Ge Yan said the handsome neighbor next door was reserved and gentle as jade.
Song Ruan said her little uncle was sharp-tongued, with every word meant to bully others.
They glanced at each other in surprise, and everything was understood without words.
Cen Yan sat opposite Song Bojian, her movements gentle and polite, appearing steady and refined among a group of silly people.
“Mr. Song, long time no see.”
Hearing this, Song Bojian looked up at Cen Yan.
Cen Yan responded with a faint smile.
Song Bojian withdrew his gaze and took another bite. “Have we met before?”
Cen Yan nearly dropped her chopsticks but still maintained a proper smile.
“Mr. Song may have a busy memory. Three years ago, you presented an award to me,” Cen Yan said lightly, calm and composed.
Song Bojian continued eating, his every move exuding an air of indifference and detachment.
Unwilling to give up, Cen Yan added, “The Best Newcomer Award.”
Song Bojian paused, as if seriously trying to recall.
Cen Yan held her breath nervously, her eyes fixed on Song Bojian’s expression without blinking.
After a long while, Song Bojian finally put down his bowl and chopsticks.
He looked at Cen Yan, his gaze indifferent.
“Sorry, I don’t remember.”
Cen Yan’s face paled slightly but quickly regained composure.
“It’s fine.”
“—But I remember Ge Yan.”
Ge Yan, who had been peacefully eating, had just picked up a meatball when she heard this. The meatball fell, splashing soup all over her.
Song Ruan hurriedly tried to help but couldn’t find any tissues.
The next second, a hand handed over a neatly folded handkerchief.
Ge Yan looked up—it was Song Bojian. He looked at her calmly.
Cen Yan watched from the side, feeling the atmosphere between the two was somewhat strange.
Ge Yan took the handkerchief and wiped the stains off her face and clothes without hesitation.
Cen Yan couldn’t believe it. As the focus of that awards ceremony, she hadn’t been remembered, yet Song Bojian remembered Ge Yan, who was just part of the background?!
Cen Yan couldn’t help but ask, “Ge Yan, how do you know Mr. Song?”
Ge Yan was confused. Were these two pretending not to know each other?
Was she just part of their game?
She didn’t know how to answer, feeling sorry for the meatball that had fallen on the floor.
“Miss Ge and I just met—but it felt like we’ve known each other for a long time.”
Ge Yan froze as if struck by lightning.
What a way to say “felt like we’ve known each other for a long time.”
Song Ruan was even more surprised. She hadn’t expected to stumble upon her little uncle’s gossip just by joining a show.
Cen Yan was also slightly taken aback, unable to react for a moment. “Oh,” she said, not knowing what else to say, and awkwardly changed the subject. “Well, what a coincidence.”
Song Bojian’s gaze remained fixed on Ge Yan’s face as he said indifferently, “Indeed, a coincidence.”
Song Ruan let out a long sigh of relief. Good, she was no longer the center of attention.
Cen Yan couldn’t smile anymore. Good, she wasn’t the center of attention either.
As former best friends, even if Song Xiyuan hadn’t noticed Cen Yan’s intentions, she herself couldn’t stand Ge Yan becoming the focus.
“Mr. Song, hello, I’m Song Xiyuan.”
Song Bojian merely nodded slightly, still not responding.
Song Xiyuan wasn’t embarrassed either, as that wasn’t her goal anyway.
“Mr. Song might not know this, but our Ge Yan already has a fiancé. She’s very happy.”
A flicker of emotion passed through Song Bojian’s eyes.He lifted his gaze, giving Song Xiyuan a faint glance.
Song Xiyuan’s heart skipped a beat, an inexplicable sense of fear washing over her. She instinctively swallowed.
Ge Yan had barely eaten a few bites, already feeling mentally exhausted by the scheming minds around the table.
She silently rolled her eyes, forcing a deathly smile. “Thanks for your blessing. Would you like this kind of happiness for yourself?”
Song Xiyuan retorted without holding back. “I don’t have that much talent to stay trending on hot searches every day… Oh, right, Mr. Song, about Ge Yan and that male lead from the crew—the whole late-night script-reading incident caused quite a stir. The guy’s girlfriend even went online to expose it, yet Sister Ge Yan remained calm and didn’t even bother explaining.”
Cen Yan had been observing Song Bojian’s expression.
Sure enough, when Song Xiyuan said this, Song Bojian’s face visibly darkened.
Song Xiyuan looked at Ge Yan, her eyes carrying a hint of reproachful concern.
“Sister Ge Yan, as a public figure, you really must maintain a clean image.”
Qin Dehua was the first to lose patience. “Just eat already. Even hotpot can’t shut you up.”
Ge Yan didn’t want to waste energy defending herself against baseless accusations—it would only trap her in a cycle of self-justification.
What rotten luck.
If it weren’t for the fact that there was a master here with a house full of rare mortise-and-tenon treasures, she’d really like to teach her just how treacherous people can be.
Song Ruan was eating with great relish, but when she looked up, she saw a familiar expression on Song Bojian’s face.
She glanced at Song Xiyuan with slight pity, then silently shook her head.
Of all people to provoke, why him?
The next moment, Song Bojian spoke.
“You really know a lot. I wish I were as knowledgeable as you.”
Song Xiyuan’s smile visibly stiffened. For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether Song Bojian’s words were meant as praise or sarcasm.
“Oh, not at all. I’ve only heard things through the grapevine.”
“How could that be? Being able to recognize what kind of person you are is already commendable.”
Song Bojian picked up his teacup and took a sip, calm and composed.
Ge Yan was also stunned by his words. She looked up at Song Bojian—so he was cut from the same cloth.
Song Xiyuan’s face turned dark. She struggled to maintain her politeness. “Mr. Song, I was only telling the truth. Why must you be so…”
“Passive-aggressive?” He smiled. “Of course. I’m doing it on purpose. My apologies.”
After speaking, Song Bojian turned his gaze to Cen Yan. “What do you think, Miss Cen?”
Cen Yan smiled. “Xixi was just joking.”
Song Bojian’s eyes darkened slightly, his smile fading.
Cen Yan felt a chill run down her spine, her own smile freezing.
“When I watch livestreams online, it’s always Ge Yan doing the cooking. I think we could leave it to this Miss Song instead—after all, she’s quite skilled at adding fuel to the fire.”
Cen Yan: “…”
“So good at joking, no wonder she’s always just a variety show entertainer.”
Cen Yan: “…”
Ge Yan could see it now—Song Xiyuan was destined to be cannon fodder. She had spoken up so fiercely for her good friend, yet Cen Yan hadn’t said a word in her defense.
Had Ge Yan remembered wrong? Three years ago, at that awards ceremony in Beijing, she had clearly seen Shen Yuanming and Song Bojian locked in a tense standoff over a film investment, neither backing down even as they exchanged toasts.
Song Ruan tugged at Song Bojian’s sleeve, leaning in to whisper by his ear. “Uncle, don’t go too far. I still have to survive in this industry.”
Hearing this, Song Bojian swept a glance at Song Xiyuan.
That one look made Song Xiyuan’s heart sink, forcing her to swallow her grievances.
“Uncle…”Song Ruan’s voice was soft, tinged with a hint of ingratiation.
“Let’s eat.”
Song Bojian replied indifferently, lowering his head to continue his meal.
Song Ruan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.