics, the hidden door of the push cabinet blended into the surrounding wooden walls of the same color. It was not intentional and became an ideal hiding place for people with ulterior motives. When the only sound that echoed in the quiet lounge was the sound of ice shattering in the game, the cabinet door on the wall cracked open, and a black shadow quietly crawled out¡­ Ming Dai suddenly felt a chill down her spine. She turned her head sharply and scanned every corner of the room, but she didn¡¯t find anything. After she stopped moving, the game also quietened down. There was still only the clicking sound of the crystal curtain pendant hitting the wall. Ming Dai retracted her gaze as if nothing had happened. She tapped on her phone and made a call. As she spoke, she stood up. ¡°I¡¯m in Gu Lingsi¡¯s resting room. What? Are you coming over? I¡¯ll come out to look for you¡­¡± As she spoke, Ming Dai walked towards the door unhurriedly. She did not hang up the call. When she finally reached the door and touched the doorknob with one hand. Only Ming Dai knew that her hands were trembling violently. One more step¡­ One step¡­ ¡°Stop right there!¡± The man¡¯s hoarse voice sounded behind her head! Ming Dai did not even dare to turn around. She turned the doorknob and immediately ran out! The next second, someone grabbed her hair forcefully! Ming Dai¡¯s scalp was hurting from the force. She had no choice but to raise her head, revealing her slender and fragile snow-white neck. Her phone had also accidentally fallen to the ground. The lock screen lit up, but there was no ongoing call. The man looked down. How could he not have known? Ming Dai had long discovered him. She was just pretending not to know and running away! Without hesitation, he took out a handkerchief from his jacket and covered Ming Dai¡¯s mouth and nose. Ming Dai chose to hold her breath immediately, but she still inevitably inhaled some ether from the handkerchief! The drug seeped into her body, causing her to instantly lose her strength and fall weakly to the ground. Before falling into darkness, the last thought in Ming Dai¡¯s mind was¡ª In that moment of danger, she didn¡¯t know who to call¡­ ¡­ ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, my son wouldn¡¯t have died!¡± ¡°Our Li family¡¯s bloodline will end with me! It¡¯s all gone!¡± ¡°I want you to die! Anyways, you lived a rotten life! It¡¯s worth it to exchange a life for a life!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡­ Ming Dai heard the man¡¯s hateful roar and slowly woke up. When she opened her eyes, she was lying on the sofa. Her limbs were sore, and her body seemed to have been sucked dry. She moved and struggled to open her eyes. In a daze, she saw the man pacing around the room anxiously. The man was wearing a black jacket and his pants were covered in dust. He held a sharp dagger with a blood groove in his hand. He was very thin, and his entire body was filled with vicissitudes and fatigue. His face was unshaven, and his eyeballs were bloodshot. His lips were so dry that they were cracked, but he did not drink any water. Instead, he kept muttering something. No one knew what he was saying. Ming Dai blinked and recognized the other party¡ª ¡­ It was the father of the little boy who had passed away, Li Zhi! It was said that he had been imprisoned for manslaughter a few years ago and had only been released at the beginning of this year. He was a true desperado! Ming Dai realized that she was in a terrible situation. Her entire body turned cold and she accidentally shivered. The sound of her skirt rubbing against the sofa was barely audible. Li Zhi immediately turned to look at her! His eyes were filled with anger, hatred, and cruelty. They were as cold as a beast¡¯s! Thinking of his identity, Ming Dai felt as if she had fallen into a frozen cave and her blood seemed to have frozen. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Li Zhi grinned at Ming Dai, revealing his white teeth. Ming Dai remained silent. Suddenly, she heard a muffled groan. She turned her head and realized that Gu Lingsi was also there. Her hair was messy and she was lying not far away from her. Her left cheek was red, as if someone had grabbed her hair and slapped her. ¡­ Who else could it be other than Li Zhi? Gu Lingsi must have accidentally bumped into Li Zhi when she returned to the waiting room and was caught. Most of these injuries were caused by her resistance. For a moment, Ming Dai felt rather upset. Although she did not have a good impression of Gu Lingsi, she did not want Gu Lingsi to get hurt because of her. At this moment, Gu Lingsi, who had just woken up, seemed to have realized their predicament and remained silent. Her messy hair covered half of her face. Gu Lingsi¡¯s head was lowered, and no one knew what she was thinking. Ming Dai thought that she couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. She cleared her throat and said, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°This girl¡¯s pretty smart.¡± Li Zhi licked his dry and bleeding lips. The more critical the situation was, the clearer Ming Dai¡¯s mind became. Her previously muddled mind was working even faster as she stared at Li Zhi¡¯s every move. She said to Li Zhi, ¡°You captured us but didn¡¯t make a move immediately, which means that you have something you want. Tell us, as long as you don¡¯t hurt us, we¡¯ll do our best to satisfy your conditions, right? Gu Lingsi?¡± Gu Lingsi did not respond when her name was called. She merely moved her body and hid behind Ming Dai. But it didn¡¯t matter as long as Gu Lingsi didn¡¯t object. Ming Dai had deliberately dragged her along because she was worried that she would not be able to meet Li Zhi¡¯s conditions. The Gu family would not help her unless Gu Lingsi was around¡­ Hence, Ming Dai did not retreat and stood between Li Zhi and Gu Lingsi, trying her best to deal with the other party. As for Li Zhi, he rubbed his face and gritted his teeth. ¡°When I was in prison for a few years, I fought with someone and was injured. The doctor said that I would never be able to give birth in this lifetime. My son, who was killed by you, is the only descendant of my Li family. Tell me, how much is his life worth?¡± It was indeed money. As Ming Dai thought about it, she felt even more fortunate to have called Gu Lingsi along. Her tone was calm and gentle, wanting to appease the other party¡¯s emotions. ¡°How much do you want?¡± ¡°I heard that celebrities like you can earn more than a billion yuan a year! I want a hundred million yuan! It¡¯s not too much, right?¡± As Li Zhi spoke, he tightened his grip on his dagger. He looked like he would kill them if Ming Dai was not satisfied with him! Ming Dai felt extremely helpless. She had thought that Li Zhi might be greedy, but she did not expect his appetite to be so big! Let alone 100 million, she couldn¡¯t even take out 10,000 yuan now! Chapter 9 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Of course, it was impossible for Ming Dai to show it on the surface. ¡°I can satisfy you with a hundred million, but you should know how much money this is. It will take time to raise it. I can wait, but can you afford it? There are many people outside. After you take this money, you have to leave safely eventually, right? Besides, the bank will notice such a huge change in the amount. I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be easy for you to deal with it later.¡± Ming Dai analyzed the pros and cons for Li Zhi, as if she was sincerely planning for him. Li Zhi actually listened and hesitated. ¡°¡­So?¡± ¡°How about ten million?¡± When Li Zhi heard that, he flew into a rage! ¡°Do you think I¡¯m stupid?!¡± Looking at the dagger in Li Zhi¡¯s hand pointed at the tip of her nose, Ming Dai appeared exceptionally calm as she said word by word, ¡°I can prepare cash for you. If you use a suitcase, two will be enough. Ten million is also a number you can easily take away!¡± Li Zhi¡¯s hand that was waving the dagger paused for a moment. Then, he fell silent. His eyes flickered as if he was thinking about whether this plan was feasible. After hesitating for a long time, he finally made up his mind and nodded. ¡°Alright, get someone to prepare ten million in cash. I¡¯ll let you go, but¡­¡± The next words were suddenly stuck in his throat. He stared fixedly in a certain direction, his eyes bulging as if they were about to roll off! The lounge suddenly fell silent. They could only hear each other¡¯s breathing and a very small beep. Then. ¡°Hey¡­¡± It was the sound of the phone being picked up! It turned out that Gu Lingsi was not hiding behind Ming Dai because she was afraid! Instead, she was secretly calling someone on her phone! This idea was indeed a good idea, but it also completely angered Li Zhi! He leaped up like a leopard, his dagger gleaming like a condensed star as he stabbed at Gu Lingsi with murderous intent! Accompanied by a scream, Gu Lingsi dodged to the side and accidentally threw her phone! The call that had just been picked up was naturally hung up! Just as the critical moment was about to arrive! The knife that was aimed at Gu Lingsi stopped! It was Ming Dai who held the knife! Gu Lingsi was dumbfounded. He looked at Ming Dai, who was holding the blade with her bare hands¡ª Her hands, which had been well-maintained after becoming famous, were defenseless against the bright blade. Almost instantly, they were cut open, and blood rushed out from between her fingers! Ming Dai had always been afraid of pain, but right now, she did not even make a sound. Even though she was in so much pain that beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, she still gritted her teeth and endured it. She relied on her thin body to forcefully endure it! Not to mention Gu Lingsi, even Ming Dai herself did not know where she got the strength and courage to pounce forward and grab that knife! In a moment of life and death, her simple thought was that Gu Lingsi could not die! ¡°Hurry¡­¡± Ming Dai could not hold on any longer! No matter how hard she tried, she could not win against a strong man who had killed someone! Her only hope now was for Gu Lingsi to join forces with her to subdue Li Zhi! Under the current circumstances, this was one of the few ideas that Ming Dai could think of! ¡®But.¡¯ Gu Lingsi did not do what she had expected. A few seconds later, Gu Lingsi picked up her phone and ran away. Ming Dai saw it from the corner of her eye and was almost in despair. ¡°Gu¡­¡± With just one shout, Li Zhi, who was so angry that he lost control, directly flipped her over. ¡°Go to hell!¡± He roared with red eyes. The dagger in his hand was thrusted without hesitation! The back of Ming Dai¡¯s head hit the coffee table. Before she could cry out in pain, she was suddenly stabbed in the abdomen by a dagger! That instant of pain almost tore her body apart! She covered her wound with all her might, but she could not suppress the blood that was gushing out! Ming Dai¡¯s vision turned black. After a few short breaths, she fainted! ¡­ Ming Dai thought that this was the end of her life. Her reputation was ruined, and she died by vengeance. Unexpectedly, she opened her eyes again. Her weak breathing and heaving chest proved that she was still alive. Her hands and feet were tied, her mouth was gagged, and she was cramped up in a narrow, dark, confined space. The fragrant and soft fabric around her made Ming Dai vaguely guess that this might be Li Zhi¡¯s closet. What about Li Zhi and Gu Lingsi? Why was she tied up here? Ming Dai tried to struggle and call for help. When she moved, she realized that the wound had not stopped bleeding. Instead, blood was flowing out continuously. Soon, blood soaked the fabric beneath her. The warmth and strength of her body were slowly lost. The reason why she didn¡¯t feel any pain was because her nerves were almost numb. The current Ming Dai was in a state where she could not move at all and was lying in the wardrobe waiting for death. ¡®Will anyone come?¡¯ Ming Dai did not know. Perhaps because she was blinded by the darkness, Ming Dai¡¯s hearing suddenly became clearer. She heard chaotic footsteps coming in one after another, accompanied by panicked exclamations and conversations. ¡°What should we do!¡± The person who spoke with a choked voice¡­ was Mother Gu! Immediately after, someone asked anxiously, ¡°Did you find him?¡± This time, it was Gu Changming! Her brother! ¡°We¡¯re searching with all our might. I heard that the criminal ran away with someone.¡± So Father Gu was here too! At this moment, Ming Dai¡¯s eyes were filled with a strong desire for life! ¡®No!¡¯ She was still here! Ming Dai wanted to make a sound to attract their attention. However, her current state was really terrible. She was basically on her last breath. Moreover, the moment she moved, blood would flow even faster. It was obvious that her internal organs had been injured. Even so, Ming Dai did not want to lie here and wait for death. Even if she had to grind it bit by bit, she had to give it a try! She gritted her teeth and tried her best to move towards the cabinet door. The wardrobe was not deep, but to her, it was a chasm between life and death. Just like that, Ming Dai used up all her remaining strength and moved a little further away. She was about to be saved¡­ Mother Gu was still crying. It was rare for her, who had always been elegant and restrained, to lose control. Her voice was hoarse. ¡°There¡¯s so much blood. Why is there so much blood? Is she injured?¡± Ming Dai¡¯s eyes were covered in sweat and it hurt. Hearing this worried voice, the discomfort seemed to have suddenly disappeared. It was as if her mother¡¯s hand had gently hugged her and magically soothed all the pain for her. The bad memories from the past had also disappeared. Ming Dai¡¯s heart ached. She only remembered that she was touched at this moment. So she shifted even harder, even though her efforts and gains seemed ridiculously out of proportion. The voices outside continued to sound. It was Father Gu comforting his wife. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, our precious daughter is blessed!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. She¡¯s been smart since she was young!¡± Gu Changming¡¯s tone was incomparably firm. He was both comforting his parents and himself. Ming Dai suddenly paused. She realized that something was wrong. ¡°But Lingsi is afraid of pain! When she was young, she would hug me and cry when her finger was cut by a fruit knife!¡± Chapter 10 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ever since she was young¡­ Lingsi¡­ These words were like a wake-up call that made Ming Dai dizzy. Only then did she realize how ridiculous she was. She was actually touched by the Gu family. In reality, they weren¡¯t worried about her at all. They were worried about Gu Lingsi! Even the blood that she had bled on the ground, they were afraid that it was Gu Lingsi¡¯s. They had never thought about her own existence! ¡®Is this how it feels like to fall from the clouds into the mud?¡¯ Ming Dai thought to herself. There was nothing more appropriate than her current state of mind. The pain of the dagger cutting her palm and lower abdomen could not be compared to the pain in her heart. The funniest thing was that this was not the first time Ming Dai was treated this way by them ever since she returned to the Gu family. She had even foolishly approached them again and again. Moreover, reality proved that being repeatedly stabbed in the same wound would not make it any less painful. It would only hurt more. Ming Dai immediately felt that what was locking her up was not the wardrobe, but the seawater that seemed to be coming in all directions. It surged into her mouth, nose, and ears. The air was sucked away bit by bit, and death descended, pressing down on her until she could not breathe¡­ ¡®No!¡¯ Why! Why must she give up! Even if she had to crawl, she had to get out! She had to survive! Ming Dai¡¯s shell-like body exerted strength again, allowing her to continue moving towards the cabinet door. She did not want to listen to what the people outside the door were saying, but those words still entered her ears¡ª ¡°Where¡¯s Ming Dai? Didn¡¯t Assistant Wang say that she came to look for Lingsi?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention that scourge! If she hadn¡¯t been vicious and attacked a little boy for no reason, the company¡¯s share price wouldn¡¯t have fallen so much! The shareholders are all looking for me to hold them accountable! It¡¯s even better now! That dead little boy¡¯s father came to seek revenge! All of them were caused by her! Lingsi was also kidnapped! I can¡¯t wait for her to die this time!¡± ¡°Dad, although that¡¯s the case, you can¡¯t say that. Ming Dai is a female celebrity after all. If news of her death travels, I¡¯m afraid people will spread rumors that we didn¡¯t save her. This will affect the company even more.¡± ¡°¡­ If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have acknowledged her! She¡¯s not sensible at all! Ever since she returned to the Gu family, she hasn¡¯t stopped for a single day! This jinx!¡± ¡°After all, she grew up with that greedy and selfish couple. How well could she have been raised?¡± ¡°Can the two of you stop talking! I¡¯m only worried about my Lingsi!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Words were the real knife to the heart. Ming Dai understood. Her vision were blurring. It could have been sweat. Or perhaps it was tears. However, Ming Dai did not give up. She continued to move and get closer like a machine. The fabric in the cabinet also made a slight rustling sound under her movements. ¡°Oh?¡± Gu Changming suddenly noticed something. ¡°This wall, is it a closet?¡± This voice was undoubtedly like the sound of nature! Ming Dai swore! If she was saved because of this, the grudge between her and the Gu family would be written off once she got out! From now on, she would take a detour whenever she saw the Gu family! She would never appear in front of them as an eyesore! As long as she could survive! She also heard footsteps approaching the wardrobe step by step! ¡°Chairman Gu! Young Master Gu! Madam!¡± Someone rushed into the lounge! It was Gu Lingsi¡¯s assistant, who had met Ming Dai not long ago! ¡°We found the young mistress! She was taken to the rooftop by the criminal!¡± This message quickly attracted the attention of the Gu family. Ming Dai listened in despair as the footsteps hurried away. They were all concerned about Gu Lingsi. ¡°Where¡¯s Lingsi? Is she alright? Has she been saved?¡± ¡°I saved her. She was injured. It¡¯s not serious. It¡¯s just that the criminal ran away.¡± ¡°Nothing else matters! As long as Lingsi is fine!¡± They were so glad and happy. Someone asked, ¡°Is Ming Dai there too?¡± The assistant was stunned. ¡°No.¡± Ming Dai, who was in the wardrobe, tried her best to call for help. ¡°Help¡­¡± Ming Dai thought that she had used all her strength to shout loudly. However, she did not know that this cry for help was so weak that nobody could hear it at all. ¡®What about the people outside the cabinet?¡¯ Father Gu rebuked angrily, ¡°Do you even need to think about it? Ming Dai must have run away! Just like her selfish parents!¡± Mother Gu started to get impatient. ¡°Stop wasting time, okay? I want to see Lingsi as soon as possible!¡± Her brother, Gu Changming, realized that something was wrong. ¡°Why do I smell gasoline?¡± The assistant ran out in a hurry and came back in a hurry. His tone was terrified. ¡°That lunatic actually spilled gasoline on this floor and lit a fire! It¡¯s already burning over from the corridor! It¡¯s especially fast! Let¡¯s go quickly!¡± These words made the Gu family panic. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Their footsteps were hurried. ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡± ¡°Wait¡­¡± Just like that, Ming Dai¡¯s cries were left behind in despair. At this moment, she also realized that the last bit of strength in her body had been drained. She was in the darkness, looking at the void around her. The heat of the flames was getting closer and closer. Thick smoke seeped in through the gaps in the cabinets. The bell of death rang in her ears, and she could not escape. Ming Dai closed her eyes. Tears rolled down from the corners of her eyes and sank into the blood beneath her. This time, she really closed her eyes and fell asleep. She would never feel pain again¡ª Ming Dai, the Ming Dai who had once been unrestrained, flamboyant, and reckless on screen. Her young life was frozen in this winter when she was 28 years old. Her reputation was ruined, and she died by vengeance. * * * Ming Dai¡¯s death caused a huge commotion. At the same time, it also caused a celebration on the Internet. Posts of ¡®#MingDai¡¯ were directly uploaded on all major social media platforms with the bright red and purple word ¡°Hot¡±. At first, many people thought that it was a prank, but after the media confirmed Ming Dai¡¯s death, all the major platforms instantly churned out articles. Some chaotic news about this incident also became active on different platforms¡ª The identity of the murderer, Gu Lingsi¡¯s implication, Ming Dai¡¯s death due to the smoke from the fire, suffocation¡­ The netizens who learned of this incident had different attitudes. Some people cursed and cheered, some regretted and vexed, and some indifferently watched from the sidelines. Then, the police came forward personally to clarify that after two investigations, they confirmed that the little boy had fallen off the building by accident and had nothing to do with Ming Dai. The reversal of the news made those who applauded Ming Dai¡¯s death fall silent. The wave of frenzy gradually faded, and the voice of reason prevailed again. Ming Dai¡¯s fans, who had gradually disappeared amidst the malicious comments, finally became active on the Internet again after the news of Ming Dai¡¯s death attracted the attention of the entire world. Many fans cried, people edited reels of her acting work, and the public began to reflect on what this cyber violence had brought. It was as if Ming Dai had become the white moonlight of the entire world overnight. One of them was an old fan who had written a reminiscence article for Ming Dai. The last sentence of the article was¡ª [Ming Dai, look. After you are gone, the whole world loves you.] Chapter 11 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios It had been a long time since Ming Dai¡¯s soul felt such peace. It was like lying down on the soft and warm bed after being exhausted for a long long time. Outside the house was the white noise of the pattering rain. The air was fresh and there was a moist fragrance of the soil. She was caught off guard and closed her eyes in relief. The pain left her and she slept without dreams for the entire night. She finally woke up from her dream¡ª¡ª She opened her eyes. The world seemed to have returned to its original position like chaotic particles. The outline gradually became clearer, and the noise buzzed in her ears¡­ At the same time, an intense dizziness struck her head. ¡°Ming Dai!¡± Someone pulled her hard, waking her up a little. Ming Dai raised her heavy head in a daze. Her cousin, Kang Ren, was standing in front of her with his hands on his hips. His face was filled with anxiety. ¡°No matter how tired you are, how can you sleep at this time? Do you know how important today is?! Our future are in your hands alone!¡± ¡°¡­ Hmm?¡± No matter how much her cousin¡¯s tone sounded like he was on steroids, Ming Dai only had a blank expression on her face. Her head was spinning. Was this her imagination? Why did Cousin look so much younger? In her memory, her cousin had ruined his body after many years of drinking and socializing. He was bloated and his skin was yellow. He looked like a middle-aged man who spent his life in fruitless efforts. But now, he seemed to be in the prime of his youth. His huge beer belly had shrunk, his hair was smooth and shiny, his skin was fair, and his facial features were structured. He was completely a young and handsome young man! ¡°Brother Ren.¡± Ming Dai, who was in a daze, subconsciously asked him, ¡°When did you undergo plastic surgery?¡± Kang Ren curled his lips speechlessly. ¡°Are you muddle-headed from sleeping? Alright, it¡¯s our turn soon. Hurry up and go to the bathroom to wash your face and wake up!¡± As he spoke, he pulled her up from the bench and pushed her into the nearest female washroom. Ming Dai staggered two steps forward and almost fell as if she was stepping on a sponge. When she finally stabilized herself, she inadvertently caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror from the corner of her eye¡ª Ming Dai widened her eyes! All her fatigue and sleepiness disappeared at once! She had rustic hair, a pair of heavy black-framed glasses, a pink dress, and a long down jacket of the same color¡­ ¡®This is me?¡¯ She took off her glasses and lifted her bangs that almost covered her eyes, revealing her original face¡ª The contours of her face were still childish, and her eyes and eyebrows vaguely resembled her future stunning beauty. There was still some baby fat on her cheeks, and her skin was so tender that water could be pinched out of it. It was filled with collagen that could not be bought no matter how much money was spent. It was her. Yet, it wasn¡¯t her. To be precise, she was younger. What the hell was going on? Could it be¡­ She was reborn? ¡°Cough cough cough!¡± The discomfort caused by the coughing made Ming Dai slowly realize that this was probably not a dream. She coughed and two lumps of red quickly appeared on her cheeks. Her eyes were bright and her lips were pale and delicate. She raised her hand to touch her forehead. Her temperature was terrifyingly high. She must have a fever. Ming Dai stood there in a daze and thought for a while. Then, she put on her glasses again, let her bangs down and walked out of the bathroom. Kang Ren, who was squatting at the door, was already impatient. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to hurry up! Time waits for no man!¡± Looking at his chattering mouth, Ming Dai recalled the timeline she was at¡ª This was 10 years ago. Ming Dai was 18 years old and in her third year of high school. At this moment, her parents still did not know that they had carried the wrong child. Their lives were calm and uneventful. Ming Dai¡¯s grades were not considered good. Her parents¡¯ vision for her future was for her to get into a university, find a job, get married, take care of her husband and children, and send her parents off in her old age. As far as they knew, this was the most perfect life for a girl. Ming Dai had been pretty since she was young and looked like a doll. Whenever she went out, they had to stop at every step. It was all because of the uncles and aunties who liked her and the children who wanted to be her friends. However, her parents did not like this. They felt that since their family was poor, Ming Dai¡¯s actions were too eye-catching. As such, they had given her all kinds of strange hairstyles since elementary school. Ming Dai grew up to be even more beautiful in junior high school. Her parents were worried that she would start dating at a young age, so they imitated the way it was shown on television dramas. They gave Ming Dai, who did not require a high prescription, a pair of black-framed glasses and mushroom bangs. As expected, most of Ming Dai¡¯s beauty was hidden. In the end, be it her relatives, neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, or classmates, the image of the overly stunning little girl in their memories completely disappeared. In its place was the image of a delicate and lovely girl. Once Ming Dai relied on her looks to carve out a path for herself in the entertainment industry, the people she knew in the past were extremely shocked. They all said that Ming Dai had changed drastically. This also became the source of the plastic surgery rumors about her. As for the opportunity that led her to enter the entertainment industry, it undoubtedly came from her cousin, Kang Ren. Kang Ren had never been a well-behaved person since he was young. He felt that there was no way out if he kept studying. Of course, it was also because his results were terrible. He had been trying to get rich all day long before graduating from high school. He had delicate features and could be considered a little bit handsome. He took a fancy to being a celebrity and wanted both fame and fortune. He went to a film studio to play a minor role in an attempt to replicate the path of those legendary celebrities. Unfortunately, in the entertainment industry where handsome men and beautiful women were everywhere, his looks were mediocre at best. He did not have any hidden acting talent. After acting as a corpse in the film studio for a month and eating boxed lunch every day, he finally could not take it anymore and ran away. When he got home, he happened to bump into Ming Dai¡¯s mother, Yu Ting, celebrating her birthday. Kang Ren¡¯s mother was Yu Ting¡¯s biological sister, and Kang Ren was also Yu Ting¡¯s most beloved nephew. Of course she had to come by for a meal. As soon as he arrived, he saw Ming Dai walk out of the room with her bangs tied up and her glasses removed, revealing her face that was like a peony that had just bloomed. At that time, she was wearing the old clothes that her cousin had discarded. It was a fashionable style from a few years ago. Now that she was wearing it, she looked stunning like a princess wearing a sack. Even her clothes looked like they were worth a hundred times more. It made the cramped old house look dazzling. Kang Ren was immediately stunned! Before the meal even started, he had already dragged his aunt, who was also Ming Dai¡¯s mother, along to talk about how Ming Dai was a good seedling suitable to enter the entertainment industry and how bright her future was! Yu Ting frowned when she heard that. Even Kang Ren¡¯s mother was teasing him about why he wasn¡¯t a big star already? Kang Ren said ambitiously that he wanted to be Ming Dai¡¯s manager! The best manager! ¡­ Later on, it turned out that he was really not far from success. Although he was not the best manager, with Ming Dai¡¯s help, he was definitely the fastest manager to climb up the ranks. After Ming Dai entered the entertainment industry, she rejected the offers of all the big companies and followed her cousin¡¯s grassroots team wholeheartedly. Even when she opened a studio later, she pulled her cousin in as a partner. It was also because of this that even though Kang Ren made a lot of money later on, the people in the industry still laughed at him and said that he relied on his cousin to ascend! Chapter 12 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Kang Ren¡¯s ability was very poor. After Ming Dai debuted, most of the hardships she had suffered in the past few years were related to him. After all, a manager was a profession that required connections and resources. However, she had to admit that Kang Ren had indeed contributed greatly to Ming Dai¡¯s entry into the entertainment industry. That was because he was the only one who could convince Yu Ting with his words! If Ming Dai told her mother that she wanted to enter the entertainment industry as an actress, Yu Ting would only scold her for being unusual and restless. Then, she would drag her into a barbershop by the roadside and shave her head as punishment! Meanwhile, Kang Ren said that he had found a good opportunity to bring Ming Dai to an audition, and Yu Ting actually went to school to apply for leave for Ming Dai for the first time! As for the perfect audition opportunity that Kang Ren mentioned, it was like a pie falling from the sky¡­ It was precisely Ming Dai¡¯s future debut work. It was an online movie with a huge margin, mixed with suspense, horror, thriller, and other elements. It was a world-shaking masterpiece with only a low rating of two-point something! Ming Dai was able to enter the entertainment industry because of it! Later on, she was mocked and looked down on by the director because of it! So this time, should she play in the film or not? ¡°Number 88!¡± Someone walked out of the audition room and shouted into the corridor. Kang Ren¡¯s eyes lit up and he whispered to Ming Dai, ¡°That¡¯s the guy I met as a minor character who introduced us to the audition!¡± Then, he raised his hand and called out. ¡°Brother! Over here!¡± That person looked in their direction and immediately frowned when he saw Ming Dai. ¡°This is your sister?¡± The other party had an expression that said, ¡°Kang Ren, are you crazy?¡± He couldn¡¯t care less about time. He pulled Kang Ren to the side and scolded unhappily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that your sister is very beautiful? Is this it? Are you playing with me? Do you know that I just boasted to the director!¡± ¡°It¡¯s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!¡± Kang Ren smiled apologetically. There was not the slightest bit of intimacy between them unlike how he portrayed. Without another word, he pulled Ming Dai over. His actions were rough as he took off her glasses and lifted her bangs. ¡°Brother! Look! Isn¡¯t my sister beautiful? She¡¯s a natural beauty who hasn¡¯t even gone under the knife!¡± Ming Dai was a little slow due to her fever and did not manage to avoid Kang Ren¡¯s series of actions in time. However, this did not stop the conflict in her heart. She shrank back. ¡°I¡­¡± She could not finish her words. Or rather, the two of them were not listening at all. The young man whom Kang Ren called brother, sized Ming Dai up from head to toe. His gaze was indescribably wretched. ¡°Not bad. Kang Ren, I didn¡¯t expect you to hide such a beautiful sister. How old is she this year? She¡¯s an adult, right?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, she just turned 18 last month! Her mother is my biological aunt! She¡¯s entrusted me with everything!¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best. It¡¯s very strict now. Last month, a production team was fined for letting Tong Xing stay up late to film. Everyone avoids underage actors!¡± What the young man did not say was that the content of their movie was not suitable for underage actors. If the public found out, they would probably be criticized to death. Now that Ming Dai was stuck at the age of 18, the young man was especially satisfied. It was as if he had already seen how happy the director was going to be, and that he would get a promotion! He quickly urged, ¡°Alright, don¡¯t waste any more time. The director is getting impatient!¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay!¡± Kang Ren reached out to pull Ming Dai again. ¡°Brother!¡± Ming Dai avoided his hand. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Alright! You¡¯re already an adult, yet you¡¯re still shy. Go in and let someone take a look. It¡¯ll be done soon! Be good!¡± Kang Ren spoke as if he was coaxing a child. In reality, he used a lot of strength and dragged Ming Dai into the audition room without any explanation. Forget that Ming Dai was sick and had no strength. Even if she had the strength, she probably wouldn¡¯t be able to resist. As she watched herself enter the audition room, the men in the room happened to look over. The audition room was big, and because the curtains were drawn, it looked dark. The air was filled with cigarette smoke, and a few men were sitting or standing with cigarettes in their mouths. They chatted casually, looking disheveled. Ming Dai had auditioned for many movies and television dramas and had seen countless directors. Of course, she could tell that these people were unprofessional. However, Kang Ren could not tell that when he saw these people. He even subconsciously lowered his waist. His eyes were filled with yearning and infatuation. He wished that he could also shake his body and become someone who had the power over actors. Actually, Ming Dai¡¯s reaction in her previous life was not much better. Basically, she was in a daze the entire time¡ªbecoming an actress, going for auditions, entering the entertainment industry¡­ She was the passive one. But this time it would be different. Ming Dai secretly pinched her palms to clear her mind and faced the men¡¯s scrutiny. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not feeling well. I don¡¯t want to audition anymore.¡± After saying this quickly, she turned around and left. ¡°What¡¯s going on!¡± The director standing in the middle was furious. Kang Ren and the person he knew were also stunned. By the time Kang Ren reacted, Ming Dai had already changed from walking to running. She rushed to the door, pulled it open, and ran out, leaving the foul audition room behind! She quickly left the building. The sunlight and cold wind in front of her made her shiver. The commercial building for the audition was considered a popular location. There were many people coming and going. Ming Dai stood by the roadside like a lost deer. She was so beautiful that she attracted the attention of many people. However, they only glanced at her briefly and quickly looked away. Everyone¡¯s life is too busy to stop for a stranger. Realizing this, Ming Dai¡¯s hand that was about to cover her face froze in mid-air. ¡®Yes, a stranger.¡¯ The 18-year-old Ming Dai was not a celebrity. She did not have any scandals or a bad reputation. She was just an ordinary third-year student. No one would pay much attention to her, let alone spend time cursing her. The heavy chains wrapped around her body seemed to have disappeared in an instant. Ming Dai could not help but continue running. She ran faster and faster. Her limbs were clearly sore from illness, but this young body that had not been exhausted from staying up late was still full of vitality and energy. Even her steps were incomparably light! The cold wind blew past her face. Ming Dai¡¯s amber eyes sparkled as if she was about to fly! She could also feel it so clearly¡ª She had been reborn! ¡­ Ming Dai ran for an unknown period of time. When she came to a stop, gasping for breath, she realized that she was in a dilapidated neighborhood. The colorful signboards, the crowded and short buildings, and the endless crowd¡­ ¡ªIt was the village in the city where she had lived for 18 years. In her previous life, she had filmed that online movie. After receiving the remuneration, she had moved away with her adoptive parents and rented a better house. From then on, she had never returned to the village in the city. Hence, even Ming Dai did not expect her subconscious to be so familiar with the village in the city. She actually ran all the way back just like that. Was it because she missed her adoptive parents? ¡®No, not to that extent.¡¯ It should be said that Ming Dai was missing the peaceful life that she lost since she stepped into the entertainment industry. Chapter 13 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai walked forward leisurely as her old and faded memories gradually recovered. She passed through the noisy street and turned into an alley that was overflowing with sewage. On the second floor of the mottled and uneven cement wall, the square window that was painted a light green color was slightly open. The leaves of the green buds drooped from the gaps and swayed gently in the wind. Ming Dai¡¯s house was behind that green window. Every inch of land in Yanjing was expensive. The Ming family could not afford a house, so Ming Dai had been renting this place since she could remember. It was eleven o¡¯clock in the morning. When Ming Dai stepped into the house, her mother, Yu Ting, was choosing vegetables in the kitchen. Hearing the creaking of the old security door, she looked over. ¡°Ming Dai?¡± She wiped her hands with her apron and stood up. ¡°You¡¯re back so early?¡± Ming Dai found her pair of pink slippers from the messy pile of shoes at the door and changed into them. When she looked up, her feet stopped. Yu Ting from ten years ago looked older than she did ten years later. ¡®That¡¯s right.¡¯ Now, she was still soaking in the bitter water of life. Her heavy burden of her livelihood was crushing her shoulders. She had to wake up before dawn every day. At noon, she would work as a waiter in a nearby restaurant, and at night, she would set up a stall in the snack street¡­ She was like a tireless spinning top. Her face, which had been considered beautiful when she was young, was ravaged beyond recognition. She looked at least ten years older than her actual age. It was only when Ming Dai gave up on the college entrance examination and entered the entertainment industry at the age of 18 that the family¡¯s financial situation improved. Yu Ting did not have to go out to work because Ming Dai¡¯s monthly salary was completely enough for the couple to live comfortably. In the beginning, Yu Ting still had a sense of crisis and would save most of the money. This way, even if Ming Dai was outdated and could not earn money, the couple¡¯s life in their later years would not be too affected. Gradually, Ming Dai became increasingly popular and earned more and more money. Her sense of crisis was numbed, and Yu Ting began to squander money. She would use various reasons to ask Ming Dai for money. The face that Ming Dai saw ten years later was a beautiful face that was loaded with countless amounts of money. On the eve of her rebirth, Ming Dai, who was mentally and physically exhausted, called her adoptive parents. She was like an aggrieved child who hoped to be comforted by her parents. The first thing Yu Ting asked was not about her condition, but¡­ ¡°Do you have to pay any money? Will your work be affected? Can we still buy the villa we saw last time?¡± ¡­ ¡°How¡¯s the audition going? Why did you come back alone? Where¡¯s your cousin?¡± The two voices in this life and the previous life seemed to overlap. Ming Dai was stunned for a moment. She avoided Yu Ting¡¯s questioning gaze and walked into the kitchen. She took the half-finished dishes from Yu Ting. ¡°I didn¡¯t feel well, so I came back on my own.¡± When Yu Ting heard this, she thought that Ming Dai had passed the audition and her face lit up. She dashed into the kitchen and snatched the vegetables from Ming Dai¡¯s hands. ¡°Alright, the kitchen is small to begin with. Why did you squeeze in? Didn¡¯t you say that you weren¡¯t feeling well? Hurry up and rest! Oh right, don¡¯t forget to call your cousin and ask when he can come to our house for dinner. It¡¯s all thanks to him showing us the way. Otherwise, how would we have found a way to bring you to the audition to be a celebrity¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t pass the audition.¡± Ming Dai lowered her eyelashes and interrupted Yu Ting¡¯s excited chatter. Yu Ting suddenly stopped talking. ¡°Didn¡¯t¡­ pass?¡± Her voice suddenly became shrill. ¡°Why not? Is it because the director doesn¡¯t like you?¡± ¡°I just didn¡¯t pass.¡± Ming Dai slowly picked up the other dishes. Her handling movements changed from unfamiliar to proficient. During this process, Yu Ting¡¯s breathing became heavy. A full minute passed. Yu Ting took a deep breath and threw the vegetables in her hand into the basin. Her tone was cold and hard, and her words were just as Ming Dai had guessed. ¡°Deal with all the vegetables. They¡¯ll be used at the stall tonight!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°The clothes are soaking in the toilet. Go wash them later!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Where are your glasses? Why did you come back like this? Are you afraid that others won¡¯t notice you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s with my cousin. He took it and didn¡¯t give it back.¡± Yu Ting stared at Ming Dai¡¯s exquisite side profile, which seemed to be automatically coated with a layer of light, and her anger instantly rose. ¡°Don¡¯t you have your old glasses? Put them on! You¡¯re already in your third year of high school! Your results are so bad! Why don¡¯t you study hard! What are you going to do when you grow up? Seduce men with your face? I knew you were a restless¡­¡± Ming Dai did not listen to the harsh scolding that brushed past her ears, nor was she angry. She just felt a little emotional. It turned out that in her previous life, it was not her cousin Kang Ren¡¯s persuasion that convinced Yu Ting. ¡ªIt was money. Ming Dai coughed softly again. Yu Ting kept scolding, ¡°Are you some delicate young lady who doesn¡¯t do any chores? You can even cough from washing the vegetables! Your movements are so slow! When I was your age, I did all the housework alone! Unlike you guys now! You don¡¯t know how lucky you are!¡± Ming Dai casually looked down at the pair of rough hands soaking in the water. They were hands that had been used to doing housework since she was young and did not have the tender and fair skin that had been maintained for ten years. Which delicate young lady¡¯s hands looked like this? Yu Ting still felt that it was not enough. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you to wash the clothes? Stop dilly-dallying!¡± How could Ming Dai do two things at the same time? There were two basins in front of her. One was for washing vegetables, and the other was for washing clothes. She used both hands¡­ ¡°Pfft.¡± Ming Dai felt that she might have lost her mind from the fever. How could she let her imagination run wild at this juncture? Yu Ting looked at her as if she was looking at a fool and ordered the third thing in disdain. ¡°There¡¯s no soy sauce at home! Go downstairs and buy a bottle!¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Dai dried her hands and took two steps forward. She turned around and reached out to Yu Ting. Yu Ting glared angrily. ¡°What do you want?!¡± ¡°Money.¡± Yu Ting held back her anger and only gave Ming Dai a 10-yuan note after a long while. ¡°A bottle of soy sauce costs eight yuan. Remember to come back with two yuan! Don¡¯t steal it!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s movements became faster. She put on her old glasses in the drawer to prevent Yu Ting from scolding her again. She ran downstairs in her slippers. After escaping from Yu Ting¡¯s scolding, the entire world seemed to be refreshed. Ming Dai¡¯s footsteps were light as she jumped forward step by step on the checkered bricks on the sidewalk. She had no distracting thoughts, like a child immersed in a game. She only needed a little bit of fun to be happy. ¡­ A pair of feet appeared in her field of vision. The Jimmy Choo¡¯s pointed high heels and exquisite elegance stood out in the urban village. Ming Dai followed the pair of feet and looked up. She saw a familiar face. Short hair, shrewd eyes, slightly ordinary facial features, and an aggressive and fierce aura. Where had she seen her before? ¡°You just went to Xijiang Building, right?¡± The other party spoke very quickly, and there was a faint trace of panting. Ming Dai tilted her head at her. ¡°I saw you there just now, but you weren¡¯t wearing glasses. Let me introduce myself again. I¡¯m an agent. Are you interested in becoming an actress in the entertainment industry?¡± The woman¡¯s bright eyes were fixed on her, and an unquestionable aura pressed down on her. If Ming Dai was a real 18-year-old girl, she might have been nervous. But she wasn¡¯t. Chapter 14 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai looked at the woman¡¯s face. The familiar words brought her back to her senses. Then, it dawned on her. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Ming Dai remembered that she had seen this woman in her previous life. It was much later than the current timeline. At that time, she had already finished filming that online movie and could be considered to have half a foot in the entertainment industry. The woman found her and said that she wanted to sign her. The resources and treatment she offered were far better than her family¡¯s management. How could the ignorant Ming Dai understand? Yu Ting kept nagging about the dangers of the world. Only her family was trustworthy. Hence, Ming Dai decisively rejected this woman and never saw her again. If she had not said the same words as in her previous life, Ming Dai would not have recalled them. This time, Ming Dai was not in a hurry to reject her. Instead, she asked her curiously, ¡°You recognized me?¡± She was wearing glasses now! She did not wear her glasses on the way back. She met many acquaintances on the street, but none of them recognized her! The woman smiled. ¡°As an agent, of course you have to have sharp eyes. Besides, you leave a deep impression on people. You¡¯re a natural star. As long as someone has seen you, they won¡¯t forget you.¡± ¡°Is that why you chased me all the way here? By running?¡± Ming Dai looked down. Actually, she had just realized that the woman¡¯s heel was already bleeding from the friction. Clearly, it was caused by running for too long. The woman didn¡¯t mind. She raised her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear. She smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s a small matter! I¡¯ll regret it if I miss you.¡± Compared to the other party¡¯s domineering aura, this attitude could be said to be gentle. Unfortunately, Ming Dai would not be easily moved. ¡°Really? But I don¡¯t think I¡¯d fit in there.¡± Ming Dai narrowed her eyes and recalled everything that had happened in her previous life. The woman who had hit a wall did not give up easily. To be able to chase after Ming Dai in high heels just because she took one more look at her, it showed that the woman was stubborn. ¡°If you don¡¯t try, how will you know if it¡¯s not suitable?¡± As she spoke, the woman handed Ming Dai a business card. ¡°My name is Su Fangyun. I¡¯m the manager of Azure Entertainment. My number is on the business card. As long as you have thoughts on joining, you can call me anytime.¡± Ming Dai felt that Su Fangyun¡¯s name was very familiar. She gave up on the idea of rejecting her at the last minute and took the business card. ¡°Su Fangyun¡­¡± She remembered! It was the famous Azure top manager, Su Fangyun! Azure was a top entertainment company in the industry. Its business ranged from production to managing. It involved a wide range of things and had a solid reputation. As a manager, Su Fangyun was one of the trump cards even under Azure. She was the cream of the crop and had personally groomed two Best Actresses and one Best Actor! She was someone countless celebrities in the entertainment industry wanted to work with! Ming Dai did not know that Su Fangyun was the one who once extended an olive branch to her in her previous life! Of course, what really surprised Ming Dai was not the woman¡¯s identity, but¡­ As far as Ming Dai knew, when she was 20 years old, which was two years later, Su Fangyun drove alone to the mountains to visit her artistes who were filming. On the way, she encountered a storm that caused a landslide and died. At that time, Su Fangyun¡¯s career was at its peak. She planned to leave Azure Entertainment to establish her own management company. Many artistes she had signed were willing to leave with her. However, at this juncture, a calamity fell from the sky, and her life came to an abrupt end. Her glorious career collapsed and dissipated. Many people in the industry sighed at this. Now, this person was standing in front of her alive. Ming Dai looked at that face, as if she could imagine the paleness at the end of her life, trapped in the mudslide. ¡­ She thought of herself. ¡°My name is Ming Dai. I¡¯ll keep this business card, but I don¡¯t think the result will be as you wish.¡± Ming Dai kept the business card properly. Su Fangyun raised her eyebrows. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Just keep it. I won¡¯t change my number!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± This was for the best. It would be easier for her to contact Su Fangyun two years later. At this moment, Ming Dai¡¯s plan was very simple. ¡°I¡¯ll look forward to the day you call me.¡± Su Fangyun extended her hand to Ming Dai. However, Ming Dai thought that if she really called, she would probably not be so happy. She returned the handshake nonetheless. ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them shook hands lightly. Ming Dai was about to withdraw her hand and leave when Su Fangyun suddenly grabbed her! ¡°Wait!¡± Su Fangyun frowned. ¡°Your palm is so hot. Are you sick?¡± Without any explanation, she raised her hand and touched Ming Dai¡¯s forehead. She felt that the temperature was abnormal. ¡°You¡¯re having a fever! No wonder your face was flushed just now, I thought you had ran¡­ Have you taken your medicine? Have you seen a doctor?¡± ¡°No.¡± Only then did Ming Dai remember that she was sick. Perhaps because the joy of being reborn was too strong, all her discomfort was diluted. However, Ming Dai could not help but wonder why Su Fangyun, who was a stranger to her, had discovered that she was sick in just a moment while Yu Ting did not notice it at all. Perhaps because she was a little moved, Ming Dai did not avoid Su Fangyun¡¯s hand that was dragging her to the nearby pharmacy. There were many people living in the villages in the city, so there were many pharmacies. Usually, there were doctors who would treat minor illnesses such as headaches, colds, and fevers. Ming Dai was pulled over and the doctor skillfully diagnosed her¡ª ¡°It¡¯s caused by a cold. It¡¯s not serious. Just take some medicine and you¡¯ll be fine.¡± The doctor wrote down the diagnosis and bypassed Ming Dai to pass it to Su Fangyun so that she could collect the medicine. Su Fangyun took it, collected the medicine and paid in one go. Ming Dai wanted to refuse and say that Su Fangyun did not have to pay. When she touched her wallet, she remembered that there was only ten yuan for the soy sauce in her empty pocket. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange contacts. I¡¯ll pay you the money for the medicine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m more than happy to do so, but I don¡¯t need the money for the medicine! Since I want to invest in you, how can I not give you anything in the early stages?¡± Su Fangyun winked at Ming Dai. The distance between them seemed to have shortened in such a short period of time. Ming Dai suddenly smiled. She suddenly understood why so many celebrities were willing to leave with Su Fangyun. ¡°Thank you.¡± This time, Ming Dai spoke with sincerity. ¡°If you want to thank me, give me a call then!¡± Su Fangyun accompanied Ming Dai to buy the soy sauce and sent her to her house. She watched her go upstairs. Looking at Ming Dai¡¯s back view, Su Fangyun was in a daze¡ª Why did such a young girl look so mature? However, this maturity was not worldly. Instead, it was like a stubborn stone placed in a stream that had been repeatedly washed and polished, gradually revealing the essence of unpolished jade. Even the clothes that had been discolored from being washed too many times, her strange mushroom bangs, and huge black-framed glasses could not hide her radiance. How could a girl like this lead an ordinary life? She was destined to be extraordinary. She was destined to illuminate this era like a star. ¡®So¡­¡¯ Su Fangyun was looking forward to the day she received Ming Dai¡¯s call. Moreover, she firmly believed that the day would not be far away. Chapter 15 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai entered the house with the soy sauce, two yuan, and three days of medicine. Yu Ting said that she came back late and was cursing non-stop. She did not notice that there was a small bag of medicine beside the soy sauce. Ming Dai did not say anything. She poured herself a glass of warm water and prepared to take her medicine. Yu Ting, who was in the kitchen, seemed to have eyes on the back of her head. ¡°What are you doing? Didn¡¯t I tell you to wash the clothes in the toilet?¡± ¡°In a minute.¡± Ming Dai opened the medicine bag without looking up. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The thin anti-theft door was smashed loudly! Ming Dai guessed who it was and did not move. She took a sip of warm water to moisten her throat and was about to pour the pill into her mouth¡ª ¡°Who¡¯s knocking on the door? Ming Dai, don¡¯t you have ears? Are you being lazy again?¡± Ming Dai glanced at the pill and put it down helplessly. She went to open the door for the time being. Just as the door opened a crack, a figure rushed in impatiently. When the other party saw Ming Dai, he immediately questioned her. ¡°Ming Dai! How could you run away halfway! Do you know how big of a chance you¡¯ve missed!¡± There was resentment, frustration, and disappointment on his face. In the end, they all turned into dissatisfaction and poured towards Ming Dai. Before Ming Dai could react, Yu Ting rushed out of the kitchen. The sharp voice almost overturned the ceiling. ¡°What? You ran away halfway? Ming Dai, didn¡¯t you say that the director didn¡¯t like you? How dare you lie to me?¡± Ming Dai thought to herself, I didn¡¯t say that. You assumed it yourself. Kang Ren, who was at the side, rolled his eyes. He suppressed his anger and advised earnestly, ¡°Ming Dai, why did you lie? The director likes you so much! Even though you ran away halfway, he asked me to pass a message to you. He said that as long as you change your mind, you can go back at any time! Look at how much he respects you!¡± Then, he sighed at Yu Ting. ¡°Auntie, you don¡¯t know how difficult it was to get into the audition list when we have no connections! I spent a lot of effort trying to get my ex-friends to help me, but Ming Dai ran away just like that¡­ Of course, it was a given on my part. I don¡¯t mean to blame Ming Dai. I just feel that it¡¯s a pity to miss such a good opportunity.¡± ¡°Kang Ren, even your kind aunt knows about it! It¡¯s Ming Dai who doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for her and wasted your good intentions. I¡¯ll teach her a lesson! By the way, can she still act in that movie?¡± Ming Dai looked at them quietly. She realized that she was really muddle-headed in her previous life. Kang Ren¡¯s clumsy acting skills and calculations, and the fanaticism for money in Yu Ting¡¯s eyes. She had actually missed these signs. Instead, she believed Yu Ting¡¯s words that her family was doing this for her own good. She let Kang Ren take care of the company¡¯s finances. Now that she thought about it, with Kang Ren¡¯s shareholding in the company, how could he buy a villa and a sports car in just two to three years? Where did this money come from? Ming Dai pursed her lips imperceptibly. Now that Yu Ting and Kang Ren finally focused their firepower on her, Ming Dai automatically switched to an aggrieved expression. ¡ªHer acting skills were average, but it was enough to deal with the two people in front of her. ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that, Mom.¡± She defended herself in a weak voice, looking like an obedient child who listened to her mother as usual. ¡°I left because¡­ that production team seemed indecent.¡± ¡°Indecent?¡± Yu Ting¡¯s anger was suppressed by the pause button. She quickly thought of some bad rumors in the entertainment industry and her face gradually turned green. These reactions were all within Ming Dai¡¯s expectations. Not only her, but Kang Ren also understood what Yu Ting cared about the most. ¡°No, Auntie!¡± He hurriedly explained, his voice almost breaking. ¡°This is definitely a misunderstanding! They are a proper production team! They have a record! Ming Dai, how could you fabricate these words to lie to your mother? This is too much!¡± Yu Ting looked at Ming Dai again. Ming Dai was calm and composed. ¡°Is that so? But when I went to the washroom, I heard someone chatting. They said that the content of this film might require me to take off my clothes¡­ Mom, I don¡¯t want to be a bad girl!¡± It had nothing to do with Ming Dai¡¯s own thoughts. It was because she had been ordered by Yu Ting since she was young¡ª she could not wear a short skirt, make shady friends, or talk to male classmates¡­ Otherwise, she would not be a good girl. Ming Dai followed Yu Ting¡¯s train of thought and hit the nail on the head. ¡°What? Take off her clothes? How can she do that! If she filmed such a movie, how would Ming Dai be able to get married in the future? She would definitely be criticized by her in-laws! She would never be able to raise her head!¡± However, Kang Ren knew a little about the movie¡¯s content and could not refute it at all. After hesitating for a long time, he could only squeeze out a sentence. ¡°We won¡¯t let Ming Dai take it off. It¡¯s the other actresses¡­¡± Halfway through his sentence, Ming Dai knew that it was settled. She could not help but sigh in her heart. The current Kang Ren was indeed too young. If it were him a few years later, he would definitely be able to brag and coax Yu Ting into agreeing, instead of telling the truth like now¡­ Yu Ting had completely changed sides! She resolutely refused. ¡°No! If word gets out, it¡¯ll be a disgrace to the Ming family! Ming Dai¡¯s father will definitely scold me when he comes back!¡± In front of Ming Dai, Yu Ting was sharp-tongued. However, she was obedient to her husband and Ming Dai¡¯s adoptive father. She acted as if her husband was the heavens and did not dare to anger Ming An because of this! Hence, no matter what Kang Ren said next, she no longer believed him. In the end, Kang Ren had no choice but to give up. He rejected Yu Ting¡¯s invitation to stay for dinner and left dejectedly. Before he left, he still refused to give up on Ming Dai, the money tree. He pulled Yu Ting and said earnestly, ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work this time, there will be a next time! I¡¯ll ask my other friends and find a better production team!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see next time.¡± Yu Ting smiled and patted his hand. When the door closed, Yu Ting¡¯s expression immediately changed. ¡°What celebrity? Your cousin is indeed unreliable!¡± He glanced at Ming Dai and reprimanded her. ¡°Don¡¯t think about this in the future! Focus! Study hard in your third year of high school! Hurry back to school after the meal!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Dai, who was used to Ting¡¯s accusations, nodded. She took the medicine first, then went into the toilet to wash the clothes and dry them. At this moment, Yu Ting¡¯s food happened to be placed on the table. It was a simple meal with mainly vegetarian dishes. There was some minced meat in the meat dishes, and the vegetarian dishes were the vegetables that could not be used in the stall. Yu Ting felt that it was a pity to throw them away, so she simply left them for her family to eat. Actually, it was more like she left them for Ming Dai and herself. If Ming An was at home, he would definitely not be eating such rotten vegetables. However, Ming Dai was already used to this kind of bias. After dinner, she returned to her room. Being here for the first time in ten years, she felt an inexplicable nostalgia¡ª The house was small, so the room could only accommodate a bed and a desk. Standing at the window, she could even smell the stench of the gutter downstairs. It was really different from the house she would live in in the future. But at the same time, the bed was fluffy and warm, and the clothes were neatly folded. There was a pot of green radish in front of the window, and the desk was covered with a green checkered tablecloth. There were celadon bowls on the table with lotus flowers that she had picked up from the park. Chapter 16 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios She was different from Ming An and Yu Ting who were too lazy to clean up their mess. When Ming Dai was a child who was not even as tall as a person¡¯s leg, she was sensible enough to know how to make the bed, step on the small stool to wash clothes, help adults do housework, and so on. For example, the old clothes that her cousin discarded would be carefully washed off of their stains after she got them. Then, she would put a bar of soap in the wardrobe. A few yuan could make the clothes smell good. She had high standards for personal hygiene. Her nails were always clean. No matter how bad her hairstyle was, her hair must be smooth and black. There was not a single stain on her clothes or she would always iron the clothes to remove any wrinkles¡­ Not only did Yu Ting not appreciate Ming Dai¡¯s help, but she even mocked Ming Dai for being ¡°poor but pretentious¡±. If Yu Ting was in a bad mood and saw Ming Dai spending time on these matters, she would directly question her as if she was venting. Did she like to dress up so much because she wanted to seduce men at such a young age? ¡ªMing Dai was only 12 years old when she heard these words. Now that she thought about it, it had been a long time. So long that those grievances no longer bothered her; It was so long that when she recalled it now, she only smiled faintly. Ming Dai looked at everything that she had personally taken care of in this room. Although it was small, it contained all the fantasies and innocence of a young girl. Later on, it was difficult for her to find such warmth again. ¡°Welcome home, Ming Dai.¡± She whispered to herself. Her soul, which had been wandering alone in the wilderness for many years, had finally returned to a home that made her feel at ease. Ming Dai threw her body into bed and buried her head in the familiar fragrance that she had not smelled for a long time. The sleepiness that she had just taken gradually overwhelmed her¡­ ¡°Ming Dai!¡± Yu Ting slammed the door open and said angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to go back to school?¡± Ming Dai had no choice but to get up. ¡°Got it.¡± Yu Ting scanned her from head to toe and looked into her clear eyes. ¡°Remember to wear your glasses!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Dai stood up, picked up the glasses that she had just taken off, and began to pack her bag. The name tag was on the top right corner of the desk. It read¡ª Yanjing No. 1 Middle School, Year 3, Class 20, Ming Dai. * * * The No. 1 Middle School was one of the top high schools in Yanjing. Everyone wanted to attend it. Entering it was equivalent to having one foot in a reputed university. The reason why Ming Dai¡¯s grades could be enrolled here was firstly because her grades in junior high school were good. Secondly, a few big questions she revised came out during the quota selection examination¡­ In short, she was lucky! Unfortunately, Ming Dai¡¯s junior high school standard was too far behind No.1 Middle School¡¯s. Ming Dai, who came here, could not keep up with the pace and her grades gradually decreased. When she first entered the school, she could still be ranked in the middle. When she was in her third year of high school, Ming Dai could only hover around the bottom 100. As for now¡­ Ming Dai suspected that she would not even be able to keep up with the bottom ranks! After staying in the entertainment industry for ten years, she had long forgotten all her high school knowledge! Something like studying hard in the last year of her third year of high school and turning the tables to study in a good university? She was not the female lead of a novel. How could that happen to her?! ¡ªMing Dai, who walked into the school, was extremely worried. The joy of being reborn had been diluted, and she did not even notice when she had found the classroom by relying on her muscle memory. It was lunch break, and students were walking back and forth in the corridor. Occasionally, a few boys would play and run past the place¡­ They were exuding the aura of youth. Fortunately, not many people greeted Ming Dai, so she avoided the awkwardness of not recognizing her classmates. Ming Dai adjusted her heavy glasses and walked into Class 20¡¯s classroom. She looked around and finally found a slightly familiar face. If her memory was correct, this girl should be her tablemate? Ming Dai walked over in relief and wanted to take the initiative to greet her, but the other party hurriedly avoided her gaze. Ming Dai was stunned for a moment. After confirming her name from the textbook on the table, she sat down in relief. ¡°You¡­¡± The girl sitting at the same table stood up abruptly. Afraid of meeting her gaze, she quickly ran away. Ming Dai¡¯s head was full of question marks. She could not remember what had happened during the third year of high school. After racking her brains for a long time, it was finally the boys in her class who personally answered her confusion¡ª ¡°Yo! Nerd, you¡¯re here? Didn¡¯t you ask for leave? Could it be that you miss Ah Jun so much that you can¡¯t take it anymore?¡± The fat, big-eared, and tall boy kept winking at Ming Dai. The three or four boys standing next to him burst into laughter. Their eyes were filled with ridicule for Ming Dai. A handsome boy sitting not far away looked up from his book. ¡°I told you! Don¡¯t associate me with that nerd!¡± ¡®Nerd?¡¯ After listening for a long time, Ming Dai finally associated that ridiculous nickname with herself. So something like this had happened to her in her third year of high school? Ming Dai¡¯s eyes behind the lenses were as round as a cat¡¯s. The boys continued: ¡°Ah Jun, don¡¯t be shy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, she¡¯s a good match for you!¡± ¡°Sigh, if Ah Jun becomes the son-in-law of the dork family, won¡¯t there be endless fried skewers?¡± ¡°Fatty, you¡¯re too mean, hahaha!¡± The boy named Ah Jun flew into a rage out of humiliation. He jumped up, his fierce posture making the boys think that they were going to be beaten up. In the end, he rushed straight to Ming Dai¡¯s table and looked down at her. ¡°Nerd! I¡¯ll say it again! Don¡¯t like me! It¡¯s too embarrassing to be liked by you!¡± ¡°¡­ Huh?¡± Ming Dai was stunned. ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb with me! I¡¯ll never like you in my life! Why don¡¯t you look at yourself in the mirror? How dare you like me?¡± Looking at the male student¡¯s vicious expression, Ming Dai finally recalled the interlude in her third year of high school¡ª The boy in front of her was called Gao Jun. He was barely handsome and came from a good family. Although he was not ranked in No.1 Middle School, it did not affect his confidence. During the third year of high school, someone had caused a misunderstanding and spread rumors that Ming Dai liked Gao Jun. At this time, she was a nobody and had no friends. No one would listen to her explanation. There was once a classmate who met Ming Dai selling fried skewers for Yu Ting on the street of the night market. This matter spread throughout the class, and Gao Jun got the nickname of ¡°fried skewers son-in-law¡±. Gao Jun was deeply humiliated and did not dare to retort to the people who mocked him. He only dared to vent his anger on Ming Dai and brought his friends to embarrass her a few times. Gao Jun was probably the reason why the girl sitting at the same table as Ming Dai did not even dare to speak to her. As for why this incident did not leave a single trace in Ming Dai¡¯s memory¡­ It was probably because according to the trajectory of her previous life, Ming Dai should be filming now. She had just stepped into the bizarre entertainment industry and was also experiencing the undercurrents of the production team¡¯s struggles for the first time. Compared to the cruelty of real society, this small incident in school was not worth mentioning. How could Ming Dai remember it? ¡°So it¡¯s you.¡± Ming Dai was enlightened. She was about to explain when a girl stuck her head out and shouted at her. ¡°Ming Dai, Teacher is looking for you!¡± Chapter 17 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In the teacher¡¯s office, the form teacher, Shi Ying, opened the thermos and slowly took a sip. Judging from her posture, she seemed to be drinking some nourishing tea. But Ming Dai could clearly smell the fragrance of the milk tea. ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Sensing the strange look in her eyes, Shi Ying quickly diverted Ming Dai¡¯s attention. ¡°I heard from your mother that she brought you to the set for an audition this morning?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, is your family planning to let you walk the path of an actor?¡± Her tone was cautious and calm. She did not mock Ming Dai for overestimating herself. Although Class 20 was the last class in No.1 Middle School, and the form teacher, Shi Ying, had only been in school for two years, in terms of resume, the teachers who could enter No.1 Middle School were not ordinary. Shi Ying had a good personality and did not put on airs as a teacher. She often bantered with the students in class and did not judge them based on their grades. Ming Dai had a good impression of her. Ming Dai pondered for a moment before answering seriously, ¡°Not at the moment.¡± ¡°Oh? Could it be that the audition results were bad?¡± After Shi Ying finished speaking, she felt vexed, afraid that she would anger the little girl and cause her to be sad. Ming Dai was surprisingly calm and nodded. ¡°It wasn¡¯t good.¡± Shi Ying touched the tip of her nose. ¡°Actually, I called you here today to talk about your future plans. Ming Dai, don¡¯t blame me for being blunt. Your grades aren¡¯t good. Even if you work hard in your third year of high school, you can only barely pass at most. However, your mother requested for leave yesterday and said that she wanted to bring you to film a movie. It reminded me¡ªdo you want to consider taking the Arts Examination?¡± ¡°Arts Examination?¡± The person who asked the question was not Ming Dai, but the teacher from the class next door who happened to pass by. A mocking expression appeared on his face. ¡°Teacher Shi Ying, don¡¯t harm the young lady and let her have unnecessary illusions!¡± His eyes sized up Ming Dai with obvious disdain. Obviously, he did not think that Ming Dai had the potential to become an actress. Shi Ying was very angry when she heard that. Regardless of the fact that the other party was a senior who was a few years older than her, she immediately retorted, ¡°Teacher Hu! Don¡¯t underestimate any student! None of us can judge her future potential!¡± The teacher shook his head and left with his teacup without arguing with Shi Ying. Shi Ying turned to comfort Ming Dai. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. I believe you can do it! Besides, the Arts Examination is not limited to acting. Isn¡¯t the Best Actor also an Audio Arts graduate at Yanjing Film Academy? As long as it¡¯s your dream, feel free to do it boldly! Of course, there¡¯s no hurry to decide on this matter. Go back and discuss it with your parents. Here, this is the Arts Examination information I¡¯ve compiled. Take a good look.¡± Ming Dai carried the thick folder back to the classroom. Several strange gazes followed. She did not notice. She returned to her seat and took out her business card from the pocket of her school uniform jacket. It was the business card that Su Fangyun had given her. She had conveniently put it on her when she went out. Thinking about the Arts Examination that Teacher Shi had just mentioned, Ming Dai rubbed the business card thoughtfully with her fingertips. Suddenly! A hand descended from the sky! He forcefully snatched the business card from Ming Dai¡¯s hand! Ming Dai did not react immediately. She stared blankly at the other party¡­ Gao Jun? ¡°What are you doing?¡± Ming Dai lowered her tone and pursed her lips. Gao Jun sneered. ¡°I heard that¡­ your mother is going to take you to be an actress?¡± Ming Dai frowned. ¡°Where did you hear that?¡± ¡°Everyone in the class knows!¡± Gao Jun immediately raised his voice. ¡°Friends! Ming Dai is about to become an actress! She¡¯s our class¡¯s future superstar! Why don¡¯t we ask her for an autograph as soon as possible so that we can sell it for money in the future?¡± Someone added, ¡°Ming Dai¡¯s autograph. Even junk collectors wouldn¡¯t want it, right?¡± The classroom burst into laughter. Some of the students could not bear it, but they did not dare to stand up for Ming Dai at this moment. Ming Dai pursed her lips even more tightly. She straightened her back and gradually grew angry. Gao Jun was oblivious. ¡°Look, there¡¯s even a manager¡¯s business card! Azure Entertainment? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s a scam! Ming Dai, Ming Dai, don¡¯t be stupid enough to fall for it. How could Azure Entertainment¡¯s manager set his eye on you¡­¡± Slap! Ming Dai slammed the table and stood up! Those amber eyes condensed a frosty coldness that even the lenses couldn¡¯t block as they pressed down on Gao Jun. After all, she was Ming Dai, who had once been an A-lister in the entertainment industry. Even if she had fallen from grace, she would not have been bullied by dogs. ¡°I said, give me back my card.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s every word was extremely imposing. Gao Jun was stunned, as if he was instantly intimidated by Ming Dai¡¯s aura. The entire classroom fell silent. Even a pin drop could be heard. Ming Dai took the opportunity to snatch the business card back. ¡°Pfft.¡± Someone couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Gao Jun suddenly turned his head, and the people who were looking at him hurriedly looked away. However, Gao Jun still felt that everyone was looking at him, laughing at him, and mocking him. For a moment, Gao Jun was so angry that he turned around and left. He did not return even after the first class in the afternoon ended. Ming Dai did not take him seriously at all. She flipped through the textbooks and listened absent-mindedly for the entire afternoon. After school, Ming Dai was stopped by the class monitor and said that it was her turn to be on duty today. Ming Dai looked at the name on the duty board. It was indeed her. After the cleaning was done, the lively school became empty in the blink of an eye. Occasionally, there would be two or three students running and playing, or sitting quietly to study. Ming Dai carried the trash can to a remote trash station and did not notice that someone was quietly following behind her. When there was no one around, someone suddenly shouted at her¡ª ¡°Nerd!¡± Ming Dai turned around and saw someone pouring a cup of milk tea at her. She quickly dodged to the side, but half a cup of milk tea still inevitably spilled on her school uniform, soaking a large area. ¡°Hahaha!¡± Gao Jun pointed at her and laughed. He seemed to have vented his anger and said proudly to the boys around him, ¡°How is it? I said I¡¯ll deal with her, didn¡¯t I? How dare such an ugly woman have a crush on me and embarrass me so much¡­ Ah!¡± Her smug voice turned into a scream. There was silence. The boys who came with Gao Jun looked at Ming Dai in shock and then at Gao Jun. No one expected Ming Dai¡¯s first reaction to be to grab the trash can and slam it on Gao Jun¡¯s head! That move was steady, accurate, and ruthless! It completely overturned the invisible impression that Ming Dai had given people in the past! Ming Dai did not show any signs of fear. She patted the non-existent dust on his hands and said, ¡°Your mouth stinks. I think it matches the trash can.¡± The sour and smelly trash that he had accumulated all day rolled down from Gao Jun¡¯s head, and some unknown water stains stained his clothes. It definitely looked a hundred or a thousand times worse than Ming Dai! Gao Jun reached out and pulled the trash can down, his eyes red. ¡°Ming! Dai!¡± ¡°So you know my name? I thought you didn¡¯t.¡± Ming Dai said calmly. Gao Jun was so angry that he was about to explode. He clenched his fists tightly! Ming Dai was not idle. From the corner of her eye, she saw a glass bottle rolling towards her. If Gao Jun dared to hit her, she would pick up this glass bottle and smash it on his head¡­ Chapter 18 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± Accompanied by this cold voice, a tall and exquisite girl slowly walked over from the corner. She was wearing the school uniform of No.1 Middle School. The school uniform jacket was made of a well-made woolen coat. She had the noble aura of someone who had lived a pampered life since she was young. She was like the cold moon in the sky. Wherever her gaze swept past, a cold aura would grow. Gao Jun, who was extremely angry, scolded unhappily, ¡°None of your business¡­¡± ¡°Gao Jun!¡± The boy stopped him in horror. ¡°She¡¯s Xia Ling!¡± Gao Jun instantly fell silent and looked at the girl named Xia Ling in fear. Xia Ling glanced at them indifferently and only stopped at the ridiculous-looking Gao Jun for two seconds. Without smiling, she walked to Ming Dai¡¯s side indifferently. However, her voice softened. ¡°Are they bullying you?¡± Ming Dai thought for a moment. ¡°Sort of?¡± Gao Jun hurriedly defended himself. ¡°Don¡¯t listen to her! It¡¯s clearly me who¡¯s in a worse state!¡± Ming Dai glanced at him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you splash milk tea on me first?¡± Gao Jun said angrily, ¡°Didn¡¯t you embarrass me in the classroom first?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Xia Ling swept her gaze over coldly. ¡°Get lost quickly. Don¡¯t let me see you again.¡± Gao Jun still wanted to say something, but the other boys couldn¡¯t care less about the sour smell on him. They pulled him and quickly ran away. When Ming Dai saw this, she was extremely curious. ¡°They seem to be very afraid of you?¡± Xia Ling did not mind. ¡°Afraid of my family, I guess.¡± As she spoke, she handed over a fragrant blue handkerchief. The exquisite embroidery in the lower right corner was obviously expensive. However, the owner of the handkerchief did not care. Ming Dai did not hesitate and took it generously. She wiped the milk tea that had accidentally splashed on her face. Xia Ling had her hands in her coat pockets. Her dark eyes did not reveal much emotion. ¡°These boys bully the weak and fear the strong. You counterattacked very well just now¡­¡± Her voice stopped abruptly. Ming Dai took off her glasses that were stained with a few drops of milk tea. As she wiped them, she raised her thick eyelashes. The light butterfly gently flapped its wings, and its amber eyes shone with the afterglow of the setting sun, filling the lake with broken gold. It was as if a goddess had inadvertently raised her eyes, not knowing how shocking her beauty was. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ming Dai thanked her sincerely. Xia Ling was the first person to reach out to her. ¡°No¡­ You¡¯re welcome.¡± Xia Ling replied in a low voice as two lumps of redness appeared on her cheeks. To Xia Ling, who was unapproachable, her blush was comparable to the sun rising from the west. Xia Ling was embarrassed and vexed. How could she be so shy just because she had taken a glance at the girl? ¡­ But she was really beautiful. ¡°You.¡± Xia Ling gritted her teeth and could not help but say, ¡°You¡¯re so pretty. Why are you wearing glasses to cover yourself?¡± ¡°Because Mom and Dad don¡¯t like it?¡± Ming Dai smiled as she spoke, the corners of her slightly upturned eyes looking like a mischievous cat. Xia Ling did not quite understand. However, out of respect for Ming Dai, she did not pursue the matter. Ming Dai put on her glasses again and folded the handkerchief carefully before putting it away. ¡°I¡¯ll return the handkerchief after I wash it.¡± She bent down to pick up the trash can and was about to wave Xia Ling away. ¡°Wait.¡± Xia Ling stopped her. ¡°I forgot to ask for your name!¡± ¡°Year 3 Class 20, Ming Dai.¡± Ming Dai waved at her and turned to leave. Xia Ling revealed a rare look of anxiety and shouted at her back, ¡°My name is Xia Ling, Year 3 Class 1!¡± ¡°I know!¡± Ming Dai turned around with a smile and waved her hand slightly. She jogged again and disappeared from Xia Ling¡¯s sight. Xia Ling was in a daze for a long time. Suddenly, she raised her hand and touched her face. She remembered that those people had loved to praise her for being beautiful since she was young and she agreed. It was only after meeting Ming Dai that she understood what it meant to be inferior. ¡°Hey! Xia Ling!¡± The hoarse voice of a young man who was in the midst of voice breaking drifted over from the side. Xia Ling¡¯s expression quickly retracted and she returned to her previous indifferent and unreasonable attitude. She looked sideways at the person. ¡°I remember I¡¯m two years older than you.¡± The young man had one hand in his pocket and his posture was casual. His peach blossom eyes were slightly raised. ¡°So? You want me to call you sister?¡± Xia Ling glanced at his face. ¡°Your voice is really ugly now, Ning Xu.¡± Without waiting for the youth to fly into a rage out of humiliation, Xia Ling followed Ming Dai without looking back. ¡°Damn it! Xia Ling, stop right there!¡± The young man leaped out like an agile cheetah. The bright sunlight shone on his beautiful and dazzling side profile¡ª he was in high spirits. * * * Ming Dai returned to the classroom to finish her final preparations and packed her bag. The sky outside had turned gloomy at some point. Dark clouds covered the sky, and lightning was ready to strike. It was going to rain heavily. Ming Dai looked through the window and quickened her pace, trying to get home before the storm. However, the sky changed too quickly. Before she could walk out of the school building, heavy rain had already poured down. Rain threads weaved a huge curtain between heaven and earth, and the scenery became blurry. Ming Dai was trapped. She didn¡¯t have an umbrella, and it takes her at least ten minutes to walk from the school building to the bus stop. This level of rain was enough for her to be drenched. As for calling Yu Ting to pick her up, she could forget about it. ¡­ Should I wait for the rain to stop? ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the bus stop!¡± A hearty female voice sounded not far behind her. Ming Dai turned around and realized that it was not directed at her, but another girl. The two of them seemed to have a good relationship. They squeezed into a small umbrella and chatted and laughed as they left. Ming Dai was the only one left at the entrance of the already deserted school building. Even her down jacket could not hide her slender figure. Under the dark and heavy rain, she was as thin as a blade of grass. ¡°Do you need help?¡± This time it was a man¡¯s voice. Of course, Ming Dai did not think that he was talking to her. She did not even turn around. Then she was patted gently on the shoulder, and the voice repeated again: ¡°Do you need help?¡± Ming Dai turned around in a daze. The moment she saw the other party, she was stunned as if she had been struck by lightning! ¡°Here.¡± The man handed her a black umbrella and added, ¡°You don¡¯t have to return it.¡± Ming Dai took the umbrella mechanically. ¡­ ¡°Do you need help?¡± ¡°Here. You don¡¯t have to return it.¡± ¡­ The exact same scene, the exact same words. But at a different time. ¡®Why?¡¯ Ming Dai¡¯s mind was in a mess. She could not help but stare at the man for a long time. Perhaps the emotions in her eyes were too intense. It was so heavy that it was suffocating. The man couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Do you know me?¡± Ming Dai quickly lowered her eyes. ¡°Sorry, you look a little like someone I know.¡± ¡®No, I know you. I¡¯ve known you for years.¡¯ ¡®My¡­¡¯ ¡°Brother!¡± The clear and melodious voice of a young girl sounded from afar. Ming Dai¡¯s back stiffened. She gripped the umbrella in her hand tightly and forced herself not to turn around. However, their voices still drifted into her ears uncontrollably¡ª ¡°Why are you here to pick me up? Haven¡¯t you been very busy recently?¡± ¡°No matter how busy you are, I have to make time for our little princess.¡± ¡°Brother, you¡¯re the best!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, Lingsi.¡± Gu Changming. Gu Lingsi. ¡®Long time no see.¡¯ Chapter 19 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai had a long dream. In her dream, she was still that inconspicuous person from No.1 Middle School who did not have any good friends and was invisible in school. Even when it was raining heavily, no classmates were willing to share umbrellas with her. Every time, she could only run to the bus stop with her school bag and be scolded by Yu Ting for the entire night because her clothes were wet. She was used to this kind of life and never felt sorry for herself. Until one day, a man handed her an umbrella. He was here to pick up his sister. Seeing her reminded him of his sister, so he gave her the umbrella to block the rain. He even told her that the umbrella wasn¡¯t expensive and that she didn¡¯t have to return it. Later on, she found out that the umbrella came from Country Y¡¯s handmade umbrella brand, Pasotti. It looked inconspicuous and was a pure black umbrella without any logo, but was worth 3,280 yuan. For the first time, Ming Dai felt envious. She envied this man¡¯s sister for having such a gentle and tolerant brother. Later on, this man really became her brother. She was extremely happy and yearned to be his sister. The man who had long forgotten her blacklisted her and said fiercely, ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Lingsi. You can¡¯t replace her in this lifetime!¡± Her brother was a gentle and good brother, but he did not belong to Ming Dai. His sister was Gu Lingsi, and for her sake, he was willing to become enemies with anyone. This included Ming Dai, who had suddenly returned to the Gu family and tried to ¡°snatch¡± Gu Lingsi¡¯s position. ¡­ The dream suddenly changed. The flames rolled towards her like waves, and the scorching temperature almost burned her. ¡°Help me¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go¡­¡± Ming Dai, who was half-asleep, mumbled non-stop and tried her best to hide in a corner. When she suddenly opened her eyes, the darkness in all directions was like a demon baring its fangs and brandishing its claws. ¡°Ah.¡± There was a short, low cry. Ming Dai suddenly sat up and broke out in cold sweat. The chaotic world returned to its original position, and she finally saw where she was. The small bedroom in the village in the city, her home. The endless warmth gradually soothed Ming Dai¡¯s fear. She touched her forehead. The heat seemed to have completely subsided. The medicine she took was very effective. Ming Dai lifted the blanket and got out of bed. She walked barefooted in her cold slippers and came to the table to drink water. From the corner of her eye, she saw a long black object leaning against the wall. It was Gu Changming¡¯s umbrella. Yesterday evening, after she took the umbrella from Gu Changming, she watched him and Gu Lingsi leave side by side. Thinking that they did not know her yet, Ming Dai did not want to hold the umbrella and ran home in the rain. As a result, her cold that had not fully recovered relapsed and she had a fever in the middle of the night. She propped up her weak body, got up, took her medicine, and laid down again. She fell into a nightmare again¡­ Or rather, it was the memories of her previous life. Ming Dai, who had just woken up from her nightmare, wrapped herself in a thick coat and pushed open the tightly shut window. The cold winter night breeze entered the room through the cracks and blew on Ming Dai¡¯s face. After her rebirth, the dream-like feeling disappeared. Instead, she was more awake than she had ever been before. The fire in her previous life had burned the grassland in her heart to a desolate state. She actually had the thought of completely leaving the tracks of her previous life and those people. Refusing to film, staying away from the entertainment industry, pretending not to know Gu Changming and Gu Lingsi¡­ She kept retreating. But why should she retreat? Why her? She, Ming Dai, should stand at the peak and become the most dazzling celebrity! Let the streets and alleys be filled with her figure and be the talk of the country! So that those who hurt her in her previous life could not avoid her no matter where they went! So that when the Gu family thinks of her, it would feel like a fishbone was stuck in their throats! ¡ªMing Dai¡¯s amber eyes flickered like a burning flame! She quickly took out the business card and found her phone. She had just dialed a few numbers¡­ Wait, it was three in the morning. No matter how anxious she was, it was not good to disturb someone¡¯s sleep. Ming Dai put out her phone and laid down again with the business card in her hand. She thought that she would suffer from insomnia, but who knew that she would have no more dreams the entire night? Could it be that she felt at ease now that she had a goal? Early in the morning, Yu Ting woke Ming Dai up. ¡°Get up and cook!¡± This was the first thing Yu Ting said when she pushed open the door. Then, she saw Ming Dai¡¯s sweating from her hair to her collarbone. ¡°You are sick?¡± ¡°Yes, I have a fever.¡± ¡°Take some medicine yourself.¡± Yu Ting¡¯s hand that was holding the door handle did not move. ¡°Get up and prepare breakfast!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Dai was not surprised at all. When she was six years old, she fell sick and had a fever. Yu Ting could even leave her behind and play mahjong with the neighbors nearby. Now that she was 18 years old, what could she expect from Yu Ting? She got up to make breakfast. After filling her stomach, she took the medicine that Su Fangyun had prepared for her. Yu Ting took a few glances and did not ask where the medicine came from. She wiped her mouth, pushed the bowl and chopsticks away, and left. Ming Dai stayed at home to clean up the dishes. She looked at the time and finally dialed Su Fangyun¡¯s number. The other party seemed to have been waiting for her. The call was picked up immediately after the first ring¡ª ¡°Is it Ming Dai?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Su Fangyun¡¯s tone suddenly became lighter. ¡°Are you free today? Why don¡¯t we meet and talk?¡± ¡°Can you do it at noon?¡± Of course, Su Fangyun could. Judging from her tone, she was willing to give it a try even if Ming Dai wanted to pluck the stars! This was how determined she was to win her over! According to the rules, No.1 Middle School could not leave school during their lunch break. Ming Dai applied for leave from her form teacher, Shi Ying, and did not hide the reason. Of course, that was under the premise that there was no one else in the office. After all, Ming Dai did not want to be a topic of conversation for now. After hearing this, Shi Ying¡¯s tone became solemn. ¡°Is she really Azure Entertainment¡¯s manager?¡± It sounded similar to Gao Jun¡¯s reaction when he saw Su Fangyun¡¯s business card yesterday. However, Ming Dai knew that Teacher Shi was worried about her. ¡°I searched her photo.¡± Ming Dai wasn¡¯t lying. She had really searched for Su Fangyun¡¯s photo. Unexpectedly, Su Fangyun had a separate encyclopedia. Her resume was written down and a white ID photo was attached. ¡°Really?¡± Shi Ying¡¯s tone immediately turned joyful. She thought for a moment and said, ¡°How about this? I¡¯ll accompany you. You¡¯re a third-year student. An adult should be present for such a major event. It¡¯s best if you get your parents to accompany you¡­¡± ¡°Teacher, you can come with me.¡± Compared to Yu Ting, she would rather choose Shi Ying. Shi Ying agreed readily. The meeting place with Su Fangyun was at the cafe outside No.1 Middle School. Most of the students¡¯ parents were either rich or noble. The nearby cafes would occasionally become a place for parents to wait for their children. Overall, it was very high-end. Ming Dai seemed to have become a really innocent 18-year-old girl who was led in by her teacher, Shi Ying. They had already arrived ten minutes earlier. However, Su Fangyun came earlier. She sat by the door and saw Ming Dai at a glance. She stood up and waved. ¡°Here.¡± Ming Dai waved her hand politely. The moment Shi Ying saw Su Fangyun¡¯s face, she felt slightly more at ease. It was unlikely that such a valiant and confident lady was a swindler. If she was really a swindler, she would at least be at the level of a mastermind! Chapter 20 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ten minutes later, the two outstanding women, the gold-award manager and the teacher from No.1 Middle School, quickly abandoned the unfamiliarity they had when they first met and chatted happily. Su Fangyun was really talkative. She grasped the rhythm of the conversation and easily closed the distance between her and Shi Ying, making her laugh continuously. However, Shi Ying was not stupid. After laughing, she asked a crucial question. ¡°Ming Dai is a good child. I wonder what plans your company has for her future?¡± Su Fangyun had already thought about it and immediately said, ¡°Currently, the contracts of the other celebrities in my hands have basically expired, and only Chu Yunping is left. She has already returned to her family and hasn¡¯t acted in three years. Hence, after signing Ming Dai, my focus will shift to her alone. Coincidentally, Director Gao is lacking a young actress for a new movie. It matches Ming Dai¡¯s image and age very well. If nothing goes wrong, it should be settled. Oh, of course, the third year of high school is mainly to prepare for the Arts Examination. After all, I have high expectations for Ming Dai. I have to plan for the future. First of all, we can¡¯t let others criticize her academic qualifications¡­¡± Ming Dai¡¯s eyes flickered as she listened obediently from the side. She inexplicably recalled her cousin Kang Ren¡¯s plan in her previous life¡ª After filming the online movie, Kang Ren felt that she could step into the entertainment industry. It would be a waste of time for her to continue staying in school. As for her academic qualifications? What was so important about that? Who would care about Ming Dai¡¯s past when she became famous? As it turned out, not only did the entertainment industry care, but the fans also cared. Her high school graduate background was repeatedly mocked, and the label of uneducated and uncultured was firmly attached to her¡­ One wrong step would lead to many mistakes. Especially when compared to Su Fangyun¡¯s current plan, the difference was obvious. When Ming Dai was certain, Shi Ying was confused. ¡°Wait, wait! Chu Yunping is the movie queen, Chu Yunping? Director Gao¡­ Could it be Director Gao Yi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s them.¡± Su Fangyun nodded with a smile. Shi Ying gasped. She looked at Su Fangyun and then at Ming Dai. She wanted to say something but hesitated¡­ With her sharp senses, Su Fangyun immediately understood something. She asked Ming Dai gently, ¡°Do you wear glasses in school too?¡± ¡°My parents don¡¯t like it when I¡¯m too conspicuous.¡± Ming Dai took off her glasses. Shi Ying¡¯s eyes widened bit by bit, and she could not help but hold her breath. It was like if there was a sudden movement, the people around her would disappear like mist. ¡°Ming¡­ Dai? The quiet and ordinary girl she had under her nose for two years actually had such a face! ¡®The Peony hides its beauty¡¯¡ªThe poems in the book seemed to have left the pages and come to life! Even though she still had a hint of childishness, one could still vaguely tell that she would be peerlessly bright in the future! It took Shi Ying a while to come back to her senses. The surprise faded, replaced by worry. A beauty that could not be protected was like a child carrying gold in a bustling city. ¡°Ming Dai is still young. As her teacher, I can¡¯t help but worry about certain rumors about the entertainment industry.¡± Shi Ying¡¯s worries were not without reason. The entertainment industry was strange and varied. It gathered fame, benefits, and starlight. It was like a huge dye vat that could easily change people. Certain rumors were especially bad for women. The public always discussed them with relish. Shi Ying did not want Ming Dai to be tainted by these things. As a teacher, she hoped that her student could maintain her innocence. Su Fangyun replied confidently, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, ever since I entered the industry as a manager, I¡¯ve never used my artists to take shortcuts! Especially Ming Dai! I have even greater ambitions for her. I won¡¯t let her fall for a small profit!¡± ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± Although Shi Ying said that, she was still careful. Before they returned to school, Shi Ying pulled Ming Dai to a corner. ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry to sign the contract yet. Teacher has a friend who is a magazine editor and has a lot of contact with the entertainment industry. Let¡¯s wait for me to ask her about Manager Su¡¯s situation before making a decision, okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Shi Ying looked at Ming Dai¡¯s pale face and could not help but poke it. Her cheeks were soft and sweet, as if they were cotton candy. ¡°Young lady, you¡¯re too good at hiding. However, it¡¯s good that you can hide a little. Otherwise, those hormonal boys in school will break their heads for you¡­ Cough, cough, cough!¡± The sudden awkward cough covered Shi Ying¡¯s mouth for a moment. She was very annoyed that she had said what was on her mind. In order to maintain her image of a wise teacher that was on the verge of collapse, she hurriedly bade farewell to Ming Dai. ¡°Don¡¯t delay going back to class!¡± After saying that, she fled. After she left, Su Fangyun, who was waiting at the side, slowly walked over. ¡°Ming Dai, you have a good teacher.¡± Su Fangyun sighed. ¡°My form teacher back then was a little old man who wanted to retire and fish every day. He didn¡¯t have the time to care about bad students like us. When I finally became decent, I went back to visit him after graduation. I didn¡¯t expect that he couldn¡¯t even remember my name.¡± ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s great.¡± At the very least, it had been a long time since Ming Dai felt that someone was worried for her. ¡°So¡­ Similarly, not all parents know how to be responsible, right?¡± Ming Dai glanced sideways. Su Fangyun was carefully observing her, worried that she would touch the delicate and sensitive thoughts of an 18-year-old girl. For this, she did not hesitate to take the initiative to mention her past. ¡°For example, I was born in the mountains. My parents didn¡¯t know how to educate me, and their minds were filled with thoughts of continuing the family line. With the three of us sisters, my family was so poor that we almost couldn¡¯t eat. They still insisted on giving birth to a son. Finally, when the fourth child was a boy, the three sisters had to give up everything to devote themselves to him. I had been stubborn since I was young, so I didn¡¯t accept this cowardice. I took advantage of the dark night to put away my clothes and run away. That year, I was 18 years old and didn¡¯t even finish high school. In the end, I met the old man who liked to fish. Not only did he not catch me, but he also bought me a train ticket to Yanjing, giving me a chance to change my fate¡­¡± A heavy life. However, Su Fangyun spoke in a relaxed tone, as if it was a story that could be seen everywhere. However, this meant that she had completely let go of it. Ming Dai looked at her deeply and guessed Su Fangyun¡¯s thoughts. ¡°I¡­¡± Ming Dai paused. ¡°Dad and Mom are very strict with me.¡± ¡°Your hair and glasses. Are those their thoughts?¡± ¡°Yes, they think that girls who are too beautiful will seduce men when they go out. They¡¯re indecent.¡± The calmer Ming Dai¡¯s tone was, the more shocked Su Fangyun was. She was furious. ¡°They¡¯re wrong! Beauty is never a girl¡¯s fault! These people always like to lecture girls, but they forget that it¡¯s those bad people who should be controlled!¡± Su Fangyun held Ming Dai¡¯s slender shoulders and could almost imagine how much her parents repressed her. For a moment, apart from the manager¡¯s admiration for the artiste, Su Fangyun felt solidarity. Just like how someone who had been drenched in the rain would always hold an umbrella for others¡ª ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, how about you let me handle your parents?¡± Chapter 21 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai was distracted the entire way back to the classroom. Ming Dai naturally had no reason to reject Su Fangyun¡¯s offer to help solve her parents¡¯ problem. However, was this matter really that simple? In her previous life, it wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t feel tired from her adoptive parents¡¯ endless demands. Initially, she entered the entertainment industry to lighten the burden on her family, but later on, she became an ATM. Her adoptive parents would ask for money from different sources every few days. If she showed a little resistance, they would threaten her by saying they would get the media to expose her. The outside world thought that she was living an extravagant life, but who knew that 70% of her income was actually given to her adoptive parents? However, before she parted ways with Su Fangyun, she confidently said that there would be no problem. ¡­ Could she be at ease? Ming Dai was immersed in her thoughts and slowly walked through the corridor. She did not notice the strange atmosphere around her. Many students hid behind her and pointed at her. A few words floated over. ¡°That¡¯s her.¡± ¡°Actress? Is she crazy?¡± ¡°Maybe she¡¯s going to be a comedian.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Those rumors brushed past Ming Dai like the wind. Furthermore, she did not associate the topic of discussion with herself at all, so she could not be said to be hurt or aggrieved. ¡°Ming Dai.¡± A clear and cold voice sounded behind him. The noisy students in the corridor gradually quietened down. They looked at the figure that suddenly appeared in the corridor in surprise, their eyes filled with disbelief. Xia Ling? If Class 20 was the lowest level of No.1 Middle School, then Class 1, which gathered talents, was undoubtedly the top of the pyramid! As for Xia Ling, she was a proud daughter with an outstanding family background and looks. She was ranked in the top three of her age group and had won a national award. She was the top student among the top! In No.1 Middle School, there were countless people who admired and yearned to get close to Xia Ling. However, Xia Ling never gave anyone a good attitude. Some busybodies secretly gave her the nickname ¡°Iceberg Lady¡±. It was a little old-fashioned, but it was very suitable for Xia Ling. Almost everyone in the school believed that Xia Ling would be arrogant and remain alone until graduation. Then, she would wave her sleeves,enter a world that they would never be able to reach and become someone on another level. Who would have thought that Xia Ling would take the initiative to come to Class 20 and even call out another girl¡¯s name? Immediately after, she saw Xia Ling walk to Ming Dai¡¯s side step by step, pat her shoulder, and even¡­ smile at her? Xia Ling actually knew how to smile? ¡°Ah.¡± Ming Dai thought of something. ¡°Wait a minute!¡± She left Xia Ling behind and ran into the classroom. The surrounding people gasped again. However, Xia Ling was not dissatisfied. Instead, she stood in front of a boy. She lifted her thin eyelids and her tone was cold. ¡°Trash man?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± A few boys who knew the inside story couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud. Only Gao Jun, who had been given a new title, had an extremely ugly expression. He could be arrogant in front of Ming Dai. However, when it came to Xia Ling, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to fart. Xia Ling looked down on such people the most. He crossed his arms. ¡°You were the one who spread the rumors about her, right?¡± Gao Jun¡¯s expression changed rapidly as he blinked non-stop. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Anyone could hear the guilt in his words. ¡°Solve this problem, or else¡­¡± Or else what? Xia Ling did not say anything. Gao Jun lowered his head and secretly gritted his teeth. Xia Ling could not be bothered with him. When she saw Ming Dai coming out of the classroom, she walked up. Ming Dai took out a handkerchief. ¡°Your¡­¡± Xia Ling interrupted her. ¡°There are many people here. Why don¡¯t we go to the supermarket?¡± Ming Dai looked around and realized that many people were secretly paying attention to the two of them. She simply nodded. The moment the two of them left, the entire corridor exploded. ¡°How did Ming Dai get to know Xia Ling? They¡¯re completely different!¡± ¡°Could it be a family friend? I thought Ming Dai¡¯s mother sells fried skewers?¡± ¡°Hey, Gao Jun, what did Xia Ling say to you just now?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The noise was left behind. Ming Dai and Xia Ling stepped into the campus supermarket. Ming Dai returned the handkerchief that she had washed. Xia Ling did not even look at it and accepted it. She stood in front of the shelf. ¡°What do you want to drink? It¡¯s on me.¡± Ming Dai shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ll treat you. Take it as a thank-you gift.¡± Xia Ling did not hesitate and agreed readily. ¡°Then I¡¯ll treat you next time.¡± As she spoke, she picked a bottle of mango juice. Ming Dai chose strawberry juice. Ming Dai felt extremely satisfied when the sweet and sour fruit juice entered her mouth. She smacked his lips and suddenly asked, ¡°Were they talking about me just now?¡± Ming Dai¡¯s reaction was a little slow, but she was not stupid. She went into the classroom to get a handkerchief. When she came out, she saw Xia Ling warning Gao Jun on her behalf. Coupled with the conversation of the people around them, she could roughly guess the situation. Xia Ling took a sip of mango juice. ¡°Yes, someone sent a message about you in the Year Group. They said that you¡¯re preparing to become an actress. Our school is about to produce a future superstar.¡± Wouldn¡¯t this exaggerated tone attract the attention of a large group of people? Especially when these people realized that Ming Dai, the alleged protagonist of Superstar Media, was a nobody in school whose grades, family background, and appearance were far from excellent. Everyone felt that Ming Dai was overestimating herself and looked at her as if she was a joke. ¡°I¡¯ve asked around. It was Gao Jun who spread the news. He didn¡¯t dare to face you head-on and only dared to play these dirty tricks behind your back.¡± A cold glint flashed across Xia Ling¡¯s eyes. Ming Dai did not feel angry. ¡°Actually, they¡¯re not wrong. I should be signing the contract soon.¡± Xia Ling was slightly shocked. ¡°My grades aren¡¯t good. The form teacher thinks that I have a better future in the arts exam. Coincidentally, an agent came to me¡­¡± ¡°Congratulations!¡± Xia Ling reacted quickly. While she was happy for Ming Dai, she also wanted to see those idiots make a fool of themselves. ¡°In that case, the people who are laughing at you are about to be slapped in the face?¡± Ming Dai laughed along with her, recalling the past. ¡°I want to keep a low profile in school. I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to enjoy this kind of peace after signing the contract.¡± ¡°After today, there should be fewer people talking about you.¡± Xia Ling¡¯s words stunned Ming Dai. She did not know if she had misunderstood the deeper meaning behind Xia Ling¡¯s words. In the end, Xia Ling confirmed her guess. ¡°Aren¡¯t we friends?¡± This meant that she would protect Ming Dai from now on. As far as Ming Dai knew, Xia Ling had never had any friends in school. She was surprised and stunned. ¡°Why¡­ I mean, why did you choose me as your friend?¡± Wasn¡¯t today their second meeting? Xia Ling did not even think. ¡°Because you¡¯re beautiful. You¡¯re the most beautiful person I¡¯ve ever seen in my life!¡± ¡°¡­ Beautiful?¡± Xia Ling seemed to know what she was thinking. She smiled freely. She was not old, but she looked like a wise person who had seen the world. ¡°Everyone wants different things in life. Some people want money, some people want fame¡­ Unlike me. I only want to associate with attractive people. So why can¡¯t I be friends with you just because you¡¯re good-looking?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Ming Dai blinked in confusion. ¡°It seems to make sense.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I have to thank you!¡± Chapter 22 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai looked confused. ¡°Thank me for what?¡± Xia Ling said matter-of-factly, ¡°Thank you for choosing me! When you become famous in the future, there will definitely be countless people who like you and want to be friends with you. However, you still chose me in the vast sea of people. Isn¡¯t this something to be grateful for?¡± Look at Xia Ling¡¯s twisted logic. She no longer had the look of an ice princess in the eyes of her classmates. Ming Dai was taken in by her twisted logic and laughed along with her. Her amber eyes sparkled, and she curled up like a kitten. The corners of her mouth were lifted very high. For a moment, the worries about her parents faded away, and the joy of a new friend filled her heart. ¡°Yes, my friend!¡± Forget about those hypocritical so-called friends in her previous life. It could be said that Xia Ling was Ming Dai¡¯s first true friend! She immediately became excited. She did not care about her empty wallet and insisted on treating Xia Ling to snacks. Xia Ling refused. ¡°This time, I¡¯ll treat you¡­ Be careful!¡± She quickly reached out and pulled Ming Dai back! Ming Dai¡¯s body tilted and she almost fell. Fortunately, she reacted in time and stabilized herself. Ming Dai raised her hand to hold her crooked glasses. She was a little slow before she apologized to the girl who had suddenly appeared at the corner. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± When she saw that face clearly, she instantly pursed her lips! Not far away, the girl held onto the shelf beside her to stabilize herself. A gentle and generous smile slowly bloomed on her face. She waved her hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I didn¡¯t see clearly when I was walking. Are you injured?¡± Xia Ling suddenly called out, ¡°Gu Lingsi?¡± The girl widened her eyes. ¡°Xia Ling! Why are you here?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here with a friend.¡± Looking at the silent Ming Dai, Xia Ling took the initiative to introduce her. ¡°This is my friend, Ming Dai. Ming Dai, this is Gu Lingsi, my classmate.¡± The 18-year-old Gu Lingsi was slender and elegant. Her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her eyes were as beautiful and elegant as the bright moon. Unfortunately, she was a little inexperienced and did not have the natural temperament of the person she would be ten years later. However, standing here, she still looked eye-catching. Even the boys nearby were secretly sizing her up. In high school, Gu Lingsi was not as unreachable as Xia Ling. She was kind, friendly, kind, and generous. She treated everyone equally and was nicknamed the ¡°Goddess of No.1 Middle School.¡± Perhaps it was because they had brushed past each other yesterday, but Ming Dai¡¯s emotions did not fluctuate much when she saw Gu Lingsi today. She looked at Gu Lingsi and exclaimed in surprise. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve heard that you have friends. Hello, Ming Dai, I¡¯m Gu Lingsi.¡± Then, she smiled gently and reached out her hand. Ming Dai slowly raised her hand and shook it. ¡°Hello, Gu Lingsi.¡± It should be said that today was the first time Ming Dai had met Gu Lingsi after her rebirth. Ming Dai acted as usual. She was neither warm nor cold. It was just ordinary, but there was a hint of alienation in her calmness. Perhaps it was Gu Lingsi¡¯s first time meeting someone like Ming Dai, who did not have a good expression on her face so she looked at her several times. Xia Ling watched the entire process and did not think that there was anything wrong with Ming Dai¡¯s attitude. In any case, she was not close to Gu Lingsi, so she was not in the mood to talk to her. She immediately planned to say goodbye. ¡°Then we¡¯ll leave first.¡± Gu Lingsi stopped her. ¡°Ning Xu and the others are playing basketball. I¡¯m about to go over. Do you want to come along?¡± Ming Dai¡¯s breathing paused. ¡­Ning Xu? He was also a student of No.1 Middle School? Calculating his age, Ning Xu should be in his first year. He had just entered school and Ming Dai had already gone to the entertainment industry to start filming. No wonder the two of them did not interact at all even though they were in the same school. At this moment, Ming Dai¡¯s emotions were indescribably complicated¡ª Although she was mentally prepared to reunite with her acquaintances from her previous life, wasn¡¯t this frequency a little too high? Fate was like a predetermined train, rumbling towards her¡­ What surprised her even more was that Xia Ling actually knew Ning Xu! ¡°That guy, Ning Xu, I called him but he didn¡¯t answer. He actually went to play basketball?¡± She then asked Ming Dai if she could accompany her to the basketball court. It was obvious that she wanted to find trouble with Ning Xu. The curious Ming Dai finally nodded in agreement. * * * The lunch break was about to end, but the basketball court was still filled with people. Cheers rose and fell! The youth on the field was agile and nimble. He was as shocked as a swimming dragon and moved like a cheetah. He carried the ball past the heavy encirclement and suddenly jumped up. He blocked the ball and dunked it into the net. His valiant and heroic bearing was as bright and dazzling as the sun, attracting everyone¡¯s attention! ¡°Ahhh!¡± ¡°Ning Xu, Ning Xu, Ning Xu!¡± ¡°Hubby, I love you¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The high school basketball court was the hot topic of the idol meet-and-greet! Especially the warrior who shouted ¡°Hubby, I love you.¡± She attracted many admiring gazes! The warrior¡¯s good friend could not stand the attention. Her face burned as she pulled her hard. ¡°Can you be more reserved?! You¡¯re a senior in Year Three. Ning Xu is only in Year One. How dare you call him Hubby?¡± ¡°Those who are handsome can be called Hubby! So what if he¡¯s in a lower grade? It¡¯s even more exciting to think about it!¡± Ming Dai, who happened to be standing nearby, was speechless. She crossed the sea of people and saw the dazzling young man in the middle of the basketball court¡ª The youth who ended the match with a victory walked to the sidelines while chatting and laughing with his companions. He picked up the hem of his jersey to wipe his sweat, revealing his well-defined abs. It was clearly a very ordinary action, but he did it again and again, causing many girls by the side to scream. He seemed to be well aware of his charm. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he looked outside the arena with a faint smile¡­ Suddenly, he paused! Ming Dai quickly lowered her gaze and frowned imperceptibly. Was it her imagination? Just now¡­ Ning Xu was looking at her? No, that shouldn¡¯t be the case. Ning Xu clearly didn¡¯t know her at this moment! Then, she heard Xia Ling sneering beside her. ¡°Is this kid provoking me?¡± Ming Dai understood. Oh right, Xia Ling and Ning Xu knew each other. When he looked over, he should have noticed Xia Ling and not her. When she looked at the venue again, Ning Xu had already looked away. Ning Xu came to the side of the court. Gu Lingsi, who was waiting there, handed over the mineral water she had bought from the school supermarket. ¡°Drink some water!¡± Ning Xu, who came out from the basketball court, was no longer as aggressive as before. His posture was lazy, like a noble cat. He raised his head and drank some water. His peach blossom eyes were also smiling. He said something to Gu Lingsi that made her laugh out loud. Ning Xu also smiled. His already beautiful eyebrows seemed to have been lit up, making everyone else dumbfounded. There seemed to be an indescribable intimacy between the two of them. When a girl saw this scene, she muttered softly, ¡°Is that Gu Lingsi? She and Ning Xu are so close. Boohoo, I¡¯m so jealous!¡± ¡°They were childhood sweethearts. I heard that Ning Xu once pursued Gu Lingsi. It¡¯s a pity that Gu Lingsi doesn¡¯t like him.¡± ¡°A puppy hurt by love? What should I do? He¡¯s even more lovable.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ming Dai¡¯s lips twitched. Xia Ling was even more direct and snorted coldly. ¡°A puppy? I think a mad dog is more like it!¡± Chapter 23 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios After the basketball game ended, the surrounding audience reluctantly dispersed. Ming Dai was still thinking about how Xia Ling had called him a ¡°mad dog¡± when she was dragged towards Gu Lingsi, Ning Xu, and the rest. Looking at the group of people standing there, Ming Dai realized that there were a few familiar faces among them¡ª Behind Gu Lingsi was Tang Xue, the girl who had splashed red wine at her at a banquet in her previous life. At this moment, she was talking to someone else, but her gaze could not help but drift to Ning Xu. It seemed that she had already fallen in love with him. Unfortunately, Ning Xu did not receive her signal. He was talking about basketball with the boy beside him. Ming Dai had also seen this boy before. He was Ning Xu¡¯s childhood friend and best friend, Lu Yu. Ming Dai knew from him that Ning Xu had a crush on Gu Lingsi and made a bet. The tall boy standing next to Gu Lingsi was Liu Zhengqing. He had a refined and handsome appearance and was Gu Lingsi¡¯s childhood friend. He always had a smile on his face as he listened attentively to Gu Lingsi¡¯s words. He seemed to have a good upbringing, but in reality, he would only treat Gu Lingsi well. As far as Ming Dai knew, even though Gu Lingsi and Ning Shu were only engaged ten years later, Liu Zhengqing would not change his mind. He was the most loyal knight to Princess Gu Lingsi. On the other hand, Ming Dai knew about him because he later ran an entertainment company and made things difficult for her a few times, saying that it was a ¡°lesson¡± for her for disrespecting her sister¡­ There were three to five other people. Ming Dai looked familiar but could not remember their names. She had probably met them by chance in her previous life. They were all from Gu Lingsi and Ning Xu¡¯s circle. Speaking of which, these ¡°acquaintances¡± did not have a good relationship with Ming Dai. In this circle, Gu Lingsi was the goddess of these people. Ever since Ming Dai returned to the Gu family at the age of 25 in her previous life, she had never managed to squeeze into this circle, much less acknowledged by this group of people. They looked down on her and were wary of her. It was as if Ming Dai was the one who tried to steal something that didn¡¯t belong to her. However, who would have known that it was a position that originally belonged to her? ¡­ Those emotions left a mark in Ming Dai¡¯s heart after time passed. She lowered her eyes and walked half a step behind Xia Ling, looking quiet. As she stood beside Xia Ling, these people took a few more glances at her and automatically regarded Ming Dai as Xia Ling¡¯s sidekick. They were exceptionally enthusiastic towards Xia Ling. As she walked over, they stopped joking and greeted her. ¡°Sister Xia, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°I heard that you just won the national award, Sister Xia? Congratulations!¡± ¡°Sister Xia, we¡¯re going to the resort this weekend. Do you want to come with us?¡± ¡°¡­¡± All of them smiled brightly and sincerely. Their attitudes were completely different from the arrogant and condescending attitude they had when they faced Ming Dai in her previous life. They were vaguely trying to please her and pretend to be close to her. As for the reason behind it, it was firstly because Xia Ling was outstanding enough to deserve this respect. Secondly, it was because Xia Ling was different from these rich and idle people who used the family trust to live and wait for death. She was the only daughter of the Xia family and had been chosen as the successor since she was born. The education she had received since she was young and the hard work she had put in were far inferior to them. There were three other reasons, and the most important one was that in this kind of industry, family background was still important! For example, the Xia family and the Ning family were at the top echelon of the pyramid. They had been rich for at least five generations. Xia Ling and Ning Xu, who came from these two families, had extraordinary statuses in the small circle. Everyone else had to respect and curry favor with them. Among them, Gu Lingsi was probably the only one who was relatively calm. However, this was not because of family background. In terms of strength, the Gu family was only in the second tier. In the early years, this family was still considered strong, but from the previous generation, the family had gradually become weak and slid to the third tier. The fact that Gu Lingsi was able to receive special respect and a status that exceeded her family background was closely related to the perfect image she had displayed since she was young. Not only did the young men and women regard her as the goddess of moonlight, but in the eyes of the usually picky wives of the rich and powerful, she was also the number one candidate for a perfect daughter-in-law. Speaking of which¡­ These people were only high school students in their teens, but they had such a thorough understanding of the rules of the adult world. It was as if the skill of calculating benefits was innately flowing in their blood. ¡­ Ming Dai instantly felt relieved. The emotions that kept growing in her heart dissipated, and her whole body felt light. The world was clear and peaceful. Even Ning Xu, who slowly appeared in her field of vision, became less of an eyesore. ¡°A distinguished guest has arrived. What¡¯s the matter?¡± He deliberately lowered his voice so that it was less awkward during the voice change stage. It sounded more mature and magnetic. The 16-year-old Ning Xu was tall and well-built. He was more than 1.8 meters tall and was full of youthful energy. He sat down on the long chair. No matter how one looked at him, his expression looked like he was provoking someone. Xia Ling¡¯s expression was unfriendly as he questioned. ¡°Ning Xu, did you complain to my mother?¡± ¡°How is telling the truth a complaint?¡± Ning Xu slowly dragged out his voice, and the corners of his eyes curled up because of his smile. Xia Ling stared at him and suddenly snorted. ¡°You haven¡¯t told your brother about your results for the start of the semester, right?¡± Ning Xu slowly sat up straight. ¡°This result¡­ Tsk, how disappointed do you think your brother is? I will let bygones be bygones and recommended a few tutors. I don¡¯t think you have time to go to some resort this weekend.¡± ¡°Xia Ling!¡± Ning Xu stood up angrily, his voice almost breaking. ¡°Why are you calling your sister?¡± The air seemed to have frozen, and the surrounding atmosphere was even worse. The others became nervous. Someone nudged Gu Lingsi. Gu Lingsi was helpless. She could only step forward and grab Ning Xu¡¯s arm to persuade him. ¡°Alright, don¡¯t be angry.¡± Ning Xu was still righteous. He shook her off without thinking. With a cry of surprise, Gu Lingsi lost her balance and fell to the side. That direction happened to be where Ming Dai and Xia Ling were standing! In an instant, Ming Dai did not even have time to think before she felt the world spin around her. A heavy object hit her and she fell backward. Ming Dai, who had just been sick, did not have the strength to stabilize this person who had suddenly pressed down on her. She fell to the ground uncontrollably and was forced to become a meat cushion¡ª ¡°Ooh!¡± Ming Dai felt intense pain in her elbows and ankles, and she could not help but groan. Gu Lingsi, on the other hand, looked completely unscathed from the fall. Tang Xue, Liu Zhengqing, and the others immediately rushed over and surrounded Gu Lingsi. ¡°Lingsi, how are you?¡± ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°Can you stand up?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Gu Lingsi, who was drowned in concern, finally managed to speak. ¡°Thank you for your concern. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Of course you¡¯re fine, because Ming Dai is the one who¡¯s injured!¡± Xia Ling¡¯s voice that was suppressing her anger rang out from outside the crowd. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to go over and help Ming Dai, but those people were too fast and surrounded her, so she couldn¡¯t squeeze in at all! Xia Ling was very angry. She was truly angry! Everyone saw this and felt apprehensive. They couldn¡¯t help but make way. It also revealed Ming Dai, who was completely blocked by Gu Lingsi. Chapter 24 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai was using her arms to support herself on the ground, trying to stand up. However, her ankle felt like it was being pricked by needles. She hissed and covered her arm again. Her messy hair accidentally flowed down her shoulders, making her look a little weak. Even the oversized school uniform on her gave her the beauty of a delicate flower falling into the water. It was also this time that Tang Xue, Liu Zhengqing, and the others finally took Ming Dai seriously. They were afraid of Xia Ling¡¯s anger and took the initiative to apologize. ¡°Sister Xia, we didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Gu Lingsi was even more at a loss. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all because of me¡­¡± Xia Ling ignored her. She walked past Gu Lingsi and glanced coldly at the culprit, Ning Xu. ¡°Look what you¡¯ve done!¡± As she spoke, she bent down to help Ming Dai up. Unexpectedly, Ning Xu moved his long legs and stood between Xia Ling and Ming Dai. ¡°What are you doing?!¡± Xia Ling¡¯s anger rose again! ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that I was to blame? Naturally, I have to clean up the aftermath.¡± Ning Xu turned around and bent his long legs. He squatted down in front of Ming Dai and smiled brightly at her. It was not without reason that Ning Xu could become a popular male god in the entire school. Just that face alone was impeccably beautiful. The space between his brows seemed to have been meticulously drawn, and he had the arrogance of a youth. He was carefree and casual, bright and dazzling. His peach blossom eyes were filled with the spring light. When he focused on someone, he could reflect them completely in his eyes. He caused deep emotions to surge slowly like flowing water, making one¡¯s soul unconsciously sink¡­ Unfortunately, he met Ming Dai. In her previous life, Ming Dai had already seen clearly how Ning Xu had created a trap with sweet lies. It was also Ning Xu who had taught Ming Dai not to trust men casually. Hence, Ming Dai was already immune to him. ¡°Thank you.¡± She avoided Ning Xu¡¯s outstretched hand and said coldly, ¡°I can¡­ Ah.¡± Ning Xu looked gentle, but he was actually strong. He held Ming Dai¡¯s arm with one hand and her waist with the other. It was abrupt, but not so abrupt, because his palm kept the last distance between them through the thick winter coat. Ming Dai felt uncomfortable and wanted to break free. However, the young man¡¯s muscles, which had been trained for many years, exerted a little strength and easily picked her up. She was so thin that she could be blown away by the wind. Immediately after, a strong scent wafted over. It was not the smell of sweat, but a refreshing mint fragrance. It was like a huge net that wrapped Ming Dai tightly from head to toe. Ming Dai tried to distance herself. Unfortunately, her ankle was sprained when she fell. She could only rely on Ning Xu¡¯s strength to stabilize her balance. If she was not careful, she would fall. Ming Dai frowned. ¡°You!¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to help you.¡± Ning Xu lowered his eyelids and looked over with a faint smile. In the eyes of others, this scene could not even be described with the word ¡°shock¡±! Even Xia Ling was stunned for a while before he rushed over angrily. ¡°I don¡¯t need your help¡­¡± Ning Xu wrapped his arms around Ming Dai¡¯s waist and dodged to the side again. He raised his eyebrows playfully. It was rare to see Xia Ling lose her composure like this. This made him want to tease her. ¡°She can¡¯t walk. If you continue to drag her, you might cause her to fall!¡± The next second, Ning Xu actually carried Ming Dai horizontally! His original intention was to tease Xia Ling, but when he carried Ming Dai, something seemed to be slipping out of control. He was stunned. He felt that Ming Dai, who was in his arms, was extremely soft and shockingly light. It was like the clouds falling from the sky and the snow on the branches. It was light, surreal, and could dissipate with the wind at any time¡­ The others did not know about his strange thoughts and started to jeer. ¡°Wow, Brother Xu!¡± Lu Yu wished he could clap like a seal! ¡°Ning Xu!¡± Tang Xue finally couldn¡¯t take it anymore! Gu Lingsi did not say anything and merely pursed her lips. Liu Wenqing was looking at her. However, the person who was the angriest was still Xia Ling! How could she not tell that Ning Xu was deliberately going against her? For a moment, she was apologetic to Ming Dai and dissatisfied with Ning Xu. ¡°Put her down while I can still talk to you nicely! Now!¡± Xia Ling gritted his teeth! Ning Xu, who quickly returned to his normal expression, did not show any abnormalities on the surface and snorted indifferently. ¡°Ming Dai¡­ Is your name Ming Dai?¡± He thought he would see a girl who was as shy as a deer. Unexpectedly, the other party¡¯s cold and distant gaze landed on him through the thick glasses, making him shiver subconsciously. ¡°Put me down, please.¡± Not to mention that the girl was not tempted, Ning Xu could even hear a faint impatience in her tone! This was not an act of playing hard to get. The girl in his arms was struggling to avoid more intimate contact with him, as if his skin was infected with some virus. The way she avoided him was definitely not an act. In an instant, his heart seemed to be gripped by a hand. It hurt so much that he could not breathe, and his mind was in a daze. By the time he came back to his senses, his hands had already automatically listened to her and he carefully placed Ming Dai on the ground. ¡­ What¡¯s going on? Ning Xu seemed to have lost his mind and did not speak for a long time. Xia Ling stepped over in time and supported Ming Dai. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Ming Dai nodded and limped towards the infirmary while leaning on Xia Ling. After the two of them walked far away, the small group, which had a gloomy atmosphere, burst into discussion. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Isn¡¯t Sister Xia too concerned about that little follower just now?¡± ¡°Judging from Sister Xia¡¯s attitude, she doesn¡¯t look like a follower. She looks like a friend.¡± ¡°Friend? When did such an inconspicuous friend appear beside Sister Xia?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know Sister Xia could be so gentle. I like her!¡± ¡°What are you thinking? Would Sister Xia like you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Cough!¡± Lu Yu interrupted the others with a cough and deliberately bumped Ning Xu with his arm. ¡°Hey, Brother Xu, what happened to you just now? Why did you pick her up?¡± If not for Lu Yu¡¯s reminder, everyone would have forgotten! Feeling the gossipy gazes on him, Ning Xu chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m just teasing Xia Ling.¡± This answer was expected. Tang Xue¡¯s expression immediately brightened. ¡°I knew it!¡± Everyone else believed him. ¡°I already said that it¡¯s impossible for Brother Xu to like that little bespectacled girl just now!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Instead, we have to worry about Brother Xu¡¯s endless charm. Don¡¯t turn around and charm that little bespectacled girl until she¡¯s dizzy, haha!¡± The corners of Ning Xu¡¯s lips curled up casually. His peach blossom eyes, which were looking in the direction of Ming Dai and Xia Ling¡¯s departure, suddenly calmed down. No one knew what he was thinking. Gu Lingsi, who had been silent for a long time, walked to his side and reminded him. ¡°It¡¯s time for class.¡± Only then did Ning Xu react. ¡°Did you fall? I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Gu Lingsi tucked her messy hair behind her ear and smiled gently. However, Ning Xu said firmly. ¡°No, you have to go to the infirmary!¡± The others chimed in and looked at Ning Xu and Gu Lingsi mockingly. Almost everyone thought that Ning Xu must have insisted on going to the infirmary because he was worried about Gu Lingsi. Gu Lingsi did not say anything. The gentle smile on her lips did not change. Chapter 25 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai and Xia Ling were in the infirmary. The school doctor confirmed that Ming Dai¡¯s ankle was slightly sprained. It did not hurt her bones and tendons. It was not serious. She just needed to spray some medicine on it. On the other hand, Ming Dai was injured in more than one area. She could feel that her arm was also in pain. With Xia Ling¡¯s help, she rolled up her sleeves with difficulty. Under the thick winter clothes, the exposed arm looked even more slender, as if it would break with a snap. Her skin was snow-white, and the bruise on her elbow was even more eye-catching. Xia Ling sucked in a breath of cold air. It was as if she was the one who was injured. The school doctor had seen many injuries on students, but his expression did not change. He casually said that it was not a big problem. At this moment, the school doctor got up and went to the medicine cabinet to get the medicine. Xia Ling, who had been holding back for a long time, finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± She lowered her head and said in a low tone, ¡°It¡¯s all because of me that Ning Xu deliberately targeted you.¡± Ming Dai did not think so. ¡°Ning Xu is the one who went overboard. It has nothing to do with you.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s understanding and tolerance made Xia Ling feel even worse. ¡°If I had known earlier, I wouldn¡¯t have pulled you over. I even caused you to be injured.¡± Ming Dai comforted her softly. Xia Ling did not say anything, but she secretly noted down what happened to Ning Xu in her heart. This debt had to be settled sooner or later! At this moment. Ning Xu, whom she hated, happened to step into the school¡¯s medical room. They sent Gu Lingsi over together. Ning Xu strode forward with his long legs, followed by a series of people. Ning Xu, who was the first to step into the school¡¯s medical room, immediately saw Ming Dai and Xia Ling, who were talking with their heads lowered. Ming Dai did not let go of her rolled-up sleeves, and her arms were naturally noticed by him. They were shockingly as white as jade. His heart was beating wildly. Xia Ling noticed him immediately and frowned. ¡°You followed us?¡± ¡°I came with Gu Lingsi.¡± Ning Xu¡¯s attention landed on Ming Dai again uncontrollably. But she didn¡¯t look at him. The school doctor who had taken the medicine turned around and saw another boy. ¡°Student, please wait outside.¡± The school doctor reminded him kindly. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh!¡± Ning Xu took half a beat to react and hurriedly retreated. Due to this, the people who followed closely behind him almost had a rear-end collision. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother Xu?¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone in there.¡± Ning Xu leaned against the wall and looked ahead with unfocused eyes. The hair in front of his forehead covered his deep eyes, as if there was a shadow covering them that hid the deep thoughts in his eyes. The others did not notice that something was wrong with him. Lu Yu ran to the door and looked in. ¡°It¡¯s Sister Xia and her little sidekick.¡± ¡°By the way, they came to the infirmary too.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s wait. After all, Sister Xia is inside.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Due to Xia Ling¡¯s existence, everyone behaved abnormally well. Tang Xue helped Gu Lingsi sit down on the bench outside. ¡°Sister Lingsi, sit down and rest for a while.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After Gu Lingsi sat down, she raised her hand to look at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s time for class. Why don¡¯t we go back first? I¡¯m really fine. Class is more important.¡± Ning Xu¡¯s attention was pulled back to reality by her words and he stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go in and ask how long it will take.¡± When the others saw this, they thought to themselves that Brother Xu was indeed concerned about Sister Lingsi! Ning Xu had just reached the door when he saw Xia Ling helping Ming Dai out. ¡°Are you all right?¡± Ning Xu blurted out. After saying that, she avoided Xia Ling¡¯s surprised gaze and smiled nonchalantly at Ming Dai. ¡°If anything happens, I¡¯m afraid your good friend will blame me again. It¡¯s best if you go to the hospital for a precision checkup. I¡¯ll pay.¡± ¡°No, thanks.¡± Ming Dai had no intention of being too entangled with Ning Xu at the moment. Xia Ling could not be bothered to talk to Ning Xu. The two of them left quickly. Ning Xu looked at their backs and scratched his head in frustration. It was as if ants were crawling in his body. He couldn¡¯t tell where he was feeling uncomfortable, but he felt uncomfortable everywhere. ¡­What the hell was going on? ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Gu Lingsi happened to walk up to him. Her bright and beautiful face was filled with concern for Ning Xu. The corners of Ning Xu¡¯s lips curled up. ¡°Go in first. I¡¯ll buy you water.¡± Gu Lingsi was stunned. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± Before he could finish speaking, Ning Xu strode away. Lu Yu waved at the others. ¡°I¡¯ll follow Brother Xu. You guys accompany Sister Lingsi!¡± She jogged to catch up to Ning Xu and was about to stop him when she saw him stumble weakly. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± Lu Yu exclaimed and pounced over. Ning Xu blocked him, supported himself against the wall, and shook his head. Lu Yu was extremely anxious. ¡°Brother Xu, are you feeling unwell? Do you want to go to the hospital? Oh, right, school doctor! Let¡¯s get the school doctor to take a look at you first¡­¡± The noise faded into the distance. Ning Xu¡¯s eyes suddenly hurt terribly.Dark and chaotic images intertwined, and a scorching heat wave suddenly overcame him¡ª He was assaulted by a feeling of being near death! Beads of sweat quickly appeared on the tip of Ning Xu¡¯s nose! Lu Yu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He wanted to help Ning Xu, but Ning Xu pushed his hand away forcefully and stood against the wall for more than a minute. ¡°Brother Xu!¡± ¡°¡­Stop talking.¡± Ning Xu, who was slowly recovering, turned around and leaned against the wall. He glanced at him. ¡°Those who don¡¯t know might think that my time is up.¡± Lu Yu was really about to cry. He immediately said, ¡°Pfft, pfft, pfft! Knock on wood!¡± Ning Xu burst out laughing. ¡°You¡¯re already 16 years old, yet you¡¯re still speaking childishly?¡± ¡°Brother Xu, are you alright?¡± ¡°Of course I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s probably just hypoglycemia.¡± Ning Xu raised his hand to wipe away the sweat, and his pale lips slowly regained their color. Lu Yu punched his fist in realization. ¡°I understand!¡± ¡°What do you know?¡± ¡°Brother Xu, you must be too worried about Sister Lingsi! You were so worried that your blood sugar became low!¡± Ning Xu looked at Lu Yu, not knowing what to say. He snorted. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re so smart.¡± ¡°You flatter me!¡± Lu Yu was smug and thought that he had answered the question correctly. Ning Xu did not want to talk to him anymore. He scratched his already messy forehead. ¡°However, I did see something strange.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lu Yu was full of confidence and prepared to answer Brother Xu¡¯s questions again. ¡°It¡¯s just some unfamiliar images that I¡¯ve never seen before¡­¡± The scattered, chaotic, shapeless images were like a jumble of random characters that suddenly entered his brain. Not only did it not send him the correct information, but it also made his head swell to the point that it was about to explode. He tried to recall what he had seen, but he could not recall anything. Was it an illusion? ¡°I know what happened!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°It must be the memories of your previous life, Brother Xu! I heard that when a person is on the verge of death, they will see their previous life!¡± Slap! Ning Xu slapped the back of Lu Yu¡¯s head! ¡°I¡¯m probably infected by your stupidity. I¡¯m actually expecting an answer¡­ from my previous life? Hehe.¡± If Ning Xu continued to talk to Lu Yu, he would be a big fool! He decisively turned around and left. Humans would always protect themselves. When faced with unbearable pain, they would automatically choose to forget it. The memories that made Ning Xu feel extreme pain just now had also dissipated under his deliberate efforts to erase them without any traces. Chapter 26 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ever since Ning Xu appeared early, Ming Dai had been thinking about a question¡ª Will others appear one after another? How should she deal with this? ¡­ ¡°Why are you in a daze?¡± A crisp slap landed on the back of her hand, and her thin and fair skin quickly turned red. Ming Dai frowned and did not cry out in pain. She knew it was useless. As expected, Yu Ting was not apologetic at all. She glanced at her hand and sneered. ¡°It¡¯s really Miss Jiao. I can¡¯t even touch her.¡± Ming Dai did not reply. Kang Ren, who was at the side, was very impatient. He spread his legs and sat on the chair as if he was the master here. ¡°Auntie, when will the person we arranged to meet come? Don¡¯t scare us. This place is very expensive. Your and uncle¡¯s monthly salary combined isn¡¯t even enough to pay for a table of food!¡± Kang Ren¡¯s tone was filled with frustration and disdain, and he did not have much respect for his elders. However, Yu Ting didn¡¯t seem to hear anything. She continued to smile and poured Kang Ren a cup of tea. ¡°Be patient and wait. Ah Ren, you¡¯re from the industry. You definitely know more people than Aunt and Uncle. We¡¯ll have to rely on you to give us your opinion.¡± ¡°What am I? I¡¯m just a nobody in the entertainment industry. I can¡¯t compare to the big manager of Azure Entertainment!¡± Kang Ren¡¯s eyes rolled to the sky, and his words were extremely sour. Ming Dai felt that what he said made sense. It was rare for Kang Ren to have a clear understanding of his position. However, Ming Dai and Ye Qing¡¯er knew what Kang Ren was really thinking. Otherwise, why would Kang Ren agree so eagerly when Yu Ting called him? The door of the private room was suddenly pushed open. A middle-aged man with a smile on his face walked in, and his eyes seemed to be shining. ¡°Oh my god, I¡¯ve finally seen what it means to be generous today!¡± ¡°Old Ming!¡± Yu Ting was worried. ¡°Why did you take so long in the toilet? I was afraid that you would get lost.¡± ¡°How could I lose my way? Do you think I¡¯m as stupid as you?¡± Ming An said casually and pulled out the chair beside Yu Ting to sit down. The shock from seeing him just now could not be erased. She could not help but continue to nag. ¡°I just walked around the corridor. Do you know that the paintings and vases here are all authentic! I asked the waiter passing by and I heard that they cost tens of thousands!¡± ¡°It must be fake! Who would put such an expensive thing outside! What if someone breaks it?¡± Yu Ting exclaimed. Ming An¡¯s eyes could vaguely see the handsomeness of his youth. Unfortunately, he was old, and this handsomeness could not be sustained in old age. Instead, he had the greasy and self-righteous look of a middle-aged man. Upon hearing Yu Ting¡¯s words, he became defensive and reprimanded her on the spot. ¡°What do you know! This is called style! It¡¯s called taste! So what if it¡¯s a vase worth hundreds of thousands? It¡¯s just an object! It has to be used in the end! That¡¯s why I said you¡¯re short-sighted and petty!¡± Not only did Yu Ting not feel embarrassed being criticized in front of the children, but she also nodded submissively, thinking that her husband¡¯s words made sense. Satisfied, he turned to Ming Dai. ¡°The benefactor I met this time is not bad. As expected of my daughter!¡± Ming Dai would not be moved to tears by his nonchalant acknowledgment. She was sending a message on her phone, so she casually hummed twice. Ming An hated it when his wife and daughter ignored him. He frowned and was about to flare up. ¡°Sister Su will be here soon.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s sudden words extinguished Ming An¡¯s anger like a basin of cold water. Ming An¡¯s anger immediately turned into joy. ¡°She¡¯s here already?¡± His expression changed so quickly. Kang Ren secretly pursed his lips. However, Ming An had restrained himself a little, so he was not as bold as Yu Ting. Ming Dai looked up silently and saw that the three people in the room had different thoughts and expressions¡ª Today was Saturday. He had arranged to meet Su Fangyun to discuss the signing of the contract. Two days ago, after Ming Dai and Su Fangyun had a conversation in the cafe outside the school, their form teacher, Shi Ying, asked around and confirmed Su Fangyun¡¯s identity and character. The contract was finally signed. Although Ming Dai was already 18 years old and the documents she signed also had legal effects, as long as she lived in this society, she could not avoid her parents. Therefore, according to Su Fangyun¡¯s plan, she told Yu Ting about this when she returned home from school the evening before yesterday. ¡°Sign a contract? Didn¡¯t I tell you to give up on being a celebrity? Do you think I¡¯m a fool?¡± This was Yu Ting¡¯s first reaction. It was mainly because she did not believe that Ming Dai would be lucky enough to meet a big manager. Just as she was about to pick up the hanger and teach Ming Dai a lesson, Ming Dai gave her her business card in time. Yu Ting made the call doubtfully. She did not know what she said to Su Fangyun. In any case, early the next morning, Ming An, who was supposed to be working overseas, rushed back by car overnight. Ming An was a carpenter and had inherited his family¡¯s work. Unfortunately, compared to his father¡¯s exquisite carpentry skills, he was only a dabbler. He usually followed the renovation team from his hometown to do work and earn money. As skilled workers, as long as they could endure hardships, the Ming family should not be living in a village in the city after so many years. However, Ming An was the one who could not endure hardship. When he was young, he was pampered by his parents. When he became an adult, he was born with a handsome appearance that made the girls crazy. After he got married, he met Yu Ting who spoiled him and served him¡­ According to him, after he was middle-aged, he even had a daughter who could earn money to raise him and for him to squander. Ming An, who had never suffered a huge setback in his life, was born lazy and idle. It was impossible for him to work hard. The renovation team had heavy job responsibilities. He had to rest for two months after every month. A small portion of the money he earned was given to Yu Ting to spend on the family. Most of it was used up for his own food, drinks, and entertainment. He did not save a single cent. It was fortunate that Yu Ting worked hard 24 hours a day. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t even be able to pay the rent in the village! For such a family that struggled to make ends meet all year round, if their daughter could become a big star in one leap, money would flow into the family like water¡­ Even though Yu Ting did not like girls showing their faces outside, she could not help but be tempted! Just like when Kang Ren wanted to bring Ming Dai to the movie audition previously. Not only Yu Ting, but Ming An also agreed. Yu Ting and Ming An were a little disappointed that it did not work out. Yu Ting felt that Ming Dai should study hard and give up on being a celebrity. However, Ming An did not think so. He knew that his daughter had a good appearance. In the past, he hid it to avoid trouble. Now that his daughter was an adult, wouldn¡¯t it be a waste if he didn¡¯t make good use of her face? After receiving Su Fangyun¡¯s invitation this time, Ming An was even more enthusiastic than Yu Ting and did not hesitate to make a trip personally! Ming Anxin thought that the reason why she failed the audition last time was definitely because Yu Ting was not good at her job. This was a family-related matter. As expected, he, Old Ming, had to step in! Chapter 27 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Miss Su, please come in.¡± A gentle voice sounded at the door. With a creak, the door of the private room was pushed open, and a valiant figure walked in. She wore a camel-colored cashmere coat, a black knitted shirt, and wide-legged pants of the same color. The simple outfit suited the luxurious private room very well. It was equally expensive. It was Su Fangyun. ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting. There was a traffic jam.¡± Her tone was fast and powerful, like a rapid-fire cannon. It was obvious that she was used to giving orders all year round and had the aura of a superior. Behind Su Fangyun were two young and beautiful waiters. When she sat down, one of them took her bag and pulled out a chair, while the other helped her take off her coat and put it neatly on the hanger. Such a thoughtful service was not available when others came in. Su Fangyun, on the other hand, felt at ease as if she had returned home. Ming An stood up on his own accord at some point in time. He bent down and smiled ingratiatingly. Yu Ting followed suit. Seeing that Ming Dai did not move, she even tugged at her. Even the arrogant Kang Ren quietly closed his legs and stood up after some hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Su Fangyun became the center of attention. ¡°Why are you all up? Sit.¡± Su Fangyun calmly sat down first. Ming An nodded repeatedly, the smile on his face becoming more and more obsequious. ¡°Um, Manager Su, hello. I¡¯m Ming Dai¡¯s father¡­¡± Halfway through his sentence, Su Fangyun raised her hand and interrupted him. ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Su Fangyun looked at the two waiters who had yet to leave. ¡°What¡¯s the special menu today?¡± They replied respectfully, ¡°There are oysters flown in from France this morning.¡± Su Fangyun nodded and ordered a few more dishes. When she ordered, she spoke casually and didn¡¯t even look at the menu. After saying that, she asked the others, ¡°What do you want to eat?¡± The two waiters brought the menu over. As soon as Yu Ting flipped it open, she was stunned by the prices on it. ¡°How much will this meal cost?¡± Just now, when Kang Ren said that her and Old Ming¡¯s combined salary couldn¡¯t even buy a table, she thought that it was an exaggeration. But now, looking at the price on the menu, he clearly meant it! Yu Ting quickly found the dishes that Su Fangyun had ordered just now. She was dazzled by the zeroes at the back. A few of the dishes were not even on the menu. Su Fangyun calmly raised his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony, add whatever you want.¡± Yu Ting opened her mouth, but no words came out. ¡°I¡¯ll order.¡± Ming An appeared happily. ¡°I want this pine mushroom lion soup!¡± Two days ago, his colleague had bragged to him that he had gone to Yanjing Restaurant with his son to eat pine mushrooms. Ming An was so jealous that his eyes turned red. He hated himself for not having a good son like him. But now¡­ Hmph! Unexpectedly, Su Fangyun rejected his order. ¡°No pine mushrooms. The best ones are from July to September. They¡¯re too old this season. They¡¯re hard to swallow.¡± Her unquestionable tone made Ming An not even dare to refute. He agreed repeatedly. The envy in his heart for his workmates changed seamlessly to disdain! Look, he didn¡¯t even know the best time to eat pine mushrooms! The dishes were ordered. The two waiters left the private room. There were only five people left in the room, and the atmosphere was slightly awkward. To be precise, Ming An, Yu Ting, and Kang Ren were the ones who were embarrassed. Su Fangyun, who was sitting at the head of the table, calmly wiped her hands with a hot towel. As for Ming Dai, she had a nonchalant expression on her face as she slowly drank her water. Ming An and Yu Ting secretly glanced at Su Fangyun and quickly learned to wipe their hands with a towel. As for Kang Ren, he snorted in disdain and pushed the towel away. Everyone was waiting for Su Fangyun to speak. After Su Fangyun finished wiping her hands, she lowered her head and looked at her phone. Ming¡¯an could not hold it in any longer. ¡°Manager Su, regarding our Ming Dai¡­¡± ¡°Excuse me, I have to take this.¡± Su Fangyun stood up swiftly and walked out of the private room. She did not even take a glance at Ming An. The door of the private room had just closed a second ago when Kang Ren slammed the table in the next second. ¡°What does she mean? Is she deliberately ignoring us? I don¡¯t think she wants to cooperate with us!¡± ¡°Keep your voice down! It won¡¯t be good if she hears you!¡± The person who reprimanded him was actually Ming An. Kang Ren¡¯s face contorted. ¡°Uncle-in-law! You can¡¯t be like this. I was the one who suggested Ming Dai enter the entertainment industry!¡± What was this now? A woman suddenly popped out of nowhere and was so picky? Ming Dai, who was wandering outside this group of people, glanced at Kang Ren indifferently and saw through his thoughts. She immediately found it funny. Could it be that in her cousin¡¯s eyes, she was already labeled as a consumable good? Where did this indignance come from? She didn¡¯t interrupt. Or rather, there was no need. Because Ming An had also seen through his thoughts. Ming An did renovation work and often interacted with people from all walks of life. How could he not see through Kang Ren¡¯s thoughts? Only Yu Ting, the woman who treated her nephew like a treasure, pretended not to see it. In the past, Ming An was happy to pretend to be confused. After all, Kang Ren¡¯s family background was better than theirs, and Kang Ren¡¯s mother often lent them money. Now that he had received benefits, it was different. ¡°Kang Ren, it¡¯s a good thing that this big manager likes your sister. It¡¯s a good thing for our entire family! Don¡¯t ruin it for us!¡± The hidden warning made Kang Ren¡¯s expression turn even uglier. He almost couldn¡¯t hold it in anymore. ¡°My good intentions are misunderstood like this! If it weren¡¯t for Aunt troubling me, do you think I would have come? Fine, I won¡¯t care about you anymore!¡± He stood up angrily and strode towards the door of the private room. He walked quite quickly in the first half of the journey and gradually slowed down in the second half. It was obvious that he was hoping that someone would stop him. Unfortunately, even his aunt, Yu Ting, was sitting obediently and did not dare to act rashly in front of her husband. Kang Ren could only swallow his anger and leave. ¡°Who does he think he is?¡± Ming An muttered softly. At this moment, Su Fangyun finally came in and hurriedly sat down. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was busy with work.¡± After explaining, Su Fangyun acted as if she did not see that there was no one missing in the private room. ¡°If Ming Dai signs the Azure entertainment contract, the first three years will be based on an E-level contract. There will be 20-80 split, with a minimum monthly salary of 10,000 yuan. The filming and advertisement earnings will be calculated separately. Three years later, according to her development, the contract will be changed. It would be best if she can change to a C-level contract. After signing the contract, the company will immediately arrange a dormitory for her, training teachers, makeup artists, assistants, and so on. Do you have anything to add?¡± The huge amount of information made the couple dizzy. ¡°If it¡¯s 20-80¡­ we¡¯ll take 80?¡± Su Fangyun sneered unceremoniously. ¡°Heh, are you joking? Do you know how much the company needs to invest to nurture a newbie? We¡¯re not doing charity!¡± Ming An shrunk his neck. ¡°Oh¡­ Oh!¡± Su Fangyun crossed his arms and said indifferently. ¡°Have you thought about it? You only have one day to sign the contract. Our company has a lot of choices. It doesn¡¯t have to be Ming Dai.¡± ¡°Sign! We¡¯ll sign it!¡± Chapter 28 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The meal was over in a hurry. Ming An and Yu Ting didn¡¯t even have time to savor the US$3000 per person delicacy before Su Fangyun stood up. ¡°Are you done eating?¡± It was a question, but it didn¡¯t sound like that. After saying that, she called the waiter to pay the bill. The waiter smiled sweetly. ¡°Miss Su, it¡¯s already on your tab.¡± Su Fangyun nodded and said to Ming An Yuting, ¡°I¡¯ll take Ming Dai away first. I have something to talk to her about.¡± Tonight, her decisive and unquestionable image had already been deeply ingrained in everyone¡¯s hearts. How could Ming An and Yu Ting dare to refute her? At the entrance of the quiet restaurant, the couple watched the two of them leave. Yu Ting finally heaved a sigh of relief and tugged at her husband¡¯s arm. ¡°Oh my god, we ate a meal worth more than 10,000 yuan! I didn¡¯t think it was that delicious!¡± Ming An didn¡¯t listen to her at all. He was still immersed in the sentence ¡°It¡¯s already on your tab.¡± How generous! He would become such a person in the future. He wouldn¡¯t pay when eating outside, but he would put it on his tab! ¡°Old Ming, are you listening to me?¡± Yu Ting tugged at him again. Ming An shook his hand off impatiently. ¡°I said you¡¯re a wild boar who can¡¯t eat fine chaff! Is this food just about money? It¡¯s style! It¡¯s taste! What do you know!¡± Yu Ting nodded. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s already so late. Hurry up and go to the bus stop. Otherwise, we won¡¯t be able to make it!¡± Ming An¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What bus? We ate food worth more than 10,000 yuan. We have to take a taxi to be worthy of our status!¡± ¡°It costs dozens of yuan to take a taxi¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me when I say that you¡¯re short-sighted. In the future, we¡¯ll have 10,000 yuan in our accounts every month. Why would we care about a few dozen yuan for the taxi fare?¡± Yu Ting felt that Ming An¡¯s words made sense. ¡°Yes, Old Ming, you¡¯re thinking ahead.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯m a man. I¡¯m not as short-sighted as you women. Besides, what¡¯s 10,000 yuan a month? I heard that celebrities earn hundreds of thousands of yuan from filming television dramas and advertisements! Ming Dai might not be able to earn so much in the first two years! But there will be many opportunities in the future!¡± Ming An could not hide his excitement. His eyes were shining as if he could already see his lavish future! When he came to this kind of restaurant, he would also want two little beauties to serve him! Wonderful! Yu Ting did not know what kind of beautiful dream her husband had. She still felt that everything that happened tonight was unreal and could not help but worry. ¡°A few hundred thousand or a few million is too much. Can Ming Dai really earn so much money? I don¡¯t think she has any good points other than her good looks. She shouldn¡¯t become a celebrity and be laughed at. She¡¯ll embarrass our family.¡± These words extinguished Ming An¡¯s excitement, and his expression changed. ¡°No way. Didn¡¯t they say that Azure Entertainment is a big company?¡± ¡°Not everyone in a big company can make it.¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t say such unlucky words!¡± Yu Ting shut up. But at the same time, Ming An¡¯s good mood was gone. The couple had never thought that Ming Dai was capable of anything. She could not even study and she just wanted to be a celebrity? With such a terrible mood, the two of them did not say a word until they took a taxi home. * * * The moment she disappeared from Ming An and Yu Ting¡¯s sight, Su Fangyun¡¯s tense and serious expression quickly broke. The coldness in her eyes quickly dissipated and it was replaced by a cheerful expression. ¡°How is it?¡± She winked at Ming Dai. ¡°My acting skills aren¡¯t bad, right?¡± Ming Dai said seriously, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s not bad. You have a lot of potential.¡± Su Fangyun immediately became proud. ¡°This move is called playing hard to get!¡± The day before yesterday, after telling Ming Dai that she wanted to settle her parents, Su Fangyun went back and immediately checked Ming Dai¡¯s parents¡¯ information. At first, she was shocked that this couple could raise Ming Dai, who was as clear as crystal. Then, she formulated a plan according to the couple¡¯s personality and communicated with Ming Dai before she came tonight¡ª Ming An and Yu Ting were typical bullies who bullied the weak and feared the strong. They would be submissive when they were outside and would attack when they returned home. As the bottom of the food chain, Ming Dai had always suffered the most from the couple¡¯s anger. Therefore, Su Fangyun chose to be tough to the end when it came to these personalities! She had deliberately communicated like this to create an atmosphere of disparity from the waiters¡¯ attitude. Immediately after, she suppressed Ming An twice. He was usually the head in the family but this made him completely bow his head. When the couple¡¯s appetite was piqued, she would hit them again! Quick and decisive! It could be said that the tempo of tonight¡¯s meal was under Su Fangyun¡¯s control! ¡°However, I still didn¡¯t expect this.¡± Su Fangyun rubbed her chin and reflected on tonight¡¯s meal. ¡°That cousin of yours used to be in the entertainment industry, right? With him around, I thought it wouldn¡¯t be so simple, but in the end, your father drove him away in anger¡­ The heavens are really on our side!¡± ¡°Anyway, they¡¯ll be stopped in the future for a long time.¡± Ming Dai was not worried about how to deal with it after this. When she became stronger, what could she not solve? The two of them quickly walked to the garage and got into Su Fangyun¡¯s Mercedes-Benz coupe. She took out a contract from her bag. This was something Ming An and Yu Ting had never seen before¡ª ¡°This is our Azure¡¯s sincerity in signing the contract. The D-level contract will be a 50-50 split. The company will be provide you with dormitories, drivers, vans, assistants, makeup artists, costume designers, and other team members. In addition, we will be responsible for your clothes and training fees. Generally speaking, newbies who sign the contract for the first time will start from E-level or F-level, but you¡¯re different. I specially requested this from my boss for a year. If it goes well this year, you¡¯ll be promoted to B-level or C-level next year.¡± At this time, Su¡¯s attitude was completely different from her unquestionable attitude towards Ming An Yu Ting. Her tone was sincere. From Ming Dai¡¯s standpoint, she carefully analyzed the pros and cons for her and even mentioned the treatment of other management companies in the market as a comparison. Actually, there was no need for her to say it. Ming Dai, who was well versed in the rules of the entertainment industry, knew very well that this D-grade contract was the best choice for her at the moment. Not to mention the additional conditions, just the one-year contract period was enough to make her raise her eyebrows. It had to be known that in order to tie up newcomers with potential, other companies often scammed people in their first contract. There were many ¡°slave¡± contracts that lasted ten to twenty years. If this one year contract was taken out, countless people would be envious! Ming Dai flipped through the contract. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll jump ship in a year?¡± Su Fangyun waved his hand. ¡°If you still want to jump ship after working with me, it only means that I¡¯m not capable enough!¡± Ming Dai stared at her. That pair of light amber eyes that could not be concealed flowed with light, making Su Fangyun almost embarrassed. ¡°But don¡¯t think too highly of me. There¡¯s an additional clause here. You have to sign with Azure first for a year!¡± ¡°I know.¡± Ming Dai kept the document. ¡°However, I¡¯ll sign it after I consult a lawyer.¡± Su Fangyun was stunned at first, but she quickly laughed out loud. ¡°As expected of you!¡± Chapter 29 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios On Sunday afternoon, Ming Dai brought her lawyer to the headquarters of Azure Entertainment. The lawyer¡¯s fees were paid by Ming An and Yu Ting. No matter how unwilling the couple was, they still had to spend money to earn money. Today was the official signing of the contract. The couple wanted to follow along, but Ming An was busy at the construction site and Yu Ting could not leave her stall. In the end, Ming Dai came alone and met the lawyer at the entrance of Azure Entertainment. The lawyer was a young lady. She carried a briefcase and smiled brightly. She rarely received cases related to the entertainment industry. She could not help but be curious and secretly observed Ming Dai walking towards her, especially when she found out that Ming Dai was about to sign a contract with Azure. It was winter and everyone was wearing multiple layers. Ming Dai was wrapped up in an exaggerated manner. She had stuffed a few layers beneath her thick down jacket and wore a woolen hat on her head. A heavy ball hung behind her head and she looked like a chubby bear as she slowly moved over. The lawyer lady thought she looked a little cute! When Ming Dai walked closer, she pulled down the mask that was used to block the wind, revealing her small face that was as fair as jade¡­ The lawyer no longer thought that she was just cute, but extremely beautiful! It was the joy of having one¡¯s eyeballs purified! However, due to professionalism, the lawyer still retained her rationality. She greeted Ming Dai with a nod and handed over her business card. Ming Dai held the business card in her hand as she spoke. ¡°My name is Ming Dai.¡± Ming Dai! The lawyer thought that she would definitely remember this name! ¡°Then let¡¯s go in.¡± Ming Dai nodded. The lawyer lady took the lead and did not forget to open the door for Ming Dai. Ming Dai thanked her softly. The lawyer looked calm on the surface, but she was already overjoyed on the inside. When they arrived at the front desk, the lawyer lady explained her intentions to the other party and got permission to enter. As the two of them left the front desk, they could vaguely hear the discussion behind them¡ª ¡°I heard that she¡¯s the newbie that Sister Su wants to sign.¡± ¡°Sister Su actually knows how to take care of newbies? Is she someone with connections?¡± ¡°She was wearing a mask, so I couldn¡¯t see her face clearly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The lawyer could not help but glance at Ming Dai. However, she saw that her exquisite eyes were as calm as usual without much emotion. Hence, she also restrained her thoughts. The two of them arrived at the elevator. When the elevator door opened, the lawyer was about to enter when she was stopped¡ª ¡°Wait, you guys have to use to the next elevator!¡± The man took advantage of his tall stature and blocked the elevator door, not letting them in. The lawyer was baffled. She glanced at her watch. ¡°We¡¯re in a hurry!¡± The meeting was about to start! The man wanted to say something else. A deep voice came from behind him. ¡°Let them in.¡± Only then did the lawyer realize that there was a man behind him. He was wearing a black cap and a black down jacket. He was still tall and thin, and his bent legs were leaning against the elevator wall. He looked indescribably lazy. The lawyer could roughly guess that this person was an artiste, but the brim of his hat was lowered, so his face could not be seen clearly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± She whispered to Ming Dai. The fur ball on the back of Ming Dai¡¯s head swayed as she silently walked into the elevator. The lawyer lady followed closely behind and was secretly surprised. Was it an illusion? Why did Ming Dai¡¯s movements suddenly stiffen? There was a faint smell of men¡¯s cologne in the elevator, like a combination of cedar and sandalwood. He was cold. However, there were always people who were not used to it. For example, Ming Dai covered her mouth and sneezed. Her woolen hat swayed violently as she moved her head. Perhaps it was because the fur lump behind her head was too heavy, but it fell off and smashed into the man in the cap. The elevator was silent. The lawyer looked awkward as her gaze swept between Ming Dai and the man in the cap. The man, who should be his assistant, glared at them warily, wondering if they did it on purpose. Ming Dai froze and did not move for a long time. Only a slender and well-defined hand picked up Ming Dai¡¯s hat from her shoulder. ¡°There you go.¡± His voice was gentle and did not reveal any sharpness. It was not as arrogant as the lawyer thought. Fortunately, the other party came closer with her hat. This time, the lawyer lady finally saw his eyebrows under the brim of his hat! ¡°Ah! You are¡­¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Ming Dai took it and thanked her. She also ¡°coincidentally¡± interrupted the lawyer to give her a reminder. ¡°Elevator¡¯s here.¡± The lawyer looked at Ming Dai¡¯s back view as she quickly walked out. She nodded goodbye to the other two and quickly followed. In the elevator. The assistant scratched his head. ¡°Why does that young lady look like she has seen a ferocious beast?¡± The man raised his eyebrows and slowly revealed his facial features under the shadow of his hat. There was a faint smile in his tone. ¡°So you¡¯re not the only one who thinks so.¡± Outside the elevator. The lawyer lady had regained her professionalism. Her expression turned serious and she had an imposing aura as she accompanied Ming Dai into Su Fangyun¡¯s office. When Su Fangyun saw Ming Dai, he beamed with joy. ¡°You¡¯re here? I was waiting for you!¡± Next, she brought Ming Dai and the lawyer to the conference room at the side. In addition to Su Fangyun and Azure Entertainment¡¯s legal team, even Su Fangyun¡¯s immediate superior was here. Su Fangyun was one of the top managers in Azure¡¯s artiste department. The only person who could be considered her immediate superior was the CEO of Azure Entertainment, Chen Fang. Logically speaking, there was no need for the dignified CEO of Azure to come forward for a D-grade artiste contract. However, Su Fangyun had made a promise to her superior for Ming Dai¡¯s contract. President Chen could not help but be curious about what kind of good seedling could make his beloved manager so determined. He personally came and saw it, but he was actually speechless for a long time. There was an entire floor-to-ceiling glass window in the conference room. The warm winter sun shone in from outside. Ming Dai was sitting in the light. The golden ash floated around her, and the outline of her side profile was drawn with gold. It was as if¡­ the light did not come from outside the house, but from her body. President Chen was shocked. Just this face alone was enough to kill everyone in the entertainment industry! Moreover, there was Su Fangyun, the Star Creator, behind him. Immediately, he did not feel that the D-grade contract was a loss anymore. He sighed. ¡°Ming Dai¡¯s future is limitless!¡± Su Fangyun had already expected his reaction. She replied half-jokingly and seriously, ¡°Of course, Ming Dai is personally trained by me!¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± How could President Chen not understand what she meant? Next, Ming Dai¡¯s lawyer lady confirmed the terms of the contract and raised objections to a few areas where the meaning was unclear. After a few intense discussions, the latest version of the management contract was released. Under the gaze of four pairs of eyes, Ming Dai picked up a pen and signed the contract. It was as if a huge rock had fallen to the ground. At this moment, Su Fangyun immediately took out the second contract and placed it in front of Ming Dai. ¡°This is a greeting gift from Wei Lan. It¡¯s directed by Gao Yi and stars Shen Qinghe. The television drama is called ¡®The Emperor of a Generation¡¯.¡± Chapter 30 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai was stunned. That day at the cafe outside the school, Su Fangyun talked about her plan and mentioned that Director Gao lacked an actress for his new movie. At that time, Ming Dai did not take it to heart. She felt that as a famous director, Director Gao would have access to top tier talent. She would be willing to even play a small supporting role in his movie. However, she had never expected that Su Fangyun would arrange for her to be part of The Emperor of a Generation. Shen Qinghe¡­ ¡°Shen Qinghe? We just met him in the elevator!¡± The lawyer lady at the side exclaimed! No one noticed the complicated look in Ming Dai¡¯s eyes. Yes, the person they had just met in the elevator was Shen Qinghe¡ª The future famous Three Gold Movie King, the big shot of the entertainment industry, and Ming Dai¡¯s ex-boyfriend from her previous life, Shen Qinghe. Ming Dai was already surprised that she had bumped into Shen Qinghe so quickly after meeting Ning Xu. Yet, Ming Dai coincidentally threw the woolen hat at him¡­ His attitude was gentle and humble. Who would have thought that his inner nature was the complete opposite of his appearance? ¡°He¡¯s already here?¡± Su Fangyun was a little surprised. President Chen glanced at his watch. ¡°Yes, why didn¡¯t Qinghe tell me that he had arrived early? Xiao Su, I¡¯ll leave this to you. I¡¯ll go over first.¡± After his figure disappeared at the door, Su Fangyun smiled and explained. ¡°We have invested in ¡®The Emperor of a Generation¡¯. We have an appointment with Director Gao and Qinghe today. If you¡¯re willing, Ming Dai, we can go over and meet them.¡± Ming Dai hesitated. ¡°I¡­¡± Su Fangyun asked gently, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Ming Dai shook her head. ¡°I want to read the script first.¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± As Su Fangyun spoke, she handed over the script. Although she said it was a script, it was actually an outline of the script. It was a few thin pages that could be read in ten minutes. Ming Dai lowered her head and flipped through it. She looked serious, but no one knew what she was feeling. She knew about ¡°The Emperor of a Generation¡± and had watched it before. This television drama described the life of an emperor. It described how a simple prince who stood aloof from worldly affairs started to fight for the throne. Then, he started the golden age of the dynasty and ruled over thousands of miles. Director Gao Yi was an A-list director in the television industry. He was good at filming historical scenes. Although the male lead, Shen Qinghe, did not become a god ten years later, he was still a popular A-lister. With such a strong alliance, the final result was naturally a huge hit. Director Gao Yi added a classic masterpiece to his resume. Shen Qinghe stabilized his position as the number one star, and the supporting roles saw their careers take off. Ten years later, it was still talked about! Ming Dai remembered that this was mainly a male show. There were only three young female characters with relatively long scenes: One of them was the male lead¡¯s empress. She was also a virtuous empress who had left a deep mark in history. One of them was the male lead¡¯s concubine, who had accompanied him through the most difficult years. Unfortunately, in the end, she was unrecognizable. There was one more¡­ Seeing that Ming Dai had already flipped through the entire script outline, Su Fangyun introduced it at the right time. ¡°You¡¯re going to play the male lead¡¯s childhood sweetheart, the young princess. She has few scenes, but she¡¯s very eye-catching. Moreover, it¡¯s not difficult. You can act as yourself. Of course, the most important thing is that this drama will start filming next week. The actor who originally played the young princess has resigned.¡± Ming Dai remembered this role. Although the male lead of ¡°The Emperor of a Generation¡± was mainly focused on the battle between the empress and the imperial concubine, the actress who played the role of Princess Bai Yueguang also attracted a lot of fans. It would be a good start for her. Except¡­ ¡°What happened?¡± Su Fangyun noticed her hesitation. ¡°Do you not like this script? It doesn¡¯t matter. It depends on your opinion. We¡¯re not in a hurry. We can wait for other opportunities.¡± Unlike many tough managers, Su Fangyun had always respected the choice of artistes. In her opinion, if it was not a scene that the artistes really wanted to film, forcing them would only result in a mess. Just as she was about to withdraw the contract¡­ Ming Dai reached out and pressed it down. ¡°I want to shoot it!¡± The moment she looked up, Su Fangyun thought that he saw a wild fire dancing in her eyes. It was a spark that stubbornly refused to be extinguished in the cold winter. It was the flame of ambition that could burn the entire world! Su Fangyun was a little stunned. ¡°¡­ Okay.¡± She took a while to react. ¡°Ah, right, do you want to meet the director? They¡¯re downstairs.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that.¡± Su Fangyun first called someone downstairs. After receiving confirmation she brought Ming Dai to visit the film and television department downstairs. Along the way, they met many employees who were peeking at Ming Dai. Su Fangyun knew that the news of her signing a newbie had spread. She was helpless and worried that Ming Dai would feel pressured. However, when she turned around, she saw that Ming Dai did not look uneasy at all. She looked extremely calm, as if she was naturally used to being the center of attention. Su Fangyun was extremely satisfied. The two of them quickly arrived at the conference room. Through the glass wall, they could vaguely see more than ten people sitting inside. Other than President Chen, who had just come down, there were also producers, screenwriters, directors, and so on. Shen Qinghe, on the other hand, sat in the middle of these people. He lowered his eyes and did not say a word. He twirled the fountain pen in his hand and looked rather low-key. However, he had already taken off his cap, revealing his excessively handsome face. He had a natural oriental charm and was elegant. He was gentle, humble, and these traits seemed to have penetrated deep into his bones. One could vaguely see the aura of a refined scholar. That presence could not be erased at all. It was like a glowing object in the night, constantly attracting people¡¯s attention! The first person Ming Dai noticed when she stepped into the meeting room was him. Shen Qinghe seemed to have sensed something and turned around. Bam! The fountain pen landed on the conference table with a crisp sound. Director Gao Yi, who was sitting next to Shen Qing, looked at him curiously. Shen Qinghe shook her head and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Shen Qinghe was a very good actor. Even Director Gao Yi could not see through his disguise. No one knew that Shen Qinghe¡¯s heart was hurting badly. It was as if she was entangled by thin threads that were tightening and she was sinking bit by bit, making her unable to breathe and almost suffocate. This feeling came and went suddenly. Shen Qinghe only frowned for a moment before returning to normal. However, the pain was deeply engraved in her mind, like a warning from the depths of his soul. Shen Qinghe looked at the two people who walked into the meeting room again. She was very familiar with Su Fangyun and had dealt with him many times. Immediately after that¡­ he recognized her. It was the girl in the woolen hat in the elevator who avoided him like a ferocious beast. Shen Qinghe looked at her with a sense of familiarity. His gaze subconsciously lingered on her face. However, she did not even look at him. She was only focused on meeting and greeting the others. She bowed obediently like a student. She finally arrived in front of him. Her smile was distant and polite, no different from how she treated others. ¡°Hello, nice to meet you.¡± Shen Qinghe smiled gently as usual. However, her heart ached. Chapter 31 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai¡¯s arrival caused everyone in the meeting room to size her up. In the entertainment industry, it was not uncommon for the investors to fill in roles with their people. The people from the main creative team were already used to it. Anyway, this role was not very major. As long as the person was passable, they would accept it. But now, looking at this beautiful girl with eyes as clear as spring water and having a delicate and naive appearance¡­ they were really overjoyed. More than passable? They had dug up a treasure, okay? Director Gao Yi was in his fifties and did not look old. He always had a smile in his eyes and was famous for his good temper in the industry. When he saw Ming Dai, he took the initiative to greet her warmly. ¡°This is our Mingzhu, right?¡± Princess Mingzhu was the name of the character that Ming Dai was going to play. These words seemed to have a double meaning. The main creative team nodded repeatedly when they heard this. The chief producer deliberately said to President Chen beside him in an exaggerated tone. ¡°When did you find such a good seedling? If there¡¯s a chance in the future, we have to cooperate more!¡± ¡°She¡¯s a newbie we just signed. You flatter me.¡± Of course, President Chen also knew that this chief producer was deliberately giving Azure face. That didn¡¯t stop him from smiling. He had a proud expression on his face. Su Fangyun said at the right time. ¡°My Ming Dai is only 18 years old this year and is in her third year of high school. I¡¯ll leave the rest to you.¡± ¡°Third year of high school? That¡¯s an important period. Looks like Ming Dai¡¯s filming schedule needs to be adjusted.¡± The person who said this was Gao Yi. Even the chief producer had to refer to him. Hence, he immediately decided. ¡°I¡¯ll get the chief to try his best to arrange Princess Mingzhu¡¯s scenes during the weekend.¡± Gao Yi nodded in satisfaction. ¡°That¡¯s good. Let¡¯s not delay her studies.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± The others chimed in. That was even more of a pleasant surprise for Ming Dai and Su Fangyun. Su Fangyun thanked Gao Yi profusely. Gao Yi waved his hand and asked Ming Dai, ¡°Have you read the script?¡± Ming Dai shook her head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Then read it carefully this week. I¡¯ll look forward to your performance during the weekend. Although Princess Mingzhu doesn¡¯t have many scenes, if you act well, it will be a good opportunity for you.¡± ¡°I know, Director Gao.¡± Ming Dai nodded solemnly. This was an opportunity that she had waited for two lifetimes. Even without Director Gao¡¯s instructions, she would do her best! Perhaps Gao Yi sensed her sincerity and the smile lines at the corners of his eyes deepened. After that, Ming Dai and Su Fangyun did not stay for long. They were here to have a discussion. If they stayed to participate in such a high-level meeting, they would be insensible. Shen Qinghe was the only actor sitting here today. He was the main protagonist of this drama. It was said that he had a few investments, so he was qualified to deeply be involved in the creation of this drama. Su Fangyun had told Ming Dai everything. She did not think that she could take charge of everything just because she was a manager. Instead, she would explain these rules and principles to Ming Dai in detail. Ming Dai was even more serious. She wished she could write it down in her notebook. She had never understood these seemingly superficial rules in her previous life, and no one had told her about them. There were many times when she did not even know that she had offended someone. ¡°Sigh,¡± she said with a small sigh. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Su Fangyun¡¯s hearing was sharp. ¡°Oh.¡± Ming Dai blinked and lied. ¡°It¡¯s so difficult.¡± Actually, Ming Dai was lamenting that it had not been easy for her to become an A-lister in her previous life. Su Fangyun smiled and rubbed the top of her head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Ming Dai felt a surge of warmth in her heart. After experiencing everything in her previous life, she was no longer the Ming Dai who trusted people easily. However, Su Fangyun was still trustworthy for once. Ming Dai thought so. * * * The words swift and decisive were simply engraved in Su Fangyun¡¯s bones. On Sunday afternoon, after signing the contract and meeting with the production team, Su Fangyun did not let Ming Dai go home. Instead, she brought her to see her house¡ª It was a high-end residential area with a good location and convenient transportation. Most importantly, the security was very strict. Su Fangyun drove Ming Dai in and was interrogated three times. Su Fangyun did not feel impatient. Instead, she was satisfied with the security guards¡¯ responsibility. ¡°The most important thing in an artist¡¯s dormitory is privacy. It¡¯s very difficult for paparazzi to sneak in with security of this level.¡± As she spoke, she parked the car and took the elevator with Ming Dai to the higher floors. The house was not very big. It was about 80 square meters with two bedrooms and two living rooms. It was renovated in a wood style. ¡°The company rented this place for you. There were no tenants before you moved in. Everything is brand new. Of course, if you¡¯re not satisfied, I can help you replace everything.¡± The generous Su Fangyun would never let her own artiste suffer! Ming Dai carefully observed the dormitory she would be staying in in the future and shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need to change. This is good enough!¡± Although this dormitory could not compare to her home in her previous life, it was already worlds apart from the small village in the city. Su Fangyun led Ming Dai all the way in and introduced her to the house non-stop. She had the temperament of a gold-tier realtor. ¡°There¡¯s a laptop and a new phone in your bedroom that I bought for you. You can change them later. There are clothes in the wardrobe for the company¡¯s clothing team. From the moment you signed the contract, you have to pay attention to your image at all times. Oh, except in school. The kitchen outside had basic kitchenware and cutlery. If you are interested, you can cook by yourself. If you needed to buy anything, you can contact your assistant at any time. I¡¯ve ordered the guest bed to be removed. This will be converted into a cloakroom. The wardrobe in the master bedroom? That¡¯s not enough. Soon, your things will fill the cloakroom.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve sent you the number of the new assistant. Her name is Huang Yuanyuan. She¡¯s a new graduate who just joined the company this year. She¡¯s been an intern for half a year. She has a good personality and can endure hardships. Since she¡¯s about your age, I think you two will have something in common. ¡°By the way, this place is not far from No.1 Middle School. It¡¯s a three-stop bus ride and it¡¯s about ten minutes¡­ Well, there shouldn¡¯t be anything to add. What about you? Is there anything you¡¯re not satisfied with?¡± ¡°I¡¯m very satisfied!¡± Ming Dai was confused. This efficiency was too high! ¡°The only question is ¡­ when do I move in?¡± ¡°You can do it today if you want.¡± Ming Dai actually felt that this suggestion was not bad. Perhaps influenced by Su Fangyun¡¯s actions, she immediately decided to go home with Su Fangyun to pack her luggage! The two of them drove into the city village. The snow-white Mercedes-Benz coupe was incompatible with the gray city village. This was not Su Fangyun¡¯s first time here, but it was his first time stepping into Ming Dai¡¯s house. She was a very observant person. After taking a glance at Ming Dai¡¯s family situation, she could roughly guess the situation of their family and the couple¡¯s attitude towards Ming Dai. At this moment, in the cramped and dark old house, Yu Ting¡¯s sharp voice almost pierced through the ceiling. ¡°What? You¡¯re moving out? Alone?¡± Chapter 32 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios It was Su Fangyun¡¯s turn. ¡°This is my arrangement. Any objections?¡± When Su Fangyun raised the corners of her eyes, she had an oppressive aura. Yu Ting was already afraid of Su Fangyun due to the impression she made during the meal yesterday. She immediately stopped scolding Ming Dai and became submissive. She smiled ingratiatingly. ¡°No, Manager Su, that¡¯s not what I meant. I just feel that Ming Dai is still young and definitely needs Dad and Mom to accompany her.¡± She made it sound like she had to wash and cook for Ming Dai every day. The truth was that Ming Dai had taken on all the housework. If Ming Dai were to leave, it would not only mean that Yu Ting would continue to stay in this old house, but it would also mean that she would lose her most useful free worker. Yu Ting was very reluctant and kept winking at Ming Dai. Ming Dai stood silently beside Su Fangyun. She looked down and pretended not to see anything. Yu Ting gritted her teeth in anger. Su Fangyun crossed his arms and glanced at Yu Ting. She was too lazy to explain and directly said, ¡°Company rules.¡± The colder she was, the more afraid Yu Ting was. She hesitated for a long time but did not dare to continue asking. She watched as Ming Dai entered the room to pack her things. In order to perfectly establish the image of an unreasonable big manager, Su Fangyun found a sofa in the living room and sat down. Before sitting down, she even looked at the sofa cushion with disdain. Yu Ting first went to the kitchen to pour a glass of cold water. ¡°Take a seat. I¡¯ll go see if there¡¯s anything I can help with.¡± She turned around and chased after Ming Dai into the room. Su Fangyun almost rushed out to ¡°protect her daughter.¡± In the end, she gritted her teeth and endured it. When Yu Ting entered the room and saw Ming Dai standing in front of the wardrobe, she said sarcastically. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯ve turned into a phoenix? You don¡¯t even like the clothes at home anymore?¡± Ming Dai glanced at her from the corner of her eye and did not reply. Yu Ting quickly looked outside. After confirming that Su Fangyun was not here, she lowered her voice and questioned Ming Dai. ¡°Was it your idea to move? Did you deliberately find that agent to pressure us?¡± ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much.¡± Ming Dai replied calmly without stopping. ¡°Ha, I¡¯m thinking too much. I knew you were restless and scheming since you were young. You even know how to scheme against your parents at this juncture! Anyway, I¡¯m warning you. If you think that I can¡¯t control you after leaving this house, then you¡¯re thinking too much! I¡¯m your biological mother! Don¡¯t you actors value your reputation the most? If you dare to make money and turn against me, I¡¯ll expose you on television later! Do you understand?¡± The shadow of the room enveloped Yu Ting¡¯s face. The lines on her skin that had turned from exhaustion twisted ferociously with her exaggerated facial expression, like a roaring demon in the darkness. Ming Dai smiled ambiguously as she listened to these familiar words that she had heard thousands of times in her previous life. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still not done?¡± Su Fangyun still couldn¡¯t hold it in and pretended to be impatient as she walked in to urge her. Yu Ting hurriedly smiled apologetically. ¡°Almost done, almost done¡­ Ming Dai! Be more agile! Can¡¯t you see that someone is waiting for you? You¡¯re always dilly-dallying!¡± This was her biological mother, this was her biological mother¡­ Su Fangyun repeatedly used her words to persuade herself and suppress her temper. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Yu Ting did not see through her. Instead, she apologized profusely. ¡°Ming Dai has been like this since she was young. She¡¯s not used to it and has made a fool of herself!¡± Su Fangyun¡¯s face darkened. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Why was she always belittling her child? Look at Ming Dai¡¯s normal expression. She must have said it countless times! She actually said that Ming Dai¡¯s habits weren¡¯t good. Why not take a look at the stark contrast between the cleanliness of this room and the outside world? Just then, Ming Dai picked up her bag. ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Su Fangyun suppressed her anger and looked over. She almost gave up. ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± The things that Ming Dai wanted to take away could actually be filled up with a small school bag? Ming Dai: ¡°I don¡¯t have much.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± Su Fangyun could not be bothered to say goodbye to Yu Ting. She turned around and left. Ming Dai quickly followed behind and threw Yu Ting¡¯s hateful gaze to the back of her head. All the way until they got into the car, Su Fangyun could not vent the anger in her chest. It was unbearable. ¡°How can your parents treat you like this! Are they your biological parents?¡± Ming Dai laughed silently and almost answered her with, ¡°you are right.¡± Oh, no. Yu Ting did not know that she was not her biological daughter. If Gu Lingsi had grown up in this family, she would have received the same treatment, right? Perhaps to the couple, only their son was their bloodline, and their daughter was just an outsider. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry. I¡¯m used to it.¡± Ming Dai even comforted Su Fangyun. Su Fangyun really did not know what to say and swore to treat Ming Dai better. ¡­ She did not realize that she was becoming more and more like a mother. When she sent Ming Dai back to her new dormitory, her assistant, Huang Yuanyuan, was already waiting downstairs. Su Fangyun parked the car and talked about the arrangements for the next week. ¡°I won¡¯t go up with you. If there¡¯s anything, ask your assistant. I¡¯ll send the script to you electronically tomorrow. The night after tomorrow, you¡¯ll go for a makeup test and take a makeup photo. For the next three nights, I¡¯ve arranged for an acting teacher to do a surprise training for you before filming starts. The schedule might be a little tight, but you have to learn to slowly adapt to this rhythm. You¡¯ll be even busier in the future.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ming Dai hugged her bag and nodded obediently. Su Fangyun was not the kind of person who was worried. However, when she saw Ming Dai nestled in the front passenger seat like a white silkworm, she still reminded her. ¡°Eat well and rest well. Don¡¯t quarrel with your classmates. Remember to call me if you need anything.¡± It was really like a mother¡¯s worry for her child on the first day of kindergarten. Ming Dai shook her head. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± Ming Dai pushed the door open and got out of the car. The girl in the bright yellow down jacket who was waiting not far away immediately ran over with a vibrant smile. ¡°Hello, Ming Dai. I¡¯m your assistant, Huang Yuanyuan!¡± Ming Dai sized her up curiously and replied, ¡°Hello.¡± Huang Yuanyuan reached out to take her bag. ¡°Let me help you!¡± Ming Dai refused, but Huang Yuanyuan was overly enthusiastic and asked about her well-being along the way. She wanted to leave a good impression on Ming Dai. Ming Dai did have a good impression of her. Huang Yuanyuan was warm but not flattering. She was sincere. After the two of them reached home, Huang Yuanyuan let Ming Dai sit on the sofa to rest while she started to organize her things. Since Ming Dai said that she wanted to pack up together, she had no choice but to do so. She patted her chest and said, ¡°Call me if anything happens in the future! I promise I¡¯ll be on call!¡± ¡°That would be exhausting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s inevitable to suffer for a while! My goal is to become a big manager like Sister Su!¡± Huang Yuanyuan clenched her fists and was very energetic! Ming Dai understood the reason for Huang Yuanyuan¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Okay.¡± She was all smiles. Chapter 33 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios In her previous life, Ming Dai had changed many homes, from rented apartments to big mansions, to hotels in the suburbs to five-star hotels¡­ No matter where she stayed, insomnia would always follow her like a shadow. After her rebirth, she returned to the village in the city. The simple rented house was a rare place for her to sleep well. Ming Dai thought that she would not have such a good sleep after moving to the dormitory. The strange thing was that on her first day in her new home, she slept very well. She did not feel anxious about her new environment at all. It was only then that Ming Dai understood that it was not that the rented house in the city village was special to her, but¡­ This place of peace was her home. In just a few days after returning to the age of 18, she had already changed her fate and had a brand new future that was worth looking forward to¡­ Why wouldn¡¯t she feel at ease? After a good sleep, Ming Dai got up and walked out of the room in her nightdress. She heard the sound of clanging coming from the kitchen. Other than her, only Su Fangyun and Huang Yuanyuan knew the password to this house. At this moment, a familiar and light voice came from the kitchen. ¡°Ming Dai, you¡¯re up? Quick, have a seat. Breakfast will be ready soon!¡± It was indeed Huang Yuanyuan. In the blink of an eye, Huang Yuanyuan walked out with a breakfast tray. ¡°Come and try¡­ it.¡± His voice gradually weakened. Ming Dai tilted her head in surprise. When she saw that the other party¡¯s gaze was focused on her face, she subconsciously raised her hand and rubbed her cheeks. ¡°Is there anything dirty?¡± Could it be that she drooled from sleeping too well? ¡°Don¡¯t rub it!¡± Huang Yuanyuan said bitterly, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt this precious face bestowed by God!¡± Ming Dai¡¯s hand froze awkwardly in mid-air. ¡°Not really¡­¡± Huang Yuanyuan was really a competent assistant. Not only did she take on the two tasks of a personal assistant and a work assistant, but she was also responsible for taking care of the artiste¡¯s mood. Why was she praising her so early in the morning? What a diligent worker! Ming Dai lamented. Huang Yuanyuan could guess what Ming Dai had misunderstood and scratched her face. ¡°I¡¯m serious! Ming Dai, it¡¯s because you don¡¯t know enough about your own beauty!¡± Only God knew what kind of beauty Huang Yuanyuan had just witnessed! As soon as she walked out of the smoke, she suddenly saw a girl in a white dress standing in the living room. Her long hair fell behind her waist like a waterfall, and the first rays of the morning sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling glass like a golden veil on her body. Her young and chubby face already had a rudimentary beauty that could mesmerize all living beings! If not for the fact that Huang Yuanyuan was a straight woman, she would have fallen in love with such beauty! Ming Dai was stunned by his straightforwardness and enthusiasm. ¡°Really?¡± She knew she was beautiful, but she didn¡¯t think she was that beautiful. In her previous life, the media criticized her for being beautiful on the outside but not on the inside. The people around her said that other than her good looks, she was really unbearable on the inside. The anti-fans scolded her for having vulgar taste and not being worthy of being associated with beauty¡­ After listening to these words for a long time, Ming Dai seemed to have been brainwashed and vaguely agreed. But now¡­ Perhaps she should get to know herself again. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ming Dai smiled at her and turned around. ¡°I¡¯ll come out after washing up.¡± Huang Yuanyuan was left standing in the living room in a daze. Half a minute later, she covered her pounding heart. ¡°How are am I going to live in the future¡­¡± Sooner or later, she would turn gay! After breakfast, Huang Yuanyuan wanted to send Ming Dai to school again. ¡°There¡¯s no need. It¡¯s hard for you to help me cook so early. I can go alone.¡± Ming Dai rejected decisively. Huang Yuanyuan said. ¡°It¡¯s fine! I don¡¯t have to go with you every day. Today, I¡¯m mainly asking you to help me recognize the way. After all, as your assistant, I definitely have a lot of time to go to your school in the future!¡± Ming Dai had to admit that Huang Yuanyuan¡¯s words made sense and Ming Dai could not refute her. In the end, he brought her along. Huang Yuanyuan had just graduated and did not have a driver¡¯s license. Now that the driver was not in place, the two of them decided to take the bus. The transportation in the new district was convenient, and there was a bus stop at the entrance. Ming Dai and Huang Yuanyuan waited for a few minutes before taking the bus to No.1 Middle School. There were no more empty seats on the bus. Many of the passengers were students in No.1 School¡¯s school uniform. Ming Dai got into the car under Huang Yuanyuan¡¯s protection without any commotion. Huang Yuanyuan looked at Ming Dai¡¯s ¡°disguise¡± and sighed. ¡°You really have foresight!¡± She could always find all sorts of angles to praise Ming Dai, making Ming Dai feel embarrassed. The three-stop bus ride only took ten minutes. When they arrived at No.1 Middle School, people got off one after another. Huang Yuanyuan insisted on sending Ming Dai to the school gate. Just as they were about to enter the school, Huang Yuanyuan suddenly took out a thermos flask and a Tupperware container from her bag and stuffed them into Ming Dai¡¯s hands. ¡°This is a box of fresh fruit that I¡¯ve cut. This is rose tea.¡± At first glance, she looked exactly the same as a parent who sent her children off at the school gate! ¡°Ming Dai!¡± Xia Ling alighted from the low-key black car and immediately saw Ming Dai at the school gate. Naturally, she also saw Huang Yuanyuan beside her and looked curious. Ming Dai avoided a passing student and introduced her to Xia Ling in a low voice. ¡°She¡¯s my assistant, Huang Yuanyuan. Sister Yuanyuan, this is my good friend from school, Xia Ling.¡± Huang Yuanyuan nodded immediately. ¡°Hello, Xia Ling. I¡¯ll have to trouble you to take care of Ming Dai in the future.¡± It was supposed to be a normal greeting, but for some reason, Xia Ling felt a little sour after hearing it. She deliberately raised her chin. ¡°Ming Dai is my friend. Of course, I¡¯ll take good care of her. I¡¯ll have to trouble you with work.¡± Huang Yuanyuan was stunned for a moment before she smiled. ¡°Of course, of course.¡± Ming Dai looked between the two of them in confusion. Huang Yuanyuan quickly waved goodbye to her. She still had work to do today. Xia Ling¡¯s tensed body relaxed slightly. Ming Dai: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Xia Ling naturally changed the topic. The two of them walked side by side on the boulevard that led to the Grade 12 school building at the school¡¯s main entrance. There were many people along the way who noticed this shocking duo and kept looking over. As a celebrity in her previous life, Ming Dai was used to being scrutinized everywhere. Xia Ling, on the other hand, had the pride of an Eldest Miss. She had always looked down on everyone. However, she was concerned about Ming Dai and asked. ¡°Did you sign the contract?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Ming Dai trusted her friends. Hence, she shared her situation with Xia Ling. There was no mention of the new movie. After all, there was no official announcement. It was not good to say it out loud. Xia Ling listened and nodded. ¡°After you mentioned it to me the other day, I specially got someone to ask. Azure and Su Fangyun have a good reputation in the industry. It¡¯s rare for people to have a good conscience in an entertainment company. If you want to enter the industry, this would be a good choice.¡± In the eyes of many people, the entertainment industry had been demonized¡ª There were hidden rules everywhere, and everyone had their own hidden desires. In fact, just like how many circles had light and darkness coexisting, the entertainment industry was the same. There were trash companies that didn¡¯t treat actors as humans, but there were also good companies like Azure that would focus on their development. Chapter 34 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Ming Dai and Xia Ling soon arrived at the third-year school building. Class 1 and Class 20 were not on the same floor. Xia Ling had already arrived, and Ming Dai still had to walk up. She waved goodbye to Xia Ling. ¡°Wait!¡± Xia Ling thought of something and jogged a few steps in her direction. She spoke quickly. ¡°I almost forgot something! Gu Lingsi is going to treat us to a meal after school this afternoon. She asked you to come along to apologize for Ning Xu¡¯s matter. Are you coming?¡± Based on Ming Dai¡¯s mentality when she was first reborn, she would definitely reject her without thinking. Now, her thoughts had changed a little. ¡°Yes!¡± She agreed decisively! Xia Ling was elated. ¡°It¡¯s great to have you accompany me!¡± After the two of them said their goodbyes, Ming Dai walked into the classroom. Unlike in the past, when no one paid attention to her, everyone looked at her. There were no secrets in the information age. From the school gate to the classroom, the entire school knew that Ming Dai and Xia Ling were walking together. She could still use other reasons to explain the last time Xia Ling came to Class 20 to look for her. But this time, the two of them were chatting intimately and their friendship was almost set in stone! ¡°Chatting doesn¡¯t necessarily mean that they¡¯re on good terms. I usually talk to everyone.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you try talking to Eldest Miss?¡± ¡°¡­ Ming Dai is indeed not simple.¡± There was a hint of reverence in the small discussions. They looked up to Xia Ling and even admired Ming Dai who was standing beside her. After all, to be able to make friends with Miss Xia Ling, she must have something extraordinary about her! As for the rumors about Ming Dai being a whimsical actress¡­ With Xia Ling¡¯s help, what was impossible? Of course. Not everyone thought so. For example, Gao Jun and the others. Gao Jun and a few of his scoundrel friends were gathered at the back of the classroom. They were either sitting or standing, looking sloppy. It was unknown what the group of people were discussing in low voices. From time to time, they would look at Ming Dai. Then, they would burst into laughter. That teasing was simply obvious. Ming Dai saw it and could not be bothered. Before she could turn it off, her phone dinged. It was an email notification. It should be a script from Su Fangyun. Her heart was filled with the desire to study the script and act the role of Princess Mingzhu. She quickly returned to her seat, tidied her bag, and took out her phone. A huge pink thermos was placed on the table, filling the already empty table. The girl at the same table quietly moved her book to make room for Ming Dai. Ming Dai turned to look at the other party¡¯s silent and timid face and thanked her in a low voice. However, an untimely voice came from behind¡ª ¡°What friend? Maybe she¡¯s the princess¡¯s foot-washing maid?¡± The person who spoke was Gao Jun¡¯s deskmate. He deliberately raised his voice so that everyone in the classroom could hear him. Everyone knew who he was talking about and was silent for a few seconds. The boy snorted. ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand. I¡¯m talking about last night¡¯s television drama! There¡¯s a supporting actress in it who¡¯s a princess¡¯s bootlicker every day. She¡¯s very lowly. Tsk, students, we can¡¯t be such people!¡± Gao Jun, who was standing at the side, laughed heartily. ¡°I agree!¡± The boy deliberately walked past Ming Dai and saw her phone on the table. It was the one that Su Fangyun had prepared. It was the latest model and cost more than ten thousand yuan. The boy exclaimed, ¡°Ming Dai changed her phone? Did Xia Ling give it to you?¡± Ming Dai slammed the thermos cup she had just picked up onto the table with a thud. Although she could not be bothered, she was not without a temper. When the boy saw this reaction, he deliberately shouted exaggeratedly, ¡°No way, no way! I just asked and Miss Ming Dai is already angry? Her temper is too bad!¡± Ming Dai stood up slowly. She did not look at this strange boy. Instead, she walked past him and went straight to the back of the classroom. When she stood in front of Gao Jun and the other boys, the tall boys made her look exceptionally petite. There was no fear on Ming Dai at all. Her eyes behind her glasses looked at these people as if they were clowns. It was comical and laughable. ¡°What are you laughing at? Are you going to complain to Xia Ling again?¡± Gao Jun deliberately mocked her. The last time he was called a trashy man by Xia Ling in the corridor, he was mocked for the entire weekend. He didn¡¯t dare to take revenge on Xia Ling, but he didn¡¯t dare to vent his anger on Ming Dai? He didn¡¯t dare to fight head-on, so he used such a disgusting method. Ming Dai knew what Gao Jun was thinking. So¡ª Caught off guard, she turned around and swiftly grabbed the soybean milk on the table beside her and threw it at Gao Jun! Gao Jun¡¯s reaction was not as fast as Ming Dai¡¯s! The entire cup of soy milk was splashed on his face without a single drop missing! From his hair to his clothes, white soy milk dripped down. Even his handsome face was not neglected! Gao Jun was stunned! The boy beside him was stunned! The entire class was stunned! Only Ming Dai was very satisfied. Back then, when she was filming all kinds of vicious supporting roles, splashing water in front of people was a necessary skill. She focused on training hard and trained her movements to be stable, accurate, and ruthless! See, now it came in handy, right? She put the empty soybean milk cup back with two yuan. ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± After saying that to the dumbfounded owner of the soybean milk, she patted the non-existent dust on her hands. Ming Dai slowly looked at Gao Jun¡¯s deskmate, the boy who had mocked her for being a ¡°princess¡¯s foot-washing maid.¡± ¡°What about you? What are you to Gao Jun? A foot-washer?¡± After a pause, she added. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not talking about the TV series. I¡¯m talking about you.¡± Many people in the class gasped. Ming Dai suddenly changed from being a transparent girl to a female War God! Gao Jun¡¯s deskmate clenched his fists tightly as his eyes turned red. ¡°You!¡± Ming Dai looked up. ¡°You want to hit me? Aren¡¯t you afraid that I¡¯ll complain? Since you know that I¡¯m under Xia Ling¡¯s protection, don¡¯t provoke me.¡± When Gao Jun and the others heard this, they actually suppressed their anger. Xia Ling¡¯s reputation was really useful. Ming Dai thought to herself. She knew that these people did not dare to make a move. Class 20 was the last class. The students who attended it usually had good grades and family backgrounds. Although Gao Jun and the other trashy men bullied girls one after another, when they really met Xia Ling and Ning Xu, they would kneel down faster than anyone else. Ming Dai had one hand in her pocket. When she turned around and returned to her seat, her classmates could tell that she was a big shot! As expected of Xia Ling¡¯s friend! Snap. Ming Dai looked away from her phone and realized that there was a fruit candy. The person who was thrown in front of her was her deskmate. Ming Dai was stunned. ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl sitting at the same table with her head buried in her book whispered back. Previously, because Gao Jun and the others had cornered her and warned her, the timid girl had nightmares for three days. Now that she saw Gao Jun being splashed with soy milk by Ming Dai, she could not help but feel happy. Ming Dai accepted the candy and bit into it. Crunch. Well, that was sweet. Chapter 35 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Hahahahaha!¡± Xia Ling¡¯s carefree laughter attracted a lot of attention, but she did not care at all. Her eyes curved into crescent moons. Ming Dai tugged at the strap of her bag and glanced at her helplessly. ¡°It¡¯s just soy milk. Is it that funny?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xia Ling raised her finger and shook it. ¡°This is a satisfying smile! That trashy man has finally been dealt with by you! Let¡¯s see if he still dares to play dirty tricks behind my back in the future! How satisfying!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯ve finally dealt with him.¡± Ming Dai repeated softly. At this moment, Ming Dai and Xia Ling were walking out of the school¡ª Class 20 had finished school rather late today, so Gu Lingsi, Ning Xu, and the others had already gone to the restaurant in advance. Only Xia Ling stayed behind and waited for Ming Dai to go with her. The restaurant was not near the school. It would take about twenty minutes to drive there. Xia Ling¡¯s car and driver were waiting outside the school gate. When the two of them got into the car, the driver glanced at Ming Dai curiously. Perhaps it was because it was rare for Eldest Miss to have such a close friend. The car drove steadily. Since there was nothing to do, Ming Dai took out the new test papers from her bag and used her bag as a table. She bit the end of her pen and began to think hard. After all, she had to study the script at night. Right now, Ming Dai wanted to make the best use of her time to complete today¡¯s homework. However, the problem was¡­ after ten years of high school, Ming Dai had long forgotten all this knowledge! She had just written the first question when she was stuck! Her majestic and dazzling path to fame in the entertainment industry was about to be ruined by Year Three homework¡ª ¡°Did you encounter a problem? Do you need help?¡± Xia Ling understood and leaned over. ¡°Yes!¡± Ming Dai nodded vigorously. ¡°Then I¡¯ll teach you.¡± It was only after this lesson that she realized how problematic Ming Dai was. Xia Ling hesitated. ¡°These are all the basic knowledge of Year One¡­¡± Ming Dai sighed heavily. Xia Ling saw that she was frowning and pondered. ¡°How about this! I¡¯ll go back tonight and organize my previous notes for you. It should be a little helpful!¡± ¡°That¡¯s great.¡± Ming Dai heaved a sigh of relief. As she thought about it, she was afraid that she would have to trouble Sister Su to find another tutor for her! Otherwise, even if she took the arts exam, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get any points! However, Xia Ling did not give up on Ming Dai. Instead, she tried her best to teach her a few questions. Xia Ling was indeed worthy of being one of the top three students in No.1 Middle School all year round. She was able to talk about knowledge with ease, and with her narration, the high school knowledge that Ming Dai had forgotten for many years gradually recovered. Xia Ling smiled and patted her head. ¡°Look at how smart you are! These questions can be solved with just one step!¡± Ming Dai was comforted. At the very least, she felt that the future of the college entrance examination would not be dark. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± The driver, who had been shocked all the way, reminded them. Facing the others, Xia Ling retracted her smile and returned to her icy-cold face. She was the first to get out of the car. The girl¡¯s figure was light and slender, and she had an innate noble aura. The manager at the entrance of the restaurant walked over quickly. ¡°Miss Xia! You haven¡¯t been here for a long time!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xia Ling nodded coldly. When she turned around, she revealed a trace of gentleness. Ming Dai carried her school bag and got out of the car. Her thick down jacket looked out of place in this restaurant. However, the snobbish attitude of the service staff did not appear. In reality, no one knew if the auntie in slippers was a landlady who owned ten buildings. Moreover, Ming Dai came with Xia Ling. The two of them naturally received the highest courtesy. They passed through the glass corridor filled with green bamboo and light belts on both sides and arrived at the VIP room. As the host of the day, Gu Lingsi sat at the head of the table. On both sides of the long dining table were the boys and girls she had met on the basketball court last time, including Tang Xue, Lu Yu, and Liu Zhengqing. Ning Xu was sitting next to Lu Yu and was playing games on his phone. When he heard the sound of someone coming, he still did not look up. He looked completely immersed. ¡°Sister Xia!¡± ¡°Sister Xia, you¡¯re here!¡± ¡°¡­¡± These people took the initiative to greet Xia Ling and ignored Ming Dai at the same time. Xia Ling looked displeased and was about to flare up. It was only when Ming Dai tugged at her sleeve that she managed to suppress her unhappiness. Gu Lingsi stood up and greeted them warmly with a smile. ¡°Ming Dai, you¡¯re here too?¡± Gu Lingsi had never revealed anything in this aspect. Just like in her previous life, after the accidental exposure of their identities, the Gu family only thought about how to prevent Gu Lingsi from getting hurt and completely ignored Ming Dai¡¯s feelings. The person who finally accepted Ming Dai into the Gu family was actually Gu Lingsi! She took the initiative to express her goodwill and said that she felt guilty and hoped that she could make it up to Ming Dai. After that, she really did as she said. When Gu Changming gave her a gift, she would specially give one to Ming Dai. When her mother, Wei Yin, brought her to Country Y to listen to opera, she would bring Ming Dai along with her. She had even given Ming Dai the customized sports car that her father, Gu Qi, had given her on her birthday. Gu Lingsi was a noble and perfect white swan from a wealthy family. She tried her best to show a sister¡¯s gentleness to Ming Dai and care for her because she was alone and helpless. If she hadn¡¯t betrayed her in a life-and-death situation, Ming Dai thought that she could still get along with Gu Lingsi. However, no matter how much Ming Dai comforted herself and said that escaping was a human instinct, it still could not stop her from feeling strongly disappointed in Gu Lingsi. In this life, Ming Dai was able to control herself. She had already done her best not to implicate her in the hatred towards the Gu family. The others were ultimately different and could not be spared. ¡­ ¡°Okay, thanks.¡± Ming Dai nodded at her indifferently and sat down with her. Gu Lingsi¡¯s smile faded. Tang Xue, who was beside her, could not sit still anymore. She wanted to teach Ming Dai a lesson immediately. While Xia Ling went to the washroom, Tang Xue called the waiter to serve the menu and sized Ming Dai up with ill intentions. As expected, Ming Dai was stunned when she saw the menu. Every thing was in French? Tang Xue smirked and raised her voice. ¡°The executive chef of this restaurant is Monsieur Henri from a three-star Michelin restaurant in Paris. This is his new winter menu. It should taste good.¡± When the others heard this, they quietly flipped through the menu. Even Ning Xu took a few glances and asked for something he wanted to eat. Although these people were usually noisy, the etiquette at the dining table was something that they had engraved into their bones. Moreover, almost everyone present had mastered at least two foreign languages. This was a skill they cultivated because of their upbringing since they were young, so it was not a problem for them to understand a mere menu. One after another, the others ordered in French. Only Ming Dai flipped to the end of the menu unhurriedly. Now, only she and Xia Ling, who was not in their seats, did not order. Tang Xue raised her eyebrows and deliberately exaggerated her tone. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m sorry! Ming Dai, I forgot that you don¡¯t know French. Why don¡¯t I change it to the Chinese version?¡± Chapter 36 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios ¡°Pfft.¡± Someone laughed out loud, which was especially obvious in the quiet private room. Gu Lingsi, who was sitting at the head of the table, frowned and looked at Tang Xue reproachfully. Tang Xue pouted unhappily. Gu Lingsi patted the back of her hand affectionately to comfort her. Then, she walked past Tang Xue and said gently. ¡°Let me help you, Ming Dai. Is there anything you want to eat? I heard that there¡¯s fresh Brittany lobster in the restaurant today. Do you want to try it? Mr. Henry¡¯s French lobster bisque tastes pretty good.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Her tone seemed a little stiff. Ming Dai thought for a moment and added, ¡°Thank you.¡± Gu Lingsi¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She was surprised that she had been rejected. ¡°But¡­¡± Ming Dai did not hear her and reached out to call the waiter over. ¡°I don¡¯t seem to see any Provencal Beef Stew on the menu?¡± Her French pronunciation was average. Her understanding of French was also limited to being able to understand the menu and basic conversation, so she did not force herself to speak French. On the other hand, Tang Xue seemed to have grasped onto something and immediately mocked Ming Dai. ¡°These waiters don¡¯t understand Chinese! And what¡¯s Provencal Beef Stew? Would anyone really eat such a thing in a high-end French restaurant?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ming Dai leaned back against the chair slightly. Her posture, which had been perfected after training in her previous life, was naturally revealed. Although she did not look good in bangs and black-framed glasses, she still looked like a princess who had received an audience with her subjects. She was noble and beautiful. She tilted her head and asked the blond waiter, ¡°Don¡¯t you know Chinese?¡± Her tone was an overly reasonable question. The hidden meaning was ¡ª How dare you not speak Mandarin when your shop is in China? The waiter immediately lowered his head humbly and switched seamlessly. ¡°Of course not. Guest, before coming to China, we have all undergone professional language training. We must ensure that we can give every Chinese guest the most perfect experience.¡± The pronunciation was a little awkward, but it did not stop the smoothness. The room was silent. This restaurant had been open for more than half a year, and they had been here several times. Today was the first time they found out that these waiters could speak Chinese! Almost everyone had a slight blush on their faces, especially Tang Xue, who was questioning her loudly. She was practically being roasted over a fire! Tang Xue, who had always been arrogant, would not admit defeat so easily. She retorted fiercely. ¡°So, so what! Stop pretending to be smart!¡± Ming Dai couldn¡¯t even be bothered to glance at her and continued to speak in Chinese. ¡°In that case, please help me ask the chef if he can serve Provencal Beef Stew.¡± The waiter agreed warmly and quickly walked out of the private room. Tang Xue gritted her teeth, waiting to see Ming Dai make a fool of herself! After a while, hurried footsteps came from outside the door. A big-nosed, chubby white old man in a black chef¡¯s uniform strode in hurriedly. It was Mr. Henry! Gu Lingsi and the others had been here for many meals, but this was the first time they had seen him! It was the first time something like that happened! It was because of Ming Dai again! Instantly, the way they looked at Ming Dai became complicated! However, Ming Dai was completely unaware of it. As soon as Mr. Henry stood still, he hurriedly asked, ¡°May I ask who ordered the Provencal Beef Stew?¡± His Chinese pronunciation was a little bad, and his voice was loud. At first glance, he sounded like he was here to scold someone. ¡°Heh, this angered Mr. Henry so much that he came to settle scores with her. She¡¯s simply insulting his culinary skills¡­¡± Tang Xue complained excitedly, as if she was about to see Ming Dai¡¯s face fall to the ground in the next second! Ming Dai remained calm and looked up to meet Mr. Henry¡¯s gaze. ¡®It¡¯s me. What can I do for you, sir?¡¯ Mr. Henry¡¯s ¡°anger¡± instantly disappeared, and a gentle smile appeared on his round and red face. ¡°May I ask why you ordered this dish?¡± ¡°I heard that Mr. Henry¡¯s specialty is Provencal Beef Stew. It¡¯s rare for me to come to this restaurant today and I want to specially try it.¡± Ming Dai explained slowly and observed Mr. Henry¡¯s expression to make sure that he understood what she said. The others at the dining table fell silent. Tang Xue gritted her teeth and muttered resentfully. ¡°Are you kidding me? The signature dish of a three-star Michelin chef is a home-cooked dish?¡± She was quickly slapped in the face. Mr. Henry¡¯s face quickly bloomed with dazzling brilliance. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect that someone in distant China would know my specialty! Yes, yes, I¡¯m best at Provencal Beef Stew. It means a lot to me. It was the main dish of the first restaurant I opened. Unfortunately¡­¡± What was a pity? He didn¡¯t continue. Instead, he promised Ming Dai. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely make this stew well and not disappoint my guests!¡± Only then did he bid farewell to Ming Dai gracefully and leave. The private room was even more silent until more footsteps approached. Xia Ling had just returned. She had already been standing at the door for a while and had watched Tang Xue make things difficult for Ming Dai. God knew how much effort she had put into suppressing her anger and holding it in until now. The first thing she did when she sat back down was to look up at the indignant Tang Xue. The cold arrogance in her eyes was familiar to these people. ¡°You¡¯ve only been rich for a few years and you¡¯ve already forgotten your ancestors. Is this how the Tang family brought you up?¡± Tang Xue¡¯s eyes reddened! Ming Dai knew the inside story. Although the Tang family was rich, they had become rich in the past thirty years. They relied on mining to start their business. The entire family wanted to get rid of their background and rise up the ranks. These years, they had indeed been very successful. At least, no one would scold them behind their backs. The Tang family was probably a third-rate family in the upper circle of Yanjing, only a step away from being a second-rate family. In addition, they had a strong momentum, so most people would give them face. Otherwise, why would they raise Tang Xue to be so arrogant and despotic? However, these were all nonsense in front of the Xia family. Regardless of how much Tang Xue was pampered in the Tang family, if she offended Xia Ling, her father and brother, who doted on her, would still force her to go to the Xia family¡¯s old residence to beg for forgiveness! Hence, even though Xia Ling had questioned Tang Xue¡¯s upbringing, she still did not dare to refute. She lowered her head and agreed. Xia Ling did not let it go. Instead, she raised her eyebrows. ¡°Why are you crying? Weren¡¯t you quite happy when you used your identity to oppress others? Are you unhappy just because you were oppressed? Sorry, I thought you liked this method.¡± No one dared to speak up for Tang Xue. Even Ning Xu, who was the only one who could compete with Xia Ling, leaned lazily against the chair with a playful look in his eyes. He had no intention of stepping forward. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Tang Xue lowered her head as tears streamed down her face. Gu Lingsi could no longer sit still. Her gentle and noble expression was on the verge of shattering. ¡°Xia Ling, Tang Xue knows her mistake. She¡¯s just a child. Don¡¯t hold it against her. Consider it giving me face.¡± ¡°A child? Then am I her mother? Is it my fault for spoiling her?¡± Xia Ling crossed his arms and scoffed. The cold young lady¡¯s sharp tongue was not inferior to hers. Chapter 37 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios Seeing how anxious the atmosphere was, Gu Lingsi bit her lower lip in embarrassment and looked at the end of the table for help. Seeing this, Ning Xu straightened his back lazily, planning to ease the atmosphere. It was unknown if Xia Ling had seen through his plan, but he brushed it off lightly. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough. Since Ming Dai likes this restaurant¡¯s dish, I have to finish it before leaving.¡± The hidden line was ¡ª If Ming Dai doesn¡¯t like it, I won¡¯t stay here for a minute longer! Everyone was stunned! No one expected Xia Ling to be so good to a so-called friend! This understanding completely cleared their contempt for Ming Dai and they decided to reevaluate her existence! Family background and abilities were not important. If Ming Dai¡¯s thoughts could directly affect the dignified Xia Ling, what was so difficult about being polite and taking the initiative to befriend her? Nothing was more important than benefits! A butterfly gently flapping its wings could stir up an incomparably violent hurricane. Something subtle changed in the air, making Ming Dai the center of the hurricane. Ming Dai was sensitive to the surrounding emotions. How could she not know what these people were thinking? She really didn¡¯t know whether to be sarcastic or impressed. In his previous life, these arrogant prodigies had lowered their heads so easily. However, Ming Dai did not become arrogant easily after gaining power. Instead, she ignored these people¡¯s goodwill and spoke to Xia Ling in a low voice. The others wisely found their own topics and started chatting in groups of twos and threes. The awkward and anxious atmosphere just now disappeared in the blink of an eye, as if nothing had happened. On the other hand, Gu Lingsi, who was sitting in the main seat, seemed to have been ignored. She lowered her eyes gloomily and sighed softly. Tang Xue felt wronged. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sister Lingsi¡­¡± Gu Lingsi could not blame her and patted her hand. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know you didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± Tang Xue gritted her teeth and lowered her voice. ¡°That Ming Dai actually¡­¡± ¡°Alright, don¡¯t make Xia Ling angry again.¡± Gu Lingsi interrupted her. Their conversation was not heard by anyone else. Soon, the waiters brought the dishes over one by one. As everyone was still a student, there was no alcohol today. After the appetizers were over, it was time for the main course. Everyone at the table chose different dishes, and the time for the dishes to be served was about the same. Only the Provence stew that Ming Dai wanted did not arrive. However, no one dared to mock her this time. They were just curious about what would happen next. Soon the head chef, Mr. Henry, arrived with the Provencal Beef Stew himself. ¡°I personally prepared the stew. I hope it can satisfy the beautiful Miss.¡± Mr. Henry was indeed a romantic from France. He kept praising Ming Dai. Ming Dai accepted it calmly. She picked up her knife and fork and was about to start eating¡­ Mr. Henry did not leave. Instead, he stood at the side with his hands by his side, as if waiting for Ming Dai¡¯s evaluation. Ming Dai could roughly guess what he was thinking. She smiled helplessly and shook her head. She cut the vegetables that were piled up like a tower, dipped them in the sauce, and put them into her mouth. Ming Dai¡¯s table manners were very elegant, as if she had practised for many years. This made Tang Xue, who was waiting to see her make a fool of herself, very indignant. What Tang Xue did not know was that these were all the results of Ming Dai¡¯s bitter training in her previous life¡ª When Ming Dai was first recognized as a member of the Gu family, she was not liked by her family, so she naturally thought that she was not as elegant and beautiful as Gu Lingsi. Hence, she tried her best to learn from Gu Lingsi and integrate into the Gu family, causing many to laugh at her. Table etiquette was the result of her hard work. It was quite effective, but unfortunately, it didn¡¯t come in handy¡­ Now, Ming Dai did not deliberately look elegant. She looked very relaxed and had the calmness of a gourmet. Mr. Henry¡¯s eyes were shining as he looked forward to Ming Dai¡¯s evaluation. After Ming Dai took another bite, Henry couldn¡¯t wait to ask. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s delicious. Unfortunately, it¡¯s not outstanding.¡± ¡°Can you elaborate?¡± ¡°The taste of the sauce is too strong, completely suppressing the taste of the vegetables. There are eggplant and zucchini inside, right? I feel that the heat is a little too much, and it doesn¡¯t match the taste of the other vegetables. It¡¯s a hindrance¡­¡± Ming Dai spoke logically as if she had transformed into a veteran gourmet. The entire dining table had become her home ground. Henry, on the other hand, was dumbfounded. He seemed to understand. Xia Ling, who was watching with relish, guessed that Henry probably did not fully understand and took the initiative to act as an interpreter. Henry¡¯s expression gradually became excited as he translated. ¡°Your thoughts are the same as mine! Not long ago, I felt that this dish had its flaws, but I couldn¡¯t think of any specific problems. That¡¯s why I removed it from the main menu after opening this restaurant in China. I wanted to study it more¡­ Your suggestion is simply amazing!¡± Henry was very excited and urged Ming Dai to give more and better suggestions. Ming Dai could not dissuade him and said a few more words. ¡°Or you could take a layered roasting approach¡­¡± The old Caucasian man held Ming Dai¡¯s hand excitedly and shook it up and down. ¡°Yes! This is it! I know what to do! Soon, I¡¯ll be able to develop the most perfect stew! Beautiful lady, please allow me to waive the bill for you today. You don¡¯t know how much inspiration your words gave me!¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± Ming Dai touched her nose. She had not expected this. Xia Ling was even more direct and said in front of everyone. ¡°Does this mean that today¡¯s meal is on Ming Dai?¡± ¡°¡­¡± No one else dared to speak. Gu Lingsi was silent for a few seconds, but she still smiled. ¡°Yes, looks like I have to thank Ming Dai today. I¡¯ll treat you again another day. Xia Ling, you and Ming Dai must come then.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Xia Ling was neither cold nor indifferent. The others picked up their knives and forks again and glanced at Ming Dai from time to time. Ming Dai lowered her gaze. The colorful and exquisite stew on the white porcelain plate was like a blurry shadow that pulled her back to the Seine River in her previous life. The dim yellow street lamps lit up one after another along the street. The moist and gentle wind was blowing on the river, and a man was sitting opposite her. ¡®This Provencal Beef Stew is Henry¡¯s latest masterpiece. I¡¯ve heard that he¡¯s been studying it intently for three years. He claims it¡¯s the most perfect stew in the world. What do you think of the taste?¡¯ The man¡¯s illusory face was like the clouds in the sky that were blown away by the wind. All that was left was his comment on Mr. Henry¡¯s signature dish. Using Mr. Henry¡¯s breakthrough a few years later to stimulate his current inspiration wasn¡¯t cheating, right? Ming Dai thought so. ¡­ After the meal, some people were unaffected, while others felt that it was tasteless. Ming Dai belonged to the former. Regardless of whether others were happy or not, she ate happily. After the group of people walked out of the restaurant, Ming Dai and Xia Ling did not plan to participate in the rest of their activities. They bade farewell and left. Gu Lingsi looked in the direction they had left in. ¡°Sister Lingsi?¡± Gu Lingsi turned around with a smile and tucked her messy hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m not feeling well today, so I¡¯ll go home first.¡± Chapter 38 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios As soon as Gu Lingsi left, the night was over. Tang Xue, who was left behind, complained unhappily. ¡°Sister Lingsi must be angry! It¡¯s all Ming Dai¡¯s fault! What¡¯s she trying to do? Who lacks this bit of money?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you leaving?¡± Tang Xue turned around and saw Lu Yu¡¯s damned face. She choked for a moment. ¡°None of your business!¡± Her gaze could not help but be redirected at Ning Xu. How could Lu Yu not guess what she was thinking? Or rather, everyone in the industry knew who Tang Xue liked. ¡°Oh¡­¡± He dragged out his words in a strange tone. ¡°I understand, I understand.¡± Tang Xue, whose thoughts had been seen through, felt her heart beating wildly. She glanced in Ning Xu¡¯s direction again. Under the street lamp, the young man¡¯s eyes were as exquisite as if they had been meticulously carved by the creator. There was a hint of impatience in his peach blossom eyes. As for being shy? She couldn¡¯t see it at all. Even though Tang Xue had expected this, she could not help but feel disappointed. She knew that Ning Xu had many girls around him, but other than giving special treatment to Sister Lingsi, he had a neutral attitude towards all the other girls. If she wasn¡¯t close to Sister Lingsi, she probably wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to eat with him like this tonight. ¡°Tang Xue, we¡¯re going to Brother Xu¡¯s house to play games. Do you want to join us?¡± Lu Yu suggested mischievously. However, Tang Xue shook her head, afraid that Ning Xu would get impatient if she got too close. ¡°My driver¡¯s here.¡± As she spoke, she looked at Ning Xu a few times reluctantly before slowly getting into the car by the roadside. ¡°My Brother Xu is indeed charming! Tang Xue is still leaning against the car window and looking at you¡­ Brother Xu, do you want to turn around and take a look?¡± Ning Xu glanced at Lu Yu impatiently. ¡°Noisy.¡± Lu Yu chuckled. ¡°I know, I know. Brother Xu, don¡¯t you eat the grass beside your nest?¡± The boy beside him was curious. ¡°What will happen if Brother Xu¡¯s charm is used on the bespectacled girl?¡± ¡°Bespectacled girl?¡± Lu Yu suddenly understood. ¡°That Ming Dai? Have you forgotten? She¡¯s under Sister Xia¡¯s protection! We can¡¯t afford to offend her!¡± ¡°Brother Xu isn¡¯t afraid! Right, Brother Xu?¡± Ning Xu glanced at the other party indifferently and smirked. The boys thought that Ning Xu meant it with certainty and started laughing weirdly. Ning Xu¡¯s affinity with women was invincible. There was no need for him to make a move. Naturally, a large number of girls would chase after him. When he was in the mood, Ning Xu would also agree to the girl¡¯s pursuit and start a relationship. However, they usually did not date for long. His friends laughed and said that Ning Xu¡¯s patience would not last for more than half a month. Gu Lingsi was the only girl who had stayed by his side since he was young and had a close relationship with him. At this moment, a boy suddenly thought of something. ¡°Sigh, why don¡¯t we let Brother Xu chase after that bespectacled girl?¡± ¡°Brother Xu will definitely be able to do it!¡± ¡°Is that so? I think Ming Dai treats Brother Xu quite calmly. That day at the field, Brother Xu carried her like a princess. Her face didn¡¯t even blush. She definitely doesn¡¯t have any feelings for Brother Xu!¡± The boy who said this suddenly felt a strong gaze on him. He turned around in embarrassment and saw Ning Xu staring at him intently. ¡°Brother¡­ Brother Xu?¡± ¡°Are you looking down on me?¡± He asked slowly with a hint of playfulness. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± The boy waved his hands. However, the others were not willing to give up. They started cheering. ¡°Give it a try!¡± ¡°Or let¡¯s make a bet and see if Brother Xu can win her over!¡± ¡°Alright!¡± Amidst the noisy laughter, Ning Xu clicked his tongue. The gilt-like lights flowed down his side profile. He was like the city¡¯s most extravagant man. Such a young man was insufferably arrogant. * * * Ming Dai quietly listened to the boys¡¯ laughter. She stood under the tree, her slender figure perfectly covered. Those people¡¯s words fell into her ears, but no one realized that she was nearby. Was she angry? No. In her previous life, Lu Yu, whom Ning Xu knew, probably could not bear to see her in such an awkward situation after breaking up, so he told her secretly. ¡°That year, Brother Nian Xu wooed you. It was actually a bet. When you came to school to film, someone tried to hit on you but was rejected. They were unhappy and deliberately suggested it to Brother Xu while they were drinking¡­¡± He told her the truth to protect Ning Xu. However, Ming Dai found it ridiculous and laughable. Now that time had passed, Ming Dai found it interesting to watch this scene from the sidelines. It was as if she was an outsider who had jumped out of her shackles. When all the emotions involved in this situation had nothing to do with her, all that was left was to watch the show. ¡°Then give it a try, Ning Xu. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s the prey.¡± The smile on Ming Dai¡¯s lips was cold as she turned around and left disapprovingly. When she returned to the car by the roadside, Xia Ling looked at her curiously. ¡°Did you find your phone?¡± ¡°Yes, the restaurant manager is keeping it for me. He gave it to me immediately when I went back.¡± Ming Dai smiled and waved her phone. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Ming Dai nodded and gave the address of her new home. It was not far from the restaurant. Xia Ling had a good memory and had even sent Ming Dai home on the bus before. She knew that her house should not be in this direction. ¡°Did you move?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. My agent arranged it for me. I¡¯m living alone now.¡± Ming Dai¡¯s tone was so light that even she did not notice it. ¡°I¡¯ll invite you over this weekend¡­ Ah, I¡¯m going to film this weekend.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, there will be many opportunities in the future!¡± Xia Ling patted Ming Dai¡¯s shoulder to comfort her. Ming Dai nodded repeatedly. Yes, there were many days ahead. She wanted to be friends with Xia Ling for a very, very long time! * * * When Ming Dai returned home, she stumbled through her homework and finally had time to open the script document for ¡°The Emperor of a Generation¡± on her phone. During the daytime, she skimmed through it and roughly understood the content¡ª Ming Dai played Princess Mingzhu, the daughter of the Southwest King. The southwest king was a king with a different surname. In his early years, he followed the previous emperor to conquer the world. He held military power and was extremely powerful. Princess Mingzhu was his daughter. Just by looking at her name, one could tell that she was a pearl that he doted on. She had lived in Chang¡¯an since she was young and often entered the palace. Her status was so noble that even the princesses had to give in to her. On the other hand, Princess Mingzhu and the male lead of the same age, the Seventh Prince, were childhood sweethearts. The two of them had a good relationship. One was naive and innocent, while the other was pure and intelligent. Everyone felt that they were a match made in heaven. Then, an unforeseen event caused the originally carefree Seventh Prince to bear a blood feud, forcing him to leave the innocence of the past behind and quickly grow up. At this moment, the competition for the throne was heating up. The weak and rootless male lead, the Seventh Prince, had no choice but to take the initiative to become the saber in the emperor¡¯s hand in order to gain the emperor¡¯s trust. The first target of this blade was Princess Mingzhu¡¯s father, the Southwest King. The Seventh Prince succeeded. The Southwest King was beheaded in the name of treason. His entire family of more than a thousand people were killed. The former proud daughter of heaven, Princess Mingzhu, would also be turned into an official servant. The Seventh Prince tried to save her, but Princess Mingzhu chose to kill herself to end her short life. Chapter 39 Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios The script in Ming Dai¡¯s hands ended there. Based on the total number of 50 episodes, this part of the script only took up about five episodes. However, Ming Dai had watched this drama in her previous life. Even if she did not have the script, she knew the gist of it¡ª The Seventh Prince, who had caused bloodshed in his childhood sweetheart¡¯s family to rise to the throne, was placed in an important position by the Emperor. Her death stimulated the Seventh Prince to become even more ruthless. His former innocence and kindness seemed to have been completely buried with the passing of the young princess. After a few schemes, the Seventh Prince quickly stood out and became a new force in the competition for the throne. He made those who looked down on him and ignored him look at him in a different light. However, at this time, no one felt that the Seventh Prince could become the final winner. This was because everyone knew that the Seventh Prince had become the Emperor¡¯s saber. He was covered in blood and had no bearing of a crown prince. Therefore, they only roped him in and used him like the Emperor. The Seventh Prince knew better than anyone else that he had relied on the contempt of these people to build his power without restraint. Of course, this process was not smooth sailing. He had lost a lot. His master had died because of him, and he had drifted further and further away from some friends. He had also taken advantage of the sincerity of many people. In the end, he unexpectedly ascended to the throne and used iron-blooded methods to suppress the opposition. He became truly alone on the high golden throne. ¡­ The magnificent life of an emperor was condensed into 50 episodes, causing the climax of this television drama to rise with many twists and turns. The portrayal of the male lead was different from the traditional noble and upright style. Not only did he have the common intelligence, calmness, patience, and caution, but he also had the uncommon decisiveness and ruthlessness to kill. This character was complicated and three-dimensional. He could not be purely said to be good or bad. There were very high requirements for the actor. If his acting skills were slightly inferior, it was easy for the protagonist to appear unscrupulous and unlikable. Not to mention attracting fans, it was already good if he did not get scolded. However, it was different when it came to really good actors. They could make such characters come back to life from the script and become true classics of film history. Just like the perfect score that Shen Qinghe handed over in the end. On the other hand, the actor who acted as Princess Mingzhu in her previous life performed well. Due to her good character and tragic ending, the audience remembered her name, but that was all. The audience was more interested in discussing the male protagonist, his followers, good friends, and mentor, as well as the two important female characters, the empress and the noble consort. They only sighed at Princess Mingzhu. Ming Dai definitely did not want to be reduced to a mediocre part! So the problem she was facing now was¡ª How could she break through the limelight of many outstanding actors in ¡°The Emperor of a Generation¡± and have her own glory? After an unknown period of time. There was a printed script in front of Ming Dai. The blank space on the page was already filled with red pen ink. This was the ¡°stupid¡± method she had come up with. She analyzed Princess Mingzhu¡¯s lines and actions word by word, digging into her personality and delving into her soul. Everything that she could think of was recorded on this piece of paper. As the details were perfected, a blurry figure slowly appeared in Ming Dai¡¯s mind¡­ She seemed to be transported back to reality? Ming Dai glanced at her phone unintentionally and was stunned. Why is it one o¡¯clock in the morning? She did not feel the passage of time at all. A few hours seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye! Since she had to wake up early for school tomorrow, Ming Dai had no choice but to put down her script for the time being. She quickly washed up and crawled under her blanket. Ming Dai closed her eyes and leaned against the pillow. She immediately fell asleep. In her dream, the girl in green smiled brightly at her. * * * Ming Dai had a busy and fulfilling week. Ever since they had a meal with Gu Lingsi and Ning Xu that day and parted on bad terms, they did not have the chance to meet again. After all, not everyone was like Xia Ling, who would come to Class 20 every afternoon to have lunch with Ming Dai. Gradually, the entire school got used to the ridiculous fact that the icy young lady and the invisible person had become friends. This made them change their attitude towards Ming Dai. Some were wary, some fawned over her and some harbored ill intentions¡­ There were even boys who wanted to use Ming Dai to send love letters to Xia Ling, but Ming Dai rejected them all. Even Gao Jun, who had been detained by Ming Dai in the trash can and splashed with milk tea, had become much more low-key. After meeting her a few times, he chose to take a detour. He was indifferent even when he was mocked by the boys in his class. Ming Dai thought that the matter with Gao Jun would be over and did not take it to heart. She had too many things to do. Just lessons and studying scripts had already filled up her schedule. She had given almost all her remaining time to Xia Ling. How could she have the time to waste on a high school boy? After a seemingly peaceful week, Ming Dai flew to the film studio complex in Province Z with Su Fangyun and Huang Yuanyuan early on Saturday morning. It was also the filming location for ¡°The Emperor of a Generation¡±. They set off at 6:30am in the morning. It was almost 11am when they arrived at their destination. Without resting, they rushed to the production team. The opening ceremony had already been held in a low-key manner three days ago. At that time, Ming Dai was at school and did not participate. The live media reporters reported a lot about the actors in this drama, leaving Ming Dai out. Actually, this was Director Gao Yi and Su Fangyun¡¯s idea¡ª Gao Yi was worried that exposing too much would ruin the show¡¯s stunning appearance. Su Fangyun hoped to keep the show mysterious and cooperate with the media during the broadcast to achieve a greater response during Ming Dai¡¯s sudden appearance. The two of them hit it off immediately. Hence, during the filming period, Ming Dai¡¯s makeup, character personality, and so on were all a well kept secret. Now that she had joined the team, she kept a low profile. She arrived in a black van that quietly passed through layers of security. Su Fangyun looked at the large number of fans outside through the car window and clicked her tongue. ¡°These kids are so energetic.¡± Other than guarding against reporters, the tight security was also to guard against these fans. Among them, more than two-thirds were Shen Qinghe¡¯s fans. All of them were holding lightsticks and standing on their tiptoes tirelessly, wanting to see their idol using this method. When Ming Dai¡¯s nanny van passed by, it even caused a small commotion. Everyone guessed that an actor had arrived. However, Ming Dai¡¯s car window did not lower the entire time. No one could answer their questions. ¡°Shen Qinghe is really popular, but¡­¡± However, Su Fangyun did not say anything. Ming Dai somehow understood what she meant. Ten years later, Shen Qinghe had already won both domestic and foreign awards and had a box office of ten billion yuan. He was undoubtedly the number one actor. Many seniors had to admit defeat. However, he did not have that many honors now. Although he started out as a director in an art film and was nominated for the Best Actor award the moment he debuted, what really made him popular was an idol drama. After becoming famous, his popularity and business value rose rapidly. He grew his fanbase rapidly and became a top celebrity. This huge amount of popularity was also a double-edged sword. For example, many film critics in the industry thought that Shen Qinghe was happy in his own degeneration. Acting in idol dramas would only wear down his acting skills and not benefit him in the future.