The warm touch was as fleeting as a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface, causing an inexplicable heat to surge in Yi Wulan’s chest.
Yi Wulan’s eyes remained stunned for several seconds. When she finally reacted, her consciousness was clearer than ever before.
Mu Yanxi believed she should have absolute control in a dream. She even abandoned the usual restraint she showed Yi Wulan, chasing after her for an answer: “See, aren’t I amazing?”
“Stop fooling around. Get off me first.” Yi Wulan’s legs were immobile, so she could only try to push the other person away.
A flirtatious glint danced in Mu Yanxi’s alluring eyes as she lazily drawled out her words, “What do you mean, fooling around? I’m not fooling around with you.”
Yi Wulan lowered her gaze slightly, trying to avoid the bewitching sight.
However, her eyes fell upon Mu Yanxi’s open collar. She was forced to look up again.
Noticing Yi Wulan’s gaze, Mu Yanxi blinked, deliberately craning her neck and leaning her upper body down to ask, “Do I look good?”
Yi Wulan’s gaze froze. To hide her unusual reaction, she turned her face to the side and remained silent.
But she had forgotten that the current Mu Yanxi thought she was dreaming and lacked her usual sense of propriety. She wouldn’t compromise just because of a cold expression.
Mu Yanxi was more relaxed than usual and didn’t hold back. She scooted up and reached out to turn Yi Wulan’s face back towards her. “Are you sure you don’t want another look?”
Mu Yanxi was draped crookedly over Yi Wulan, looking as if she might fall off at any moment.
She sized up Yi Wulan with great interest, waiting for her answer.
But as she waited, no answer came.
Instead, Yi Wulan, who had been passive until now, suddenly wrapped her hands tightly around Mu Yanxi’s waist.
Caught off guard, Mu Yanxi’s suspended body was instantly pressed firmly against Yi Wulan’s.
Their soft bodies pressed together. The familiar cool fragrance from Yi Wulan’s body mingled with the faint scent of alcohol, creating an intoxicating aroma.
Mu Yanxi stared blankly at Yi Wulan.
Just moments ago, she had been in control of the rhythm.
But in just a few short seconds, their roles had seemingly reversed. Now, she was held in Yi Wulan’s embrace, unable to move.
Mu Yanxi felt her entire body go limp, unable to exert any strength, as if she were reliving the feeling of being drunk in reality. Even her voice was light and airy: “Yi Wulan, what are you doing?”
“What do you really want to do to me?” Even while being subdued, Mu Yanxi couldn’t help but be stubborn. “The you in my dream is much more capable than the real you.”
However, as soon as she finished speaking, the hand on her waist tightened and pushed her away.
“Oof…” Mu Yanxi reacted immediately, clinging tightly to Yi Wulan and protesting, “I was just praising you, how could you do this?”
Yi Wulan applied a little more force, and Mu Yanxi’s half-genuine whimpers grew louder. “It hurts…”
Yi Wulan had no choice but to release her, feeling a major headache coming on.
She had intended to move the person away while she wasn’t paying attention.
Unexpectedly, the drunk little ancestor was quite agile.
Anyone woken up in the middle of the night by a drunkard who thinks she’s dreaming, and then has a kiss stolen, wouldn’t be in a good mood.
But the Mu Yanxi before her had red eyes, and it was hard to tell if it was from the alcohol or if she was genuinely upset.
She was truly at a loss, not knowing what to do with this little drunkard.
Yi Wulan sighed, “Yanxi, get down.”
“I don’t want to.” Mu Yanxi looked up at Yi Wulan.
Having gone several days without the treatment of her power, Yi Wulan had reverted to her previous state, only able to sleep a few hours a day, which drained much of her vitality.
Her lips had lost their rosy color and were slightly pale.
This sight finally reminded Mu Yanxi of the important task she was supposed to be doing.
She had just kissed her. She wondered if Yi Wulan felt any better.
So she asked dryly, “How did you feel just now?”
Yi Wulan was confused. “How did I feel about what?”
Now, Mu Yanxi also felt a little embarrassed. “You know, after I kissed you, did you feel any better?”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter, so much so that Yi Wulan didn’t catch the last part and naturally couldn’t understand what Mu Yanxi meant.
Yi Wulan frowned, really not knowing how to evaluate that kiss.
Mu Yanxi waited a few seconds, then a lapse in memory suddenly came to mind: she seemed to have forgotten to transfer her power to Yi Wulan when she kissed her!
No wonder Yi Wulan had no reaction.
Having figured this out, Mu Yanxi’s fingers gently covered Yi Wulan’s eyes, stealing her sight.
As Yi Wulan started to react, she patiently soothed in a low voice, “Alright, alright, don’t struggle. I’m just going to try something.”
“Try wha—”
With their owner’s vision obscured, the slightly thin lips became completely unguarded.
They were once again captured by a familiar touch.
As their lips met, Mu Yanxi, having learned her lesson, quickly mobilized the power within her body. A soft, moist touch swept across the other’s lips.
The moment their breaths mingled, the life-infused power surged towards Yi Wulan.
This time, the power flowed into Yi Wulan’s mouth at a rate dozens of times faster than before.
But when Mu Yanxi used her hand to sense it, she found that this power was exceptionally gentle and was not being rejected by Yi Wulan’s body.
Receiving the power, Yi Wulan’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Her attempts to push Mu Yanxi away became weaker and weaker, until she fell into a deep sleep.
Noticing Yi Wulan’s reaction, Mu Yanxi was overjoyed. Even while drunk, she didn’t forget to follow the fine virtue of being helpful, instinctively kissing deeper and quietly probing into Yi Wulan’s mouth.
The core of power within Mu Yanxi’s body spun faster and faster, continuously transferring the source of life into Yi Wulan’s body.
The night grew deeper.
All the ambiguous pleasure was concealed within the confines of that bed.
Tasting the forbidden fruit for the first time, she did not know this night was not a dream.
The transfer of power consumed a great deal of Mu Yanxi’s energy. She didn’t even know how she eventually fell asleep.
Fortunately, the remaining bit of power in her body repaired the aftereffects of her hangover. When Mu Yanxi woke up the next day, she felt refreshed all over.
But her happiness lasted only two seconds before her entire demeanor changed.
Dawn was breaking on the horizon, and light gradually filtered in through the not-quite-drawn curtains.
—She saw Yi Wulan lying beside her.
She wanted to prop herself up but found that one of Yi Wulan’s hands was still resting on her waist, and she would likely wake the other person.
The surroundings were familiar, with the same decor and furnishings. It was Yi Wulan’s master bedroom.
Didn’t she go out for a team dinner with her management team last night?
How did she wake up in Yi Wulan’s bed?
…What happened?
Mu Yanxi quietly patted her own head. An image suddenly flashed through her mind: it was the scene of her covering Yi Wulan’s eyes and leaning over her to kiss her.
Before Mu Yanxi could react, the jumbled memories from last night scrambled to resurface in her mind.
After getting drunk, she had voluntarily returned to Yi Wulan’s place, mistakenly thought she was having a dream, and even learned a terribly harmful method of transferring power from the Green River forums!
And then, and then she really kissed Yi Wulan!
And more than once!
She kissed her until she lost consciousness!
Save… save me!
Mu Yanxi’s face flushed red, her body went limp, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.
If one were to create a ranking of the most socially cringeworthy moments in Mu Yanxi’s two lifetimes, the current scene would undoubtedly hold the top spot.
For a full half-minute, Mu Yanxi’s mind was almost a complete blank.
But before Mu Yanxi could sort out her chaotic memories, she discovered an even more serious problem.
Last night… Yi Wulan seemed to have been conscious.
She had even, specifically, resisted a little… a few times.
Although she didn’t succeed in resisting in the end.
But Yi Wulan had experienced those things while she was awake.
Mu Yanxi’s mind was buzzing. She was so embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole on the spot and bury herself in it.
But right now, she was on a bed, and a bed on the second floor at that. No amount of digging would bury her.
Forget it. A person’s life is short; it’ll be over soon enough.
Mu Yanxi lay dazed on the bed, lost in thought.
And fell into a brief state of confusion.
Not even after dying in her past life and appearing in that white, otherworldly space, not even after seeing that bizarre novel, not even after getting a second chance at life, had she ever been as confused as she was at this moment.
She just wanted to set right this world that had once been manipulated, and thus fulfill her marriage contract with Yi Wulan.
But, before she could make any changes to this world, before she could cure the aftereffects of Yi Wulan’s car accident…
How, how did she end up doing something so intimate with Yi Wulan…
Now, would Yi Wulan really think she was a lecher?
Just then, a memory suddenly shot into her mind.
Before she fell asleep last night, she had exhausted her power.
It was self-evident where the power she had consumed went.
A world-shaking, soul-stirring answer gradually emerged.
…No way?
…Impossible, right?
Mu Yanxi’s hands began to tremble.
She couldn’t believe it, and she didn’t want to admit it.
—Of course, the more intimate the method of transferring power, the better. Listen to me, OP, you can’t go wrong. Just kiss her.
So, she could really transfer power to Yi Wulan through kissing?
“Thud.” The hand Mu Yanxi had placed on her forehead suddenly dropped onto the pillow, trembling slightly.
She cautiously reached out to Yi Wulan, gently placing her hand on the back of her head.
Then, with a very unsteady power, she stumbled, just like the first time she had used it, and probed into Yi Wulan’s brain.
Her power had only gone through its first awakening. The previous few times, it could only have a soothing effect, making Yi Wulan feel better, but it could never shake that formless barrier.
To put it simply, she couldn’t directly apply her power to the blood clots in Yi Wulan’s brain; she could only soothe the nerves on the surface of the clots.
But now, as Mu Yanxi’s power slowly flowed in, she could faintly sense that the invisible barrier was beginning to loosen!
If her power could truly act on Yi Wulan’s injuries, then perhaps there was a real chance to cure Yi Wulan and extend that short three-year lifespan.
But…
Mu Yanxi withdrew her probing power, her entire being in a state of incredulous daze.
So, the method of transferring power through kissing actually worked.
Then, then before her power awakened again, did she really have to use this method?
Mu Yanxi looked at the tightly-closed eyes of Yi Wulan before her, finding it hard to accept. Her body, chaste as jade and pure as ice, a beauty that could eclipse the moon and shame the flowers, was paying too high a price.
She suddenly recalled the first time she had seen Yi Wulan in this life. Under the dazzling chandelier, Yi Wulan sat in her wheelchair, her long dress trailing on the floor, commanding respect.
Even her peach blossom eyes, which were naturally prone to showing affection, held a sense of distance. The cool fragrance around her seemed to carry the aura of ice and snow, keeping people a thousand miles away, yet she was so noble and unparalleled, crashing into her sight without any warning.
Mu Yanxi weighed the pros and cons and suddenly felt that perhaps losing her first kiss wasn’t such a big loss after all.
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside her ear, interrupting Mu Yanxi’s thoughts:
“You’re awake?”
Mu Yanxi blinked, stiffly meeting Yi Wulan’s gaze.
Yi Wulan’s eyes were slightly narrowed, her voice still carrying the low, soft tone of someone who had just woken up.
“Are you sober? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?” Yi Wulan reached out and touched Mu Yanxi’s forehead.
As if remembering something, her tone cooled by several degrees. “Last time you didn’t eat on time and ended up in the hospital. You were very drunk last night. I thought I’d have to send you to the ICU when you woke up.”
It sounded more like she was hastily trying to justify her concern.
Mu Yanxi blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then said, “Um… how did I end up sleeping here last night? I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?”
Yi Wulan was taken aback, seemingly not understanding what Mu Yanxi was saying.
Seeing this, Mu Yanxi abruptly sat up, putting a significant distance between herself and Yi Wulan, almost enough for another person to lie down. The events of last night flashed through her mind again, and she bit her lip and continued:
“I, I’m a bad drunk. I can’t remember what happened the next day. If I disturbed you in any way last night, I apologize. Please don’t hold it against me.”
With a few words, she completely absolved herself of any responsibility.
As long as Mu Yanxi stuck to her story, no one could force her to admit anything.
Yi Wulan’s expression became subtle.
She sized up the Mu Yanxi before her, her gaze slowly falling to the bedsheet that Mu Yanxi was clutching tightly.
Mu Yanxi had always been willful and flamboyant, directly expressing what she wanted or wanted to do. When had she ever been as conflicted as she was now?
Besides, this spoiled little ancestor of hers was not one to admit fault. She had long since perfected the skill of trying to divert attention with flirtation to muddle through things with her.
Now that she was so meekly admitting fault, Yi Wulan wasn’t a fool. She naturally wouldn’t think that Mu Yanxi had suddenly become enlightened and polite.
Acting cute for no reason means you’re either up to no good or have something to hide.
Yi Wulan recalled Mu Yanxi’s drunken state last night and couldn’t help but find it absurd. Wasn’t it because she had committed an ‘indiscretion’ that she was feeling guilty?
Seeing Mu Yanxi’s cautious little expression, the displeasure in Yi Wulan’s heart gradually dissipated.
She looked at Mu Yanxi and repeated her question, “So, you want me not to hold it against you?”
“Mhm, mhm!” Mu Yanxi finally got Yi Wulan’s response and nodded vigorously. “But this matter is only known to heaven, earth, you, and me. It’s just like when we slept together before. As long as you don’t hold it against me, we can pretend it never happened.”
She spoke very smoothly, but deliberately attached the condition ‘as long as you don’t hold it against me’.
It had the air of a forced sale, where even if Yi Wulan suffered a loss, she would have to swallow it herself.
Very unreasonable.
Yi Wulan was almost amused to the point of anger.
Yi Wulan nodded and suddenly asked, “But how do you know you didn’t do anything to me last night…”
For some reason, perhaps due to a guilty conscience, Mu Yanxi couldn’t find her usual confidence at this moment. She was truly afraid of Yi Wulan’s poised questioning.
She immediately became angry out of embarrassment. “I’m a great drunk! I’m not the type to lose control because of alcohol!”
The more guilty she felt, the louder her voice became.
As if that would make her more convincing.
“Alright.” Yi Wulan’s face showed nothing, but her eyes held a hidden smile. Her tone suddenly shifted. “Then as compensation for me taking care of you last night, shouldn’t you…”
Mu Yanxi: …
How did Yi Wulan take care of her?
Don’t think she really had amnesia; she remembered everything clearly!
But she couldn’t refute Yi Wulan’s words. Wouldn’t refuting them expose her?
It felt very much like shooting herself in the foot.
Mu Yanxi took a deep breath and compromised, “Then what do you want? Let’s be clear, I’m very poor. I have no money.”
Yi Wulan nodded, well aware that the little money Mu Yanxi earned each month from chasing her dream in the entertainment industry wasn’t even enough for her to buy a dress.
She automatically ignored the fact that Mu Yanxi was now receiving a double allowance from both her and Mu Yanqing.
“I’m not asking you to spend money.” Yi Wulan couldn’t help but find it amusing. She sat up slightly. “I was unaware of the matter with Chi An before. I’ve already had Assistant Gu handle it.”
The name Gu Yan was not unfamiliar to Mu Yanxi. She knew he was Yi Wulan’s capable assistant. The last time she went to Rongjia, it was Gu Yan who picked her up.
But… the things about Chi An that were exposed on Weibo yesterday, was that really Yi Wulan’s doing?
It wasn’t that the Rongjia PR department had suddenly become diligent, nor was it because Guan Zhou had found a new backer.
Was it really Yi Wulan standing up for her?
Mu Yanxi’s heart skipped a beat.
She quickly maintained her composure and asked, “So?”
“I took care of you last night, so, you can stop being angry about me not clarifying the rumors with that female celebrity in time, okay?”
Mu Yanxi: …
Was she angry?
No.
She was so kind and magnanimous, she wouldn’t get angry with Yi Wulan over a minor figure like Chi An.
It would make it seem like she cared that much about Yi Wulan.
So she lifted her chin and said with cool arrogance, “I’m not angry.”
After a pause, she explained, “I’ve been in the entertainment industry for so long, don’t you think I know their marketing strategies? Chi An’s method of latching onto you for clout is so obviously fake, okay?”
Yi Wulan nodded. “Then in the future, if rumors spread about me and other artists under Rongjia…”
Mu Yanxi stared at Yi Wulan silently.
Yi Wulan’s expression didn’t change. “What do you think?”
Mu Yanxi suddenly smiled, her fox-like eyes tilting up slightly, but her voice carried a strange chill. “Why don’t you go ahead and try.”
Yi Wulan gave her a meaningful look, her tone like she was coaxing a child. “I won’t.”
Mu Yanxi was left breathless by Yi Wulan’s tone. Having always had the upper hand in their interactions, she was now repeatedly rendered speechless by Yi Wulan, which made her extremely frustrated.
Finally, she angrily threw off the covers, buried her entire face in the quilt, and sulked, “I didn’t get enough sleep last night. I’m going back to sleep.”
Then, just as Yi Wulan made a move to get out of bed, she suddenly blurted out, a dead giveaway, “Don’t you dare disturb me!”
Yi Wulan looked at Mu Yanxi, who had curled herself into a ball, a hint of helplessness appearing in her smile.
By the time Mu Yanxi woke up again, the sun was high in the sky, and Yi Wulan was long gone from the house.
She logged into Weibo again. The buzz about Chi An from yesterday had died down. The top trending topics were once again filled with new material from various celebrities and paparazzi-exposed relationships.
Although she couldn’t keep Chi An on the list for a few more days to be shamed.
It had to be said that Mu Yanxi also benefited from Chi An’s incident.
You Are Like the Boundless Stars was still airing. The resources that had been snatched away by Chi An because of her public relationship with Guan Zhou were now coming back to her.
Her manager had sent her a WeChat message early in the morning, informing her that she had received an invitation to the Nansha Charity Gala, an annual top-tier charity event.
The Nansha Charity Gala was founded by a famous fashion magazine. Each year it had a new theme and would collaborate with major international brands and A-list celebrities to enhance its influence and appeal, thereby promoting charitable causes.
Normally, an artist of Mu Yanxi’s status wouldn’t be able to attend, but this year’s event happened to clash with a film festival, so many big-name stars couldn’t make it.
Mu Yanxi’s status was low, but her beauty on the red carpet was undeniable, so she logically managed to snag this lucky break.
After sending Mu Yanxi a lot of video materials from previous Nansha red carpets, her manager immediately started contacting major brands to borrow gowns.
But those brands always lent clothes based on an artist’s status and fashion influence. Mu Yanxi had no endorsements, no major works, and no fans. She had been stuck in various web dramas for years, so what kind of commercial power could she have?
Thus, the brands all refused.
Although her manager was mentally prepared, she still felt a bit discouraged after being rejected time and time again.
When she talked about it with Mu Yanxi via video call in the afternoon, Mu Yanxi didn’t seem to care at all. “If they want to lend to others, let them. Sister Ling, can you not look like the sky is falling?”
Ling Yi had, after all, once managed an A-list artist. In the past, these brands’ attitudes were not so perfunctory. She just felt that the industry’s tendency to fawn over the powerful and trample on the weak was too obvious.
The manager was worried to death, but Mu Yanxi on the other side of the video was still leisurely applying a face mask. She really couldn’t stand it anymore:
“This is an emergency, and you still have the mood to apply a face mask? If you can’t borrow a dress, how are you going to walk the red carpet? Are you going to borrow something from a past season?”
The manager no longer held much hope for Mu Yanxi’s professional abilities. Every time Mu Yanxi had a good project, it was as if she was cursed; the subsequent buzz would always be suppressed by those anti-fans, and she could never become popular.
But this red carpet was a competition of looks and temperament. This little ancestor might not be good at other things, but she had these two aspects down pat. Even those anti-fans were helpless.
Therefore, the manager had high hopes for Mu Yanxi’s appearance on this red carpet. “Have you seen the list I compiled for you? Guan Zhou and Chi An will be attending together again. If you don’t have a good dress, how are you going to outshine them?”
Hearing this, Mu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. Chi An had just gotten into trouble. If Guan Zhou immediately distanced himself, it would surely cause gossip. Chi An must have also put in a lot of effort to attend this gala, trying to use the buzz from her couple pairing with Guan Zhou to turn the tide.
But, that depended on whether the audience would buy it. If all the limelight was stolen, how could they show off their love?
Originally, Mu Yanxi had been distracted and unenthusiastic because of last night’s drunken incident.
The moment she heard Chi An’s name, her spirits were instantly lifted.
She ripped off her face mask and sat up in bed. “Are Guan Zhou and Chi An really going?”
“Yes.” The manager’s face was full of worry. “Chi An’s resources have always been better than ours, plus she has Guan Zhou. Chi An will definitely appear in style at this gala. If we really can’t borrow a dress, what are you going to do?”
Mu Yanxi washed her face and said casually, “If we can’t borrow one, so be it. Can’t we just buy one?”
The manager rolled her eyes at her without hiding it. “A dress worth over a million, and you say ‘just buy it’? Do you think your family owns a bank?”
As she spoke, Mu Yanxi’s hand, which was applying skincare products, froze for a moment.
Then she pretended nothing had happened and reached for the serum.
“Alright, let’s not talk about the dress for now. The gala will be held in Luocheng. When do you plan to fly over?”
Mu Yanxi opened the face cream jar. “Isn’t it fine to go on the day of?”
The manager sighed and couldn’t help but expose her. “Other people’s fans send gifts, praise them along the way, and take candid photos. Do you think you get that kind of treatment?”
Mu Yanxi fell silent.
To be honest, she really didn’t.
Other people’s fans would travel far and wide just to praise their beloved idol, while her anti-fans were all holding magnifying glasses, waiting to kick her while she’s down, waiting to pick at her faults and watch her fail.
The charity gala was the day after tomorrow. Mu Yanxi had transferred power to Yi Wulan last night, so being away for two days wouldn’t be a problem.
Besides, she wasn’t sure if Yi Wulan still remembered what happened last night.
Maybe, just maybe, Yi Wulan thought she was dreaming last night?
Maybe, just maybe, her power, which could make Yi Wulan fall asleep quickly, had also accidentally erased Yi Wulan’s memory?
Mu Yanxi thought for a moment and decided, “Then Sister Ling, please book a flight for me. I’ll fly over tonight.”
Chi An, who had finally managed to get an invitation to the Nansha Charity Gala, was, just as Ling Yi had said, gearing up to create new buzz for herself at this event.
What was said online was not wrong; Rongjia had indeed terminated her contract.
Rongjia Entertainment, unlike other management companies that liked to issue 10 or 20-year lifetime contracts, preferred to sign short-term contracts with its artists. It was common for contracts to be terminated after the assessment period.
But Rongjia Entertainment offered generous terms and was backed by the Rongjia Group, making it a magnet even for many big-name stars.
Chi An was already at the point of signing a new contract. Her popularity had been high recently, so it should have been a natural progression. Unexpectedly, Rongjia did not renew her contract at the last minute.
Those film and television resources and endorsements were provided by Rongjia in the first place, so it was reasonable for them to be taken back. She couldn’t even find a reason to argue, let alone get any compensation.
She was browsing through the new arrivals from major luxury brands and finally settled on a new Chanel dress from the current season. She sent it to Guan Zhou: 【Hubby, take a look for me, what do you think of this dress?】
But after sending the message, she waited for a long time without a reply from Guan Zhou.
These past two days, Guan Zhou’s attitude towards her had become much colder. He was always busy with work, always having some excuse.
But didn’t he have just as many jobs to rush to before?
Chi An faintly felt that Guan Zhou was distancing himself from her, but now he was the only card she had left. No matter what, she had to walk the Nansha red carpet well and crush Mu Yanxi, whose popularity had risen due to her downfall, under her feet.
Fortunately, her relationship with Guan Zhou hadn’t been public for long. During this time, no matter how unwilling Guan Zhou was, he had to cooperate with her, otherwise he would definitely be labeled a scumbag.
Just as Chi An was about to contact Guan Zhou’s manager, Guan Zhou’s call finally came through. “An’an, I was just shooting a commercial. My phone was with my manager. I saw your dress. It suits you very well, you look beautiful.”
Chi An’s anger subsided a little, but she didn’t expect Guan Zhou’s next sentence to be: “I just asked someone, and they said that dress has already been borrowed by another artist, a Hollywood movie star with a very high status.”
Chi An’s anger instantly flared up. “If you can’t borrow it, can’t you buy it? Didn’t you just get a phone endorsement? The endorsement fee alone was eight figures, wasn’t it?”
Guan Zhou hesitated. “But that dress costs over two million.”
“You won’t even buy me something for over two million? Guan Zhou, don’t you forget how you got famous, and who you relied on to get so many resources in the beginning? If it weren’t for me, could you have latched onto the Rongjia president’s popularity and reaped those benefits?
“Let me tell you, even if I’ve been dropped by Rongjia, don’t think you can get away unscathed. I want that dress, and if you don’t help me, we’ll see each other on the trending topics.” After Chi An finished, she hung up without waiting for Guan Zhou’s reply.
Two days later, as dusk fell, the opening ceremony of the Nansha Charity Gala officially began.
Nansha had been preparing for this annual gala for a long time, inviting almost half of the entertainment industry. Each celebrity was glamorous and dazzling, vying for attention, creating a spectacular sight.
Weibo had been buzzing with anticipation all afternoon. As soon as the live stream started, the traffic surged. The camera panned across the celebrities in the waiting area, and with each one, the bullet comments exploded.
Until the camera swept over Guan Zhou and Chi An, their couple fans became excited:
【Ahhh, is that Chi An and Guan Zhou? I’m dying from shipping them! Stop whispering and just kiss already!】
【Looks like Chi An isn’t as miserable as the internet says. I thought she was going to disappear without a trace.】
【To the person above, Rongjia Entertainment already issued a clarification. It was just a normal contract expiration. Stop spreading rumors about our An’an.】
【The dress Chi An is wearing is a new arrival from Chanel, sisters! The contract termination didn’t affect her resources at all!】
【…】
Watching the live stream, manager Ling Yi was so angry she was about to throw her phone. Mu Yanxi was stuck in traffic and hadn’t arrived yet.
Fortunately, Mu Yanxi was not famous, and her position on the red carpet was towards the back, so there would be enough time to try on a dress later.
But the key was, that white lotus Chi An had managed to borrow the latest Chanel model!
As far as she knew, two A-list actresses in the industry had tried to borrow that dress and failed. How did Chi An still have such resources after her contract was terminated?
And the dress she had painstakingly borrowed for Mu Yanxi had just been canceled at the last minute. The brand had actually lent it to someone else midway.
That “someone else” made no effort to hide her identity; it was Chi An.
Even if they weren’t going to lend the dress, they should have notified them earlier. But they deliberately waited until the red carpet was about to start, clearly intending to embarrass them.
Ling Yi was caught off guard, frantically calling other brands in the dressing room, pacing in circles.
Just then, the dressing room door was suddenly pushed open. Mu Yanxi appeared before her in a brand-new royal blue gown, which made her skin look fair, her waist thin, and her legs long. She was stunning under the lights.
But in the next second, the manager’s eyes widened. “You, you, where did you get this dress?”
Mu Yanxi leisurely walked to the dressing table and sat down. “I bought it.”
This made the manager’s expression even more incredulous. After scrutinizing it for a moment, she said, “This is Chanel’s latest haute couture, right? Did you buy a knockoff again?”
Mu Yanxi glanced at her manager with disapproval.
Excuse me.
She never wore knockoffs.
That kind of inferior fabric would give her an allergic reaction.
But before she could speak, the manager compromised. “Forget it, forget it. The dress we originally borrowed was snatched by Chi An and a few other celebrities anyway. A knockoff will have to do.”
The manager looked at Mu Yanxi in the mirror, sizing her up. She could outshine the genuine article worn by Chi An even in a knockoff. She couldn’t help but marvel at her own artist’s beauty.
The smell of cosmetics in the dressing room was too strong. Since her turn on the red carpet was still a while away, Mu Yanxi went to the restroom. As fate would have it, just as she came out after washing her hands, she ran right into Chi An, who was wearing the same dress.
As sworn enemies, Chi An had also spotted Mu Yanxi from a distance and noticed the dress she was wearing.
Newly released haute couture was not easily lent out; if you wanted it, you had to buy it. The dress she was wearing was bought by Guan Zhou. Mu Yanxi was known for wearing fakes, so the one she was wearing must be a knockoff.
Chi An opened her mouth and immediately started mocking, “Mu Yanxi, are you addicted to wearing fakes? There are so many executives from fashion brands here today. You could get away with wearing fakes in the past, but aren’t you afraid of them suing you today?”
Mu Yanxi glanced at the dress on Chi An and couldn’t be bothered to reply. “You should worry about yourself.”
Chi An and Mu Yanxi had always been at each other’s throats, never hiding their dissatisfaction with each other even online, let alone in this empty corridor.
Especially since Chi An still remembered the incident at Huazhen. It wasn’t that hard to get a VIP card for a luxury brand. Mu Yanxi’s manager had managed A-list stars before, so it wasn’t strange for those benefits to be given to Mu Yanxi now.
That time, Mu Yanxi had put on a brave face and spent a high price to snatch her dress. Therefore, she had to get her revenge today.
Chi An straightened her skirt and said haughtily, “Are you deliberately wearing the same dress as me to get Guan Zhou’s attention? I’m warning you not to pull any tricks tonight, or I’ll expose how you’ve been throwing yourself at my boyfriend online.”
Mu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. “Go ahead.”
Chi An was stunned. “What did you say?”
“I said, go ahead.” Mu Yanxi leisurely took two steps forward.
“We can post the chat logs of how your boyfriend wished me good morning and good night and reminded me about my three meals a day online. Don’t forget to include those disgustingly sweet voice messages, so everyone can see what the legendary cool and aloof male god is like in real life.”
After hearing this, Chi An’s face changed slightly. She clenched her fists. “Don’t think you can slander him like this just because Guan Zhou isn’t here.”
“He is quite dark.” Mu Yanxi imagined how Guan Zhou had to apply several layers of foundation every time he did his makeup. “I don’t even know what you see in him. Isn’t it good enough to just make money in this industry? Why do you have to be with a scumbag like him?”
Just then, Ling Yi, who hadn’t seen Mu Yanxi for a while, came looking for her. Seeing this, Mu Yanxi didn’t hold back her parting shot. “What’s so good about a man who loves to be a freeloader and a cheater? Can’t you just wake up?”
Chi An shrieked, “Shut up!”
Ling Yi had actually been watching from around the corner for a while. She was in awe of Mu Yanxi’s combat prowess, leaving Chi An flustered and unable to retort.
Just as Mu Yanxi turned to leave, Chi An chased after her again. “Mu Yanxi, don’t go! Guan Zhou just said he was going to find you to discuss promoting the drama. Stop pretending, tell me where he is!”
Mu Yanxi felt like a pedestrian taking a stroll in her neighborhood who was suddenly bitten by a mad dog. “Guan Zhou is missing and you’re asking me? Am I his mother? Do I have to keep track of his whereabouts? Don’t associate me with him, I find it disgusting.”
Chi An was relentless. “Stop pretending, Mu Yanxi. Where is Guan Zhou?”
Guan Zhou had disappeared?
Mu Yanxi frowned, suddenly remembering the figure she had seen when she first arrived, and it all clicked.
“Ah, I almost forgot if you hadn’t mentioned it.” The anger in her heart dissipated, replaced by a hint of pity in her eyes. She spoke slowly and deliberately, “If you go to the second floor now and check each room, you might just catch a good show.”
Chi An was wary. “What do you mean?”
Mu Yanxi decided to be a good person to the end, winking suggestively. “Remember to take out your phone and take lots of pictures. Otherwise, it won’t be easy to ask for compensation.”
At this point, as an artist in the entertainment industry, how could Chi An not understand what Mu Yanxi meant?
She might as well have told her to go upstairs and catch him cheating.
Although Guan Zhou’s recent cold and indifferent attitude had made Chi An suspicious, she never thought he would be so bold as to fool around behind her back at such a major gala.
Chi An’s mind went blank. Guan Zhou’s deliberately delayed calls and messages, and the late-night jobs that made him run out…
Bit by bit, it all came flooding back at this moment, gradually forming the answer: he was cheating.
As if on cue, the sound of a man and a woman’s ambiguous conversation came from the staircase, enough to give anyone goosebumps.
When the two of them came downstairs, Mu Yanxi raised an eyebrow. It was Guan Zhou and the wealthy woman from the mobile phone company she had seen at the dinner party.
In the next second, Chi An’s scream of rage and collapse echoed through the entire corridor. “Guan Zhou, you dog-faced scumbag!”
The shout startled Mu Yanxi, who instantly clutched her accidentally wounded little heart, her eyes wide with curiosity.
She didn’t wear the gown her manager had originally booked, but instead bought a fake one that was the same style as hers.
It was one thing to wear a fake, but it was another to be blissfully unaware and flaunt it in front of others.
And then, just a few seconds after her moment of triumph, she stumbled upon her beloved boyfriend’s cheating scene.
Tsk.
Tsk tsk.
What a dog-blood drama.
Suddenly, Mu Yanxi didn’t want to leave anymore.
