Nie Feiyin darted past like a scrolling comment.
Her reaction was as troubled as if someone had asked to borrow money from her. It was hard for Jin Yuelan not to notice.
“Why that expression? Is there a problem?”
Fu Jiao found it difficult to answer.
The Xishan Orchard was a project Jin Yuzhen had started. It had done well over the past few years and was one of Taozhou’s key agricultural assistance projects; the television station had even come to film it. However, the person who appeared on camera at the time was Li Xiang.
Li Xiang was a local from Xishan Village. Nowadays, she handled all the orchard’s affairs, and most of the staff only recognized her. Even Fu Jiao had only attended a few important meetings to receive a commemorative banner.
As for Jin Yuzhen, she rarely appeared in public. Consequently, outsiders had no idea of her involvement.
If they were really to go to Xishan to “learn from experience,” would she not be learning from herself?
What a beautiful misunderstanding.
Fu Jiao found it amusing but ultimately did not speak plainly. She simply said, “No problem. How could there be a problem? Grandmother, you have thought of everything. Now that the business has grown to this scale, we must prioritize our social image.”
Though the words were perfectly reasonable, Jin Yuelan inexplicably heard a hint of suppressed joy in them.
Does this child need medicine?
“Zhenzhen, what is your opinion?”
Jin Yuzhen said, “Zhu Huai has more experience than I do.”
Jin Yuelan fell silent.
Steam rose from the tea table, filling the room with the scent of tea. No one spoke further.
Fu Jiao could actually understand Jin Yuzhen’s resistance. When doing such things, it was inevitable that some would think she was seeking fame or would misinterpret her original intentions. Jin Yuzhen always said that as long as one has a clear conscience, it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble; one should simply do good deeds, and whether others know or not is irrelevant.
Such a personality was indeed ill-suited for the fluctuations of fame and fortune.
Yet, Fu Jiao felt indignant on her behalf. After suffering so much in the early years, now should be the time to enjoy life. Furthermore, did Jin Yuelan not have intentions for her to succeed the family business?
How could someone be so devoid of worldly desires!
To leave such a massive family fortune untouched just to tinker with time-consuming collectibles.
After finishing their tea, each lost in their own thoughts, Jin Yuzhen took Jin Yuelan to see the collectibles in the shop. Each piece was worth a fortune; even a single exhibition would surely turn a massive profit.
Jin Yuelan’s mood was very complex.
The shop was being managed exceptionally well, without a doubt. Jin Yuzhen was a person with her own ideas; the concepts she was using now would not even be outdated in ten years.
At this moment, she suddenly felt lost. Was inheritance truly that important? Did Zhenzhen have to follow the path she had paved?
Seeing Jin Yuzhen’s high spirits while introducing the pieces, her heart softened. As she left, she instructed, “Come home often. Do not go running off to the mountains at the drop of a hat. It is winter; your body will not be able to handle it.”
Despite having explained it once before, Jin Yuzhen clarified again, “Today was the last public welfare class. The next one will not start until next year.”
Jin Yuelan felt relieved. When she had free time, she always worried about Jin Yuzhen. Once one reaches a certain age, one begins to fret about the future. She could never let go of this girl who had accompanied her since she started her business. Last night before sleep, she had flipped through a photo album and realized with a start that Jin Yuzhen was already twenty-six.
She still treated Zhenzhen like a child. Occasionally, upon waking, she would daze and think she was still in Yangon, about to call Zhenzhen to go to the Nirvana Festival.
As the car drove away, she let out a long sigh.
Yue Xu comforted her, “Zhenzhen will come around.”
Jin Yuelan shook her head. “We will take it one step at a time.”
Besides, now that Zhu Huai was back, if she continued to pressure Zhenzhen, Zhu Huai would surely overthink things. She naturally hoped there would be no rift between the two. She hoped even more that Jin Yuzhen would take over her position.
While she was thinking, Yue Xu handed over a phone, looking troubled. “Grandmother, it is Zhu Huai.”
Jin Yuelan sighed. “Answer it.”
As noon approached, Fu Jiao planned to cook and asked Jin Yuzhen what she wanted to eat. Jin Yuzhen changed into a silk jacquard black dress, put on her coat, and headed downstairs. “Eat with Ye Yun. I have an appointment for lunch.”
Fu Jiao was greatly disappointed. “Then forget it. I am not cooking if you are not here.”
Jin Yuzhen offered a suggestion. “Take a tablet, find a photo of me, and put it on the table to keep you company.”
Fu Jiao said, “…”
Ye Yun returned from field work just as she ran into Jin Yuzhen. Her face was wrinkled like a bitter gourd. She was in such a hurry that she could not get a full sentence out for a long time. “Boss, there is something. Lawyer Sun just called.”
Jin Yuzhen asked, “What is it?”
Ye Yun said hesitantly, “There are some rumors online. Cen Shu’s fans found our account and left a lot of comments. Lawyer Sun has already contacted a team to help.”
After hearing her words, Jin Yuzhen did not understand where her anxiety came from, but she had some guesses about the so-called rumors. It was likely just another of Cen Shu’s tricks to maintain her popularity. “I have full confidence in Lawyer Sun’s efficiency. I will go see her this afternoon.”
Sun Baizhao’s ability was unquestionable, but the words in the comments were simply too unspeakable. Anyone who saw them would be fuming with rage. Ye Yun was extremely worried.
As Jin Yuzhen was about to leave, she added, “Perfect. It is time to release the video of that fake painting Feng Hui had. I also want some younger clients.”
Being targeted and scolded by Cen Shu’s fans would naturally cause the platform to push the content to gain more traffic. Free traffic is something one should not refuse.
She had almost no clients of her own age here, which was strange. One could not say that there were no twenty-somethings in Taozhou who were interested in collectibles, right? She had never found the right way to break into that circle. Now that she thought about it, the internet is so developed that it would surely solve her current problem.
Was this not more effective than hiring a marketing team?
Ye Yun stood dazed on the spot. When she came to her senses, she saw the boss’s car driving away.
Fu Jiao shouted in her ear, “Has your soul drifted away with her?”
Ye Yun felt embarrassed. “Teacher Fu, please do not always make fun of me.”
Fu Jiao chuckled. “Heavens, I cannot handle being called ‘Teacher.'”
After saying that, she went to lie down in the lounge and ordered several deliveries.
Ye Yun stole a glance from outside, feeling very guilty. Last night when Fu Jiao returned to the shop, she was just about to get off work. Acting on the principle of never working an extra minute, she had sprinted out of the shop door, pretending she had not seen her.
Fu Jiao had never held a traditional job and did not understand how the “work aura” poisons one’s spirit, nor how fresh the air is after clocking out. She thought she had scared someone. When she used the facial recognition at the shop door, she even checked her face specifically.
“Still as beautiful as ever.”
So she thought Ye Yun was quite inexplicable, running so fast as if she were rushing home to reveal her true form.
On the way to the film set, Jin Yuzhen scrolled through the comment section of the shop’s account. There were thousands of comments, all saying she had money but no heart.
She was very surprised. “Is this not a fact? It does not really count as an insult.”
Thus, while the comment section was passionately arguing, she calmly pieced together the plot.
It turned out that Cen Shu had posted a video last night. The caption was very sad, and there were even tears in her eyes; the standard post-breakup post. Netizens had spent the whole night digging and finally found some clues.
Everyone knew that Cen Shu had started as a fitting model for a clothing brand under the Jin Corporation. In less than six months, she had gone from a model to a star. It was said that someone within the Jin family was supporting her.
Next, someone unearthed Cen Shu’s secret account. Among its follows was Jin Yuzhen’s very old work account.
Jin Yuzhen was quite impressed. When it comes to gossip, everyone is a detective. How did they find that?
Linking this to the previously rumored suspense drama, netizens defaulted to the idea that Jin Yuzhen had failed Cen Shu. Because she and Lu Wenqi are friends, and the suspense drama was originally rumored to star Cen Shu, but the female lead became Nie Feiyin when filming started, it must be a result of the breakup leading to a severance of interests.
Jin Yuzhen was baffled as she read. More and more gossip was being dug up, and the comment section had turned into a chaotic mess. A large portion of people condemned Jin Yuzhen as heartless, while another group was shipping them as a couple.
Miraculously, some were even shipping her with Nie Feiyin.
When Sun Baizhao called, she was reading with great interest. Sun Baizhao had found the best public relations team, performed reputation maintenance, and cleared out some of the more malicious content.
She comforted her, “The ones scolding you are all Cen Shu’s fans. Normal people will not speak such foul words.”
Jin Yuzhen could not say she was completely unscathed. She asked, “The ones shipping the couple; that was not guided by you, was it?”
Sun Baizhao said immediately, “No, that was all spontaneous.”
Jin Yuzhen did not understand. “Miss Nie and I are not even that well-acquainted. They can ship that?”
Sun Baizhao had handled reputation issues for artists before and understood this well. She explained, “How should I put it? Whether you know each other or not is not important. People will imagine it.”
Jin Yuzhen tried to put herself in that position and found she had zero interest in such shipping. Did she really have a generation gap with young people? No, that was not right; she was only in her twenties.
Sun Baizhao hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Cen Shu’s manager has reached out to me several times, saying she wants to explain things to you.”
Jin Yuzhen said, “There is nothing to explain. Her career is declining, and yet she has time for this. She is quite interesting.”
Sun Baizhao simply followed her instructions and did not ask further. The current state of Jin Yuzhen and Cen Shu could be said to be very logical. By nature, Jin Yuzhen was an extremely slow-to-warm and deeply devoted person. Once such a person gives up, it is useless even if Cupid and the Old Man under the Moon were to kneel in a row.
Cen Shu had been too overconfident. But making such a move suddenly, it seemed she wanted Jin Yuzhen to change her mind. Likely, she had also sensed that without Jin Yuzhen providing her with year-round marketing, her data was not even as good as that of the newcomers.
After filming finished at noon, the other actors stayed on set to eat, but Nie Feiyin and Lu Wenqi went upstairs.
Even though she had long known that Nie Feiyin was a very good cook, she did not expect that in less than three hours of running back and forth, the food for both sides would be ready.
Upon entering the room, a rich aroma greeted them. She had even made stewed soup! It was more lavish than downstairs.
Lu Wenqi marveled, “Is there anything you cannot do?”
Nie Feiyin gave a modest smile and checked the time. “Has Miss Jin not arrived yet?”
Lu Wenqi walked toward the kitchen. “She just sent a message. She is downstairs.”
Nie Feiyin looked toward the door. She unfolded a neatly folded napkin and then refolded it. She seemed very nervous.
Lu Wenqi clicked her tongue several times and came out of the kitchen. “Do not worry. She eats anything I make, let alone something made with your skills.”
It seemed that after becoming adults, everyone especially enjoyed home-cooked meals. As children, people drool over crabs and prawns, but when they grow up, they only love the taste of home. After finishing this meal today, their relationship would surely become a few degrees closer.
Lu Wenqi thought she was a genius. Actually, people understand each other better when drinking, but Jin Yuzhen did not drink. It was not that she never drank, but that she would not drink easily.
The last time she saw her touch alcohol was when she had just started university. In the third year of an international high school, besides school applications and interviews, there were endless classes. So as soon as she started university, Lu Wenqi engaged in compensatory entertainment. After the university entrance exam, she had a KTV installed at home and dragged Jin Yuzhen to sing for a day and a night. To be precise, she sang while Jin Yuzhen was the listener.
Later, when mentioning this, Jin Yuzhen said her singing had a kind of “four elements are empty” feeling like chanting sutras.
After starting university, she dragged Jin Yuzhen to drink once. At that time, they were just eighteen, sitting under the star-lit ceiling of her home, watching movies, drinking, and having infinite longings for the future.
Taking advantage of the intoxication, she asked Jin Yuzhen what she wanted to do in the future. Jin Yuzhen said she did not know. She asked again what kind of adult she wanted to be. Becoming an adult was too cruel; they did not easily mention it.
Jin Yuzhen’s cheeks were red, and her eyes were dazed. After a long while, she said, “To be a healthy, enterprising, and knowledgeable person.”
Lu Wenqi kept that in her heart for nine years. She always felt that Jin Yuzhen had an ideal in her heart, even though Jin Yuzhen herself called it “idealism sickness.”
But she could not help with much. Lu Wenqi had always admitted she was not an omnipotent friend. So when she met Nie Feiyin, it was like meeting a savior.
To some extent, Nie Feiyin and Jin Yuzhen were a bit alike. Neither had a specific goal; they did whatever they thought of. But the difference was that Nie Feiyin was confident that she could succeed in whatever she did.
Healthy, enterprising, knowledgeable. Was that not Nie Feiyin herself?
Initially, because of Cen Shu, she had not felt it right to introduce the two. If Cen Shu were to cause trouble and make them enemies, then the loss would outweigh the gain. Fortunately, fate was kind, and they finally had a day to eat at the same table.
Lu Wenqi thought again that today was such a good day; they might as well become sworn sisters.
Jin Yuzhen found the room number and rang the doorbell.
Lu Wenqi was certain it was her and was about to open the door when she glimpsed Nie Feiyin darting past like a scrolling comment.
The door opened, and Nie Feiyin greeted her with a smile. As soon as Jin Yuzhen entered, she smelled the fragrance, and her expression became increasingly gentle. “I am not late, am I?”
Nie Feiyin said, “You arrived just in time, Sister.”
Jin Yuzhen had brought a gift, along with a small box of pomegranates given by Li Xiang. While Lu Wenqi said, “Why are you being so polite?” she opened the box to look.
Seeing they were fresh pomegranates, she was deeply moved. “We really are on the same wavelength. I was just muttering about wanting to buy pomegranates this morning.”
Since she had said that, Jin Yuzhen naturally could not tell the truth. “We have always had a great rapport.”
The corners of Nie Feiyin’s lips never dropped. While eating, she quietly listened to Jin Yuzhen and Lu Wenqi chat, her face always carrying joy. Jin Yuzhen noticed this from the corner of her eye and wondered where her joy came from. After thinking it over, she guessed it was out of politeness. One could not have a long face when inviting guests to dinner; that was something Cen Shu would do.
Lu Wenqi tasted several dishes and was full of praise. Because Jin Yuzhen was beside her, her words were even more exaggerated. Nie Feiyin felt a bit embarrassed and looked at Jin Yuzhen anxiously, asking, “How does it taste?”
Jin Yuzhen nodded and added, “Everything that can be said has been said by Director Lu. There are not many words left for me.”
Lu Wenqi held her head high. “Your sister was a screenwriter before becoming a director. My vocabulary is unquestionable.” Mentioning this, her expression turned sorrowful. “When I wrote my first script, I thought the screenwriting industry could not function without me. Who knew that after the path widened, I would find out the directing industry cannot function without me either.”
Jin Yuzhen sighed. “Do not say such things when you go out, lest someone hires someone to hit you.”
Hearing this, Nie Feiyin was shocked. “Hit?”
Lu Wenqi said sheepishly, “In the early years, I was outspoken and indeed said a few unpleasant things. However, I was not hit. I hid in my home’s underground cinema for half a month.”
Nie Feiyin said, “…”
Lu Wenqi, unhappy about having her past exposed, mocked, “And I do not know who it was that wanted to learn ballet in the third year of high school but accidentally signed up for a fencing class!”
Nie Feiyin’s gaze shifted to Jin Yuzhen.
Jin Yuzhen was speechless for a long time. “I happened to have a cold that day and my vision was blurred. I only saw the word ‘ballet’ on the poster, so I signed up.”
Nie Feiyin chuckled. “Ballet in combat is still ballet.”
Jin Yuzhen turned her eyes and met hers for a few seconds, then smiled. “You are right.”
Lu Wenqi threw up her hands. “Fine, you are on the same side. I cannot win the argument. I will stop talking.”
This meal was Nie Feiyin’s way of saying thank you. Since Jin Yuzhen had driven her home that night, she had been pondering how to show her gratitude. The most direct way was naturally to give a gift, but she could not find a suitable one in a short time. After thinking it over, she decided to cook.
She was actually very uneasy, fearing she would leave a bad impression on Jin Yuzhen, so she stole glances from time to time. Only when she saw that Jin Yuzhen had a good appetite did she finally feel at ease.
In the afternoon, Lu Wenqi had to go out to scout locations and left first. Jin Yuzhen was also about to return, and Nie Feiyin was preparing to see her out when Jin Yuzhen suddenly received a phone call. It was from Yun Man, inviting her to a shopping mall opening party tonight. She said they had specifically hired a master to calculate the date. The master had calculated for several months and only finalized the auspicious day this morning. It could be said to be very rushed.
Yun Man had many connections in the capital and had helped Jin Yuzhen quite a bit before. Since she had nothing to do tonight, it was fine to go and join the fun.
After hanging up the phone, she looked at Nie Feiyin. Based on what Yun Man had said before, Nie Feiyin and Yun Man should be quite familiar. So she said, “It was a call from Sister Yun Man. She said there is an opening party tonight.”
Nie Feiyin asked, “Are you going?”
It was already past two o’clock. If she were to go, she would have to prepare her clothes and put on makeup; it was quite a rush.
Jin Yuzhen nodded. “She is a major client of mine. I have to go and show my support.”
Nie Feiyin chuckled. “But Man Man told me that you are actually her great benefactor, Sister.” Regarding the matter of the fake painting, Yun Man had told her everything in detail. If she had really given a fake painting to Nie Wenshuang, at best she would be angry, and at worst they would break off their friendship. Nie Wenshuang’s temper was truly stubborn.
Jin Yuzhen felt a slight oddness in her heart and said gently, “I am hardly a benefactor; it was just a small favor.” She then asked, “Are you not going?”
Nie Feiyin shook her head. “I have night scenes scheduled for tonight.”
Jin Yuzhen expressed her understanding. Lu Wenqi had said more than once that Nie Feiyin was very dedicated. She said, “Alright then, I will be going. See you another day.”
Nie Feiyin’s smile stiffened. Countless scripts flashed through her mind. Finally, as Jin Yuzhen walked out of the room, she said, “Sister, can I help you with your makeup?”
Jin Yuzhen turned back and looked at her in surprise.
Nie Feiyin explained quickly, “I see that time is tight. The makeup room of the production crew can be used. I usually do my own makeup for events too.”
It did not seem very convincing. Simply contacting a styling studio could solve all the aforementioned problems. Nie Feiyin could not help but feel annoyed.
The system, which had been watching the drama, said anxiously, “I gave you a suggestion. Was it that hard to cut a finger while cooking? If you had cut your finger while cooking for her, would she not have stayed to take care of you? Then you would have gained intimacy points.”
Nie Feiyin was not in the mood to pay attention to it. Would her proposal be too offensive? It was true; for Jin Yuzhen, they were not very well-acquainted. Even between friends, one would not easily trust the other’s techniques. She was afraid her performance was too obvious and would make Jin Yuzhen unhappy, so she instinctively wanted to make amends.
But before she could think of what to say, Jin Yuzhen agreed readily. “If it is not a trouble, then yes.”
Nie Feiyin froze. “Good, good. My makeup room has unopened cosmetics of various brands. They should be enough.”
Jin Yuzhen hummed in agreement and moved out of the way. Nie Feiyin breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, closed the door, and led the way.
The system was surprised. “That works too? Let me check the backend. Eh? Doing her makeup gains ninety-nine intimacy points. Is it that high?”
Nie Feiyin had not gained intimacy points many times in total and was still unfamiliar with the system’s rules. “Is that considered very high?”
The system made a comparison. “Of course. I checked, and even if you were to share a bed, it would only be eighty points.”
“Based on what?” Nie Feiyin replied instinctively.
The system said, “?”
Nie Feiyin said, “I mean, that is not logical.”
The system sneered. “With your progress, you do not need to worry about that at all.”