Shen Xubai had completely forgotten.
He had another important task: to apologize to Yan Jingci.
He rushed forward, pulling Shen Ningxi's hand off Yan Jingci's shoulder, "How did he trick you?"
Yan Jingci: ?
Upon hearing this, Shen Ningxi quickly pulled Shen Xubai aside and whispered to him.
"Third Brother, he didn't trick me. It was mutual consent, a fair trade. Our family needs a treasure basin, and only he can be it. Please don't ruin this for me!"
Shen Ningxi looked smug.
As if she had done something incredibly good.
But Shen Xubai's face was full of worry, his dark skin showing a wealth of expressions.
These two had only met twice in total.
One of those times wasn't pleasant; how could they have developed mutual feelings?
Shen Xubai firmly believed that Yan Jingci must have somehow charmed Shen Ningxi.
He pursed his lips.
After thinking about it, he felt he shouldn't damage the fragile sibling relationship they had just established.
So, he turned to Yan Jingci.
That rugged face, combined with his tall stature, was incredibly imposing.
Shen Xubai gritted his teeth and mouthed, "Reject her!"
But Yan Jingci's phoenix eyes held a smile, his eyes slightly raised. He helplessly spread his hands, as if deliberately provoking, and slowly uttered three words: "Can't bear to."
Shen Xubai: !!! @%&￥&$^%&
Where's my knife!
...
Shen Xubai decided.
He would take Shen Ningxi home first, not let her stay here and continue to be manipulated by Yan Jingci.
He grabbed Shen Ningxi's wrist and spoke as he led her away, "Ningxi, Maternal Grandfather and Maternal Grandmother are waiting for you, let's go."
Shen Ningxi was about to be dragged out of the courtyard gate.
She quickly called out, "Wait, I haven't finished saying something."
But Shen Xubai was worried and didn't dare to let go.
The last time he briefly let go, she gained a fiancé. This dog was easier to lose than someone else's husky...
Yan Jingci stood in the distance, the corners of his lips curling up slightly, "No rush, I'll be 'visiting' Grandpa Shen's house later."
Shen Xubai: ???
Shen Ningxi hadn't expected this.
Yan Jingci remembered the agreement they had just made clearly.
An hour with the treasure basin was enough to cover a whole day at the Shen family's heavenly pit.
Shen Ningxi was satisfied and happily threw a wink, "You're on, fiancé!"
All of this exchange fell into her brother's eyes.
Shen Xubai didn't know about their deal; at this moment, he only had three words in his mind: The sky is falling!
...
Back at the Shen family home.
Outside the courtyard, they could already hear the commotion inside.
"What's going on? The frame we just installed has collapsed. Doesn't our boss's money matter? I won't pay twice for you to keep redoing this!"
Shen Ningxi recognized the speaker as Sister Yang, Lu Ang's manager. It seemed Lu Ang had called her to supervise.
Sister Yang's scolding was exceptionally piercing.
Back at the company, she often heard her scolding people. Lu Ang's makeup artist, stylist, assistant, and driver were all disciplined like grandchildren by her every day.
Shen Ningxi walked into the courtyard.
She saw several renovation workers with crestfallen faces, constantly apologizing to Sister Yang, stating they didn't know what happened. The walls they had smoothed inexplicably became rough, and the frames they had built mysteriously collapsed.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but with all this rework, how could they still make any money?
Shen Ningxi sighed softly, knowing this wasn't the renovation workers' fault; it was the Shen family's problem.
She stepped forward and said to Sister Yang, "Sister Yang, let them rest for two days first, and come back the day after tomorrow."
Sister Yang used to be quite polite to Shen Ningxi.
Now that she knew Shen Ningxi wasn't the eldest daughter of the Lu family, she couldn't even be bothered to put on a good face.
She rolled her eyes with a dark expression.
"Are you paying for the rest days' labor! Hmph, you know you were switched at birth, yet you still want to scam us in the end. What a gold digger."
Shen Ningxi heard this and glanced sideways.
She didn't refute her words.
Instead, she stared at Sister Yang's face for a few seconds and asked, "Sister Yang, Lu Ang isn't by any chance taking on the role of the male lead, is he?"
Shen Ningxi could see from Sister Yang's face that her career luck was about to collapse. Since she only managed Lu Ang, it was obvious who would be in trouble.
Shen Ningxi had also told Grandma Lu that Lu Ang couldn't play the main character; his fate didn't carry good fortune. It was only because she had helped him boost his luck that he became popular through supporting roles and variety shows.
When Grandma Lu was in charge of the household, Lu Ang had to obey. After Grandma Lu was hospitalized, he probably let himself go.
As if to confirm Shen Ningxi's thoughts.
Sister Yang smiled smugly, "What are you pretending for? The whole internet is buzzing about Lu Ang's new drama about to premiere. How could you not know?"
As she spoke, she pulled out a photo and shoved it in Shen Ningxi's face.
"Our Ang Ang's leading male role, a huge IP, a big-budget long drama, and he's collaborating with a Best Actress! Best Actress Bai Moli. If you don't know who she is, you can ask your Third Brother; he knows her very well."
Sister Yang glanced mockingly at Shen Xubai, who was trailing behind, lost in thought, as if in outer space.
She muttered softly, "Simp, simp, you simp until the very end and get nothing."
Although she spoke softly, Shen Ningxi had sharp ears.
Her gaze shifted from Lu Ang and Bai Moli's photo on the screen. Instead of anger, there was a hint of a smile.
Lu Ang's drama wasn't taken for nothing.
Although it would harm his career, it would help his romantic prospects. Bai Moli and Lu Ang had a destined relationship that would lead to marriage, mutual dragging down, and then divorce.
A young male celebrity's career declining while his romantic prospects emerge – this was truly going to be a major collapse.
Shen Ningxi looked at Sister Yang and curved her lips into a smile.
She didn't mind giving her a free reading at all.
"Sister Yang, your artist is about to collapse his house, and you'll soon be unemployed."
"Do you want me to help you boost your career luck? 2999, no haggling, no credit. Money back if it doesn't work."
Sister Yang: ...
Is this charlatan an idiot!
She always heard Lu Ang curse her, and now seeing this, he wasn't wrong.
"You charlatan, sour grapes because you can't get what you want. It's resources your brother can't get that our Ang Ang can, and women your brother can't pursue that our Ang Ang can collaborate with. Are you jealous!"
Sister Yang glanced at Shen Xubai, "In the entertainment circle, looks are justice."
This jab wasn't spoken quietly.
But Shen Xubai still acted as if he hadn't heard.
Standing in the shadows by the door, his brows were tightly furrowed.
Shen Ningxi stared meaningfully at Sister Yang, "The woman my brother can't pursue, your Ang Ang not only can collaborate with, but he can also win her over. You'll be happy then~"
After saying that, she walked over and pulled Shen Xubai.
"Let's go, Third Brother, it's time for lunch."
Only then did Shen Xubai snap back to reality. He opened his mouth in a tone like an old father, "Ningxi, brother is telling you—"
Shen Ningxi obediently nodded to everything he said, "Mm, mm, mm—"
The siblings walked past Sister Yang and entered the small building.
Sister Yang, completely ignored, couldn't even be bothered to be angry.
Her mouth hung open, as if she were stunned.
Shen Xubai had been in the shadows before, so it wasn't obvious. But now, in the sunlight, his dark skin suddenly emitted a white glow. Combined with his model-like physique, he was so handsome she almost cried out.
Impossible, impossible!
She must be seeing things, just seeing things.
How could this ugly monster be associated with handsomeness!
Sister Yang felt inexplicably uneasy. No, she couldn't let Lu Ang eat late-night snacks anymore; she had to control him.
Lu Ang had always had a tendency to gain weight since he was young.
He had only successfully lost weight four years ago, and this result had to be maintained!
For a male celebrity, gaining weight could ruin everything!
✦✦✦