“I-Its fine, I was being presumptuous.”
Huang Zhihe forced a smile and practically fled back to her corner of the sofa. Her earlier pride and sense of superiority had vanished completely, leaving nothing but embarrassment and humiliation.
For the rest of the recording, she kept her head down and never spoke up again voluntarily. Even when the host called on her, she only gave a perfunctory smile and brushed it off.
As the recording of the concluding special came to an end, everyone stood at the entrance saying their goodbyes.
Li Lele clung to Jiang Zhiwu’s arm reluctantly. “Sister Jiang! I’ll bring you back some local specialties when I return from my trip!”
Jiang Yanzhou stood behind them with his arms crossed, looking slightly displeased, clearly wanting to pull Li Lele away from his sister.
Wen Jing walked last. His gaze lingered on Jiang Zhiwu’s face for a few seconds before he suddenly chuckled. “Zhiwu, there’s something I want to tell you.”
Jiang Zhiwu looked up. “Please go ahead, Mr. Wen.”
“The auditions for *Mist over the Mountain City* will start in two months,” Wen Jing said more seriously, suggesting half-jokingly, “I think your appearance is perfect for the female lead. Would you consider auditioning?”
Upon hearing this, not only did Huang Zhihe snap her head up, but even the surrounding staff members widened their eyes in surprise.
Everyone knew that Wen Jing was always very rigorous and never recommended actors casually, let alone actively inviting an amateur to audition for the lead role in a major director’s film.
Huang Zhihe’s face turned pale instantly. Her fingers gripped her skirt so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh.
Jiang Yanzhou stepped forward and replied politely on his sister’s behalf. “Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Wen, but my sister has no plans to enter the entertainment industry for now.”
He knew his sister too well; the Jiang Group had endless matters waiting for her to handle, how could she find the time to act?
A flicker of regret crossed Wen Jing’s eyes. “I see, that is truly a pity.” He did not press further, simply nodding at Jiang Zhiwu. “If you ever change your mind, you can contact me anytime.”
Huang Zhihe’s fans were already fuming because their idol had been rejected earlier, and seeing this scene made them explode completely, posting complaints online:
[What does Wen Jing mean? Doing this on purpose to embarrass Zhihe?]
[He clearly knows Zhihe is preparing for the lead role, yet he invites an amateur to audition? Stop being so obvious about sucking up to the Jiang siblings!]
[Zhihe works so hard and is so kind, what did she do to deserve this treatment?]
However, these sour comments were quickly shut down by other netizens:
[LMAO, Wen Jing is the producer, does he need permission to recommend whoever he wants?]
[Can Huang Zhihe’s fans stop being so paranoid? The role you’re fighting so hard for, Sister Jiang doesn’t even care about it, okay?]
[And Sister Jiang is genuinely so beautiful! No wonder Wen Jing invited her, her aura is exactly like the main character in the novel!]
Netizens’ attention gradually shifted, and they started frantically screenshotting Jiang Zhiwu’s scenes from the show, gushing over her appearance.
Just then, the editor-in-chief of the renowned fashion magazine *Vogue Style* came across these discussions.
Looking at the perfect chemistry and visual impact of Jiang Zhiwu and Jiang Yanzhou together, an idea sparked in her mind.
That same afternoon, the official team of *Vogue Style* contacted Jiang Yanzhou’s agent through the production crew, sending an invitation for the siblings to shoot a cover poster.
When Huang Zhihe’s fans accidentally found out, they were extremely jealous, ranting that everyone in the industry was just snobbish.
Their drama did not affect the magazine’s decision at all. In fact, due to the discussion, more and more people were now looking forward to the siblings’ first magazine collaboration.
Huang Zhihe watched all this, feeling a heavy blockage in her chest, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Just then, her phone rang. A message popped up on the screen from “Father”: [7 PM. It’s Mr. Gao’s 80th birthday. I will take you and Xiao Ting to meet the elders. Prepare well.]
Huang Zhihe’s eyes lit up instantly. She typed quickly: [Are you planning to reveal my identity publicly now?]
There was no direct yes or no from the other side, as if they hadn’t seen that message.
Huang Zhihe hurriedly withdrew it and rewrote: [Okay Dad, Xiao Ting and I will prepare well.]
The reply came shortly after, seemingly satisfied: [Good.]
When she put her phone away, a soft smile had already returned to her face.
She walked out of the room and sure enough, saw Jiang Ting’s figure at the end of the corridor.
He was carrying a bag, ready to leave, walking briskly. His profile was sharp and cold, clearly having no intention of lingering to talk to her.
Whenever there were no cameras around, Jiang Ting’s attitude towards her became noticeably cold.
Huang Zhihe quickly caught up. “Xiao Ting, wait!”
Jiang Ting stopped and turned around, his face expressionless, his tone flat. “What?”
“Dad just messaged saying we need to go to the Gao family’s birthday banquet together tonight.”
Jiang Ting looked down at the confirmation message on his phone. After a few seconds of silence, he simply said, “Got it.” Then he turned and continued walking without any further pleasantries.
Huang Zhihe didn’t mind. She hummed a tune as she returned to her room, styling her hair in front of the mirror, clearly looking forward to the evening event.
It took Jiang Zhiwu a while to say goodbye to the Li siblings, and by the time the pair returned home, evening had already fallen.
As Jiang Zhiwu stepped out of the car, a gentle breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and flowers from the garden blew towards her.
She looked up at the old mansion that held her childhood memories. The cream-colored walls glowed warmly in the afterglow of the sunset, yet the vast courtyard felt lifeless, lit only by automatic sensor lights.
“Let’s go inside, Sis.” Jiang Yanzhou followed behind carrying her bag. The soft click of the fingerprint lock sounded particularly clear in the silence.
Pushing open the heavy door, the high-ceilinged entrance hall was so empty that echoes could be heard. The light from the crystal chandelier filled every corner, yet it couldn’t warm the overly pristine space.
As Jiang Yanzhou changed his shoes, his gaze unconsciously drifted to the pear-wood table in the corner of the living room. There stood a photo frame—
It was a picture taken years ago under the wisteria trellis in the garden. Her parents were smiling gently, and a younger him was holding his sister’s arm, looking innocent and shy.
The frame was spotless, obviously wiped and maintained regularly, always kept at the perfect angle.
Jiang Yanzhou paused for a moment. His eyes rested on the photo briefly, then almost instinctively, he reached out and turned the frame face down on the table, as if afraid that the warmth within would burn his eyes.
After repeating this action he had done countless times, he turned back to Jiang Zhiwu, his tone returning to normal. “What’s the plan now? Do you want to rest for a bit?”
“No,” Jiang Zhiwu said. “Tonight is Mr. Gao’s birthday banquet. I need to go and present a gift.”
“Oh.” Jiang Yanzhou subconsciously rolled up his cuff, speaking in an offhand manner. “Then you go ahead.”
Jiang Zhiwu looked at him, a knowing smile in her eyes. “Do you want to come with me?”
The boy’s eyes lit up instantly, but he quickly cleared his throat, putting on a tough act to save face. “Since you asked, I can’t let you handle those situations alone. Besides, I have nothing else to do tonight anyway.”
Jiang Zhiwu raised an eyebrow, amused.
How had she never noticed before that her little brother had such a tsundere side?
Soon after, the doorbell rang.
The butler walked in respectfully to report. “Miss, Young Master, the stylists you appointed have arrived.”
Jiang Zhiwu nodded. “Show them in.”
Several stylists entered the living room carrying two large cases of clothes and jewelry. The professional team quickly set up a temporary dressing station in the corner, carefully laying out haute couture gowns and jewelry from top luxury brands.
“Miss Jiang has such beautiful hair,” the stylist said admiringly, running her fingers through Jiang Zhiwu’s long locks. “Let’s do a simple low bun. It will match your dark green velvet dress perfectly—elegant and dignified.”
Jiang Zhiwu nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to her brother in the mirror.
Jiang Yanzhou was having his hair styled by another artist, but the boy looked clearly uncomfortable, his back stiff as a board.
Kind of cute.
Jiang Yanzhou, suddenly hearing his sister chuckle: “?”
Half an hour later, the siblings stood side by side in front of the full-length mirror. Jiang Zhiwu wore a long dark green velvet dress, a pearl necklace at her collar swaying gently with her movements, making her skin look even fairer and translucent. Jiang Yanzhou was dressed in a well-tailored black suit, making his figure look tall and straight. The youthful innocence was gone, replaced by the noble bearing of a young master from a prestigious family.
The butler handed the prepared gift to the bodyguard. It was a custom-made red sandalwood box containing a purple clay teapot collected by the Jiang family for many years, inscribed by famous calligraphers—priceless.
The black Bentley pulled up smoothly in front of the Gao residence. The iron gates were already lined with luxury cars, and elegantly dressed guests were streaming inside.
Jiang Yanzhou got out first and walked around to open the door for his sister, his slender fingers resting on the frame, exuding natural gentlemanly grace.
Jiang Zhiwu held his hand to step out. Her gaze casually swept over his chest, noticing his black tie was slightly crooked. She naturally reached out to straighten it for him.
Jiang Yanzhou instinctively stiffened, mumbling awkwardly. “Sis, I can do it myself…”
Jiang Zhiwu: “Do it yourself? You fiddled with it in front of the mirror for five minutes and it was still crooked.”
Jiang Yanzhou argued: “It must be the tie’s fault, it’s too tight.”
“Alright alright, it’s the bad tie’s fault, how dare it squeeze our Yanzhou baby.”
“…Sis! Are you treating me like a child?”
As they spoke, they had already reached the entrance of the banquet hall.
The moment they stepped into the resplendent hall, the smile on Jiang Zhiwu’s face faded slightly.
Jiang Yanzhou acutely sensed his sister’s change and followed her gaze. Beneath the crystal chandelier not far away, Huang Zhihe was linking arms with a middle-aged man, chatting animatedly with several grey-haired elders. Jiang Ting stood beside them, holding a glass, his face void of emotion.
When Jiang Yanzhou clearly saw the face of that middle-aged man, he raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth curving into an inscrutable arc.
It was then that Huang Zhihe also caught sight of the Jiang siblings at the door. Her eyes lit up. She immediately let go of the man’s arm, smoothed out the skirt of her champagne-colored dress, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and lifted her chin slightly. She walked towards them on her high heels, apparently intending to greet them.
However, she had only taken two steps when all the guests who were previously networking suddenly swarmed towards the entrance, voices of warm greeting rising and falling:
“Isn’t this President Jiang? We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Yanzhou has grown so tall! Last time I saw you, you were just a boy, now you’re a fine young man.”
“Oh my, Zhiwu has truly grown into a lady of remarkable grace!”
Jiang Ling only knew after she died that she was nothing more than a plot device character in a novel who was meant to die early.
Because of her death, her brother Jiang Shili became cruel and unruly. After being rejected by the female lead, he drove off a cliff and died.
Jiang Ling was so angry she came back to life. Opening her eyes, she saw Jiang Shili standing in front of her with his hands in his pockets, looking incredibly arrogant.
After six years apart, his first words were:
“Who sent you? Cheap imposter!”
Jiang Ling: “…”
That day, people saw Jiang Shili, the notorious bully of Yuncheng High, being chased and beaten by a young girl: “You brat! Dare to talk to your sister like that again?!”
Faced with this woman who had barged into his life claiming to be his sister, Jiang Shili felt annoyed, disdainful, and resisted fiercely.
He went on a hunger strike, but Jiang Ling ignored him and ordered a table full of fried chicken, barbecue, and crayfish, eating them right in front of him with great relish.
He skipped class to go to internet cafes, but Jiang Ling sat at the computer next to him, playing even more intensely than he did.
He dyed his hair in crazy colors, Jiang Ling calmly took photos and hung the ugly close-ups right in the center of the living room wall.
Jiang Shili failed time and time again. From anger to breakdown, he was finally forced to accept reality—
This woman… really was his older sister?
The moment this thought took hold, Jiang Shili’s eyes instantly turned red.
He had always thought he was a curse who killed his parents and sister, destined to rot alone in the gutter.
He never expected that the light he thought had been extinguished forever would shine back into his life.
Gu Xubai and Jiang Ling were former classmates.
Back in school, Jiang Ling had long admired this school hunk’s beauty (not really), and used all her charm to successfully date him.
The autumn wind was cool, the courtyard silent and deep.
Jiang Ling looked up casually and saw a man standing in the shadows below the steps.
There was an air of noble distance between his brows, dressed entirely in black, as if he had come to attend a solemn funeral.
His deep, bottomless gaze landed heavily on Jiang Ling’s face, not moving an inch.
Jiang Ling’s heart skipped a beat.
Wasn’t this… the boyfriend she had gone to great lengths to win all those years ago?